Shootyhoops Week in Review, 12/14

Before I departed from OTE for a time (thanks, Finals Week), the conference faced its first loss in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge...until it didn't. Minnesota gritted out a win against Clemson, Northwestern snuck past the Hokies in Blacksburg in overtime while the Hawkeyes needed the extra frame to escape Florida State at home, Michigan State rallied to beat Louisville, Purdue and Michigan held off Pitt and NC State, Penn State apparently beat Boston College, and...wait, Wisconsin beat #14 Syracuse at the Carrier Dome? Well, I'm sure that's a sign of good things to come for a number of those teams...

This week for rankings, we'll throw the Kenpom, StewPoll, and Sagarin ratings at you side-by-side for some compare-contrast. No fancy recaps unless the writer from that team provided them, but we'll get you up-to-speed on the latest in B1G Shootyhoops!

B1G Talking Points:

• It's Michigan State, Purdue, Maryland, and everyone else. And no one's even close.
• A defense would still be something worth having, Indiana. It's just a suggestion, but you might run into better offenses in the Big Ten than McNeese State, so...keep it in mind.
• You're trying, Illinois, and that's good. You too, Ohio State.
• Tim Miles is now 0-4 against Creighton during his tenure with Nebrasketball. A bunch of corny argyle sweaters may be the way to my heart, Tim, but eventually you gotta win that game.
• Iowa fans can deflect about the little brother state of ISU athletics all they want, but the Cyclones are the Hawkeyes' daddy when it comes to squeakyfouls.
• Speaking of instate choke-jobs, Wisconsin-Madison just lost to both UW-Milwaukee and Marquette in the same season for the first time. Ever. Palm Springs is looking awfully nice right about now, isn't it, Bo?
• Yes, that was Richard Pitino pulling his best Tim Brewster impression! WIN FIGHT OHMYGOD.gif
• Northwestern should finish the non-conference slate 12-1, and that should terrify no one except Northwestern fans. It's just a win over DePaul and a transitive win over UIC standing in the 'Cats way of claiming The Mayor's Key.*
• Rutgers sucks. Let's just not talk about it any more than that.
• #hottaeks on Michigan and Penn State below...ya gotta scroll, friend.

Shootyhoops Week in Review:

Illinois (6-5)
Kenpom	109	StewPoll	144	Sagarin	104

ACC-B1G Challenge: L vs Notre Dame, 84-79

Last week: def. Western Carolina, 80-68; def. Yale, 69-65; def. Illinois-Chicago, 83-79

This week: vs. South Dakota (12/19, 2pm, ESPN3)

Indiana (8-3)
Kenpom	24	StewPoll	46	Sagarin	25

ACC-B1G Challenge: L @ #7 Duke, 94-74

Last week: def. Morehead St, 92-59; def. IPFW, 90-65; def. McNeese St, 105-60

Candystripes for Breakfast: Indiana rolled a few more cupcakes. There's only two games left before conference play, and only one that means anything at this point: Notre Dame in the Crossroads Classic. If the Hoosiers can knock off the Irish and make it to 10-3 before Big Ten season begins, just about all of Indiana's goals are still within reach. It's still possible at 9-4, but it feels really bad if the only four teams with a pulse in IU's non-con end up as losses.

This week: Crossroads Classic vs. Notre Dame (12/19, 1pm, ESPN2)

Iowa (7-3)
Kenpom	13	StewPoll	31	Sagarin	19

ACC-B1G Challenge: W vs. Florida State, 78-75 (OT)

Last week: def. UMKC, 95-75; def. Western Illinois, 90-56; L @ #5 Iowa State, 83-82

This week: Hy-Vee Big Four Classic (Des Moines) vs. Drake (12/19, 3:30pm, ESPN3)

#6 Maryland (9-1)
Kenpom	19	StewPoll	35	Sagarin	17

ACC-B1G Challenge: L @ #11 North Carolina, 89-81

Last week: W vs. St. Francis (PA), 96-55; W @ #25 UConn, 76-66; W vs. MD-Eastern Shore, 77-56

DJ Carver: Maryland looked good against uconn and figured out Sulaimon is a better point against the zone.  Good week.

This week: vs. Princeton (12/19, 6pm, BTN)

Michigan (7-3)
Kenpom	36	StewPoll	66	Sagarin	33

ACC-B1G Challenge: W @ North Carolina State, 66-59

Last week: W vs. Houston Baptist, 82-57; L @ SMU, 82-58; W vs. Delaware State, 80-33

Shoot better, Michigan. You'll win more.

This week: vs. Northern Kentucky (12/15, 6pm, BTN); vs. Youngstown State (12/19, 5pm, ESPN3)

#1 Michigan State (11-0)
Kenpom	7	StewPoll	6	Sagarin	2

ACC-B1G Challenge: W vs. #19 Louisville, 71-67

Last week: W vs. Binghamton, 76-33; W vs. MD-Eastern Shore, 78-35; W vs. Florida, 58-52

Andrew Kraszewski: MSU rolled Maryland-Eastern Shore with little difficulty and then got a much stiffer test on Saturday night from the Gators. Florida's new, Louisvilleesque pressure gave MSU some problems, especially with Valentine limited due to illness, but the Spartans cobbled enough offense together to hold back the offensively challenged Gators. A full week off to recover from a few minor injuries and recalibrate a few things will be helpful as the noncon winds down.

This week: @ Northeastern (12/19, 11:30am, BTN+)

Minnesota (5-5)
Kenpom	134	StewPoll	147	Sagarin	146

ACC-B1G Challenge: W vs. Clemson, 89-83

Last week: L vs. South Dakota, 85-81; L vs. South Dakota State, 84-70; L vs. Oklahoma State (@Sioux Falls), 62-60

WhiteSpeedReceiver: I have nothing to say here.

Well don't worry, WSR, because we've got you! Wondering how bad a week it was for Minnesota basketball? The Gophers completed the coveted South Dakota Sweep: losing to both the Coyotes and the Jackrabbits on their home court, breaking a 47-game home non-conference unbeaten streak, and then traveled to $ioux Fall$ for the T. Denny $anford $ioux Fall$ Cla$$ic and lost to Oklahoma State!

This week: vs. Chicago State (12/16, 7pm, ESPN3)

Nebraska (7-4)
Kenpom	110	StewPoll	124	Sagarin	79

ACC-B1G Challenge: L vs. #15 Miami(FL), 77-72 (OT)

Last week: W vs. Abilene Christian, 73-63; L @ Creighton, 83-67; W vs. Rhode Island, 70-67

Jesse Collins: I was told there was a basketball game between Nebraska and Creighton. I was told I was there. I don't remember any of it happening, though. I think anyone who brings it up is a liar. Oh, and Glynn Watson is going to be a superstar one day. Thus ends the Nebraska Basketball week in review.

Nebraska is now 0-4 against Creighton under Tim Miles.

This week: vs. #21 Miami (Tues., 8pm, ESPNU); vs. Abilene Christian (Sat., 1pm, BTN+)

Northwestern (8-1)
Kenpom	56	StewPoll	33	Sagarin	45

ACC-B1G Challenge: W @ Virginia Tech, 81-79

Last week: W vs. SIU-Edwardsville, 81-56; W vs. Chicago State, 77-35

Northwestern escaped Virginia Tech with a good win, then beat two cupcakes. DePaul is looking like a not-so-good team, and Northwestern should probably end the non-conference 12-1. The question is, with a charmin-y soft schedule, will this team be 2014-15 Penn State or 2012-13 Iowa?

Now that Joey Van Zegeren is out for a couple weeks with a stress reaction in his foot, it's just "survive" for Northwestern until they hit Big Ten play. If there's any designs of dancing in the Wildcats' heads, they'll need him strong for a softer-than-usual conference schedule.

Is This The Year? Watch:

For the NIT? Absolutely.

*I totally made up The Mayor's Key. But shouldn't that be a thing?

This week: vs. Mississippi Valley State (12/15, 7pm, BTN+); @ DePaul (12/19, 1pm, FS1)

Ohio State (4-5)
Kenpom	71	StewPoll	145	Sagarin	94

ACC-B1G Challenge: L vs. #8 Virginia, 64-58

Last week: W vs. VMI, 89-62; W vs. Air Force, 74-50; L @ #25 UConn, 75-55

I have nothing witty to say about Ohio State.

This week: vs. Northern Illinois (12/16, 6pm, BTN); @ #4 Kentucky (12/19, 2:30pm, CBS)

Penn State (7-3)
Kenpom	148	StewPoll	113	Sagarin	136

ACC-B1G Challenge: W @ Boston College, 67-58

Last week: W vs. Eastern Michigan, 81-70; L @ George Washington, 76-66; W vs. Canisius, 81-67; W vs. Louisiana-Monroe, 54-50

Aaron Yorke: On Tuesday, Penn State was able to hang with a good George Washington team on the road thanks to a strong Shep Garner shooting night. The sophomore scored 22 points on just 13 field goal attempts, but it wasn't enough as the Lions struggled to defend Tyler Cavanaugh in the post. He scored 18 points with 10 rebounds to lead the Colonials to a 76-66 win.

Penn State rebounded two nights later with a 81-67 win over Canisius at Rec Hall. The Lions shot 56 percent from the field in that game but also turned the ball over 21 times. On Saturday, the Return to Rec series wrapped up with Penn State barely sneaking by Louisiana Monroe.  Despite shooting 33 percent from the field and allowing Warhawks freshman Travis Munnings to score 22 points with 10 rebounds, the Lions pulled away with a 54-50 win to improve their record to 7-3.

This week: @ Drexel (12/19, 6:00pm)

#9 Purdue (11-0)
Kenpom	3	StewPoll	9	Sagarin	1

ACC-B1G Challenge: W @ Pittsburgh, 72-59

Last week: W vs. New Mexico, 70-58; W vs. IUPUI, 80-53; W vs. Howard, 93-55; W vs. Youngstown State, 95-64

Purdue is also probably pretty good. I'm surprised they haven't risen higher in the standings, but the AIN'T PLAYED NOBODY bug is still probably biting them pretty hard. Tests against #17 Butler and Vanderbilt should help us figure out if the Boilers are a Top-15 team or not.

This week: Crossroads Classic vs. #17 Butler (12/19, 4pm, BTN)

Buttgers (4-6)
Kenpom	252	StewPoll	228	Sagarin	237

ACC-B1G Challenge: L vs. Wake Forest, 69-68

Last week: L vs. Seton Hall, 84-55; W vs. Central Connecticut, 84-55; L @ George Washington, 83-49

Rutgers is bad.

This week: vs. Wake Forest (Mon., 6pm, ESPNU); vs. Seton Hall (Sat., 11am, ESPNN)

Wisconsin-Madison (6-5)
Kenpom	42	StewPoll	104	Sagarin	57

ACC-B1G Challenge: W @ then-#14 Syracuse, 66-58 (OT)

Last week: W vs. Temple, 76-60; L vs. UW-Milwaukee, 68-67; L vs. Marquette, 57-55

This is a totem pole of basketball in the state of Wisconsin:

This might change when the Badgers take on UW-Green Bay a week from Wednesday. Stay tuned.

This week: vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (12/15, 8pm, BTN)