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B1G Basketball Recap: 2/17/14

Recapping all the weekends Big Ten basketball action which was basically: WOO NEBRASKA, WOO WISCONSIN, WOO IOWA.

By Mike Jones
lol
lol
Duane Burleson

Adam Jacobi said it best: The Big Ten is full of blood of spiders. Here's how it was supposed to go: Iowa thumps Penn State in State College, Ohio State makes us all wonder what Illinois actually brings to the conference, Michigan defends home court against a surging Wisconsin, Michigan State puts Nebraska in their place and Minnesota and Northwestern...moving on. Some of those things happened.

Others didn't. And it was glorious.

Overall Standings:

Big Ten

W

L

CONF

HOME

ROAD

Michigan State

21

5

10-3

11-3

6-1

Michigan

18

7

10-3

10-2

5-4

Iowa

19

6

8-4

12-2

4-3

Wisconsin

21

5

8-5

12-3

6-2

Ohio State

20

6

7-6

14-3

5-3

Nebraska

14

10

6-6

11-1

2-7

Minnesota

17

9

6-7

13-2

3-5

Purdue

15

10

5-7

12-2

2-5

Northwestern

12

14

5-8

8-7

4-5

Indiana

14

11

4-8

12-3

1-6

Penn State

13

13

4-9

8-7

4-5

Illinois

14

12

3-10

9-5

2-6

February 15th, 2014

#16 Iowa, 82 @ Penn State, 70

This was an uncomfortable game for Iowa fans. The Hawkeyes struggled with Penn State's slashing guards (big shocker) and didn't get much early on from Roy Devyn Marble or Aaron White. They got so little, in fact, that Iowa was losing 31-33 at halftime. Fortunately, Melsahn Basabe scored 16, Marble and White made appearances late in the game and Mike Gesell willed Iowa to a comfortable lead that forced Penn State to foul. Iowa made its free throws: all 40 of them.
Next Up: Iowa @ Indiana, Penn State @ Nebraska

Purdue, 82 vs. Indiana, 64

I didn't watch this game because I don't believe in self-mutilation. Lemme see, Yogi Ferrell had 20+ points in a Hoosier loss? Sounds about right. Purdue shot nearly 50% from the field and went on a 19-1 run at one point. Those numbers will win you a basketball game. This question raises some questions like: Why is Tom Crean still employed; Does any NCAA coach get less out of more than Tom Crean; Is Tom Crean really just Tom Arnold; Will Indiana beat Iowa by 20 on Tuesday (yes). Hell, lets ask the fans what they think about Tom Crean:

Well then.
Next Up: Purdue vs. Michigan State, Indiana vs. Iowa

#22 Ohio State, 48 @ Illinois, 39

A few fun facts about this game:

  • Illinois was winning 23-20 at halftime.
  • Illinois shot four (4) free throws the entire game.
  • Illinois had an effective FG% of .330.
  • Aaron Craft scored 14 points, the Illinois bench scored 2.
  • Iowa shot more free throws (40) than Illinois scored points (thanks, random BHGP commenter!)

This game was horrid. Just horrid. At one point Illinois went 8 minutes without scoring a field goal. And why does John Groce get a pass? Illinois fired Bruce Weber for this? They actually appear to be getting worse. PS: Illinois, what would you say it is that you actually bring to the conference? Horrible football, horrible basketball, horrible horrible everything? Gee, thanks guys.

February 16th, 2014:

#21 Wisconsin, 75 @ #15 Michigan, 62

Michigan was supposed to win big. Why? The Badgers were on a 4 game winning streak and Michigan was fresh off a pantsing at Iowa. What, cause they beat Ohio State? Ha. This game was never close thanks to a 25 point showing from Frank Kaminsky, the 7'0 Herman Munster looking guy who can drain three pointers. Caris LeVert gave his best in an attempt to get Michigan back into the game but didn't get much support. Whatever happened to Nik Stauskas, anyway? /blows kiss. Did you know that Wisconsin is 9-2 on the road this season? You should, as it's in the overall standings.
Next Up: Wisconsin @ Iowa, Michigan vs. Michigan State

Nebraska, 60 @ #9 Michigan State, 51

At this point Michigan State knew what was necessary to take first place in the Big Ten: beat Nebraska. No big deal, right? The Cornhuskers are awful on the road, Keith Appling is back and its at Breslin. What could possibly go wrong? Well, Terran Petteway could go wrong. This game in one sentence: NO DON'T SHOOT THAT OMG YES YES YES SHOOT THAT. Petteway was brilliant: 23 points, 4 three-pointers and 5 rebounds. When Michigan State pulled within 2 points, Petteway made a three-pointer. When Michigan State started fouling, Petteway made three throws. Quite simply: it was the Petteway show. Gary Harris, on the other hand, went 6-22 from the field and Keith Appling only scored 2 points in 19 minutes. Poor Sparty. All those injuries and all those 4-star players to come off the bench in support.
Next Up: Nebraska vs. Penn State, Michigan State @ Purdue

Minnesota, 54 @ Northwestern, 48

JerShon Cobb scored lots of points but it didn't matter because Minnesota won in the end. Fin.
Next Up: Minnesota vs. Illinois, Northwestern @ Ohio State

Looking Ahead:

  • Arguably the greatest benefactor of Sunday's upsets is Iowa. They're only 1.5 games back now.
  • The last time Nebraska had a "program changing win" that Jesse wrote about, they lost to Penn State. Nebraska plays Penn State next.
  • Indiana will probably beat Iowa. Dan Dakich will FAP.
  • Michigan beats Michigan State by 10.
  • No team scores more than 50 points in the Northwestern @ Ohio State game.
  • Illinois doesn't score more than 50 points the remainder of the season.
  • However, Illinois plays 3 ranked teams to close out the year. They'll probably win one of those games.
  • Kaminsky has a POY performance at Carver Hawkeye Arena.
  • Aaron Craft.