**This Week in the Big Ten will be a feature that Sam will produce weekly, taking a look at the state of B1G basketball**
#7 Michigan (10-0 Overall, 5-0 BIG) KenPom #7 (AdjO 6, AdjD 18)
Last week: 82-57 W vs Minnesota,
This week: Tuesday vs Wisconsin, Saturday at Minnesota
Michigan takes a big step up in weight classes when it plays it’s first Kenpom top 30 team in Wisconsin(#5) and then play the return game to Minnesota later. This is the same team they destroyed last week, but suffice to say Minnesota is a much much better team at the Barn. Big week for the Wolverines. 1-1 would be just fine, but 2-0 would make a massive statement to the entire country
#5 Iowa (11-2, 5-1) KenPom #3 (2, 72)
Last week: 89-67 W at Maryland, 86-71 W vs Minnesota
This week: Thursday vs Michigan State
Pretty getable week for the Hawkeyes, who are now riding a four game win streak. Luka Garza has got to be salivating seeing what Trevion Williams(26 and 9) was able to do against the Spartan frontline. Lord help those of us who bleed Green and White. 1-0 should be the expectation.
#9 Wisconsin (10-2, 4-1) KenPom #5 (10, 7)
Last week: 80-73 (2OT) W vs Indiana
This week: Tuesday at Michigan, Friday at Rutgers
Big, big week for the Badgers. Michigan will provide the toughest test they’ve seen to date, and will Dickinson play Potter off the floor when Nate Reuvers isn’t defending him? On the flip side, can the Badgers benefit from having two stretch bigs and bringing Dickinson out on the perimeter? Suddenly the visit to the spectator-less RAC doesn’t seem so daunting after the Scarlet Knights got pounded by 23 and 11(A lot worse than the score indicates) in losses to Michigan State and Ohio State respectively. The only red flag here is that Wisconsin has at times struggled defending the 3 point arc and Rutgers is 2nd in conference play from beyond the arc. 1-1 is realistic, but 2-0 and suddenly this team might just be Big Ten favorites
#14 Illinois (9-4, 5-2) KenPom #8 (8, 17)
Last week: 81-56 W at Northwestern, 66-63 L vs Maryland
This week: Saturday vs Ohio State
Just one this week for Illinois as the news of Nebraska going on pause came down as I wrote this post Monday night. Cockburn should be able to feast against the Bucks. I just can’t see any combination of Kyle Young, EJ Liddell or Zed Key for OSU stopping the big man. 1-0 should be the expectation.
#21 Ohio State (9-3, 3-3) KenPom #17 (9, 55)
Last week: 79-68 W at Rutgers
This week: Wednesday vs Northwestern, Saturday at Illinois
Gotta figure you’d hold serve at home, especially considering Northwestern is on a downward spiral. We already touched on Kofi, and how defending him may be a massive challenge for the limited Buckeye frontcourt. 1-1 should be the simple goal this week. 2-0? OSU may be a legit Big Ten title contender if they can go to Champagne and win.
Indiana (8-5, 3-3) KenPom #23 (52, 15)
Last week: 63-55 W vs Maryland, 80-73(2OT)L at Wisconsin, 84-76 W at Nebraska
This week: Thursday vs Purdue, Sunday at Michigan State
Not much needs to be said about the first matchup. To say IU is desperate to beat Purdue would be an understatement. Indiana has lost seven straight to the Boilermakers, and hasn’t won in the rivalry in nearly 5 years- February 20, 2016 to be exact. Trayce Jackson Davis should be able to feast down low against a soft MSU frontcourt but can IU make shots? That will forever be the question with this team. Big, big week. 1-1 is pretty reasonable, but 0-2 and things in Archie Land aren’t looking so hot.
Purdue (8-5, 3-3) KenPom #34 (47, 37)
Last week: 55-54 W at Michigan State
This week: Thursday at Indiana, Sunday vs Penn State
Trevion Williams vs TJD? Yes please. Who can make more outside shots? Both teams really struggle from 3, but have guys who can get hot. Due to covid issues in the program, PSU hasn’t played since December 30. Assuming they are cleared by Sunday, I can’t imagine Purdue having much trouble with the winless in conference Nittany Lions. 1-1 is damn near certain, and especially given the recent history, 2-0 is very gettable.
Northwestern (6-4, 3-3) KenPom #59 (63, 59)
Last week: 81-56 L vs Illinois
This week: Wednesday at Ohio State
It’s a 3 game losing streak that doesn’t seem to have much end in sight for the Cats. Such a deflating second half performance vs Illinois, and I think that carries over. Pair that with the fact that Ohio State is simply just a lot better than Northwestern, and 0-1 seems inevitable here.
#23 Minnesota (10-4, 3-4) KenPom #32 (28, 48)
Last week: 82-57 L at Michigan, 86-71 L at Iowa
This week: Saturday vs Michigan
Just ten days after getting blown out by 25 at Crisler(it wasn’t even that close) the Gophers will host Michigan. This team is crazy good at the Barn, and not so much while on the road. Seeing as it’s the only game of the week and I can see it going either way, 1-0 and 0-1 are both in play. A win would be huge because a loss would be the 4th in 5 games
Rutgers (7-4, 3-4) KenPom #38 (45, 43)
Last week: 68-45 L at Michigan State, 79-68 L vs Ohio State
This week: Friday vs Wisconsin
A incredibly disappointing week for Rutgers and it doesn’t get easier by any means. This is the exact spot where the Scarlet Knights could benefit from a packed RAC crowd. Instead, they get the old as hell Badgers in front of cardboard. Can Rutgers find its shooting stroke again? Just 8 made three pointers in last weeks games. That’s not going to get it done. 0-1 seems more likely, but 1-0 to avoid dropping a 4th straight, including 3 straight at home, is paramount.
Michigan State (8-4, 2-4) KenPom #44 (49, 47)
Last week: 68-45 W vs Rutgers, 55-54 L vs Purdue
This week: Thursday at Iowa, Sunday vs Indiana
Well, to say the loss to Purdue was deflating wouldn’t do it justice. Yeesh, that was brutal. Giving up 26 to an average big ten big is bad, who’s next? Oof. Luka may go for 40, TJD for 35. I’m not joking. Quite simply, MSU badly needs to defend the 3 point line like they have thus far in conference play, doing such at the second best clip among big ten teams. 1-1 would be great, 0-2 would be an abject disaster but not completely unexpected. Go green, am I right!!
Maryland (7-6,2-5) KenPom #45 (17, 79)
Last week: 89-67 L vs Iowa, 66-63 W at Illinois
This week: Saturday vs Nebraska
So Maryland can get drilled at the Xfinity center and then win at the Kohl center and in Champaign? Got it. As of this writing, Nebraska postponed its home game vs Illinois on Wednesday due to covid issues and there has been no official word on Saturday’s tilt. If it’s played, 1-0 is obviously the expectation. And with that, a very surprising 2 game win streak.
Penn State (3-4, 0-3) KenPom #48 (19, 80)
Last week: COVID-19 pause
This week: Sunday at Purdue
As of this writing, no games have been postponed after the Nittany Lions had to wash 2 last week. If this is played, you can’t see anything but a not great as is team looking incredibly rust off the 18 day pause. 0-1 is the expectation here if played
Nebraska (4-8, 0-5) KenPom #121 (135, 114)
Last week: 84-76 L vs Indiana
This week: Saturday at Maryland
After a postponement at Purdue last week, they were able to get one game in and are back with the Covid troubles. Wednesday’s game vs Illinois has already been postponed, so we’ll see if Huskers ever get on the plane to Maryland. If they do, 0-1 is the expectation, shockingly, I might add.
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