Can Indiana and Purdue reach 100 combined? A Midweek B1G Basketball Semi-Thread

So Brian has been hard at work on a Michigan Wolverines piece that he swears wasn’t just gloating—he told us about it on Sunday, well before the #7 Wolverines laid waste to the #9 Wisconsin Badgers in an absolute beatemdown—but you’ll have to stay tuned for that.

In the meantime, I’ve kind of dropped the ball and been busy with the start of the job that actually allows me to pay off student loans and stuff, but here’s a basketball thread anywho.

Wednesday, January 13

Northwestern Wildcats at #21 Ohio State Buckeyes

6pm | BTN | OSU -8.5 | O/U 138
NU: 6-4 (3-3 B1G), KP #58
OSU: 9-3 (3-3), KP #16

The ‘Cats are in a bit of a free fall here, with Boo Buie and Chase Audige going ice-cold and no one seemingly able to take over a game right now. Bracketology, I’m told, still has Northwestern on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament, but this isn’t anything close to a bubble team right now.

Last time these two met, Northwestern snuck out a 71-70 win that had us all—or, at least, me—riding high. Since then it’s been a respectable loss at Iowa, a pasting at Michigan, and an epic home collapse against Illinois. This is a conference full of blood and spiders, of course, and there’s not TOO much shame in three straight losses to Top 15-level teams, but...yeah.

Anywho, ‘Cats have won one of their last two in Columbus! Is that good? Uh...

William Weinbaum
ESPN

N’western has lost 3 straight since a 71-70 home win 12/26 vs. Ohio St. An upset W by NU (6-4, 3-3) Wed. @ #21 OSU (9-3, 3-3 & 6-0 @ home) would give it 3 wins in 4 games vs the Buckeyes for the 1st time since 1969 & 2 in a row for the 1st time since ‘67. NU has split its last 2 @ OSU, but hasn’t won 2 of 3 there since a 1935 loss after 4 straight NU wins. From ‘35 on, OSU is 65-6 vs. NU in Columbus & has won 35 of the last 36 (34 in a row before a 2017 L to the NCAA tourney-bound Wildcats).

So yeah.

Thursday, January 14

Purdue Boilermakers at Indiana Hoosiers

6pm | FS1 | IU -3 | O/U 130.5
PU: 8-5 (3-3), KP #37
IU: 8-5 (3-3), KP #25

If the offenses these two teams have shown so far is any indication, this will be positively unwatchable.

BoilerBettor: Yeah, the under is a pretty strong probability here. Painter has owned Archie so kudos to anyone taking Indiana as a small favorite. I hope your money burns and warms this cold, cold, heart.

Michigan State Spartans at #5 Iowa Hawkeyes

8pm | FS1 | Iowa -9 | O/U 157.5
MSU: 8-4 (2-4), KP #43
Iowa: 11-2 (5-1), KP #3

I’ll try to get Andrew K in here to diagnose what’s wrong with the Spartans, because I’m too busy cackling with glee.

UPDATE: NEVER MIND!

I’m well over 150 words. Here’s your open thread for the next couple days of Big Ten basketball. A full schedule will be maybe updated in that Google doc below. Have fun, behave.