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Oofda. Basketball’s happening. Recaps here, previews* ahead, full schedule at the bottom.
Tuesday, January 7
#11 Ohio State Buckeyes at #12 Maryland Terrapins
6pm | ESPN | MD -2.5 | O/U 134.5
DJ Carver: Expect a poor crowd tonight. DC rush hour will have a nice snow move through between 1-8pm, roads will be a disaster with all the idiots.
BrianB2: Maryland is at home, so they always have a chance to win (unless they are playing Michigan). Do we get Marquette/Indiana Maryland or do we get PSU/Seton Hall Maryland? Let us spin the wheel of Turgeon Treats this evening and find out!
Unfortunately, I think the weather and the general time of day, and students being on break will put a bit of a damper on the overall atmosphere of the game. I will be in attendance though, so yay!?
Poll
#11 meets #12! Who you got?
This poll is closed
-
39%
Ohio State
(11 votes) -
46%
Maryland
(13 votes) -
14%
Screw previews—more OTE writers’ travel plans, please
(4 votes)
Penn State Nittany Lions at Rutgers Scarlet Knights
6pm | BTN | PSU -1.5 | O/U 139.5
Biggest game of the year for the Knights, bar none. You might say, “But what about Seton Hall?” I would say that Seton Hall is a nice feather in the cap come March, but if Rutgers shows the ability to push its way into the top half of the conference, that’s a real sign that they’ve finally arrived under Steve Pikiell.
Geo Baker is out with a thumb injury, we think, but this one should still be exciting as the Knights try to clang and bang their way to a huge home win in front of a sold out RAC.
Poll
Battle for Delaware, Basketball Edition:
This poll is closed
-
40%
Nittany Lions
(16 votes) -
60%
Scarlet Knights
(24 votes)
Iowa Hawkeyes at Nebraska Cornhuskers
8pm | BTN | Iowa -8.5 | O/U 156.5
Jesse Collins: Iowa is going to murder Nebraska tonight because (a) Nebraska isn’t very good, (b) Iowa might be good, and (c) Nebraska still can’t rebound. I realize I sound like a broken record here, but the plan against this roster is simple. Pound it inside and get easy putbacks.
Stewmonkey13: Oh, Iowa gonna lose. If C.J. Frederick can’t go, Iowa’s going to be trading 2s for 3s to UNL. And it’s at the bowling arena after losing a grueling game in Philly just on Saturday.
Creighton M: Iowa is down to like a 6 man rotation now. I’m preemptively saying it doesn’t count as a trap game when it’s Luka Garza alone clinging to the Empire State building swatting at biplanes.
Poll
Cagers in the cornfields. Who wins?
Wednesday, January 8
Northwestern Wildcats at Indiana Hoosiers
6pm | BTN | Ind -13 | O/U 139
MNW: Depending on the status of Boo Buie (probably out with a stress fracture) and A.J. Turner (not sure), the ‘Cats will have anywhere from 7 to 9 healthy scholarship players with Anthony Gaines done for the year. It’s Ryan Greer Time! Hooray!
Northwestern ain’t equipped to walk into Bloomington and play the Hoosiers’ game, particularly if they get out and play fast like they can and should—there’s no answer for Trayce Jackson-Davis or Devonte Green once they get inside on the bounce. Joey Brunk (who NU hoped to get as a transfer) and De’Ron Davis will have the upper hand on Ryan Young inside, and I just want this game to be over already.
Poll
Does Indiana cover the -13?
This poll is closed
-
44%
Yeah, of course.
(11 votes) -
44%
Nah, but the Hoosiers still win.
(11 votes) -
12%
I’ve been drinking.
(3 votes)
Illinois Fighting Illini at wisconsin badgers
8pm | BTN | wisc -4.5 | O/U 125
MC ClapYoHandz: I don't know how to preview this team anymore. Wisconsin is the KenPom favorite in this one, but they were in the 50s like a week ago. They've been awesome at home and terrible away, but now they're awesome away so then are they terrible at home?
Illinois is sneaky good in this deep weird conference and I definitely have my concerns. Maybe Thump will come by to tell me how Illinois will blow this.
Poll
Illinois. badgers. Who you got?
This poll is closed
-
48%
Shouty Underwood
(31 votes) -
51%
Stompy Gard
(33 votes)
Thursday, January 9
Purdue Boilermakers at #19 Michigan Wolverines
6pm | BTN | Mich -5 | O/U 130.5
Boilerman31: I expect nothing from this game. Purdue’s offense is putrid away from Mackey and unless Sasha Stefanovic goes off for 30, it won’t be pretty. Purdue’s only hope will be its defense and containing Michigan’s shooters. Unfortunately, I don’t see it happening. Michigan by double digits.
Poll
Can the Boilers export some Mackey Magic?
This poll is closed
-
76%
Nah. Wolverines roll.
(64 votes) -
23%
Sasha’s due, Michigan’s off, Boilers win.
(20 votes)
Minnesota Golden Gophers at #8 Michigan State Spartans
8pm | ESPN | MSU -12 | O/U 145
WSR: We’ll lose. Between it being against Sparty and being at Sparty, we’ve got no chance.
Poll
Just come on already.
This poll is closed
-
82%
Yeah, MSU.
(29 votes) -
17%
I’ve been drinking.
(6 votes)
More previews as we feel like them! In the meantime, here’s your open thread for the week’s basketball. Behave.