2019-2020 B1G Basketball Thread

[Abba]

A lot can still change, but I don't think it's premature to draw some preliminary conclusions so far.

Maryland, Michigan, and Ohio State appear to be the top teams so far.

Sparty, Penn State, and Iowa could all still be top 25 caliber teams, as well.

Indiana, Purdue, and Illinois are good enough to make the tournament, too.

Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Rutgers appear to be NIT contenders.

Nebraska and Northwestern are at the bottom though actually not quite as terrible as I expected and might pull some upsets in conference play.

I'd move Sparty up, move Illinois down and combine what's left of tiers 2 and 3.

[847badgerfan]

Wisconsin will finish in the top 4 of the Big Ten. It's what they do.

[Abba]

Wisconsin will finish in the top 4 of the Big Ten. It's what they do.

I thought that streak was finally broken a few years ago.  But point taken for the most part.  Guard has some work ahead of him, but an encouraging win to start things off.

[FearlessF]

it was

[medinabuckeye1]

It has been a somewhat unusual start to the B1G season in that, with the possible exception of IU@UW, every game has involved the obviously superior team hosting the obviously inferior team.  So far those superior home teams are 7-0:

• Michigan > Iowa in Ann Arbor
• Maryland > Illinois in College Park
• Ohio State > Penn State in Columbus
• Wisconsin > Indiana in Madison
• Michigan State > Rutgers in East Lansing
• Purdue > Northwestern in West Lafayette
• Iowa > Minnesota in Iowa City

Things should get a little more interesting starting tonight or perhaps tomorrow.  Tonight:

• Maryland is at Penn State.  Maryland is #4 in the AP and almost certainly the better team but Penn State looks dangerous and the game is in Happy Valley.  

Tomorrow: Wednesday, December 11:

• Michigan is at Illinois.  Michigan is #5 in the AP and almost certainly the better team but the Illini are dangerous and gave Maryland everything they could handle in College Park.  
• Wisconsin is at Rutgers.  So far this does not appear to be the typical RU team of the past few years that will struggle to find a half-dozen wins in the league.  Also, so far this does not appear to be the typical UW team that was a longtime fixture in the top-4 of the league.  In Picastaway this could be a good game.  

Friday, December 13:

• Nebraska is at Indiana.  I can't make this sound interesting, IU should roll.  

Sunday, December 18:

• Michigan State is at Northwestern.  I can't make this sound interesting, MSU should roll.  

There are also some interesting OOC games this week and weekend.  

[FearlessF]

was watching Iowa/Minnesoota last night

when was the last time there were 3 Big Ten Teams in the top 5 and one of them wasn't Michigan State?

[ELA]

was watching Iowa/Minnesoota last night

when was the last time there were 3 Big Ten Teams in the top 5 and one of them wasn't Michigan State?

When was the last time there were three in the top 5 period?

[FearlessF]

Gene Keady/Bobby Knight daze?

Early/mid 80's?

[mcwterps1]

I've seen enough. Maryland getting mauled in this one and not a single whistle until the 10 minute mark? 

This is the game they're going to step in and balance the field? 

F em. 

[MaximumSam]

Maryland on the ropes

[ELA]

So will Kansas or OSU be the 5th #1 of the season.

As bad as Kansas looked against Duke in their opener, who would've believed they'd be in this position by mid-December?

[medinabuckeye1]

Maryland on the ropes

Penn State has themselves a win over a top-5 team.

[mcwterps1]

Penn State has themselves a win over a top-5 team.

"It's home cookin', what you gonna do?" - Dan Dakich

[MaximumSam]

"It's home cookin', what you gonna do?" - Dan Dakich

Every night in every game.