Big 10 Rankings and Weekend Games Discussion Thread 1/28-29

[bac2therac]

1. Wisconsin
2. Purdue
3. Maryland
4. Northwestern
5. Michigan State
6. Indiana
7. Minnesota
8. Michigan
9. Ohio State
10. Nebraska
11. Illinois
12. Iowa
13. Penn State
14. Rutgers


Big 10 has 3 locks for the NCAA and Northwestern is in the likely category, but after that its a crapshoot. Yes the Big 10 is down as far as national contenders but it is clear that there is little seperation from the middle to the bottom of the league overall. How that plays out when tourney selection time comes around is unknown. I have a feeling things will work themselves out and the Big 10 ends up with 7 schools in. Many of the schools in the middle have strong RPI resume and out of conference work

Wisconsin at Rutgers: first vs last, better not to overanalyze this one

Maryland at Minnesota: Gophers need to stop the losing and this is the game to do it. I have a feeling that we see a reversal of fortune against a Terp team that knows how to win but yet is very unspectacular.

Illinois at Penn State: Lions have faltered of late and this is a game that Illini HAS to win if they want to make a NCAA push, they looked better against Iowa and I like them on the road here.

Ohio State at Iowa: Both schools so up and down so very hard to predict. this one comes down to the wire and the homecourt is the difference.

Michigan at Michigan State: Pretty much a must win for Sparty and I think they get it, not convinced about UM despite their beatdown over Indiana.

Purdue at Nebraska: Nebby on big losing streak returns home and while I think they can give Purdue a game, I think reality is setting in for their season

Indiana at Northwestern: Big game for both teams. How will Indiana come back after being brutalized by Michigan? Cats are as disciplined and well coached team as any in this league and thats why I picking them but still would not be surprised at all by a Hoosier bounceback, they are capable.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Maryland at Minnesota....Minnesota has to win to get back on the right side off the bubble....if not FREEFALL potential. CRUCIAL for little Richard

Michigan at Michigan State....way too early, way too early....both teams on the bubble. Michigan State's margin of error gets clipped with a loss.

If NW beats Indiana they get moved to the 4th lock AND Indiana gets placed smack dab in the middle of the premature bubble.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

BTW...Minnesota is the most efficient defensive team in the B1G. Huge props to LR.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Move PSU up to 5th. Crushing Illinois!

I think they settle at 10. Nebraska 11. Illinois 12.

 

[bac2therac]

Check again...down to 6 with 6 left

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Keep em at 13

 

[bac2therac]

Psu is going to hold on....I think iowa is going to drop to 13...this is a crushing loss for Illinois ncaa hopes

Both Illinois and PSU are beatable...RU will have trouble with the Illinois big guy Morgan

 

[bingethinker]

1. Wisconsin
2. Purdue
3. Maryland
4. Northwestern
5. Michigan State
6. Indiana
7. Minnesota
8. Michigan
9. Ohio State
10. Nebraska
11. Illinois
12. Iowa
13. Penn State
14. Rutgers

Maryland at Minnesota: Gophers need to stop the losing and this is the game to do it. I have a feeling that we see a reversal of fortune against a Terp team that knows how to win but yet is very unspectacular.

Lol @ unspectacular. Remind me which Big Ten team IS spectular this season.

Maryland is 18-2, 7-1 in the Big Ten. They've won 11 of their last 12. They've been in first place in the Big Ten for weeks. They have five top-50 RPI wins. They're the only Big Ten team ranked in the AP poll and in top-20 of the RPI. And before anyone responds with "but their schedule...", Maryland has a higher SOS than Purdue, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Northwestern.

Lots of "unspectaular" ball being played in the Big Ten this year. Maryland doesn't deserves that designation.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Not their fault. So far MD B1G schedule easy

Can't see case for 1 or 2

 

[bingethinker]

Not their fault. So far MD B1G schedule easy

Can't see case for 1 or 2

It sounds like you don't want to give credit where it's due. Turgeon is easily B1G COY to this point and it's not even close. He's coaching his ass off this year.

Maryland is 73-14, 33-12 B1G since 2014, one conference win behind Wisconsin for the Big Ten lead during that period. Mark Turgeon has shown an ability to win in this conference regardless of the schedule put in front of him. Easy conference schedule is a lame argument.

@ Wisconsin will be tough, @ Northwestern may be tougher than usual, and Purdue at home will be tough. That's pretty much what's left for Maryland. They're undefeated on the road in the Big Ten half way through the season. You can't dismiss that.

Im not saying they won't lose another game this season. I'm just asking which matchup team or coach remaining on its schedule should Maryland and its personnel fear?

 

[bac2therac]

Collins will be coach of year if NNorthwestern finishes in top 4

 

[bac2therac]

Just when everyone was ready to write Iowa off they beat OSU 85-72...without an injured Jok.

Will Jok play against RUTGERS

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Why MD over WISCONSIN AND Purdue

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Jok and Blackmon. 2 guys that teams may be better without

 

[PiscatawayMike]

Just when everyone was ready to write Iowa off they beat OSU 85-72...without an injured Jok.

Will Jok play against RUTGERS

Is the Pope Catholic?
Does a bear "go" in the woods?

Like Trimble earlier this week, we've seen this movie before.

 

[bac2therac]

Michigan State 70 Michigan 62
Nebraska 83 Purdue 80
Northwestern 69 Indiana 55

MSU needed that win and Northwestern has now won 6 in a row and is 3rd place in league..they are legit. The Nebby win is shocking because Purdue was on such a roll. Seems like they cannot gain any consistency looking like a final 4 team one game and then first round NCAA tourney the next.

The league is so insane right now

 

[PiscatawayMike]

The league is so insane right now

Indeed. The B1G tournament should be a doozy!

 

[bac2therac]

so true..and its going to be meaningful because schools on the bubble will need to make runs to play their way in. Right now Big 10 has only 4 that look likely to go, Michigan State a 5th that will probably go and then a whole slew of teams that need alot of work to do. I mean Minnesota has a decent resume but find themselves in next to last place in the league standings.

 

[TDIrish27]

The final one or two spots for the NCAA will be determined by a teams ability to win a few road games.

Agree with Bac on Nebraska but the one thing about them is they're usually in close games.

I'll believe Spartans not in the Big Dance when I see it. I never underestimate Izzo.

 

[bac2therac]

Here is my new ever changing rankings after this weekends games....

1. Wisconsin
2. Maryland
3. Northwestern
4. Purdue
5. Michigan State
6. Indiana
7. Minnesota
8. Michigan
9. Nebraska
10. Iowa
11. Ohio State
12. Penn State
13. Illinois
14. Rutgers

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Penn state @ Indiana is crucial for Indiana. A loss here and they are less than a 50/50 making the tournament.

 

[toby83]

Indiana needs to slow these games down with those two out. feed Thomas Bryant, that guy needs to shoot 15x a game min. that crowd will be interesting tonight, half of them want Crean's head on a platter.

 

[toby83]

Purdue favored by 9.5 over Northwestern, seems a little nuts at first but then i saw Scottie Lindsay is out

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Win or lose IU has no backbone

 

[bac2therac]

what a game...Indiana....banged up guts out that win. Its the type of win that keeps them going. They will be dancing is my prediction along with MSU.

Meanwhile Penn State suffers a crushing loss, nice try but all it got them was another loss.

 

[bac2therac]

Northwestern being taken to the woodshed by Purdue but understandable given Lindsey out and Purdue really needing this win after that shocking loss to Nebby

 

[TDIrish27]

It will be interesting to see how PSU reacts to a loss like that.

 

[RUJMM78]

It will be interesting to see how PSU reacts to a loss like that.

Rutgers hasn't won league games on the road for a very long time.In addition PSU dominated the game at the RAC with talented freshmen who can shoot.

 

[bac2therac]

It will be interesting to see how PSU reacts to a loss like that.

I think they will be fine. They lost to Indiana before on a last second shot.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

what a game...Indiana....banged up guts out that win. Its the type of win that keeps them going. They will be dancing is my prediction along with MSU.

Meanwhile Penn State suffers a crushing loss, nice try but all it got them was another loss.

you better win at Nebraska tonight or a MUST win @michigan.

The way I see it the 4 teams PLUS one make it. The PLUS one may be Michigan. Could be a PLUS 0, 1, or 2.

Indiana and Michigan State still have a long way to go and they are going uphill.

Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are going to have fascinating B1G games. Tonight is a killer. MSU and NEB, a pick' em type game.

 

[TDIrish27]

We'll see--------heard a ton about the fallout from the Wisky game having an effect on RU.

But you're saying losing a Triple OT game won't hurt PSU.

That's curious.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

I think they will be fine. They lost to Indiana before on a last second shot.

Watching that game I was wishing it was Thursday. It will be difficult for PSU to bounce back from that loss. I think RU has a very good chance of winning at PSU....If Thaim and Williams combined go 4-10 ish from 3 AND we get the ball inside we can win.