2020-2021 B1G Basketball Thread

[ELA]

At what point does Izzo admit this junior class is a bust?

Loyer and Kithier suck, taking Bingham over Williams over is a disaster.  Thankfully Henry and Brown have outplayed their ratings, but they were the two lowest rates recruits in the class.

Loyer and Kithier getting the minutes they got tonight in a Big Ten game is unforgivable.  MSU went from playing a crap lineup to playing a white flag lineup

[MaximumSam]

Northwestern dropping bodies. No one is safe.

[medinabuckeye1]

I just want to point out that Rutgers is alone atop the B1G standings at 2-0.  On Wednesday the Buckeyes will host the league leaders in Columbus!  

[ELA]

Northwestern dropping bodies. No one is safe.

For some reason that building always gives us terrible problems. We lost there a few years ago, a couple years back we set the NCAA record for biggest comeback, and even last year I think we only won there by maybe five?

[medinabuckeye1]

For some reason that building always gives us terrible problems. We lost there a few years ago, a couple years back we set the NCAA record for biggest comeback, and even last year I think we only won there by maybe five?

Didn't MSU have an "and-one" year in the B1G a while back where the "one" was a loss to a sub .500 Northwestern?  

[HawkFrenzy]

I think Jalen Suggs is playing himself into being the #1 pick.

Definitely a lottery pick. Dude couldn't miss even when contested. Still, Iowa shooters were way off all day 4-22 from 3 and 14-26 from the line. The stats show Iowa was outrebounded by 11 but it was really much worse than that, especially if you look at offensive boards. Correct any one of those and we have a different game. Barring injury or a bad timing COVID issue, this team can hang with anyone and should go deep in the tourney. Hopefully a rematch in March.

[ELA]

Didn't MSU have an "and-one" year in the B1G a while back where the "one" was a loss to a sub .500 Northwestern? 

They had a 14-4 year where they won the Big Ten by 4 games, but lost to NW and PSU.  But they lost at home to Northwestern, with Kevin Coble and...?

[ELA]

Now I remember how much I hated watching mid-aughts Wisconsin basketball

[HawkFrenzy]

I am a chord cutter so I didn't watch the game but listening to it, sounds like Purdue and Iowa actually played defense. Sure both went thru periods when shots just wouldn't drop but it sounds like the rest of the time the D was pretty solid. It also seems that Purdue learned the same lesson as ISU, if you get Garza to the bench because of foul trouble, he just comes back rested. He didn't blow up for 20 after taking a rest like he did against ISU but he did make a difference. I also hope Wieskamp can keep his current pace, if not, I am sure Bohannon will find his shot again.

[bayareabadger]

Now I remember how much I hated watching mid-aughts Wisconsin basketball

Badgers played like trash early and then just mashed. Hope that's a sign of the UW power that can be brought to bear.

Nebraska is interesting. They aggressively clog the paint and say, here's all the open shots you want, hit 'em. UW didn't for parts of last night, and then their offense relies on swishing some 25-footers. They're the kind of team you can hit 40 percent from 2 and 45 from 3 on the right night.

UW didn't do that, but it held the Huskers to just a miserable shooting night, and that'll kill you. 

[FearlessF]

Badgers played like trash early and then just mashed. Hope that's a sign of the UW power that can be brought to bear.

Nebraska is interesting. They aggressively clog the paint and say, here's all the open shots you want, hit 'em. UW didn't for parts of last night, and then their offense relies on swishing some 25-footers. They're the kind of team you can hit 40 percent from 2 and 45 from 3 on the right night.

UW didn't do that, but it held the Huskers to just a miserable shooting night, and that'll kill you.

the Huskers only know miserable shooting

[medinabuckeye1]

Here are the Worldwide leader's BPI rankings and "points above/below average" that they calculate each team to be:

• #2 Iowa, 13.9
• #10 Wisconsin, 11.4
• #11 Illinois, 10.9
• #17 Michigan State, 9.9
• #21 Indiana, 9.6
• #24 Michigan, 9.4
• #26 Ohio State, 9.3
• #34 Rutgers, 8.2
• #43 Purdue, 7.5
• #44 Penn State, 7.5
• #51 Northwestern, 6.5
• #52 Maryland, 6.5
• #56 Minnesota, 6.4
• #101 Nebraska, 3.3

I certainly do not agree with all of that but it is something to start from.  

[MaximumSam]

First half winding down. Cold shooting for the Bucks and hot shooting for Rutgers. Rutgers is really good - they can attack the rim and shoot, and they play strong defense and have a legit rim protector.

[betarhoalphadelta]

Here are the Worldwide leader's BPI rankings and "points above/below average" that they calculate each team to be:

• #2 Iowa, 13.9
• #10 Wisconsin, 11.4
• #11 Illinois, 10.9
• #17 Michigan State, 9.9
• #21 Indiana, 9.6
• #24 Michigan, 9.4
• #26 Ohio State, 9.3
• #34 Rutgers, 8.2
• #43 Purdue, 7.5
• #44 Penn State, 7.5
• #51 Northwestern, 6.5
• #52 Maryland, 6.5
• #56 Minnesota, 6.4
• #101 Nebraska, 3.3

I certainly do not agree with all of that but it is something to start from. 

After half-watching the replay of the Iowa/Purdue game I'm not sure whether I trust that Iowa is fully "there". Iowa certainly didn't light it up offensively (their calling card because they suck defensively), and they were in their home arena. Purdue was in a lot of trouble matchup-wise, because Purdue's bigs are only really effective close to the basket while Garza has range, which isn't a good matchup for us. Outside of that, Iowa shot poorly [Purdue shot slightly worse], but the real difference was at the foul line. In the first half Iowa was in the bonus very early and that had a lot to do with their 10 pt halftime lead. I don't think overall they outplayed Purdue by very much elsewhere. 

Iowa's certainly a good team, but #2 nationally? I don't buy it. I think there are more than a few teams that have the tools to completely expose them.