~2017-18 Big Ten Basketball Thread~

[bayareabadger]

I think he is underperforming, given the talent available to him on a yearly basis.

I think sometimes talent gives us big eyes. 
By that I mean, we see some and think, that team should be something better, but what isn't super clear. The overall accomplishments are fairly good: 93-31 in the Big Ten era, two second-place finishes and a third, a sweet 16. The schedule might be soft, and maybe they should be a power contending with MSU every year, I dunno. 
(I'd love to see how they rank in top-100 recruits)

[mcwterps1]

I think he is underperforming, given the talent available to him on a yearly basis.

Exactly. If we were say, Clemson in a typical year, I'd say there's nothing to complain about.
However, McDonald's AA's, top 25 classes, and such, should be better than that record.
We should be ranked every year, or at least make the tournament.

I'll also add, that no other team or coach (Gary Williams) has more wins vs UNC and Duke, and they've always been ranked pretty high. 

[Brutus Buckeye]

OSU remains undefeated in Conference play, tied atop the Big Ten standings. 

[fezzador]

Iowa got blasted by Rutgers last night.  Rutgers.

I don't think the Hawks win another game the rest of the way.  Frankie Mac has hit his ceiling.  It's approaching Lickliter bad.  It's time for a change.

And it's also time for a change at AD.

[Entropy]

I knew it would be rough for UW tonight, but this thing is UGLY.

Time to look to the spring game, I reckon.

you sound like a husker fan... =)

[NorthernOhioBuckeye]

I may have posted this here before.  SI did an analysis of home-field/court advantage not too many years ago, and concluded that it is greatest in basketball.  The authors surmised that it was because the officials are intimidated by the crowd being so close at hand.

Bingo! I've been saying this for years.

[medinabuckeye1]

Just looked at OSUs schedule.  Their next seven games have to be about as easy a 7 game conference stretch as you'll see.

12-0 is very possible.

I hope I don't jinx this, but it is looking more and more possible.  
I'm concerned about Ohio State's next two:
- Minnesota: I think the Buckeyes are pretty clearly better than the injury/suspension riddled Gophers but this will be Ohio State's third straight game away from home. The Gophers will be on a short (Thursday/Saturday) turnaround and also on their third straight away from home but you never know who that will impact the most. The Gophers looked flat awful against Purdue, but Purdue does that to teams. The rebounded with a nice win at Penn State. This could be tough for the Buckeyes.
- Nebraska: The Cornhuskers haven't been very good although they did win at Northwestern a lot more convincingly than the Buckeyes did. I am confident that the Buckeyes are a better team at this point and playing at home so they *should* win, but this game is on a very short turnaround (Saturday/Monday) after three straight road games so a slip-up wouldn't be shocking. Nebraska gets a bigger break (Thursday/Monday) leading up to this game.
After these two the Buckeyes some rest and no more short turnarounds for a while along with three straight home games against teams that are currently 3-4, 4-2, an 0-6 in the conference.
I don't want to jinx it, but if the Buckeyes can win these next two there is a great chance that they could get to 12-0 heading into the Purdue game on February 7. Ohio State finishes up with brutal stretch of four on the road and only two at home but if they get to 12-0 then a 2-4 finish still puts them at 14-4 and a lock for the NCAA heading into the BTT at MSG in NYC.

[betarhoalphadelta]

We should be ranked every year, or at least make the tournament.

I think for most major-conference teams, making the tournament should be the goal every year. It may not always happen--Beilein and Painter, who both have better records against KenPom top 50, have both missed it a few times. But I think that should be the benchmark for a high major, especially one with the history and talent of Maryland.
Ranked? That's a higher bar, and I'm not sure that can be the expectation every year. Most programs will have some ebb and flow, and missing the top 25 isn't nearly as big of an issue as missing the tournament.

[Brutus Buckeye]

[mcwterps1]

Not used to seeing so much Buckeye love in the basketball thread. 

Congrats on the great season so far. 

[medinabuckeye1]

Not used to seeing so much Buckeye love in the basketball thread.

Congrats on the great season so far.

I've been involved in this thread, but it has been very frustrating to be a Buckeye Hoops fan the past few years.  I think all of us are elated at this point because before the season most of us thought the Buckeyes would be in the bottom third or so of the conference and that the NIT was a somewhat optimistic goal.  Now we are looking at a 7-0 team that is tied with Purdue for first in the conference!  Yeah, we are thrilled!
The other thing is that, to be honest, this is more exciting than being a Buckeye football fan because in football, rightly or wrongly, we EXPECT to contend for the NC every year so basically the situation is NC or disappointment.  In BB, especially given what we have been through the past few years, we are getting to experience the euphoria of exceeding expectations and that basically never happens in football because expectations are always so high that exceeding them is basically impossible.  

[medinabuckeye1]

The Worldwide Leader's latest Braketology is out and the B1G still has five teams in but there is some movement:

• 1-seed:  Purdue
• 2-seed:  Michigan State
• 5-seed:  Ohio State
• 7-seed:  Michigan
• 11-seed (play-in game):  Maryland

Only Maryland is on the Bubble and we do not have any teams among either the "First Four Out" or the "Next Four Out".  

Obviously a lot can change between now and mid-March but as of now they have:

• Purdue opening in Detroit.  They are the #1 seed in the Midwest Region so their potential S16 and E8 games would be in Omaha.  
• Michigan State also opens in Detroit so their first two games would basically be home games.  MSU, however, is the 2-seed in the South Region so their potential S16 and E8 games would be in Atlanta.  
• Ohio State opens in Boise which is really odd because none of the four teams in their bracket are anywhere close to there.  #5 tOSU is actually the closest followed by #4 Cincinnati, #12 Buffalo, and #13 Vermont.  The Buckeyes are projected in the East Region so if they were to advance their S16 and E8 games would be in Boston.  
• Michigan opens in Nashville.  Like Ohio State, they are in the East Region so if they managed to get past #2 UNC their S16 and E8 games would be in Boston.  
• Maryland has a play-in game in Dayton followed by joining Michigan in Nashville.  They are in the West Region so if they were to advance their S16 and E8 games would be in Los Angeles.  

[mcwterps1]

I said a while back, Maryland won't be in it. 

If they make it, I'd be greatly surprised. 

No depth. 

[ELA]

I said a while back, Maryland won't be in it.

If they make it, I'd be greatly surprised.

No depth.

Looking more and more like Maryland or bust for getting a 5th team in though.  I just have a hard time seeing the conference getting only 4.