Pre-finals week Big Ten Basketball Stock Report

Another week, another stock report. Basketball is now in full swing with college football’s regular season now complete thanks to a classic Army-Navy game which surely has GoForThree beaming ear-to-ear. Most teams are heading into finals week, meaning the week ahead is mostly barren from a scheduling standpoint (looks at Maryland and their sure to be barn burner tilt against “Catholic University”). However, a full week including wrapping up the early in conference games is complete, so let’s fire away.

Stock Up

Ohio State Buckeyes – I’m fairly certain I predicted that Holtmann would have the Bucks on the upswing. Honestly, I did not see this coming. After trailing big to Michigan in the first half, Ohio State used a huge run to not only turn it into a game, but ultimately got the win and are looking like they could challenge the tier above them. Well done.

Indiana Hoosiers – I’m going to give you some credit, Hoosiers. You beat a struggling Iowa team that you needed to beat. Then, you had some guts to schedule a decent non-con opponent in Louisville. You played well before surrendering in the second-half. Now, watch out for those IPFW Mastodons

Stock Holding

Michigan State Spartans – Struggled a little bit at Rutgers, but ultimately pulled away late and got the win. Also, beat directional Utah, so you got that going for you.

Michigan Wolverines – Michigan, you’re starting to confuse me. Unfortunately, you ran into a Scarlet and Grey buzzsaw in Columbus and dropped a conference game. However, you rebounded to beat a Ball-less UCLA crew. So we’ll hold onto you for now.

Nebraska Cornhuskers –You get credit for beating Minnesota in your annual knock-off-someone-you-didn’t-really-have-any-business-knocking-off affair. Losing to Creighton though pretty much takes the shine off the win.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights – Credit due for giving Sparty a scare. That’s about all I got.

Getting in some more cupcakes:

Purdue Boilermakers

Maryland Terrapins – Enjoy your game against Catholic. Heathens.

Stock Down

Minnesota Golden Gophers – Ouch. Not a good week for Goldy. First, you take a conference loss at Nebraska. Then, you follow it up by getting run out of the gym against Arkansas. That’s gonna leave a mark.

Penn State Nittany Lions – I’ll give you some credit. Usually by now, I’m ready to light your stock on fire as primer for a yule log. But you’re showing some fight. Losing to Wisconsin isn’t going to help however, so down you go.

Wisconsin Badgers – Things aren’t looking good for you, Bucky. You edged Penn State on the road, but then took two to the chin between Temple and Marquette. Ice up, you look like you could use it.

Illinois Fighting Illini – Went to the desert, got beat by the Rebs.

Iowa Hawkeyes – Lost to a rebuilding IU team, lost to an uninspiring Iowa State team. You see where I’m going with this?

Insufficient Data: Northwestern Wildcats