HOOPS INSIDER INSIDE ONE OF COLLEGE ’S PREMIER CONFERENCES | COMPILED BY PATRICK STEVENS, SPECIAL TO GATEHOUSE MEDIA

STORY OF THE WEEK RANKING THE LEAGUE *

Ohio State’s strong conference start: Between a meltdown against Butler to getting outplayed at home by ACC 1. Michigan State (7-1): The Spartans beat midpack regular Clemson, the Buckeyes were not playing in overwhelming fashion when they began conference a pair of top-10 teams by 18 points in a five- play. But a blistering 25-point victory at Wisconsin coupled with an impressive rally over Michigan at home have day span when they handled North Carolina improved the prospects of ’s first team in Columbus. Freshman Kaleb Wesson has instantly become and Notre Dame. ’s team had two a vital piece, and Keita Bates-Diop had a strong game against Michigan. victories over top-10 teams by such lopsided margins in the previous 14 seasons combined. (Last week: 1) STOCK RISING STOCK FALLING 2. Minnesota (8-1): Chalk the lone loss up a Indiana: The Hoosiers enjoyed about : That’s five losses in six games little bit to Dupree McBrayer’s absence and as good a 1-2 week as anyone could for the Hawkeyes, who find them- a little bit to how good Miami is this season. have imagined. On Wednesday, they selves in the same 4-5 hole they were Jordan Murphy remains one of the nation’s pushed national No. 1 Duke deep in last year. That team was led by most effective interior players. (LW: 2) into the second half before fading, senior Peter Jok, and it eventually a quality showing for Archie Miller’s rebuilding team. figured things out enough to win seven of 10 before a 3. Purdue (8-2): The two-day hiccup in the Then Indiana managed a split to open conference play, quick ouster in the Big Ten tournament ended its NCAA Bahamas is the only thing keeping the Boil- falling to Michigan before bagging a victory over Iowa. hopes. These Hawkeyes are leaning heavily on fresh- ermakers from a top-10 ranking nationally. This isn’t to suggest Juwan Morgan (13.8 ppg) and the men and sophomores, with sophomore Tyler Cook (14.6 ’s team was tough down the Hoosiers are well on their way to an NCAA tournament ppg) leading the team in scoring. Iowa’s offense isn’t stretch against Louisville, Maryland and Northwestern. appearance this year, but it does look like Miller will as crisp as it was last year, but its defense is struggling (LW: 5) keep them plenty competitive in a struggling confer- every bit as much. Losses to Penn State and Indiana do ence once league play resumes next month. not bode well for when league play resumes. 4. Maryland (7-3): Somebody’s got to be No. 4, and it might as well be the team with three losses by a combined nine points. Sur- viving Illinois was crucial, especially after WEEKEND SPOTLIGHT coughing up a 22-point lead. (LW: 7)

5. Ohio State (7-3): The Buckeyes will spend the next four weeks tied for the conference lead, and that’s better than most would have expected heading into last weekend. (LW: 9)

6. Michigan (7-3): Now 1-3 against power conference teams after falling at North Carolina and splitting the opening weekend of Big Ten play. The Wolverines get UCLA and Texas next. (LW: 3)

7. Penn State (7-3): Tony Carr attempted 22 field goals (and made five) in a one-point loss to Wisconsin. The Nittany Lions need to develop options beyond their top three or four players, and in a hurry. (LW: 4)

8. Northwestern (5-4): Avoided a loss to Illinois, then played tough at Purdue. The Wildcats remain firmly in the middle of the pack despite a 1-2 week overall. (LW: 8)

9. Nebraska (6-3): One of only three Big Ten teams to hold up their end of the deal in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, beating Boston College. That counts for something in this exercise. (LW: 12)

10. Indiana (5-4): With Louisville and Notre Dame up next, things don’t get any easier for a Hoosier team that’s shown some signs of life since an ugly opening night loss to Indiana State. (LW: 13)

11. Illinois (6-3): Reality strikes as the Illini drop three in a six-day span to Wake Forest, Minnesota center Reggie Lynch dunks over Rutgers forward Eugene Omoruyi during the first half Sunday in Northwestern and Maryland. Credit them Minneapolis. The Gophers won 89-67. [Bruce Kluckhohn/the associated press] for a comeback to make things interesting against Maryland, but there’s a lot of work to do. (LW: 6) Minnesota at Arkansas Weekend slate All times EST Saturday, 6:45 p.m. EST, Bud Walton Arena, Time Game TV 12. Wisconsin (4-5): Ended a 1-5 slide with a Fayetteville, Ark., SEC Network SATURDAY one-point defeat of Penn State, but it might It’s a rematch of Minnesota’s 85-71 vic- Noon UCLA at Michigan CBS be time to wonder if the Badgers’ remark- tory at the Barn last season, and it’s a vital Noon William & Mary at Ohio State BTN+ able NCAA tournament streak is in danger of nonconference test for two teams that Noon Marquette at Wisconsin Fox/FS1 ending this season. (LW: 10) harbor credible ambitions of escaping the 12:30 p.m. Gardner-Webb at Maryland BTN+ first weekend of the NCAA tournament in 2 p.m. Indiana at Louisville ESPN 13. Rutgers (6-2): It seems reality has March. The Golden Gophers absorbed their 2:30 p.m. Nebraska at Creighton FS1 arrived for the Scarlet Knights, whose first first loss of the season last week, falling to 4 p.m. George Washington at Penn State BTN two games against power conference foes Miami as starting guard Dupree McBrayer 6 p.m. Southern Utah at Michigan State BTN (Florida State and Minnesota) resulted in sat out. He was back in time for Minnesota’s 7 p.m. Fairleigh Dickinson at Rutgers BTN+ losses. (LW: 11) 89-67 romp over Rutgers. Arkansas largely Midnight Illinois at UNLV ESPN2 looked good in the opening month of the Sunday 14. Iowa (4-5): Can’t anyone here play any season, sandwiching impressive defeats of 5 p.m. Southern at Iowa BTN defense? (LW: 14) Oklahoma and Connecticut around a loss to 7 p.m. IUPUI at Purdue BTN North Carolina at the PK80 Invitational. But the Razorbacks were poor in Saturday’s loss *Records through Dec. 4 to Houston, and this is easily the best opportunity for senior guards Jaylen Barford and Daryl Macon to get an extra quality victory between now and the start of SEC play.

NUMBER OF NOTE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

• C , Purdue: • G Nate Mason, Minne- • F Nick Ward, Michigan • C Kaleb Wesson, Ohio 602 Averaged 18.7 points, 6.7 sota: Helped the Golden State: In defeats of Notre State: Averaged 17 points Career assists for Northwestern guard Bryant McIn- rebounds and 1.3 blocks Gophers split with Miami Dame and Nebraska, the and four rebounds while tosh, the 13th player in Big Ten history to surpass the as the Boilermakers won and Rutgers, averaging sophomore notched 17.0 shooting 65 percent 600-assist plateau. McIntosh passed former Michigan three times overall and 20.5 points, 3.0 rebounds points, 6.0 rebounds and from the floor in a pair of State guard Eric Snow and enters the week No. 12 on twice in conference play. and 6.0 assists. 1.5 blocks per contest. Buckeye victories. the league’s all-time assists list.

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