2024-2025 B1G Basketball Thread

[grillrat]

I think I've come to the conclusion that the tiers mean jack squat this year.

[bayareabadger]

I dont think Ive ever seen a defense sag off shooters as much as USC.did today, and MSU couldnt make them pay

I honestly did not realize that happened and am mildly shocked.

I actually think USC is pretty good talent wise. But I really haven’t been able to pull it together that well.

another oddity. Michigan State flexed its depth while USC just put everything on the starters. Sometimes that is a hard lifestyle to live across a long-term, but I kind of have an affinity for it in the short term.

[medinabuckeye1]

I didn't expect a win coming in, but this was just painful to watch. Ohio State led nearly all game including by as much as 11.

The Buckeyes hit a 3 with 7:43 to go to take a two possession lead at 68-63. The next time Ohio State scored it was to cut Illinois' lead to eight at 78-70 with just over two minutes to play. 

Buckeyes end up losing by 8 in a game where they led most of the way and by as much as 11 and Illinois didn't lead by more than 4 until the final minutes. 

[ELA]

I honestly did not realize that happened and am mildly shocked.

I actually think USC is pretty good talent wise. But I really haven’t been able to pull it together that well.

another oddity. Michigan State flexed its depth while USC just put everything on the starters. Sometimes that is a hard lifestyle to live across a long-term, but I kind of have an affinity for it in the short term.

MSU can't shoot from deep.  They've been able to at least keep defenses honest, if they go to the extreme, but yesterday I think USC packed it in SO much that they were totally caught off guard.  One time Fidler caught it, pumped, nobody came out, and then he just put his head down and drove right into a triple team

[ELA]

I didn't expect a win coming in, but this was just painful to watch. Ohio State led nearly all game including by as much as 11.

The Buckeyes hit a 3 with 7:43 to go to take a two possession lead at 68-63. The next time Ohio State scored it was to cut Illinois' lead to eight at 78-70 with just over two minutes to play.

Buckeyes end up losing by 8 in a game where they led most of the way and by as much as 11 and Illinois didn't lead by more than 4 until the final minutes.

Only upside is we don't have to hear Bradley whine about the refs for another week

[ELA]

Didnt realize Barnhizer didnt play this weekend, and is having season ending surgery.  Probably ends any small hope Northwestern had, easily their best player

[bayareabadger]

MSU can't shoot from deep.  They've been able to at least keep defenses honest, if they go to the extreme, but yesterday I think USC packed it in SO much that they were totally caught off guard.  One time Fidler caught it, pumped, nobody came out, and then he just put his head down and drove right into a triple team

Him being deeply unable to shoot has been a little surprising.

[bayareabadger]

Didnt realize Barnhizer didnt play this weekend, and is having season ending surgery.  Probably ends any small hope Northwestern had, easily their best player

Watching the game, I was more impressed than I expected with the Leach and Martinelli kids. The top five guys on that team seem like decent Big Ten rotation players, but it seems to be playing a spot or two ahead of where they should be.

[bayareabadger]

Iowa center as a broken hand and is apparently done for the season. Some rumblings this is a precursor to transferring.

He is a good ball player, although having him at the center of the defense has not done much to shore up a normal Fran-level defense. He led them in points, rebounds and blocks. 

[ELA]

Watching the game, I was more impressed than I expected with the Leach and Martinelli kids. The top five guys on that team seem like decent Big Ten rotation players, but it seems to be playing a spot or two ahead of where they should be.

Martinelli is also very good.  Barnhizer is the type of talent that likely won't stay at Northwestern going forward, not sure how they retained him now.  He would have gotten a 1st team All-Big Ten vote from me

[ELA]

Iowa center as a broken hand and is apparently done for the season. Some rumblings this is a precursor to transferring.

He is a good ball player, although having him at the center of the defense has not done much to shore up a normal Fran-level defense. He led them in points, rebounds and blocks.

Garza was a different animal.  Otherwise, I'm kind of the mind that Iowa will be the toughest team to gauge going forward.  They play zero defense, and might randomly go off for 105 points.  They could tank without him, or they could be better

[bayareabadger]

Garza was a different animal.  Otherwise, I'm kind of the mind that Iowa will be the toughest team to gauge going forward.  They play zero defense, and might randomly go off for 105 points.  They could tank without him, or they could be better

UW has them Saturday in what I think is a key fulcrum game. At least for my expectations. 

[bayareabadger]

Martinelli is also very good.  Barnhizer is the type of talent that likely won't stay at Northwestern going forward, not sure how they retained him now.  He would have gotten a 1st team All-Big Ten vote from me

He developed slow? They only had to hold on after last year. 

[ELA]

He developed slow? They only had to hold on after last year.

Yeah, thats more than most all conference players will stick around at a bottom feeder going forward.  The Northwestern degree should be worth something, but seeing non-pros leave Ivy League schools one year short of a degree for a 6 figure paycheck