Big Ten overview: Illinois leading charge ahead of conference play

With just a couple of weeks to go until the Big Ten begins conference play, the No. 10 Illinois Fighting Illini sit at a perfect 11-0 on the season. The No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers will fall from the pinnacle of the college basketball standings after their overtime loss to the Butler Bulldogs yesterday.

Six of the conference's 12 teams are in the top-25 this season. The No. 3 Michigan Wolverines have matched Illinois' perfect record at 11-0 to start the season. The No. 16 Minnesota Golden Gophers have just one blemish on the season, an 89-71 loss to the Duke Blue Devils.

The No. 7 Ohio St. Buckeyes also have just one loss on the season to the very same Blue Devils, 73-68 just after Thanksgiving. The No. 19 Michigan St. Spartans have dropped two games on the year, their opener to the Connecticut Huskies at Ramstein Air Force base and to the Miami Hurricanes. Although unranked, the Iowa Hawkeyes are also 9-2 on the season.