2018-2019 B1G Basketball Thread

[medinabuckeye1]

This week:
As we close in on the end of the season we appear to be reverting to the old style of scheduling with weekday games on Tue/Wed/Thur only and weekend games.  

At this point all 14 teams have played either 16 or 17 games.  MSU and RU have each played 17 and they are off this week so after Thursday's games all 14 teams will have played either 17 or 18 games.  

This week's six games:

• Purdue hosts Illinois in a game that the Boilermakers should win.  
• Michigan hosts Nebraska in a game that the Wolverines should win.  
• Wisconsin visits Indiana in a game that the Badgers should win.  
• Maryland visits Penn State in a game that the Terps should win.  
• Iowa visits Ohio State in a game that could go either way (we project an Ohio State win).  
• Minnesota is at Northwestern in a game that could go either way (we project a Northwestern win)

IMHO, the last two games are, by far, the most interesting this week for two reasons:

• Because they involve the only two bubble teams in the B1G, and
• Because unlike the other four where I am pretty confident in our projection, I see these as games that could go either way:

Iowa at Ohio State:
The Worldwide leader, in their bubble watch, strongly suggested that an Iowa win would move the Hawkeyes up to "Lock" status.  I agree.  On the other side, Ohio State really needs a win here.  The Bubbling Buckeyes are dangerously close to the cut line and a win here would help a LOT.  

Minnesota at Northwestern:
The Worldwide leader recently dropped Minnesota from barely in to barely out and the Gophers are desperate for wins.  It is getting very difficult to see a path to an at-large bid for the Gophers and with a loss in Evanston it would be nearly impossible.  

[ELA]

I think it's a testament to the individual talent of Simpson and Matthews defensively, and the scheme as a whole, because Poole might be as bad a defender as there is in the Big Ten.  They are the 2nd best defense in nation, in spite of 20% of their personnel being awful at it.

UM Hoops writer also not a fan.  Yaklich is largely able to hide him, but not always.  I also find it funny, someone else pointed out how animated he is on the sideline as soon as the breakdown occurs, and some of that is pointed out here

https://twitter.com/eric_shap/status/1100390026125336576

[ELA]

Massey composite rankings (63 rankings), with last week in parenthesis...

• Duke (1)
• Virginia (2)
• Gonzaga (3)
• North Carolina (7)
• Kentucky (4)
• MICHIGAN STATE (6)
• Tennessee (5)
• MICHIGAN (8)
• Texas Tech (11)
• Houston (10)
• PURDUE (13)
• Kansas (9)
• Marquette (19)
• LSU (14)
• Nevada (12)
• Virginia Tech (18)
• WISCONSIN (20)
• Florida State (16)
• MARYLAND (22)
• Buffalo (23)
• Iowa State (15)
• Kansas State (-)
• Louisville (17)
• Auburn (24)
• Cincinnati (-)

• 27. Iowa (26)
• 40. Ohio State (37)
• 46. Minnesota (45)
• 49. Nebraska (44)
• 60. Indiana (58)
• 63. Penn State (79)
• 86. Illinois (77)
• 88. Rutgers (97)
• 90. Northwestern (84)

[MaximumSam]

OSU could really use a win. Sounds like CJ Jackson will play tonight

[ELA]

Because it's Iowa, this game ain't over

[847badgerfan]

I can't figure Iowa out. Weird team.

[MaximumSam]

Huge win for the Buckeyes, led by an eye popping 29 points from Justin Ahrens in just his second start

[Brutus Buckeye]

[medinabuckeye1]

Huge win for the Buckeyes who were sliding dangerously close to the cut line.

FWIW, Iowa is now mathematically eliminated from contention for the league title. 

[847badgerfan]

Interesting game in Bloomington right now. UW is in a dogfight with the home team. 


Neither team has names on the back of their jerseys. I like this.

[ELA]

https://twitter.com/KyleRowland/status/1100575690548830208?s=19

[847badgerfan]

He's a nut job. If he could just channel his coaching, he'd be good. But, he can't. Kids feed off their coach.

[ELA]

Indiana has the most dangerous ceiling of any 4-12 Big Ten team ever

[847badgerfan]

Indiana has the most dangerous ceiling of any 4-12 Big Ten team ever

Badgers are in the danger zone. They need to set the tone and they aren't.