Hoops Insider Inside One of College Basketball’S Premier Conferences | Compiled by Patrick Stevens, Special to Gatehouse Media
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HOOPS INSIDER INSIDE ONE OF COLLEGE BASKETBALL’S PREMIER CONFERENCES | COMPILED BY PATRICK STEVENS, SPECIAL TO GATEHOUSE MEDIA STORY OF THE WEEK RANKING THE LEAGUE * The divide expands: Nobody in the Big Ten, not even Nebraska, has done enough against the established top tier of 1. Purdue (23-2): Carsen Edwards and the Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Purdue to have an open-and-shut postseason case — or even a chance Boilermakers ran their winning streak to 19 at one with anything short of a Big Ten tournament title. The top four are a combined 36-2 against the rest of the with victories over Maryland and Rutgers. conference through Monday. Add Nebraska, and the top five are a combined 41-2 against the other nine (with Penn Purdue’s run at a No. 1 seed continues with State knocking off both the Huskers and Ohio State). The longer this dominance the last, the more meaningless (and its toughest week in league play. (Last week: 1) depressing) the first two days of the conference tournament will be in New York. 2. Michigan State (22-3): While Purdue right- fully gets credit for its defensive intensity, STOCK RISING STOCK FALLING it’s the Spartans who lead the Big Ten in Nebraska: The Cornhuskers didn’t Wisconsin: The Badgers’ losing streak defensive efficiency according to KenPom. play for more than a week after reached five games with Sunday’s com. (LW: 2) last Monday’s defeat of Wisconsin, 68-63 loss at Maryland, a contest Greg which goes to show you sometimes Gard’s team might have lost anyway 3. Ohio State (20-5): It’s been six years since remaining the same improves the but ultimately frittered away because the Buckeyes needed 25 games or less to get lot of a bubble team. But the reality for Tim Miles’ team of a seven-minute disappearing act at the end of the to 20 wins; they were 20-3 to open the 2011- is that it can’t afford losses down the stretch, and it first half and youthful forgetfulness of score and situa- 12 season. (LW: 3) entered the week on a three-game winning streak after tion in the closing seconds. In so many ways, Wisconsin dropping a game at Ohio State on Jan. 22. James Palmer doesn’t look like Wisconsin, and while inexperience is 4. Michigan (19-6): Outlasted Minnesota in Jr. and Nebraska get their two toughest remaining certainly a factor, the Badgers simply aren’t as tough overtime after smothering Northwestern games (Maryland and Penn State) at home, and there’s or as opportunistic as they’ve always been over the earlier in the week. Michigan’s task is to a chance the Huskers could construct an interesting last two decades. With Michigan, Michigan State and keep stacking 2-0 weeks like this the rest of NCAA Tournament case on sheer quantity if it can domi- Purdue still to come, the Badgers appear headed for a the way. (LW: 4) nate the final three weeks of the regular season. date on the first day of the league tournament. 5. Nebraska (17-8): The Cornhuskers are the clear choice for this spot, and a friendly schedule means a 20-win season is within WEEKEND SPOTLIGHT sight. (LW: 5) 6. Penn State (16-9): Since getting back to full strength, the Nittany Lions have won at Ohio State and put a scare into Michigan State. This is the sleeper team for the Big Ten tournament. (LW: 6) 7. Northwestern (14-10): It’s been hard for the Wildcats to stay hungry after last year’s NCAA bid, but three wins in a four-game span is an encouraging sign. There’s a good enough nucleus in place to create headaches in a league tournament setting. (LW: 8) 8. Maryland (16-9): The Terrapins would have had problems at Purdue at full strength, let alone with their frontcourt depleted. The Anthony Cowan/Kevin Huerter duo was enough to fend off Wisconsin to snap a three- game slide. (LW: 9) 9. Indiana (13-12): Losing consecutive games to Purdue, Ohio State and Michigan State is a reasonable reality check for a Hoosier team that wasn’t well-positioned to do much in coach Archie Miller’s first season, anyway. (LW: 7) 10. Minnesota (14-11): Credit to the Golden Gophers for putting up a good fight at Michigan. Still, that’s five losses in a row and eight in nine games for Richard Pitino’s struggling team. (LW: 10) 11. Iowa (12-13): The Hawkeyes have shown an ability to pick off teams near the bottom of the conference … and not much else. (LW: 11) 12. Illinois (12-12): The Illini hammered Purdue huddles during the second half against Indiana Sunday in Bloomington, Ind. The Boilermakers won Rutgers 91-60 to record their most lopsided 74-67. [DARRON CUMMINGS/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS] conference victory in a decade last week. Brad Underwood’s team is spunky, even if its record is uninspiring. (LW: 13) Purdue at Michigan State Weekend slate All times Eastern Saturday, 4 p.m. EST, Breslin Center, 13. Wisconsin (10-15): Even in a Big Ten with Time Game TV East Lansing, Mich., ESPN a shaky bottom half, there aren’t many more SATURDAY victories floating around for the Badgers this Noon Northwestern at Maryland ESPN2 This caps as pivotal a week as there can be season. (LW: 12) 4 p.m. Rutgers at Nebraska BTN for Purdue, a team that made it through last 6 p.m. Iowa at Ohio State BTN weekend without a loss since Thanksgiving 14. Rutgers (12-14): Same goes for the and cemented for the time being as a No. 1 Scarlet Knights, which plays three of its next SUNDAY seed in projected brackets coast to coach. four on the road before closing the regular 1 p.m. Michigan at Wisconsin CBS Of course, the Boilermakers haven’t faced a season at home against Illinois. (LW: 14) 7 p.m. Penn State at Illinois BTN challenge quite like Michigan State on the road this season in what is easily the signa- *Through Feb. 5 ture game of the conference schedule this season (that’s with apologies to Ohio State, an excellent team with a little less star power than the Spartans). Michigan State had won six in a row entering the week, and it is one of the few teams in the league with the ability to counter Purdue’s strength in the frontcourt. Both Nick Ward and NUMBERS OF NOTE Jaren Jackson Jr. will be tested going against the Boilermakers’ Vincent Edwards and Isaac Haas. 400 PLAYERS OF THE WEEK Career victories for Iowa coach Fran McCaffery, who reached the milestone last week when the Hawkeyes • F Keita Bates-Diop, Ohio • G Tony Carr, Penn • G James Palmer Jr., • G Isaiah Washington, handled Minnesota 94-80. State: Averaged 24.0 State: Notched aver- Nebraska: Posted Minnesota: The league’s points, 13.0 rebounds and ages of 22 points, six 28 points and eight top freshman of the week 2 3.0 assists while help- rebounds and five assists rebounds to lead the after posting averages of Big Ten teams in the last 20 years to open league play ing the Buckeyes defeat as the Nittany Lions fell Cornhuskers past Wis- 20.5 points, 3.5 rebounds at 12-0. Prior to Purdue doing so this season, the last Indiana and Illinois. to Michigan State and consin in their lone game and 5.0 assists against Big Ten team to win its first 12 conference games was ripped Iowa. of the week. Iowa and Michigan. 2004-05 Illinois, which won its first 15. 6x3 ad position.