2018-2019 B1G Basketball Thread

[ELA]

I don't think so.  They recently lost at home to Northwestern.  If you look at it, they have two big upset home wins.  One was over Nebraska and the other over Ohio State.  In both cases their victims were coming off of hard-fought home losses to your Spartans then traveling to New Jersey to play the Scarlet Knights on short rest.  It happens.  

Nebraska wasn't on short rest against Rutgers.

[medinabuckeye1]

Nebraska wasn't on short rest against Rutgers.

Fair point.  I guess technically Ohio State wasn't either.  Ohio State lost at home to MSU on Saturday, January 5 then lost at Rutgers on Wednesday, January 9.  Nebraska lost at home to MSU on Thursday, January 17 then lost at Rutgers on Monday, January 21.  
So my use of the term "short rest" was incorrect.  Still, both teams lost hard-fought home games against a very good team, then traveled to New Jersey four days later and lost a game they should have won.  

[ELA]

Fair point.  I guess technically Ohio State wasn't either.  Ohio State lost at home to MSU on Saturday, January 5 then lost at Rutgers on Wednesday, January 9.  Nebraska lost at home to MSU on Thursday, January 17 then lost at Rutgers on Monday, January 21.  
So my use of the term "short rest" was incorrect.  Still, both teams lost hard-fought home games against a very good team, then traveled to New Jersey four days later and lost a game they should have won.  

I think the fact that you are coming up with reasons why those were legit losses, and not big upsets, considering where Rutgers has been, alone is enough for me to say that they must be playing better.

[847badgerfan]

I think both Rutgers and Illinois are playing better than they are being credited for lately.

[ELA]

Massey composite rankings (59 rankings), with last week in parenthesis (remember it does not factor in last night's results)...

• Virginia (2)
• Duke (1)
• Tennessee (3)
• MICHIGAN STATE (4)
• Gonzaga (5)
• MICHIGAN (6)
• Kansas (7)
• North Carolina (10)
• Virginia Tech (9)
• MARYLAND (17)
• Kentucky (16)
• Nevada (11)
• Texas Tech (8)
• PURDUE (19)
• Louisville (22)
• Houston (20)
• Buffalo (14)
• Auburn (12)
• Iowa State (-)
• LSU (-)
• NEBRASKA (18)
• Marquette (23)
• IOWA (-)
• Mississippi State (-)
• Villanova (21)

• 26. Wisconsin (26)
• 36. Indiana (27)
• 37. Ohio State (33)
• 56. Minnesota (42)
• 65. Northwestern (60)
• 85. Penn State (79)
• 125. Illinois (129)
• 132. Rutgers (104)

[Entropy]

I think the fact that you are coming up with reasons why those were legit losses, and not big upsets, considering where Rutgers has been, alone is enough for me to say that they must be playing better.

UNL has not changed their stripes..... Under Miles they can play with or beat a top 25 team, but also lose to UNO... or Rutgers. 

[JerseyTerrapin]

 

We get home, hopefully get 2 at home, and I wouldn't be surprised to drop the next 2 at Wiscy and Neb.

Don't forget that Saturday's "home" game vs. Illinois is at Madison Square Garden...

[847badgerfan]

Don't forget that Saturday's "home" game vs. Illinois is at Madison Square Garden...

If Illinois can't put 5000 asses in Chicago's United Center, I wouldn't worry about them having any advantage in New York.

[mcwterps1]

Don't forget that Saturday's "home" game vs. Illinois is at Madison Square Garden...

That's right JT. Forgot. 
MSG dubbed as Maryland's home away from home. 
We'll see. 
I still don't see this team as a "tier 2" given the youth, and the grind of the season.

[FearlessF]

UNL has not changed their stripes..... Under Miles they can play with or beat a top 25 team, but also lose to UNO... or Rutgers.

play well at home, play like crap on the road

[ELA]

Doesn't the conference do a basketball/hockey doubleheader there every year?

[847badgerfan]

Doesn't the conference do a basketball/hockey doubleheader there every year?

I think so. But this one makes no sense at all. Maryland/Illinois for hoops and Michigan/Penn State for hockey. Ummm… who plans this crap? If anything, they should have the hockey schools also play hoops on the same day. You might get some more interest that way. Not sure how much though. NYC is an expensive trip for a regular game.

The first year had UM and PSU playing both sports. Then it was UW playing both (BB against RU and H against OSU). Last year was Minnie playing both (BB against OSU and H against MSU). This year makes no sense at all.

[ELA]

I think so. But this one makes no sense at all. Maryland/Illinois for hoops and Michigan/Penn State for hockey. Ummm… who plans this crap? If anything, they should have the hockey schools also play hoops on the same day. You might get some more interest that way. Not sure how much though. NYC is an expensive trip for a regular game.

The first year had UM and PSU playing both sports. Then it was UW playing both (BB against RU and H against OSU). Last year was Minnie playing both (BB against OSU and H against MSU). This year makes no sense at all.

We've said that before, but then it only forces the hockey schools to have to put up with the BS

[ELA]

Iowa offering free parking to everyone and free admission to all students for the MSU game on Thursday night, to try and get a big home atmosphere.