Big Ten Basketball Weekend Preview, Open Thread: Gophers head to Utah, Badgers host Marquette

Fresh off its rousing win in the Gavitt Games, the Big Ten collectively takes a deep breath for the next week as teams gear up for non-conference tournament season.

That doesn’t mean, though, that these games will be without their share of drama, intrigue, and possibly Iowa losing to a telethon school. We tell you what to expect!

Friday, November 15

Michigan Wolverines vs. Elon Phoenix

6pm | BTN | Mich -24 | O/U 140

Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Oral Bob’s House of Learnin’

7pm | BTN+ | Iowa -12 | O/U 160.5

Stew: Just redshirt Jordan Bohannon, already. Change the lineups. Joe Tussaint needs some development, but looks like a Big Ten caliber athlete, get him minutes. It doesn’t look like the redshirt year really added anything to Jack Nunge’s game, not sure why he’s starting. Oral Roberts is bad. Iowa should win. It probably means nothing.

Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. South Dakota State Jackrabbits

8pm | BTN | UNL -6.5 | O/U 148.5

Jesse: I have zero faith in wins right now until this team proves it can play meaningfully consistent basketball. There was definitely progression game over game but the team has shown no ability to close. I still believe this team will be better by season end but right now it’s ugly.

Minnesota Golden Gophers at Utah Utes

8pm | Pac-12 | Utah -5 | O/U 145

WSR: Minnesota isn’t good, and Utah also isn’t good. Get ready for some c&p stuff that you’ll see quite a bit from me in non-conf: Minnesota’s guards need to shoot well from 3, Oturu needs to stay outside of foul trouble against Van Komen (who’s averaging 12 PPG so far), and somebody needs to slow down SF Timmy Allen (averaging 24.5 PPG). Godspeed, Gophers.

Saturday

#7 Maryland Terrapins vs. Oakland Golden Grizzlies

11am | BTN+

DJ: I suppose after Evansville taking out Kentucky this week, no one should be taking any game lightly. But Maryland should cruise in this game.

What I’d like to see is a continued pushing of the pace and a little more refinement from Turgeon in what his lineup rotation is going to be. He really needs to sort out who is going to be his starter: Ayala or Morsell, Lindo or freshman Donta Scott or freshman Meckhi Mitchell. The latter is more of a discussion of does Turgeon want to play Jalen Smith like a center or concede to playing 3 around 2 with your two being stretch 4’s. I’m personally rooting for the latter as Scott has looked fantastic in his limited amount of games so far.

Purdue Boilermakers vs. Chicago State Cougars

1pm | BTN+

Boilerman: I’ve heard Chicago State described as “one of the most awful basketball programs in D-1”. Thank God this game is on BTN+ where I can’t watch it. This is a team that lost 98-34 to Eastern Illinois Tuesday night. Yeesh. Just get through the game without any injuries and move on.

MNW: I’m sorry to keep stepping on Bman’s red-hot analysis, but it’s worth noting (only because I learned it last season) that there’s a Chicago State Basketball message board. I’m so proud of the people there.

DJ: Bman, I want to assist in your suffering, so you can use my login to watch because I’m going to suffer and login to watch the MD/Oakland game.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs. St. Bonaventure Bonnies

6:30pm | ESPN+ | Toronto, ON

MNW: It’s the Naismith Classic, the one time a year we all come together and remember that James Naismith was a filthy Canadian.

The Bonnies are 0-3, but they’re the second-highest rated by Kenpom after Grand Canyon. No stranger to Rutgers’ clang’n’bang style, the Bonnies also like to slow the game down, relying on their defense and rebounding—C Amadi Ikpeze will match up fine with the Knights inside.

What this game probably won’t have? Offense. St. Bonaventure’s shoots just 35% from the field, though they, too, like to crash the offensive glass. Tune in to this one for a couple teams just kind of flailing around at each other, and stay for the Yakkity Sax ending.

Indiana Hoosiers vs. Troy Trojans

7pm | BTN

Candystripes: This will either be a place for IU fans to vent after losing to Penn State, or the entire place will be in a party atmosphere if the fairly improbable occurs. Regardless, you don’t really want to be Troy in this game. Hoosiers (hopefully) by a million.

Sunday

Marquette Golden Eagles at wisconsin badgers

12pm | FS1

MC: I’m not crazy about this game. This is one I’d have pegged as a Wisconsin lean in the preseason with the turnover (expected or otherwise) the Marquette roster went through, but Marquette has shown more so far this season.

Wisconsin needs Kobe King to return from the ankle sprain he suffered in practice this week and be close to full strength. Nate Reuvers needs to stay out of foul trouble or Wisconsin has no answer for Theo John. And obviously, hope there isn’t an onslaught from deep from the Markus Howard/Koby McEwen duo. I think Wisconsin can get it done, but it’ll take their best effort of the season.

Here’s your schedule for the weekend. Feel free to use this as your open thread tonight or whenever, and go nuts.