2025-2026 B1G Basketball Thread

[ELA]

MSU defense remains on pace to be the best in like 20 years, while their offense continues to make Kelvin Sampson wonder what the hell they are running

[FearlessF]

2nd!!!  In basketball!  Yeah right, and Indiana is #1 in football.

if the Hoosiers can win the football title, the Huskers can make the final 4

[CatsbyAZ]

Will be at tonight's Purdue @ UCLA game.

Quite a memorable game to go to last night. #4 Purdue upset by UCLA 69-67.

Last night was also John Wooden legacy night, which made sense to hold while hosting Purdue because Wooden, a native of Indiana, played his college ball at Purdue from 1929-1932. To commemorate, a bobble head was issued to the first 7000 fans:



As for the game itself, it started as expected, with Purdue taking a double digit lead early. And most of us thought it would only get worse for UCLA from there. Purdue is too disciplined, too strong on defense, and too strong on the inside to let an over-matched UCLA team back in. 

But UCLA fought back for a 32-32 tie at the half after adjusting to Purdue's inside attack. The Bruins also got a career day from transfer guard Donovan Dent setting the tempo for most of the second half. Purdue took a 67-61 with just over a minute left before UCLA went on an 8-0 run that included two threes.

[betarhoalphadelta]

I'm glad it was sequestered on Peacock so I didn't have to watch that. 

[FearlessF]

looks like more than 7,000 showed up

[grillrat]

Quite a memorable game to go to last night. #4 Purdue upset by UCLA 69-67.

Last night was also John Wooden legacy night, which made sense to hold while hosting Purdue because Wooden, a native of Indiana, played his college ball at Purdue from 1929-1932. To commemorate, a bobble head was issued to the first 7000 fans:



As for the game itself, it started as expected, with Purdue taking a double digit lead early. And most of us thought it would only get worse for UCLA from there. Purdue is too disciplined, too strong on defense, and too strong on the inside to let an over-matched UCLA team back in.

But UCLA fought back for a 32-32 tie at the half after adjusting to Purdue's inside attack. The Bruins also got a career day from transfer guard Donovan Dent setting the tempo for most of the second half. Purdue took a 67-61 with just over a minute left before UCLA went on an 8-0 run that included two threes.

UCLA had some amazing shots bounce in and Loyer was hot garbage last night.  In the end, that was the biggest reason they lost.  However...

I'm usually not a huge "blame the refs" guy, but Holy Hell those were some "let 'em play" refs last night.

Purdue didn't get a free throw attempt until 5 minutes into the second half (and UCLA only had one before).  There were only 10 total attempts combined for the entire game.

There were a couple of "blocks" by UCLA where the announcers were gushing over the athletic player who just blocked Smith's lay-up....with the replay clearly showing that he slapped his wrist and wasn't even close to hitting the ball.  Two questionable goal-tending calls.  etc.  There were a couple of missed calls on the UCLA side that benefitted Purdue (couple of missed double dribbles), but overall, the mug-em style does not favor Purdue / Smith who tends to draw fouls by shot-faking and then shooting (You can't draw fouls if the refs don't actually call them and if you are "depending" on the foul being called and don't make the basket, you end up getting beat down the floor when you try to plea your case to the blind-ass ref).

Oh well.  Move on.  Bigger games coming down the pipeline that we need to be ready for.

[SFBadger96]

Wisconsin actually put an opponent away and kept the pressure on until the end in their win at Penn State yesterday. Yay!

And Northwestern with a pretty big win on the road at USC for their first Big Ten win.

[medinabuckeye1]

I'm glad it was sequestered on Peacock so I didn't have to watch that.

In a couple hours I'm probably going to wish Ohio State's game was on Peacock 🦚 tonight. 

[betarhoalphadelta]

In a couple hours I'm probably going to wish Ohio State's game was on Peacock 🦚 tonight.

Sure, OSU/UM is on Fox but Purdue/IU next week is on Peacock. 

fPeacock

[medinabuckeye1]

Watching this Ohio State is in it being only down two and just lost the lead but . . .

It feels like the Buckeyes have played almost as well as they possibly could to get here and it is only a matter of time until the dirtbags go on a run and put it out of reach.

[medinabuckeye1]

I'm thrilled with the opening of the second half, I pretty much expected the Wolverines to come out on fire and pull away and instead the Buckeyes have pulled ahead. 

[Brutus Buckeye]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWJDMsYua8w

[bayareabadger]

Wisconsin actually put an opponent away and kept the pressure on until the end in their win at Penn State yesterday. Yay!

And Northwestern with a pretty big win on the road at USC for their first Big Ten win.

That was good work! 

The next three remain key. They should be somewhat heavy favorites for the next two and a modest favorite the game after. schedule gets harder after that and cashing these in now would open up the board in a big way.

Also, Penn State seems quite poor this year.

[ELA]

Nebraska on a 39-15 run to turn an 8 point deficit into a 16 point lead