2025-2026 B1G Basketball Thread

[medinabuckeye1]

According to Lunardi our league is quite bubblicious at the moment with with five of the teams somewhere on the bubble.  Specifically:

• Wisconsin 10, Ohio State 10, and UCLA 10 are among the "last four byes".  
• USC (play in vs TX for #11) is one of the "last four in" 
• Indiana is one of the "first four out"  

Wisconsin is in the midst of playing most of the rest of the bubble teams.  They lost at home to USC on Sunday and after hosting Minnesota tomorrow night they host the Buckeyes then visit the Hoosiers.  

[bayareabadger]

I guess I meant among contenders.  But even aside from that, USC is #12 among Big Ten teams, and as you said, was travelling cross country.  When they went to Michigan and Michigan State, they lost both games by 30.

The 6 teams behind them are a combined 3-24 on the road in conference, with the wins being Minnesota at Northwestern; Oregon at Maryland; and USC at Northwestern.

So as of now, I actually do think that is the worst loss anyone has had in conference.

As I said, if that’s the worst loss, it’s a pretty good worst loss, on balance. 

[betarhoalphadelta]

Was looking forward to #3 Michigan Vs #5 Nebraska tonight, expecting a Fox or FS1 broadcast, but nope. It's quarantined to Peacock.

Guess it's either Arkansas Vs Oklahoma or another Shark Tank rerun.

Purdue is in desperate need of a "get right" game as they head down to Assembly Hall in Bloomington to take on the Hoosiers tonight. 

You'd think the biggest basketball rivalry in the Big Ten would be worth putting on a network, or ESPN, right? 

Nope. Peacock. 

Grrrr 

[MaximumSam]

I guess I meant among contenders.  But even aside from that, USC is #12 among Big Ten teams, and as you said, was travelling cross country.  When they went to Michigan and Michigan State, they lost both games by 30.

The 6 teams behind them are a combined 3-24 on the road in conference, with the wins being Minnesota at Northwestern; Oregon at Maryland; and USC at Northwestern.

So as of now, I actually do think that is the worst loss anyone has had in conference.

Tempting the basketball gods

[Brutus Buckeye]

Purdue is in desperate need of a "get right" game as they head down to Assembly Hall in Bloomington to take on the Hoosiers tonight.

You'd think the biggest basketball rivalry in the Big Ten would be worth putting on a network, or ESPN, right?

Nope. Peacock.

Grrrr

Nebraska-Michigan is on Peecock too. 

If it's OSU, I'll just mozie on over to the casino and watch it. But I'm not doing that for rando big ten games. 

[Brutus Buckeye]

Rutgers beefed it

[Brutus Buckeye]

Nebraska beefed it

[FearlessF]

the refs beefed Nebraska, but I expected it

Huskers were the better team for the vast majority of the game.  W/O their Big Guy and their 6th man

tough to win on the road

[ELA]

Nebraska beefed it

On the road, with a 23-4 FT discrepancy, missing their best player.  Not sure thats beefing it.

Now Purdue...

[ELA]

On the road, with a 23-4 FT discrepancy, missing their best player.  Not sure thats beefing it.

Now Purdue...

Actually, I thought it was in WL.  Any road game is tough

[betarhoalphadelta]

Now Purdue...

Tailspin. 

[medinabuckeye1]

Tailspin.

I try not to overreact to streaks and these three were all challenging games but this is surprising.  Purdue went into that UCLA game 17-1, #4 in the Nation, and looking like every bit of a #1 seed and since then:

• Lost at UCLA by 2, UCLA is 6-3 and this was a West Coast road game
• Lost at home to Illinois by 6
• Lost at Indiana by 5, Indiana is .500 even after the upset

This has definitely changed my perception of Purdue.  I expected them to win each game and if they had dropped one, upsets happen.  Dropping all three is more problematic.  Purdue likely has no margin for error now if they want a share of the league title.  

The good news is that Purdue has a couple weeks to get right.  They visit Maryland on Sunday but Maryland is atrocious and then they host Oregon next Saturday which should be an easy win for them.  After that, two weeks from yesterday they go to Nebraska then continue the road swing with a visit to Carver-Hawkeye on Valentine's Day.  

Purdue's problem vis-a-vis the league title is that Michigan, Nebraska, Michigan State, and Illinois each only have one loss.  Winning out would give UNL, M, and MSU each a second loss but they'd still need a lot of help.  They'll get most of it because a lot of those teams still have to play each other but they need things to balance right to get everybody to three losses and if Purdue drops another game they'll need miracles.  

[ELA]

The other thing is as of now, the top 5 seemed to be sort of separating themselves.

The primary thing is winning the Big Ten title.

However, additionally, I could not care less about a conference tournament title, but I know I don't want the possibility of playing (a) an additional game on Thursday that can only hurt you; and (b) 4 games total.

At least one of those 5 top 10 KenPom teams is going to be in that situation

[medinabuckeye1]

The other thing is as of now, the top 5 seemed to be sort of separating themselves.

The primary thing is winning the Big Ten title.

However, additionally, I could not care less about a conference tournament title, but I know I don't want the possibility of playing (a) an additional game on Thursday that can only hurt you; and (b) 4 games total.

At least one of those 5 top 10 KenPom teams is going to be in that situation

I know that you know this but just a reminder for the group, the Big Ten Basketball Tournament structure changed again and we are back to including all of the league's teams.  The tournament is at the United Center starting Tuesday, March 10 as follows:
Tuesday, March 10:

• #15 vs #18 at 730 on Peacock
• #16 vs #17 at 5pm on Peacock

Wednesday, March 11:

• #9 vs 16/17 at noon on Peacock
• #10 vs 15/18 at 630 on BTN
• #11 vs #14 at 9 on BTN
• #12 vs #13 at 230 on Peacock

Thursday, March 12:

• #5 vs 12/13 at 230 on BTN
• #6 vs 11/14 at 9 on BTN
• #7 vs 10/15/18 at 630 on BTN
• #8 vs 9/16/17 at noon on BTN

Friday, March 13:

• #1 vs 8/9/16/17 at noon on BTN
• #2 vs 7/10/15/18 at 630 on BTN
• #3 vs 6/11/14 at 9 on BTN
• #4 vs 5/12/13 at 230 on BTN

Saturday, March 14:

• 1/8/9/16/17 vs 4/5/12/13 at 1pm on CBS
• 2/7/10/15/18 vs 3/6/11/14 at 330 on CBS

Sunday, March 15:

• 1/8/9/16/17/4/5/12/13 vs 2/7/10/15/18/3/6/11/14 at 330 on CBS