Midweek Games Preview
Tuesday
Rutgers @ Minnesota
Minnesota Golden Gophers (7-19, 1-13) |
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|
Kenpom |
170 |
StewPoll |
237 |
Massey Composite |
176 |
Rutgers Scarlet Knights (6-21, 0-14) |
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|
Kenpom |
293 |
StewPoll |
310 |
Massey Composite |
280 |
Time/TV: 7:30 pm, BTN
Line: Minnesota by 12.5
WSR: WOOOOOOOO MINNESOTA RUTGERS TONIGHT! CAN YOU FEEL THE EXCITEMENT* IN THE AIR!
Wait, that's chlorine gas.
Prediction:
Michigan State @ Ohio State
#6 Michigan State Spartans (22-5, 9-5) |
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|
Kenpom |
3 |
StewPoll |
6 |
Massey Composite |
4 |
Ohio State Buckeyes (18-10, 10-5) |
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|
Kenpom |
62 |
StewPoll |
71 |
Massey Composite |
65 |
Time/TV: 8 pm, ESPN
Line: MSU by 6
Andrew Krewsiwooski: MSU gets its first of two remaining matchups with Ohio State tonight. About all the Buckeyes are good at offensively is shooting the 3, so there's always the chance for an upset, but I'd expect MSU to keep rolling. Still, these are two of the better defensive teams in the country, so a low-scoring game where a lot of threes figure to be taken puts some variance in the picture.
Prediction: MSU, 73-58
Wednesday:
Northwestern @ Michigan
Northwestern Wildcats (17-10, 5-9) |
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|
Kenpom |
90 |
StewPoll |
93 |
Massey Composite |
83 |
Michigan Wolverines (19-9, 9-6) |
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|
Kenpom |
48 |
StewPoll |
59 |
Massey Composite |
45 |
Time/TV: 6 pm, BTN
Line: n/a
MNW: Northwestern at Michigan. Easy job. Get the ball inside, rebound well, and get a little timely shooting from Tre Demps and the suddenly-cold-again Bryant McIntosh. I think one of Alex Olah/Dererk Pardon needs to go for 15 and possibly 10 boards for the 'Cats to win. That'd be swell.
Graham: I don't have any thoughts.**
We match up great with NW.
That's a thought.***
Prediction: Michigan, 67-61
Wisconsin @ Iowa
#8 Iowa Hawkeyes (20-6, 11-3) |
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|
Kenpom |
8 |
StewPoll |
15 |
Massey Composite |
13 |
Wisconsin Badgers (17-10, 9-5) |
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|
Kenpom |
38 |
StewPoll |
55 |
Massey Composite |
42 |
Time/TV: 8 pm, BTN
Line: n/a
Stew: Iowa has been slumping the last two weeks. Was having the weekend off enough to get them back on track? It's mostly been the defense and bench play that has suffered, so those are two early indications on how this game should go. I'm hopeful the rest helped get their legs back, and they cruise to a fairly comfortable win, and putting Wisconsin's tourney hopes back on the ledge.
Speth: I hope Happ brings his goggles and Hayes remembers how to shoot. Barring that happening I expect an offensive clusterfuck of terrible with Iowa escaping with a win over the worst Wisconsin team in at least 5 years. Which will still somehow lead to the Iowa fan base being deluded into thinking they're nationally relevant. Have I seen this movie before?
Prediction: Iowa, 74-63
Thursday:
Nebraska @ Penn State
Nebraska Cornhuskers (14-14, 6-9) |
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|
Kenpom |
95 |
StewPoll |
145 |
Massey Composite |
105 |
Penn State Nittany Lions (14-13, 5-9) |
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|
Kenpom |
128 |
StewPoll |
157 |
Massey Composite |
118 |
Time/TV: 6 pm, ESPNU
Line: n/a
Jesse: There is talk of Penn State being a 'resurgent' team, in that they are suddenly good because they managed to beat Iowa, Indiana, and Rutgers in their last four games. I respect that, minus the fact that they also got blown out by Nebraska in that stretch. Will Andrew White III go bananas again? Will Penn State run the "we can't hit 3s but dammit we're gonna shoot them anyways" offense? Will officials call 100 fouls in this game forcing both Chambers and Miles to play equipment managers? Lots of questions, but the bottom line is this is really just a game to avoid day one of the B1G tournament. You know, so you can lose on Day 2.
Aaron: Penn State is kind of playing well and I don't know what to do with myself. Sure, they got crushed by Nebraska two Saturdays ago, but that was on the road. The Lions' last three games at the Bryce Jordan Center have been a close loss vs. Wisconsin and wins over Indiana and Iowa. If Shep Garner get continue knocking down jumpers like he has in his last two games (after going 3-for-14 from the field in Lincoln) and Donovon Jack keeps producing at center, Penn State should be able to even their series with Nebraska on Thursday night and stay alive in the hunt for the NIT.
Prediction: PSU, 66-61
Indiana @ Illinois
Illinois Fighting Illini (12-15, 4-10) |
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|
Kenpom |
127 |
StewPoll |
178 |
Massey Composite |
128 |
#18 Indiana Hoosiers (22-6, 12-3) |
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|
Kenpom |
19 |
StewPoll |
21 |
Massey Composite |
17 |
Time/TV: 8 pm, ESNP
Line: n/a
Candy: Don't let this be a trap game. Don't let this be a trap game. Don't let this be a trap game. Don't let this be a trap game. Don't let this be a trap game. Don't let this be a trap game. I think that pretty well covers it.
Thump: We're gonna fucking lose and I don't care anymore.
Prediction: Illinois 81-75 (Yeah, this makes no sense, still doing it.)
Lazy Bums:
#10 Maryland Terrapins (23-5, 11-4) |
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|
Kenpom |
20 |
StewPoll |
10 |
Massey Composite |
15 |
DJ: Maryland gets a break on the midweek game so nothing for me
#20 Purdue Boilermakers (21-7, 9-6) |
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|
Kenpom |
16 |
StewPoll |
17 |
Massey Composite |
19 |
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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!
*Excrement
**Not only is our leader fearless, but apparently thoughtless as well.
***Well, one thought.