Lots of mediocrity in the B1G

[Mr Magoo]

I have seen most of the B1G teams play already this season.

Take out Purdue, Minnesota, and Michigan State (who lost to Duke), and a lot of the remaining teams have been disappointing so far. It's early, but since the B1G has 14 teams, it's not a good look for he league. It also means we may be able to steal a couple more wins this year.

Maryland struggled with Bucknell,

Previously ranked NW lost at home to a good Creighton team and then got absolutely demolished by Texas Tech.

Michigan did not look good in their loss to LSU, IMO.

Wisconsin is rebuilding but does not shoot well and has looked marginally-athletic and slow.

Iowa lost to UL-Lafeyette.

Illinois, Penn State, and Ohio State are not impressive and Nebraska and Indiana are awful.

I hope our record benefits from it, but I expect the league to take a hit this season.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

I know Pitt is way down. Penn State beat them 85-54. How have they not impressed.
Wisconsin lost 2 close games to Top 25 teams and is very young
Maryland is 5-0 and beat Butler and Bucknell isn't chopped liver
Ohio State is 4-0 with 3 blowouts
Illinois is young and 4-0

This is not a down year for the B1G. It is way early to write some of those teams off. Expect 10 B1G teams on the bubble.

 

[dconifer]

I know Pitt is way down. Penn State beat them 85-54. How have they not impressed.
Wisconsin lost 2 close games to Top 25 teams and is very young
Maryland is 5-0 and beat Butler and Bucknell isn't chopped liver
Ohio State is 4-0 with 3 blowouts
Illinois is young and 4-0

This is not a down year for the B1G. It is way early to write some of those teams off. Expect 10 B1G teams on the bubble.

Yeah, Bucknell also gave defending champion North Carolina a good game.

I think the league is pretty good again. I know my Terps are still experimenting with new parts and new post-Trimble roles for the sophomores, but they will settle down and be better than mediocre (if they haven't been already).

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

EARLY PROBABILITIES OF MAKING NCAAs (proprietary)
1. Purdue 95%
2. Michigan State 95%
3. Minnesota 90%
4. Maryland 75%
5. Northwestern 75%
6. Michigan 70%
7. Wisconsin 65%
8. Iowa 60%
9. Penn State 55%
10. Ohio State 35%
11. Illinois 30%
12. Indiana 20%
13. Rutgers 3%
14. Nebraska 2.9%

 

[Mr Magoo]

I know Pitt is way down. Penn State beat them 85-54. How have they not impressed.
Wisconsin lost 2 close games to Top 25 teams and is very young
Maryland is 5-0 and beat Butler and Bucknell isn't chopped liver
Ohio State is 4-0 with 3 blowouts
Illinois is young and 4-0

This is not a down year for the B1G. It is way early to write some of those teams off. Expect 10 B1G teams on the bubble.

As you said, Pitt is down and is playing freshmen and sophomores and lost to Navy and Montana (at home). I don't take much from that game. Penn State is Penn State....mediocre.

I guess I'm used to seeing the Wisconsin teams of recent years. They just looked so slow to me.

I watched the Illinois-DePaul game and thought they were nothing special. OSU plays Gonzaga next, so we'll see.

I agree that Maryland is a wild card, but i think there is a big drop off after the first 4-5 teams...

I still think there are 8-9 mediocre teams in the B1G and that's a lot for a 14-team P5 league. I'd be very surprised if there are 10 BIG bubble teams, but we shall see.

 

[ruman]

Pitt is beyond down - they are Eddie Jordan bad

 

[RU-ROCS]

I know Pitt is way down. Penn State beat them 85-54. How have they not impressed.
Wisconsin lost 2 close games to Top 25 teams and is very young
Maryland is 5-0 and beat Butler and Bucknell isn't chopped liver
Ohio State is 4-0 with 3 blowouts
Illinois is young and 4-0

This is not a down year for the B1G. It is way early to write some of those teams off. Expect 10 B1G teams on the bubble.

I think your assessment is more accurate than the OP. Maryland looks pretty good to me. I think margin of victory generally means very little this time of year as teams work in new players, but the PSU rout of Pitt is interesting. As for Wisconsin, there is a reason why the coaches pre-season poll had the Badgers in the middle of the pack. They are rebuilding, but will be dangerous at the end of the season. I am surprised, however, on how poorly Northwestern has looked despite returning a lot of key talent.

 

[Proud NJ Sports Fan]

When was the last time Pen St made the NCAA tourney?

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

When was the last time Pen St made the NCAA tourney?

2018

 

[Proud NJ Sports Fan]

2018

Did you attend school there?
Your math is no good. :grimace:

 

[ScarletDave]

We always match up well with Wisconsin for some reason, a team we've beaten once at #4, should have been twice at #15, and had them on the ropes at their place last year too. Just one of those teams we are a bad matchup for them. Like Indiana is for us in football.

 

[BellyFullOfWhiteDogCrap]

EARLY PROBABILITIES OF MAKING NCAAs (proprietary)
1. Purdue 95%
2. Michigan State 95%
3. Minnesota 90%
4. Maryland 75%
5. Northwestern 75%
6. Michigan 70%
7. Wisconsin 65%
8. Iowa 60%
9. Penn State 55%
10. Ohio State 35%
11. Illinois 30%
12. Indiana 20%
13. Rutgers 3%
14. Nebraska 2.9%

 

[ScarletLongIsland]

Iowa just lost again, this time to South Dakota State 80-72

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Drop Iowa to 50%

 

[RUich]

Based on the concerns noted of this forum, I would have to say that you could easily add Rutgers to the OP's list as teams that are not exactly lighting it up even with the 4-0 start.

 

[goru7]

When I first read the title of the Op's post, I thought he was kidding. I originally thought this was going to be a loaded Big 10 because how young the league as a whole was last year. However, after 4-5 games in, teams that you would think would be fighting for a top 4 team in league ( Iowa -2 losses; Northwestern-2 losses; Wisconsin-2 losses; Michigan 1 loss and 2 very unimpressive wins)., have struggled and are still trying to figure out their rotations or trying to replace their seniors. Now the so called bottom, Illinois Rutgers and Ohio State are all 4-0, and only Nebraska is the one picked low and appearing it is well deserved . The top is really good, Purdue ,Minnesota, Michigan State , all top 15 teams and maybe all top 10 teams. The rest of the middle, Maryland, Penn State could be very good, but Indiana apparently will struggle as well. Winning at the Rac will be critical to getting to a winning conference record. We just have to somehow survive the first 5(at Minnesota, Michigan State, at Purdue, Wisconsin, and at Michigan State) and try and get at least 1 win and maybe the rest of the 13 might be on the table for any given night scenario.

 

[bac2therac]

I think its way too early to make a judgment call on this league...certainly Iowa looks mediocre and Northwestern has disappointed but other than that I dont see any signs of trouble. Wisconsin was going to be down and their losses were to ranked teams

 

[G- RUnit]

When I first read the title of the Op's post, I thought he was kidding. I originally thought this was going to be a loaded Big 10 because how young the league as a whole was last year. However, after 4-5 games in, teams that you would think would be fighting for a top 4 team in league ( Iowa -2 losses; Northwestern-2 losses; Wisconsin-2 losses; Michigan 1 loss and 2 very unimpressive wins)., have struggled and are still trying to figure out their rotations or trying to replace their seniors. Now the so called bottom, Illinois Rutgers and Ohio State are all 4-0, and only Nebraska is the one picked low and appearing it is well deserved . The top is really good, Purdue ,Minnesota, Michigan State , all top 15 teams and maybe all top 10 teams. The rest of the middle, Maryland, Penn State could be very good, but Indiana apparently will struggle as well. Winning at the Rac will be critical to getting to a winning conference record. We just have to somehow survive the first 5(at Minnesota, Michigan State, at Purdue, Wisconsin, and at Michigan State) and try and get at least 1 win and maybe the rest of the 13 might be on the table for any given night scenario.

Might as well get them early and out of the way as 2nd half of season might be pretty pretty good.

 

[BigEastPhil]

2018

Hi GRF. Saw PSU at Barclays last night and I like their top 7 players or so - however after that - their depth is very thin. If PSU stays healthy, they can contend for a bubble bid for sure. And losing to Tex A&M is no disgrace as they are good.

 

[BigEastPhil]

Can't speak for the OP but I think the message he is trying to get across is that with the exception of the top 4 teams (Mich State; Purdue; Minnesota; Maryland) is that the B1G 10 has very few meaningful wins to date vs strong OOC Schools.

Furthermore, typical stalwart teams such as Iowa; Wisconsin; Northwestern; Michigan etc haven't looked all that good and Indiana being in the dumps doesn't help the image of the conference as well.

 

[Mr Magoo]

Can't speak for the OP but I think the message he is trying to get across is that with the exception of the top 4 teams (Mich State; Purdue; Minnesota; Maryland) is that the B1G 10 has very few meaningful wins to date vs strong OOC Schools.

Furthermore, typical stalwart teams such as Iowa; Wisconsin; Northwestern; Michigan etc haven't looked all that good and Indiana being in the dumps doesn't help the image of the conference as well.

Bingo. Thanks for stating it more clearly than I did.