B1G Basketball Recap: 2/3/14

How does one describe playing on the road in the Big Ten? Is it hell on Earth? Is it like a live action version of Heart of Darkness that isn't set in 1970's Cambodia? Is it like this:

via stream1.gifsoup.com

However you want to describe it, it's brutal and because of that brutality the Big Ten only has three (!!!) teams with winning conference records and one at .500. That one team? Northwestern. Yes, Northwestern. The one in Evanston with a first year coach and a team that was predicted to finish in the bottom third of the conference. I don't even know what's going on anymore.

Overall Standings:

Saturday, February 3^rd, 2014:

#24 Ohio State, 59 @ #14 Wisconsin, 58

Leading Scorers: LaQuinton Ross (OSU) 19, Nigel Hayes (Wis) 17
Thanks to the tough, gritty play of future lottery pick Aaron Craft (according to Dan Dakich), the Buckeyes notched their first win over a ranked opponent since November and added to the woes of the Wisconsin Badgers. Once 16-0, the Badgers have now lost 5 out of their last 6 and sit at 4-5 in conference. What's worse, it was the third loss at home for Bucky, who was previously thought to be invincible at the Kohl Center.
Up Next: OSU @ Iowa, Wisconsin @ Illinois

Northwestern, 55 @ Minnesota, 54

Leading Scorers: Drew Crawford (NW) 17, Maurice Walker (Minn) 14
Led by Crawford and JeShon Cobb, Northwestern notched its 5th victory in 7 games and added to its impressive list of conference road wins. Minnesota, who is clearly missing Austin Hollins, has now lost 3 out of their last 4. Did you know that Northwestern only allows 63.3 PPG? That's good for 32nd in the nation."
Up Next: Northwestern vs. Nebraska, Minnesota @ Purdue

#7 Michigan State, 60 @ Georgetown, 64

Leading Scorers: Gary Harris (MSU) 20, Markel Starks (GTown) 16
Let us not speak of this. We'll just say that injuries finally caught up with Sparty and they lost to Georgetown. Simple as that.
Next Up: Michigan State vs. Penn State

#15 Iowa, 81 @ Illinois, 74

Leading Scorers: Devyn Marble (Iowa) 17, Joseph Bertrand (IL) 20
This was a game of runs. 12 minutes into the game the Hawkeyes led by 21 points. They simply couldn't miss. Alley oops. Dunks. Three point jumpers. But then the tide turned. Iowa couldn't stop Illinois from slashing to the basket and kept fouling. By halftime it was 40-36, in favor of Iowa. With around 5 minutes to go in the game Iowa was down 4 and with the way the Illini were shooting it looked like heartbreak was imminent. Then Devyn Marble went all Devyn Marble, a few clutch plays were made and Iowa won. Never a doubt.
Next Up: Iowa vs. OSU, Illinois vs. Wisconsin

Sunday, February 2^nd, 2014

Penn State, 79 vs. Purdue, 68

Leading Scorers: DJ Newbill (PSU) 19, AJ Hammons (PU) 18
Listen, I'm going to be honest with you guys...I didn't even know these two were playing this weekend. What's worse is that it was on TV and I watched soccer instead. I'm so ashamed (I'm not). But did you know that Penn State has won three straight?
Next Up: PSU @ MSU, Purdue vs. Minnesota

Indiana, 63 vs. #10 Michigan, 52

Leading Scorers: Yogi Ferrell (IU) 27, Derrick Walton Jr. (UM) 13
Anyone who watched this game knows one thing: it was the Yogi Ferrell show. Ferrell scored 27 points and went 7-8 from behind the arch. Overall, he had an eFG% of 115 (!!!!!!!). Nik Stauskas, on the other hand, was completely shut down by the Hoosiers and held to 6 points on 1-8 shooting. Also, for the first time in 5 games he didn't make a three pointer. It was probably the Indiana fans shouting USA USA USA that got to him. That or the terrible deportation chants...
Next Up: Indiana @ Minnesota, Michigan vs. Nebraska