tOfficial B1G basketball thread.

[pumpkinhead33793]

Northwestern looks legit.

 

[jontaejones]

Minnesota and Indiana are looking like they will be lucky to make the NIT with the way things have gone the past couple weeks.

You have to wonder if Maryland is for real? If not, then Wisconsin clearly owns this conference...

 

[jwolt92]

Going to the Illini-Wisconsin game Tuesday in Champaign. $35 for first level suites, thank you Illini for being terrible for many years in a row!

 

[Great Dayne]

You have to wonder if Maryland is for real? If not, then Wisconsin clearly owns this conference...

I think head to head Purdue can is tough opponent for us but overall in the BIG you might be right.

Maryland is very young and lack the BIGS normally required to win the division. However, if they win the games they will be favorites in from here on out they might only lose 3 more games. That could be enough to win this conference.

Badgers have been winning but their wins have been ugly especially recently. If they don't straighten that mess up soon those close games could eventually start turning into losses. Koneig can't continue to make these clutch three's in every damn game. The defense looks good but the outside shot is just not falling.

The top 4 has separated themselves from the group so this last 5 weeks should be interesting to watch. Northwestern in the dark horse right now and I'm waiting for MSU to click the switch.

 

[Great Dayne]

Northwestern looks legit.

They lack quality wins so far in the BIG. They beat up a dismantled Indiana team that's falling apart, Nebraska twice, OSU that's collapsing, PSU, bottom feeder Rutgers and a below average Iowa team at home. They have to go @ Purdue, @ Wisconsin and vs Maryland 3 out of the next four games. This will tell us if they can hang with the big boys.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

I agree with the assessment of Maryland. Their big men are horrible and they have yet to play, let alone beat, a good team. But that's more a function of the league sucking this year. My concern is the schedule will make it appear as if they are entering the NCAA Tourney struggling as they do look at the last 10 games.

But as said they should probably only lose 3-4 more games the rest of the way so probabpy a 6 seed in a rebuilding year so I'll take that.

 

[ericd7633]

Well since we are at the half way point of B1G play, I was intrigued as to what the B1G tournament would look like if it began today. Here's how it would play out(I think, tiebreakers are always confusing)

Wednesday, March 8th:
First Round:

#13 Ohio State vs. #12 Illinois -- 4:30 - ESPN2
#14 Rutgers vs. #11 Minnesota -- 7:00 - BTN

Thursday, March 9th:
Second Round:

#9 Indiana vs. #8 Iowa -- 12:00 - BTN
#13 Ohio State/#12 Illinois vs. #5 Michigan State -- 2:30 - BTN
#10 Penn State vs. #7 Nebraska -- 6:30 - ESPN2
#14 Rutgers/#11 Minnesota vs. #6 Michigan -- 9:00 - ESPN2

Friday, March 10th:
Quarterfinals:

#9 Indiana/#8 Iowa vs. #1 Wisconsin -- 12:00 - ESPN
#13 Ohio State/#12 Illinois/#5 Michigan State vs. #4 Purdue -- 2:30 - ESPN
#10 Penn State/#7 Nebraska vs. #2 Maryland -- 6:30 - BTN
#14 Rutgers/#11 Minnesota/#6 Michigan vs. #3 Northwestern -- 9:00 - BTN

Saturday, March 11th:
Semifinals:

1:00 - CBS
3:30 - CBS

Sunday, March 12th:
Championship Game -- 3:00 - CBS

I really think this tournament has the potential to be as wide open as it ever has. I think Wisconsin is probably the best team, but it's taken some clutch plays down the stretch to win some of their games the last couple weeks. Same with Maryland.

I can't believe the Gophers may end up playing the first day, when I was talking about them potentially getting a double bye after the NW win.

This tournament should provide a ton of drama if the regular season is any indication.

 

[osubuckeye89]

Getting ran off the court by a not good Iowa team without their best player.

GG Guys

 

[Great Dayne]

I'm starting to believe in HAPP for BIG POY if he continues to go Wilt Chamberlin on teams. He's the defensive POY contender for the NCAA and offensively he's the most efficient scorer in the league. If he could just shoot the damn basketball he'd probably be the best all around big man in college since the 2000's. Frank the Tank called him his toughest match up he's ever faced and I believe him.

 

[Great Dayne]

Happ just won player of the week 2 weeks in a row now in the BIG.

He is the only player in the NCAA averaging at least 13 points, 9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.0 blocks per game.

 

[osubuckeye89]

Thoughts on tonight's game vs Maryland

 

[rmilia1]

I would have never thought I'd write this but Iowa may be better without Jok. Guy has played unreal this year but the ball stops moving with him. The ball movement with him out has been unreal. I know it's just OSU and Rutgers but both those teams are solid defensively and Iowa has lit them both up

 

[Lions=TeHsUcKs]

Wisconsin is tappin dat Illini ass atm.

 

[rmilia1]

Man Wisconsin has just been shooting awful the last few games. If they ever figure out how to make a shot they could make a nice run in the tourney. When you can win shooting 15% from 3 you're doing something right

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

MARYLAND is too young to be actually any good.
4 freshmen + Melo Trimble + schedule tissue soft = lots of wins

They might win one or two games tops in the tourney....or get bounced in round 1 just as likely.
The BIG 10 as a whole sucks this year, and MD is way too inexperienced to change that notion.

The TERPS are still a year away.
None of these freshmen are good enough for the NBA, but all of them are looking like 4 year all conference types.

MD is by far and away the best FUTURES bet in the league for a few years to come.

 

[Great Dayne]

Man Wisconsin has just been shooting awful the last few games. If they ever figure out how to make a shot they could make a nice run in the tourney. When you can win shooting 15% from 3 you're doing something right

They started off the game making everything then Ill switched to a zone defense and the Badgers literally missed every shot but three. The D is locking teams down and defense is more consistent than offense. With Brown, Showtime and Bronson along with Trice I don't worry about them getting the three point touch back at all.

 

[Great Dayne]

I would have never thought I'd write this but Iowa may be better without Jok. Guy has played unreal this year but the ball stops moving with him. The ball movement with him out has been unreal. I know it's just OSU and Rutgers but both those teams are solid defensively and Iowa has lit them both up

When does he come back? Iowa might need him to be more of a facilitator/scorer instead of just a scorer. They must win out until the Maryland game to have a shot at making the tournament.

 

[rmilia1]

When does he come back? Iowa might need him to be more of a facilitator/scorer instead of just a scorer. They must win out until the Maryland game to have a shot at making the tournament.

Oh they're not making the tourney but I didn't expect them to. Preseason I said 14-17 ds they're much better than I thought they'd be. Freshman are really playing well and Iowa has a couple really nice pieces coming in the next 2 years. Could be a legit contender in 2 years. Jok may be back on Sunday for Nebraska but no real point in rushing it since they're playing so well without him. Could be a dangerous team in the B10 tourney

 

[Trevler]

MARYLAND is too young to be actually any good.
4 freshmen + Melo Trimble + schedule tissue soft = lots of wins

They might win one or two games tops in the tourney....or get bounced in round 1 just as likely.
The BIG 10 as a whole sucks this year, and MD is way too inexperienced to change that notion.

The TERPS are still a year away.
None of these freshmen are good enough for the NBA, but all of them are looking like 4 year all conference types.

MD is by far and away the best FUTURES bet in the league for a few years to come.

3 freshman, not 4. Justin Jackson is definitely good enough for the NBA. He is just starting to get recognition. If he has a strong tournament, he could be gone after this season. He definitely isn't going to be at MD for four years.

 

[Great Dayne]

WOW, Badgers should be blowing these scrubs out by 30 points and now they've made it a fucking game. What a fucking joke.