Editors’ note: The Total Impact Quotient is an elaborate ratings formula for players’ performance. It includes strong consideration of a player’s performance relative to the rest of the team. For more information, check out a complete introduction to the TIQ.
Since we last visited the Big Ten player ratings, a couple of big-name guards are now unavailable: Michigan State’s Korie Lucious got kicked off the team and will transfer, and Minnesota’s Al Nolen might be done at least until the Big Ten Tournament after breaking his foot.
The struggles in East Lansing have been well chronicled, and Lucious’ departure seems like another nail in the coffin for the Spartans’ NCAA Tournament hopes — never mind the pre-season championship expectations. However, when taking a closer look, Nolen’s injury could be far more damaging to the Golden Gophers than Lucious’ transfer will be to Michigan State.
Nolen rates as the Big Ten’s No. 1 guard according to the Total Impact Quotient. He has a TIQ of 12.1 points per 40 minutes. Despite struggling with his shooting this season, Nolen is valuable because he can run the offense and shut down opponents on defense. He’s averaging 8.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.4 steals per game. That’s a full game’s work that coach Tubby Smith can’t easily replace.
In contrast, Lucious has posted a mediocre TIQ of 3.9 points per 40 minutes. Like Nolen, Lucious has struggled with his shot this season, shooting 31.2 percent from the field. However, Lucious hasn’t made up for that performance with strong play in other areas. He was averaging only 1.7 rebounds and 0.8 steals per game before his dismissal. Nolen and Lucious averaged an identical 2.1 turnovers per game, but Nolen’s ability to make plays on offense and defense makes him more valuable to his team.
In addition, Michigan State has Keith Appling ready to come off the bench and fill Lucious’ production. Appling doesn’t dish as many assists as Lucious did, but he shoots better from the field in fewer attempts and grabs more rebounds. And he commits fewer turnovers than Lucious did.
Michigan State’s slaughterhouse non-conference schedule might have already made mincemeat of the team’s lofty championship dreams. But regardless of how the rest of the season plays out, Lucious’ departure likely won’t affect the outcome much. On the other hand, if MInnesota slides to end the regular season, Nolen’s absence might be a major reason for the team’s struggles.
Here are the latest ratings for the Big Ten, through games of Saturday Feb. 6. Players average at least about 10 minutes per game.
TIQ position averages and total number of Big Ten players at the position:
Centers: 9.8, 6 players
Forwards: 9.9, 35 players
Guards: 6.2, 49 players
TIQ = Total Impact Quotient
PD% = Position differential in % difference from average
| Top 2 centers | Team | TIQ | PD% | Minutes |
| Luka Mirkovic | Northwestern | 13.6 | 38.8 | 546 |
| Colton Iverson | Minnesota | 12.3 | 25.5 | 399 |
| Top 5 forwards | Team | TIQ | PD% | Minutes |
| Trevor Mbakwe | Minnesota | 18.5 | 86.9 | 646 |
| Jared Sullinger | Ohio State | 17.7 | 78.8 | 714 |
| Draymond Green | Michigan State | 17.3 | 74.7 | 651 |
| John Shurna | Northwestern | 13.7 | 38.4 | 647 |
| Jeff Brooks | Penn State | 13.6 | 37.4 | 689 |
| Top 5 guards | Team | TIQ | PD% | Minutes |
| Al Nolen | Minnesota | 12.1 | 95.2 | 408 |
| Jordan Taylor | Wisconsin | 11.9 | 91.9 | 746 |
| Darius Morris | Michigan | 11.7 | 88.7 | 793 |
| Demetri McCamey | Illinois | 11.2 | 80.6 | 754 |
| Victor Oladipo | Indiana | 11.2 | 80.6 | 431 |
Player Rankings
| Position | Team/Player | TIQ | +/- Last TIQ | Minutes | PD% | Position rank |
| ILLINOIS 2010-11 | ||||||
| G | Demetri McCamey | 11.2 | -1.9 | 754 | 80.6 | 4 |
| F | Mike Davis | 9.1 | 0.1 | 719 | -8.1 | 18 |
| G | D.J. Richardson | 3.7 | 0.0 | 682 | -40.3 | 40 |
| C | Mike Tisdale | 11.6 | -0.9 | 586 | 18.4 | 3 |
| G | Brandon Paul | 7.0 | 1.3 | 484 | 12.9 | 20 |
| F | Jereme Richmond | 8.4 | 2.4 | 479 | -15.2 | 26 |
| F | Bill Cole | 10.2 | 0.3 | 462 | 3.0 | 15 |
| C | Meyers Leonard | 2.5 | -0.6 | 195 | -74.5 | 6 |
| INDIANA 2010-11 | TIQ | +/- Last TIQ | Minutes | PD% | Position rank | |
| G | Jordan Hulls | 8.3 | -1.3 | 727 | 33.9 | 13 |
| F | Christian Watford | 9.3 | -0.1 | 649 | -6.1 | 17 |
| G | Jeremiah Rivers | 8.1 | -1.1 | 556 | 30.6 | 15 |
| G | Verdell Jones III | 4.5 | 0.8 | 536 | -27.4 | 34 |
| G | Victor Oladipo | 11.2 | 0.1 | 431 | 80.6 | 5 |
| F | Tom Pritchard | 10.5 | -0.6 | 421 | 6.1 | 14 |
| F | Derek Elston | 8.6 | -1.2 | 366 | -13.1 | 22 |
| G | Maurice Creek | 1.7 | 0.9 | 360 | -72.6 | 46 |
| G | Will Sheehey | 5.8 | -1.9 | 283 | -6.5 | 26 |
| IOWA 2010-11 | TIQ | +/- Last TIQ | Minutes | PD% | Position rank | |
| G | Matt Gatens | 6.0 | -1.4 | 692 | -3.2 | 24 |
| G | Bryce Cartwright | 3.9 | 0.1 | 691 | -37.1 | 36 |
| G | Eric May | 4.7 | 0.1 | 583 | -24.2 | 32 |
| F | Melsahn Basabe | 13.5 | 1.1 | 551 | 36.4 | 6 |
| F | Jarryd Cole | 11.8 | -0.8 | 521 | 19.2 | 8 |
| F | Zach McCabe | 6.0 | -1.1 | 478 | -39.4 | 31 |
| G | Roy Devyn Marble | 5.9 | -0.8 | 410 | -4.8 | 25 |
| F | Andrew Brommer | 8.5 | 0.3 | 283 | -14.1 | 23 |
| MICHIGAN 2010-11 | TIQ | +/- Last TIQ | Minutes | PD% | Position rank | |
| G | Darius Morris | 11.7 | -0.4 | 793 | 88.7 | 3 |
| G | Zack Novak | 9.8 | -0.3 | 789 | 58.1 | 7 |
| G | Tim Hardaway Jr. | 6.3 | -0.1 | 664 | 1.6 | 23 |
| G | Stu Douglass | 3.4 | 0.5 | 643 | -45.2 | 43 |
| F | Jordan Morgan | 9.9 | -1.2 | 538 | 0.0 | 16 |
| F | Evan Smotrycz | 4.6 | -0.3 | 442 | -53.5 | 34 |
| G | Matt Vogrich | 4.4 | 0.4 | 305 | -29.0 | 35 |
| MICHIGAN STATE 2010-11 | TIQ | +/- Last TIQ | Minutes | PD% | Position rank | |
| G | Kalin Lucas | 5.2 | 0.0 | 689 | -16.1 | 29 |
| G | Durrell Summers | 3.8 | 0.7 | 661 | -38.7 | 39 |
| F | Draymond Green | 17.3 | -0.5 | 651 | 74.7 | 3 |
| F | Delvon Roe | 13.0 | 0.8 | 547 | 31.3 | 7 |
| G | Keith Appling | 4.8 | -0.3 | 476 | -22.6 | 31 |
| G | Korie Lucious | 3.9 | 0.5 | 440 | -37.1 | 37 |
| C | Garrick Sherman | 9.1 | 0.5 | 277 | -7.1 | 5 |
| G | Austin Thornton | 7.8 | -0.9 | 251 | 25.8 | 18 |
| MINNESOTA 2010-11 | TIQ | +/- Last TIQ | Minutes | PD% | Position rank | |
| G | Blake Hoffarber | 8.2 | -0.1 | 761 | 32.3 | 14 |
| F | Trevor Mbakwe | 18.5 | -1.1 | 646 | 86.9 | 1 |
| C | Ralph Sampson III | 9.5 | -0.4 | 632 | -3.1 | 4 |
| F | Rodney Williams | 5.5 | 0.2 | 525 | -44.4 | 33 |
| G | Al Nolen | 12.1 | 0.4 | 408 | 95.2 | 1 |
| C | Colton Iverson | 12.3 | 0.0 | 399 | 25.5 | 2 |
| G | Austin Hollins | 5.7 | 1.2 | 320 | -8.1 | 27 |
| G | Chip Armelin | 1.9 | -0.6 | 223 | -69.4 | 45 |
| G | Devoe Joseph | 3.1 | -0.2 | 201 | -50.0 | 44 |
| NORTHWESTERN 2010-11 | TIQ | +/- Last TIQ | Minutes | PD% | Position rank | |
| G | Michael Thompson | 6.4 | 0.6 | 792 | 3.2 | 22 |
| G | Drew Crawford | 5.0 | -0.1 | 650 | -19.4 | 30 |
| F | John Shurna | 13.7 | -1.4 | 647 | 38.4 | 4 |
| C | Luka Mirkovic | 13.6 | 0.9 | 546 | 38.8 | 1 |
| G | JerShon Cobb | 5.3 | -0.5 | 505 | -14.5 | 28 |
| G | Alex Marcotullio | 7.9 | -0.6 | 443 | 27.4 | 17 |
| F | Davide Curletti | 9.1 | 1.7 | 306 | -8.1 | 19 |
| F | Mike Capocci | 10.7 | 0.8 | 241 | 8.1 | 13 |
| F | Jeff Ryan | 11.0 | 0.3 | 101 | 11.1 | 11 |
| OHIO STATE 2010-11 | TIQ | +/- Last TIQ | Minutes | PD% | Position rank | |
| G | Jon Diebler | 6.7 | -0.3 | 787 | 8.1 | 21 |
| F | Jared Sullinger | 17.7 | -0.8 | 714 | 78.8 | 2 |
| F | David Lighty | 8.7 | -0.5 | 710 | -12.1 | 21 |
| G | William Buford | 3.7 | -0.4 | 667 | -40.3 | 41 |
| G | Aaron Craft | 8.9 | -0.9 | 650 | 43.5 | 9 |
| F | Dallas Lauderdale | 8.5 | -0.5 | 412 | -14.1 | 24 |
| F | Deshaun Thomas | 9.1 | -1.4 | 359 | -8.1 | 20 |
| G | Jordan Sibert | 0.5 | 0.0 | 165 | -91.9 | 48 |
| PENN STATE 2010-11 | TIQ | +/- Last TIQ | Minutes | PD% | Position rank | |
| G | Talor Battle | 8.4 | -0.5 | 786 | 35.5 | 12 |
| F | Jeff Brooks | 13.6 | -0.4 | 689 | 37.4 | 5 |
| F | Andrew Jones | 7.8 | 0.1 | 644 | -21.2 | 28 |
| F | David Jackson | 6.1 | -1.0 | 613 | -38.4 | 29 |
| G | Tim Frazier | 9.1 | -0.5 | 601 | 46.8 | 8 |
| F | Billy Oliver | 2.4 | -0.5 | 328 | -75.8 | 35 |
| G | Cammeron Woodyard | 0.6 | 0.2 | 168 | -90.3 | 47 |
| G | Taran Buie | 0.3 | -0.1 | 167 | -95.2 | 49 |
| PURDUE 2010-11 | TIQ | +/- Last TIQ | Minutes | PD% | Position rank | |
| F | JaJuan Johnson | 11.7 | -0.4 | 801 | 18.2 | 9 |
| G | E’Twaun Moore | 8.1 | -1.3 | 769 | 30.6 | 16 |
| G | Lewis Jackson | 10.6 | -0.6 | 565 | 71.0 | 6 |
| G | Ryne Smith | 8.8 | 0.2 | 521 | 41.9 | 11 |
| G | Kelsey Barlow | 7.8 | -0.2 | 447 | 25.8 | 19 |
| F | D.J. Byrd | 8.1 | 0.2 | 446 | -18.2 | 27 |
| G | Terone Johnson | 4.6 | -0.2 | 427 | -25.8 | 33 |
| F | Travis Carroll | 8.5 | -1.7 | 210 | -14.1 | 25 |
| G | John Hart | 3.9 | -0.3 | 173 | -37.1 | 38 |
| WISCONSIN 2010-11 | TIQ | +/- Last TIQ | Minutes | PD% | Position rank | |
| G | Jordan Taylor | 11.9 | 0.4 | 746 | 91.9 | 2 |
| F | Jon Leuer | 11.0 | -0.7 | 702 | 11.1 | 12 |
| F | Keaton Nankivil | 11.1 | -0.1 | 547 | 12.1 | 10 |
| G | Josh Gasser | 8.9 | 1.0 | 533 | 43.5 | 10 |
| F | Tim Jarmusz | 5.7 | -0.8 | 487 | -42.4 | 32 |
| F | Mike Bruesewitz | 6.1 | -0.5 | 440 | -38.4 | 30 |
| G | Ryan Evans | 3.5 | -0.3 | 233 | -43.5 | 42 |
