2018-2019 B1G Basketball Thread

[medinabuckeye1]

Work to do 2:

• 7-8/17-9 Minnesota:  The Gophers need to finish strong but it is certainly possible.  They have two opportunities at home for quality wins, Michigan tomorrow night and Purdue on March 5.  Additionally they have two road games that they should probably win (RU, NU).  The problem is that I don't see any of those (maybe NU) as gimmies and the Gophers obviously need wins.  

I want to expand a bit on Minnesota because I think they are an interesting case.  They are 7-8/17-9 but we project them to finish 0-5 which would obviously knock them out.  What I find interesting is that it wouldn't be shocking for them to win each of four of their remaining games no for them to lose each of their remaining five.  The only thing they could do that would really surprise me would be to beat Maryland in College Park in their last game on March 8.  Other than that they have two home games against good teams (M, PU) and two road games against bad teams (RU, NU).  I feel like all four of those could plausibly go either way.  

[Anonymous Coward]

I think the Michigan fan base is not going to enjoy the end of the season. They definitely seem to expect, at worst, a tie with Purdue for the championship. But I favor the tier predictions and just don't see it.

[JerseyTerrapin]

I think the Michigan fan base is not going to enjoy the end of the season. They definitely seem to expect, at worst, a tie with Purdue for the championship. But I favor the tier predictions and just don't see it.

I do, if that helps your state of mind...

[ELA]

I think the Michigan fan base is not going to enjoy the end of the season. They definitely seem to expect, at worst, a tie with Purdue for the championship. But I favor the tier predictions and just don't see it.

I can't see MSU winning, even at home, against UM without their 2nd and 3rd best players.  But I agree, I think they drop either this week in the Barn, or at Maryland.  They just simply haven't looked good away from Crisler except for the Villanova game (over 3 months ago) and Indiana.

[betarhoalphadelta]

I think the Michigan fan base is not going to enjoy the end of the season. They definitely seem to expect, at worst, a tie with Purdue for the championship. But I favor the tier predictions and just don't see it.

To be fair, though, it's not like Purdue looked good in their win last night over IU. Scoring 48 points, shooting 31.7% overall, only 20% from 3pt, and 44.4% from the foul line. Ugly game, only two games after their terrible shooting performance at Maryland (28.2% overall, 21.2% from 3pt, 64.3% from the foul line). 
Purdue is in a bit of a funk. I think a lot of this is Tre Williams who has been down with strep throat and playing limited minutes, but Carsen has responded by going back to "hero ball" mode... He shot 4-24 against IU, fer chrissakes! Not clear how easily they can pull out of this and return to the strong form they were showing to start B1G play...
While the Penn State game at home was a lot better, this team has not been shooting well on the road of late. They still need to play @UNL, @MIN, and @NU... If these shooting performances continue, there's a lot of danger there. 

[847badgerfan]

Is the nail in the coffin for IU yet?

That happened when Miles Brand fired Bobby Knight.

[ELA]

MSU is just smoke and mirrors and Winston now.  With Happ getting taken out late in close games, and Edwards reverting to hero ball, if Winston wills MSU to a solid finish, he may swoop in and win POTY.

[MaximumSam]

On pace for a 24-16 final in Columbus

[msufan23]

MSU is just smoke and mirrors and Winston now.  With Happ getting taken out late in close games, and Edwards reverting to hero ball, if Winston wills MSU to a solid finish, he may swoop in and win POTY.

Swoop in? I feel like he has been the leader in the clubhouse since late Jan

[ELA]

Swoop in? I feel like he has been the leader in the clubhouse since late Jan

All the national talk has been Happ/Edwards.  I'll buy Edwards.  Happ has the best PER in the conference, but I'm sorry, you can't be the POTY if you have to be removed late in clutch situations.

[msufan23]

All the national talk has been Happ/Edwards.  I'll buy Edwards.  Happ has the best PER in the conference, but I'm sorry, you can't be the POTY if you have to be removed late in clutch situations.

I feel like every game I watch Cash seems to be the guy that ends up at the top of the conversation. PER is also a lot nicer to big men. Both Ward and Tillman have higher PER then Cash. I lean towards Win Shares as my go to if Im picking one stat. Cash leads the BIG with 5.3 WS for the season. 

[ELA]

Sounds like Ahrens may be back out.  Maybe I can play Sunday

[Brutus Buckeye]

[ELA]

I mostly like Bilas, but he couldn't have spent more time pushing the Zion injury as an excuse tonight, as a fan would.