Shootyhoops Week in Review, 1/18

B1G Talking Points

• Hey, Ohio State, you might want to show up more than 1 out of every 4 halves.
• Stop me if you've heard this before, Indiana under-performed against a far inferior team.
• Michigan can flat out shoot.
• Northwestern has a better shot at the tourney than consistently making 3's.  Which is to say, not at all.
• Purdue got back on the horse of hamblasting inferior teams.
• Last week I talked about the Illinois win over Purdue giving them hope.  They promptly get beat on their home court by Nebrasketball.
• Penn State just kinda chugging along, playing hard, not really good.
• Minnesota should be the embarrassment of the conference.
• Go away, Buttgers.
• Huge week for Iowa, now appears to be in the conference driver's seat. [I think Indiana might have something to say about that... -MNW]
• Just when Michigan State got Denzel Valentine back, Tum Tum Nairn goes down.
• Maryland goes as Tremble goes.
• With the midseason addition of Theodore Valentine, Wisconsin looks to play spoiler in the conference race.

For rankings, we'll throw the Kenpom, StewPoll, and the Massey Composite ratings at you side-by-side for some compare-contrast.

Week in Review

Illinois Fighting Illini (9-9)
Kenpom	121	StewPoll	138	Massey Composite	110

Last week: L vs. Nebraska, 67-78

Thumpasaurus: Nunn and Hill weren't on fire, so Illinois was made to pay for its horrific defense again. From what MNW is saying, Illinois vs Northwestern will be an incredible display of missing contested threes. We shot 35 three pointers.  If anyone other than Hill or Nunn gets within 8 feet of the basket, even if nobody else is down there, expect them to kick it out. Why take close shots when you can chuck a three?

This week: @ Indiana (1/19, 6pm, ESPN); @ Minnesota (1/23, 7:30pm, BTN)

#25 Indiana Hoosiers (15-3)
Kenpom	24	StewPoll	27	Massey Composite	23

Last week: W @ Minnesota, 70-63

Candystripes for Breakfast: Since my weekend was primarily focused on non-sports related things, I missed actually seeing Indiana's only game of the week, but considering we still got the win, and on the road no less, I'll take it. Could it have gone better? Probably. But, as the good folks at the Crimson Quarry like to point out often on Twitter, Indiana is still undefeated in Big Ten play and sitting atop the conference standings, and that's a good place to be.

This week: vs. Illinois (1/19, 6pm, ESPN); vs. Northwestern (1/23, 11am, ESPNU)

#9 Iowa Hawkeyes (14-3)
Kenpom	2	StewPoll	9	Massey Composite	8

Last week: W @ Michigan State, 76-69; W vs. Michigan, 82-71

Stewmonkey13: Iowa put up the most impressive week hammerfucking a healthy MSU at the Breslin, then beating a hot Michigan team.  Iowa is not only 5-0, but also has played the hardest schedule.

This week: @ Buttgers (1/21, 6pm, ESPNU); vs. Purdue (1/24, 12pm, BTN)

#7 Maryland Terrapins (16-2)
Kenpom	12	StewPoll	10	Massey Composite	12

Last week: L @ Michigan, 67-70; W vs. Ohio State, 100-65

DJ Carver: Maryland put away Ohio State 100-65 in a game where nothing could go wrong for Maryland and Ohio State could do nothing right.  There isn't much more to say about the game where Ohio State was down 18 at half and at one point Maryland held a more than 2:1 advantage in points in the second half.  Maryland pulled their starters at the Under 8 to let them rest and Ohio State only chipped into the lead by 9 points.  It was that kind of day.  Next up: Northwestern rematch where Maryland largely did the exact same thing earlier this month.

EDITOR'S NOTE: DJ didn't have anything to say about the Michigan game.

This week: vs. Northwestern (1/19, 7pm, BTN); @ Michigan State (1/23, 5:30, ESPN)

Michigan Wolverines (13-5)
Kenpom	28	StewPoll	33	Massey Composite	29

Last week: W vs. Maryland, 70-67; L @ Iowa, 82-71

Stew: No LeVert, no problem, it seems.  Michigan is one of the very best shooting teams in the country.  With almost no post presence they were able to take down Maryland, and played Iowa tough throughout thanks to that 3pt. shooting.

This week: vs. Minnesota (1/20, 7:30, BTN); @ Nebraska (1/23, 1pm, ESPN2)

#11 Michigan State Spartans (16-3)
Kenpom	11	StewPoll	13	Massey Composite	9

Last week: L vs. Iowa, 59-76; L @ Wisconsin, 76-77

Andrew Kraszewski: Iowa tried hard to give that game away but State just wouldn't take it. C'est la vie.

BREAKING NEWS: the way a game is being called at Kohl is an absolute fucking joke.  I expect nothing less, nothing more, and nothing else.  [EDITOR'S NOTE]:  This is the point where horrible things were said about TV Teddy.

This week: vs. Nebraska (1/20, 5:30pm, BTN); vs. Maryland (1/23, 5:30pm, ESPN)

Minnesota Golden Gophers (6-12)
Kenpom	203	StewPoll	220	Massey Composite	189

Last week: L @ Nebraska, 59-84, L vs. Indiana, 63-70

WhiteSpeedReceiver:  I seem to have run out of hemlock. Does anyone else have any laying around?

This week: @ Michigan (1/20, 7:30pm, BTN), vs. Illinois (1/23, 7:30pm, BTN)

Nebraska Cornhuskers (11-8)
Kenpom	90	StewPoll	131	Massey Composite	101

Last week: W vs. Minnesota, 84-59, W @ Illinois, 78-67

Jesse Collins: In general, the remedy to starting with three losses in three games in conference play is to play a trio of Rutgers, Minnesota, and Illinois. Nebraska is still not a good team, but we are far from the worst team - or arguably the worst tier of teams - in this conference, and that’s encouraging. Nebraska is going to have to take its lumps while the youth movement gets its legs under them, but in the meantime, it’s been nice to see Tai Webster kind of have that light turn on. This past week was Shavon Shields, Andrew White, and the duo of Glynn Watson and Ed Morrow take turns looking better than bad opponents, and I like that. The future is bright, but this year probably is just a step in a long path towards that first NCAA win.

This week: @ Michigan State (1/20, 5:30pm, BTN); vs. Michigan (1/23, 1pm, ESPN2)

Northwestern Wildcats (15-4)
Kenpom	71	StewPoll	60	Massey Composite	63

Last week: W vs. WI, 70-65; L vs PSU, 62-71

MNWildcat: Northwestern put on display exactly what's going to both make it an NIT contender and hold it back in 2016. Bryant McIntosh is still gonna make headlines and keep the 'Cats in games (he dropped 28 on 10/19 shooting against Wisconsin and had a double-double of 12 and 10 assists against Penn State), but Northwestern lacks the players elsewhere to deal with an aggressive, athletic defense while still relying on a three-shooting offense. Tre Demps has gone mighty cold from deep, as have the rest of the Wildcats, who shot THREE OF FUCKING TWENTY-SIX from long against Penn State. Oh, and now they've shot 15 of goddamn 83 from deep in home Big Ten play.

Either way, after Dan Dakich moved the 'Cats above Michigan State to #5 in his B1G Power Rankings, the 'Cats laid a large egg. The damning thing about the Penn State loss, though, is what it revealed about the 'Cats postseason chances: before the Penn State game, a win would have been Northwestern's ​_second-highest_​ win in terms of RPI. Now, the loss to PSU is a bad loss. This year's a lesson at the very least for Collins and Northwestern's schedule-makers: play better teams and give yourself better shots at some scalps in the non-conference. Now Northwestern, to keep the RPI dream alive, needs to hold serve against teams who have the athletic wings to make Northwestern's deep-shooting offense a nightmare. And that's not good.

Is This The Year? Watch:

Oh, sorry. This is not The Year.

This week: @ Maryland (1/19, 7pm, BTN); @ Indiana (1/23, 11am, ESPNU)

Ohio State Buckeyes (12-7)
Kenpom	79	StewPoll	72	Massey Composite	72

Last week: W vs. Buttgers, 94-68; L @ Maryland, 65-100

Ohio State was tied with Buttgers at half, and completely no show-ed against Maryland.  This is not a very good team.

@OTE Commentariat: Can you give weekly thoughts in a one-paragraph form about Ohio State? Let me know! I don't care enough about the Buckeyes to try.  I'm leaving this here as long as it's true.

This week: @ Purdue (1/21, 8pm, ESPN)

Penn State Nittany Lions (11-8)
Kenpom	133	StewPoll	123	Massey Composite	112

Last week: L @ Purdue, 57-74; W @ Northwestern, 71-62

Aaron Yorke: After predictably being smashed 74-57 by a physically superior Purdue squad, Penn State pleasantly surprised with a 71-62 victory at Northwestern for its second conference win of the campaign. Any win can seem like a fluke when your opponent shoots 12 percent from beyond the arc, but the Lions did a good job in Evanston by getting to the line for 33 free throw attempts, which is something they usually shy away from. More upsets could be in store if Donovon Jack continues to show up (back-to-back double-digit scoring games) and if Shep Garner starts hitting three-pointers again (3-for-13 in his last three games). On the other hand, Josh Reaves will miss at least three weeks after being diagnosed with mononucleosis. His outstanding perimeter defense will be sorely missed.

This week: vs. Wisconsin (1/21, 7pm, BTN)

#22 Purdue Boilermakers (15-3)
Kenpom	8	StewPoll	12	Massey Composite	13

Last week: W vs. Penn State, 74-57;

Babaoreally: Purdue just played Penn State this week, and will have played Rutgers by the time this article is posted. The Boilers took care of the Nittany Lions pretty easily, bouncing back from the disaster at Illinois. Vince Edwards asserted himself on offense more than he had so far this season, which is nice. Rutgers tonight should be a blowout, but stranger things have happened. On Thursday, Purdue has Ohio State at home which could be an interesting one.

This week: @ Buttgers (1/18, 6pm, BTN); vs. Ohio State (1/21, 8pm, ESPN); @ Iowa (1/24, 12pm, BTN)

Rutgers Scarlet Knights (6-12)
Kenpom	281	StewPoll	257	Massey Composite	252

Last week: L @ Ohio State, 68-94; L vs Purdue OH GOD MAKE IT STOP

Just go away, Buttgers.

This week: vs. Iowa (1/21, 6pm, ESPNU)

Wisconsin Badgers (10-9)
Kenpom	61	StewPoll	91	Massey Composite	67

Last week: L @ Northwestern, 65-70; W vs. Michigan State, 77-76

Speth: I didn't watch more than 3 minutes of the Northwestern game so I can't comment too much on that game besides not being surprised we lost. I will say I find it interesting that despite Wisconsin only committing 4 more fouls than Northwestern, Northwestern managed to shoot 21 more free throws in a 5 point win. Geez it's like Big Ten refs are terrible or something and everyone gets home cooking even if half the student section is reading. Good thing nobody's fans every complain about that. What's that? I'm getting some breaking news that the fan's of every team to ever play at the Kohl Center complains Wisconsin gets home cooking like this is a Madison phenomenon... SEE ABOVE STAT. I will give you this Michigan State fans, Happ totally traveled and you're going to kill us in East Lansing as we cruise towards an NIT berth. Unless Koenig decides now is the time he wants to play like a guy many think could get drafted, then maybe you'll only beat us by a little.

This week: @ Penn State (1/21, 7pm, BTN)

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Ahead of the seven Big Ten games left on weekdays, here are your previews, complete with TV, time, and lines where available. This will also serve as your open thread for the week's games! --MNW

Midweek Games Preview

Tuesday

Illinois (9-9, 1-4 B1G) at #25 Indiana (15-3, 5-0)

Time/TV: 6pm, ESPN

Line: Indiana by 12

Indiana is cruising through one of the weakest Big Ten schedules, finally gaining a little national attention, even with the loss of James Blackmon, Jr. Yogi Ferrell has produced for the Hoosiers, and a mediocre Illinois team that fails to play great D and loves to chuck up shots from deep will need to contain him. If Illinois can get Indiana out of their rhythm, a la Minnesota, the Illini could stay in this.

Side note to Illinois: Nice use of the 2005 throwback jerseys against Nebraska.

Prediction: Indiana, 83-69

Northwestern (15-4, 3-3) at #7 Maryland (16-2, 5-1)

Time/TV: 7pm, BTN

Line: Maryland by 13

Northwestern better have been watching the tape of Michigan's win over Maryland for exactly how to contain the Terrapins. Diamond Stone will get his inside, especially if the slower Alex Olah continues his comeback tour. Watch for the 'Cats to rotate all three of their bigs (Olah, Dererk Pardon, and Joey Van Zegeren) against Stone and Damonte Dodd. What the 'Cats need to do, in my mind, is run Maryland off the three-point line and force the Terps, as John Beilein noted after the Wolverines' win, to "beat them with twos." That likely takes the shape of a 3-2 or--/pours some out--a 1-3-1 zone, but I don't know if Chris Collins will deviate from the Wildcats' defense to date.

This is all, of course, predicated on Northwestern's ability to shoot the ball. As I noted above, I have little confidence they'll be able to against Maryland's length. A better defensive showing that doesn't let the Terrapins get out of the gates hot, though, could see Northwestern stick around in a repeat of last year's heartbreaker.

Prediction: Maryland, 70-58

Wednesday:

Nebraska (11-8, 3-3) at #11 Michigan State (16-3, 3-3)

Time/TV: 5:30pm, BTN

Line: n/a

Nebrasketball is finding their groove, as a runaway win over Illinois showed, but Nebraska's wins, like Northwestern's, have come against the dregs of the Big Ten. Whether they'll be able to handle Michigan State's pressure will likely determine how far into this game the Cornhuskers stay. Look out for Big Red to play itself into the CBI, though. That's exciting!

Prediction: Michigan State, 79-68

Minnesota (6-12, 0-6) at Michigan (13-5, 3-2)

Time/TV: 7:30pm, BTN

Line: n/a

I think--I think--Minnesota learned against Northwestern why it can't be content to sit in its 2-3 zone and let teams shoot them into oblivion. The Gophers played better defense against Indiana before derping another away against the Hoosiers, and I think we see Minnesota creep closer to competitiveness.

Prediction: Michigan, 67-61

Thursday:

#9 Iowa (14-3, 5-0) at Rutgers (6-13, 0-6)

Time/TV: 6pm, ESPNU

Line: n/a

Can Rutgers find a little of the magic that led them to an upset victory over Wisconsin in 2015? ...probably not, no. The Scarlet Knights love to run (94th nationally in Kenpom AdjT) but can't actually finish or do much right in the offensive end (309th in AdjO), playing a selfish and scattered brand of offense which ranks 310th nationally in ast/TO ratio. Seeing as how Iowa ranks 2nd nationally in the same metric and boasts (or maybe I'm just thinking of their fans) a Top-10 offense in Kenpom, this one shouldn't be close.

Oh, did we mention that Rutgers just lost to Purdue by 50? At home? Holy shit.

Prediction: Iowa, 91-60 [This is a real prediction that I'm making in the Big Ten in 2016. Why didn't you save the receipt, Delany?]

Wisconsin (10-9, 2-4) at Penn State (11-8, 2-4)

Time/TV: 7pm, BTN

Line: n/a

Maybe it's my PTSD from that debacle of a Northwestern performance at home against the Nittany Lions, but I think Penn State's coming into a rotation that works against teams which can go cold from deep, which Wisconsin (and I can't believe I'm saying this) can, shooting only 34% from deep this season and making a 261st-nationally 6 threes per game. Where the Badgers thrive, as usual, is not turning the ball over, not fouling (giggle), and hitting the glass on both ends of the court. They do that, I think they win.

Penn State, though, has taken care of the ball as well and imposed itself inside, rating 53rd in the nation in total blocks on the season. The Nittany Lions getting penetration and forcing the Badgers usual brand of "defense" to foul could get Pat Chambers' crew a season straight conference win.

Prediction: Penn State, 64-60 [I can't believe I just did that.]

Ohio State (12-7, 4-2) at #22 Purdue (16-3, 4-2)

Time/TV: 8pm, ESPN

Line: n/a

This is one I think you've gotta tune in for. Can Ohio State hang with the Boilers inside, forcing Purdue to shoot its way to a win? Joe Lunardi took the Buckeyes to task on Insider ($$$) for its weak scheduling concealing a mediocre team, and Maryland and Indiana both exposed a great deal of that. The Terrapins shot the lights out against the Buckeyes, and the Hoosiers cleaned up the glass with their athleticism. I don't see as much of that in Purdue, but Caleb Swanigan and AJ Hammons should be able to keep the Buckeyes at bay on the inside.

Prediction: Purdue, 70-62

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It's an open thread! The usual rules apply. No porn, no illegal streams, don't be a jackwagon. Let's watch some great Big Ten basketball!