Big Ten Basketball December 2 Recaps, Previews, and Open Thread

Bloody Friday for the Big Ten. Conference race starts tonight!

All numbers via Torvik. All predictions not financial advice.

Friday's and Saturday's Games

Purdue Boilermakers 109, Eastern Illinois Panthers 62

HoustonBoiler: The train engine took about 10 minutes to warmup and build steam pressure, then it was off to the races.

BoilerUp89: Purdue came out sloppy committing 7 or 8 turnovers early. Then they went on a 74-18 run to open up a 56 point lead. Not much more to say about this game, but I'll shout out Daniel Jacobsen who has made his last 19 shots from the field dating back to the Akron game. He had a career high 24 points in this one and 6 blocks.

Connecticut Huskies 74, Illinois Fighting Illini 61

BoilerUp89: The UConn defense shut off the water for the Illini offense suffocating them to a 32% field goal percentage.

AlmaOtter: They didn't drop a 30-0 run on us. That's something positive. Also, for fuck's sake Underwood, please retire the blue unis. We DO NOT win in them.

Colorado Buffaloes 81, Washington Huskies 68

BoilerUp89: No Hannes Steinbach, big problem for Washington. Colorado had more points in the paint, more rebounds, and a ton of free throw attempts as the Huskies were without their freshman sensation at center.

TCU Horned Frogs 74, Wisconsin Badgers 63

BoilerUp89: TCU may just be better than we all thought. This wasn't the worse outing for the Badgers possible. They lost by just 11 despite 17 turnovers and 25% shooting from three while the Horned Frogs were over 50% from deep. That being said it's still a missed opportunity. John Blackwell had 30 and while I don't want to criticize 30 points too much, he also went just 8 of 22 from the field. Going 11 of 12 from the charity stripe is great, but Wisconsin could use him making some field goals too.

Pittsburgh Panthers 67, THE Ohio State Buckeyes 66

BoilerUp89: If I had a nickel for every time Pitt beat the Buckeyes on a last second buzzer beater, I'd have two nickels. That isn't a lot, but it's weird that it has happened twice.

MaximumSam: Ryan Day must look over at Diebler and wonder why no one is posting his home address online.

Santa Clara Broncos 86, Minnesota Golden Gophers 75

BoilerUp89: Minnesota was down 51-27 at halftime. Cade Tyson (29 points) needs some help.

Indiana Hoosiers 100, Bethune-Cookman Wildcats 56

AlmaOtter: This is a game that happened.

Nebraska Cornhuskers 72, South Carolina Upstate Spartans 63

BoilerUp89: Nebraska should be ranked for their winning streak.

AlmaOtter: Are you referring to the Longest Winning Streak In The Country (patent pending)? Also, what's an Upstate Spartan? Is it similar to an Uptown Girl?

Penn State Nittany Lions 90, Sacred Heart Pioneers 59

Tuesday's Big Ten Games

#222 Campbell Fighting Camels (3-4) at #92 Penn State Nittany Lions (7-1)

6 ET, BTN

BoilerUp89: Almost forgot to include the "Fighting".

MaximumSam: The Nits are 92nd on Torvik, but they clear three other B1G teams so I think they'll take it.

#21 Iowa Hawkeyes (7-0) at #14 Michigan State Spartans (7-0)

7 ET, Peacock

BoilerUp89: Stirtz v. Fears is the headliner here. Fears just has more surrounding pieces to help him out. If Iowa can slow the game down and get a bad shooting night from MSU, they can make this a game. If this becomes a series of sprints up and down the court, I'm afraid Sparty could run them out of the building. Of course, if Michigan State introduces their new football coach at halftime, they might have to forfeit after a riot breaks out.

#5 Purdue Boilermakers (7-0) at #132 Rutgers Scarlet Knights (5-3)

8 ET, FS1

HoustonBoiler: Purdue has a habit of losing December conference road games, so I hope this team will break that one. I hope Purdue also remembers the last two times they were ranked number 1 and walked into the RAC. Expect a rock fight because that's the only way Rutgers has a chance, but after that Memphis game Purdue should be ready for one.

BoilerUp89: It's a road game in conference play and Purdue has a tendency to do poorly in those during December. That being said, the energy in the RAC seems down this year. A #1 ranked opponent should help with that some, but Rutgers fans may have forgotten how to cheer.

#277 Wagner Seahawks (1-5) at #99 Maryland Terrapins (5-3)

8 ET, BTN

MaximumSam: The Terps have fallen to 99th on Torvik, just a spot ahead of Minnesota. They can both thank Rutgers, who is at 132nd, for showing some true awfulness.

#27 USC Trojans (7-0) at #62 Oregon Ducks (4-3)

10 ET, FS1

BoilerUp89: Interesting late night game on the west coast. Oregon probably isn't as bad as their record and USC probably isn't as good as theirs, but that doesn't mean Oregon will get the victory. If Shelstad and Bittle aren't healthy and playing well, USC should win. There just isn't enough beyond those two. Bittle is considering very questionable for this game.

Tuesday's Non-Big Ten Games of Interest

ACC/SEC Challenge

#10 Tennessee Volunteers (7-1) at #60 Syracuse Orange (4-3), 7 ET, ESPN2
#75 Virginia Tech Hokies (6-2) at #97 South Carolina Gamecocks (5-2), 7 ET, SECN
#50 Oklahoma Sooners (5-2) at #54 Wake Forest Demon Deacons (6-2), 7 ET, ACCN
#38 Texas A&M Aggies (6-2) at #95 Pittsburgh Panthers (5-3), 7 ET, ESPNU
#16 Florida Gators (5-2) at #2 Duke Blue Devils (8-0), 7:30 ET, ESPN
#37 Miami Hurricanes (6-2) at #52 Mississippi Traitors (5-2), 8 ET, SECN
#29 Georgia Bulldogs (7-1) at #82 Florida State Seminoles (5-2), 9 ET, ACCN
#31 Missouri Tigers at #65 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (5-3), 9 ET, ESPNU
#23 North Carolina Tarheels (6-11) at #18 Kentucky Wildcats (5-2), 9:30 ET, ESPN

Other

#309 Morehead State Eagles (3-5) at #120 Murray State Racers (5-3), 8 ET, ESPN+
#4 UConn Huskies (6-1), at #19 Kansas Jayhawks (6-2), 9 ET, ESPN2
#103 UC San Diego Tritons (7-0) at #109 Nevada Wolf Pack (5-3), 10 ET
#111 Utah Utes (6-2) at #79 California Golden Bears (6-1), 10 ET, ACC+
#58 Saint Louis Billikens (6-1) at #135 Loyola Marymount Lions (7-2), 10 ET, ESPN+