Big Ten Notes and News

Before Texas joins the Big Ten and expands our geography, let’s get in the virtual CSM jet and make a quick fly-over of the Big Ten. We notice quickly that there’s still a logjam at the top of the Big Ten.  The past week’s games were important, but did very little to separate distance between the #1 and “Tied for #2” teams.  Add to the mix a close contender in the #3 spot.

Let’s start in West Lafayette, Indiana as we fly over Mackey Arena, the home of the Purdue Boilermakers.  Matt Painter and his crew are 11-3 in conference.  Last Wednesday (2/17) they narrowly won their second game against Ohio State at The Schott, 60-57.  Props to Chris Kramer of Purdue for the redemption play of the week.  He missed a significant free throw with just 58 seconds in the game that allowed Evan Turner to turn it into a one-possession game.  At just 10 seconds to go it seemed as if Ohio State was going to use that possession to score, but Kramer leaped up with one of the cleanest and strongest blocks in college basketball.  Kramer did not just block the shot, he blocked Ohio State from moving ahead of Purdue.

On Saturday (2/20) Purdue defeated Illinois, 75-65, at Mackey Arena.  This is a nine win streak for Purdue.  Still, the Boilers are just ½ a game ahead of Ohio State and Michigan State.  This Wednesday (2/24) they travel to Minneapolis to take on Gophers who are hot off of a two game winning streak.  After the Gophers, Purdue returns to Mackey Arena to play Sparty on Sunday. Obviously, Purdue has to play their best to stay up top. 

Purdue by the numbers: 11-3 Big Ten, 23-3 overall.  AP: #4.  Coaches: #4.  RPI: 7

Let’s fly to the east over Columbus, Ohio.  Coming into view is the Jerome Schottenstein Center, aka The Schott, aka Value City Arena.  It’s the largest basketball arena in the Big Ten for those of you keeping score.

The Buckeyes last two games have been against their rivals for top spot.  They held their own against Purdue at Value City (2/17), but finally lost when the Boilers kept the win just out of reach (Ohio State lost 60-57).  The Buckeyes did better on the road for their next game (2/21) at the Breslin Center, defeating Michigan State 74-67.

The Buckeyes have no chance to improve directly against Purdue or Michigan State before the tournament.  They can only hope that each of the other teams run into some bad luck.  Ohio State in the meantime needs to keep its record clean.  They play Penn State on the road this Wednesday (2/24).

Ohio State by the numbers: 11-4 Big Ten, 21-7 overall.  AP: #9. Coaches: #9. RPI: 31

Next we fly up north by northwest to East Lansing, MI.  We see below us the Breslin Center where Tom Izzo has coached the Michigan State Spartans for the last 14 years. 

Sparty lost their last game to Ohio State on Sunday (2/21).  This locked them into a tie for #2 with the Buckeyes.  Tom Izzo has a week to get his team ready to travel to Mackey Arena and play Purdue.  The Boilers won the last matchup at the Breslin Center.  A win for the Spartans is critical if they want to keep the race close, otherwise Purdue could widen the gap with a win against Minnesota and Michigan State.

Michigan State by the numbers: 11-4 Big Ten, 21-7 overall.  AP: #11. Coaches: #11. RPI: 28

Now we are flying back to the west over Lake Michigan.  Just ahead is Madison and the Kohl Center, home of the Wisconsin Badgers. Don’t overlook this bubble-team just yet.  After defeating Northwestern on Sunday (2/21) they are just 1 ½  games behind the leader. They could improve to 13 wins at the end of the season.  Their toughest match ahead is Illinois on the road.  As for bubbles and bracket busting, notice that Wisconsin’s current RPI is higher than Ohio State or Michigan State.

Wisconsin by the numbers: 10-5 Big Ten, 20-7 overall.  AP:#14.  Coaches: #16. RPI: 19

Before heading back toward the Land of Lincoln, let’s fly up to the northernmost point in the Big Ten.  We are approaching Minneapolis and the Williams Center, home of the Minnesota Golden Gophers. 

Sure, the Gophers are four games behind the leader in the conference and they are four games away from the 20-win barrier, but Tubby Smith seems to have the fired the team up.  They have won their last two, including a win that put a cramp in the Badgers style (2/18). Next up is Purdue (2/24) at the Williams Center.  If the Gophers really are hot, they could derail the Boilers forward advance and really logjam the top of the conference.  Gophers can make a mess, but Smith and the fans would love it! 

Minnesota by the numbers: 7-7 Big Ten, 16-10 overall.  RPI: 76.

Back to the south we will fly over Iowa and Illinois and check in on three of the Big Ten.  Iowa recently lost a heartbreaker in OT to Michigan, 78-80.  The Hawkeyes needed the win.  They are 3-11 in conference.   Northwestern was looking strong in the non-conference, but they became inconsistent by January.  Losing to Penn State was a serious setback.  However, the Wildcats are still in the top 100 of the RPI (#94) and just three wins away from 20-wins.  They could possibly sputter in to a bracket. 

But we will lower altitude to get a good look at Assembly Hall in Champaign, Illinois.  Here’s the home of the Fightin’ Illini.  They are also just three victories away from 20-wins.  They only two games away from the top spot at 9-5.  They have important matches against Ohio State and Wisconsin ahead of them.

Illinois by the numbers: 9-5 Big Ten, 17-10 overall.  RPI: 68

Finally we head out east to check out signs of life in University Park, PA.  Along the way we look out the windows.  To our right is the other Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana.  This is the home of the Hoosiers.  They are suffering an eight game losing streak.  They are 3-11 in conference and 8 games behind Purdue.  They will have a crack at the current top team in the conference on March 3.

If we look over to our left we will see Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, home of the Michigan Wolverines.  The Wolverines had a small streak going with victories over Minnesota and Iowa on the road.  However, they were unprepared for Penn State at home on Saturday (2/20).  They lost by four, 51-55.

Which is why we are heading out to the eastern reaches of the Big Ten.  We just heard that the zero-win Nittany Lions have racked up to two victories.  That goose egg that Penn State has been sitting on since conference play began has finally hatched.  Ed DeChellis and his team won two road trips.  First was the upset against Northwestern that pronounced doom on the Wildcats.  The Lions came back for seconds and upset the Wolverines on Saturday (2/20).  Will the miracle continue?  Penn faces Ohio State on Wednesday (2/24), and then a rematch against the hot bothered Wildcats. After that they take on Michigan State and then what could be the best mismatch since David v. Goliath in 1000 B.C., they take on Purdue.  What a way for Penn to end the worst season ever!

And with that we will ask you to fasten your seatbelt and return your tray to the upright position.  We thank you for flying CSM airlines.