On tap today:
15-12/9-11 #8 Maryland vs 15-11/9-11 #9 Michigan State, 11:30am, BTN:
In the only prior meeting, less than two weeks ago, the Terps jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, leading the entire way and winning by 18, 73-55 in College Park. To be fair to the Spartans, this was during the "catch-up" phase of their schedule when they were playing games at a blistering pace and they may have simply been exhausted. Over their last seven games, the Spartans went 5-2 including wins over #2 Michigan, #4 Ohio State, and #5 Illinois. Their only losses over that stretch were the loss at Maryland and a loss at Michigan. In their own last seven games the Terps won five straight to start looking solidly like a tournament team but then lost back-to-back games to two of the league's worst teams (NU, PSU) to finish back on the bubble.
The winner will find 19-3/14-3 #1 Michigan waiting for them at 11:30 tomorrow.
18-8/12-8 #5 Ohio State vs 14-14/6-14 #13 Minnesota, 2pm, BTN:
In the only prior meeting on January 3 the Gophers led nearly the entire game and won by 17, 77-60 in Minneapolis. The Buckeyes enter this game on a four game losing streak so that obviously is not good. On the other hand, three of the four losses were to AP top-10 teams (M, IA, IL) and the fourth was to a surging Michigan State so maybe softer opposition is what the Buckeyes need. Minnesota entered the BTT looking listless after a seven-game losing streak but beat Northwestern last night so who knows.
The winner will find 18-8/13-6 #4 Purdue waiting for them at 2 tomorrow.
14-10/10-10 #7 Rutgers vs 12-14/7-12 #10 Indiana, 630pm, BTN:
These two teams met twice previously with Rutgers winning both. The Scarlet Knights won 74-70 in Bloomington on January 24 and 74-63 in Piscataway exactly a month later. Rutgers is on a bit of a skid having lost three of their last five including a bad loss to Nebraska while Indiana has lost five straight and six out of seven.
The winner will find 20-6/16-4 #2 Illinois waiting for them at 630 tomorrow.
16-11/10-10 #6 Wisconsin vs 11-13/7-12 #11 Penn State, 9pm, BTN:
Due to various COVID issues, these two teams played twice within four days on January 30 and February 2. Each team won their home game with PSU winning 81-71 in Happy Valley and UW winning 72-56 in Madison. Wisconsin enters this contest on a troubling skid having lost three straight, five out of six although all of those losses were to highly ranked opponents (M, IA, IL, PU, IA). Penn State appears to be surging having won three straight and four out of five although their opponents haven't been nearly as tough as Wisconsin's recent opponents.
The winner will find 20-7/14-6 #3 Iowa waiting for them at 9 tomorrow.
