2018-2019 B1G Basketball Thread

[Anonymous Coward]

What was the record that the tier system predicted for Minnesota over its last 12 or 14 games, and how's it doing so far? My hunch is that Minnesota is bearing the tiers out.

[fezzador]

Two observations from last night's games:

First, I think that Northwestern is the worst team in the B1G right now.  Looking at the whole season maybe not, but right now I think they are the team you want your team to be playing if you just need a win.  

Second, I think that Minnesota's potential path to the Tournament is getting VERY narrow.  IMHO, they really needed that game last night.  They are now 6-8 and here are the six remaining games ranked, as usual, from most likely win to most likely loss:

• @ Northwestern 2/28
• vs Indiana 2/16
• @ Rutgers 2/24
• vs Michigan 2/21
• vs Purdue 3/5
• @ Maryland 3/8

IMHO, the Gophers have little or no chance in each of the last three listed above which means that they have to win the first three.  That isn't impossible but it leaves them with almost no margin for error.  

It's probably a three-way tie between Northwestern, Penn State, and Rutgers.
And that's a DAMN strong floor too.  The worst B1G team is still probably in the upper-half of Q2.

[FearlessF]

That call is starting to make more sense...even if you wouldn't call him a "friend" of the Nebraska program

call could have gone either way very easily
wasn't a "bad" call IMO
if the game had been played in Minneapolis, it probably goes the other way
home court does have it's advantage

[medinabuckeye1]

What was the record that the tier system predicted for Minnesota over its last 12 or 14 games, and how's it doing so far? My hunch is that Minnesota is bearing the tiers out.

So far they have matched their projection almost perfectly.  They have the one upset win way back on January 3 in Madison and their other 13 games have gone according to the projection.  

[medinabuckeye1]

Could Lil Ricky survive that?  6 years and 1 tourney, with zero tourney wins.  They haven't won a postseason game of any kind since 2014, his first year.  They ran Tubby off after 6 years, and he did substantially better.

If they miss the Tournament one would have to think that he is in trouble.  

[medinabuckeye1]

B1G Bubble Watch:

IMHO, we only really have maybe three "bubble" teams.  Our top six (M, MSU, PU, UMD, UW, IA) would all be pretty safely "in" if the tournament started today.  I think that the Michigan Schools are already locks and the other four will make it barring some remarkable unexpected collapse.  

Meanwhile, at the bottom it seems that there are five teams that would need a miracle (PSU, NU, UNL, RU, IL).  That leaves just three, Ohio State, Minnesota, and Indiana.  

Ohio State hosts Illinois tonight in a game that they really need to win.  We are currently projecting an 11-9/21-10 finish for the Buckeyes and that would get them in but the problem, as I see it, is that the projection is basically a "ceiling".  The three projected losses are near-impossible games (@MSU, @UMD, @PU).  Then there are three very likely wins (vIL, vNU, @NU).  Then there are two projected wins that could really go either way (vIA, vUW).  This isn't quite a "must win" for the Buckeyes, but it isn't far from it.  If they lose at home to Illinois they'll need to make up for it by winning a more difficult game later.  

The other two bubble teams play each other in Minneapolis on Saturday and I see this game as nearly an elimination game for both teams.  The loser will absorb their ninth (MN) or tenth (IU) conference loss and while they could theoretically still make the tournament it isn't likely.  

[Brutus Buckeye]

Can't remember who it was, but when OSU played Illinois earlier in the year one of their top players had an awkward fall from above the rim. He was writhing around and wailing in pain through clenched teeth for several minutes before finally being helped to his feet where two trainers had to walk him gingerly into the locker room. Then like a minute later he miraculously came racing back onto the court as though nothing had happened, so they stuck him back into the game and he immediately picked up his fifth foul. It was kind of funny

[MaximumSam]

OSU getting the anti home cooking

[medinabuckeye1]

Well, that hurts tOSU's Tournament chances.

[bayareabadger]

OSU getting the anti home cooking

A. How so?
B. Jeez OSU

[MaximumSam]

Tough loss for the Bucks. Still a year away, watching Keyshawn Woods try to drive gives me a migraine

[Brutus Buckeye]

**sigh** 

So done with Basketball... 

[medinabuckeye1]

After the win in Bloomington it looked like the Buckeyes were in good shape but now they are back to close/barely in.

[NickSmith4Three]

10 years since Illinois won at OSU.  It's exciting to be excited about Illinois basketball again.