Big Ten Basketball December 6 Recaps, Previews, and Open Thread

No Games until Saturday...

All numbers via Torvik. All predictions not financial advice.

Wednesday Night's Games

Minnesota Golden Gophers 73, Indiana Hoosiers 64

HoustonBoiler: Venturing into an opponent's arena for the first time this season, Indiana made only 30% of their 3-point attempts (8-27) and 40% overall (22-55). I'll note BU89 speculated that Indiana might have trouble shooting in the Barn. Minnesota also out rebounded Indiana 40-25.

BoilerUp89: The rebounding margin was the big story here. Indiana has to find a way to be better on the boards to win on the road in the Big Ten. Credit to the Gophers starters. All five finished in double figures in scoring and 4 of them played 37+ minutes with the fifth limited only by foul trouble.

Wisconsin Badgers 85, Northwestern Wildcats 73

BoilerUp89: Congratulations to John Blackwell on joining the 1000 point club. Wisconsin came out and curb stomped Northwestern. Before you knew it they were up 27. They did it with 0 first half turnovers. Northwestern made the final score respectable but the game wasn't that close.

UCLA Bruins 82, Washington Huskies 80

MaximumSam: Hannes "The German Whacking Stick" Steinbach returned and dropped 29 and 10 as the Huskies came this close to upsetting UCLA.

BoilerUp89: UCLA looked to have things in cruise control late in the 2nd half but then tried to give the game away.

Today's Big Ten Games

#9 Iowa State Cyclones (8-0) at #5 Purdue Boilermakers (8-0)

12 pm, CBS

BoilerUp89: Big time non-conference matchup. Iowa State has looked really good early. Guard Tamin Lipsey is expected to play but is coming off an injury and may not be at full health.

#8 Duke Blue Devils (9-0) at #2 Michigan State Spartans (8-0)

12 pm, FOX

BoilerUp89: How good is Michigan State? Can they find a way to limit the current favorite for national player of the year Cam Boozer?

MaximumSam: Normally I root for stuffing freshmen into a trash can but I also have a hard time rooting against boozers. Or Boozers I guess.

#26 Ohio State Buckeyes (6-1) at #62 Northwestern Wildcats (5-3)

2 pm, BTN

MaximumSam: The Detective investigates why Ohio State turns into a potato when they play a half decent team.

#83 Marquette Golden Eagles (5-4) at #31 Wisconsin Badgers (6-2)

2 pm, FS1

BoilerUp89: The in-state rivalry doesn't look quite as appealing to neutrals as it might have preseason especially with this being a Badger home game. Marquette has just looked bad this season.

#14 Louisville Cardinals (7-1) at #20 Indiana Hoosiers (7-1)

2:15 pm, CBS

BoilerUp89: Both teams are coming off their first loss of the season, but Louisville has less questions than Indiana. Rebounding and defense have to be better here to pull the upset.

#137 Rutgers Scarlet Knights (5-4) at #1 Michigan Wolverines (7-0)

4 pm, BTN

MaximumSam: Have mercy on Rutgers' soul. If they still have souls in New Jersey and didn't sell them all for tanning oil.

#99 Maryland Terrapins (6-3) at #27 Iowa Hawkeyes (7-1)

4 pm, FS1

BoilerUp89: Maryland starts conference play. Can they force Iowa to play thru anyone other than Bennett Stirtz? That feels like the key to beating Iowa this season.

#60 Washington Huskies (5-3) at #29 USC Trojans (8-0)

6 pm, BTN

BoilerUp89: These are the two teams I think are the most alike this season. Lots of talent, questions about how the pieces work together, and real concerns on whether either can reach their ceiling. Does USC have anyone to limit the great Hannes Steinbach?

#64 Oregon Ducks (4-4) at #23 UCLA Bruins (6-2)

6 pm, Peacock

BoilerUp89: Oregon gets a UCLA team that is still learning how to play together. If this was later in the season, I don't think there would be any way for the Ducks to go into LA and get the win.

#15 Illinois Fighting Illini (6-2) v. #16 Tennessee Volunteers (7-2)

8 pm, ESPN

MaximumSam: Big Ten wisely schedules counterprogramming for those who don't want to watch the Big Ten championship. This is part of Music City Madness, though seems like they could have packaged with Illinois verses Tennessee in the Music City Bowl too.

Saturday's Non-Big Ten Games of Interest

Big Five

#157 Temple Owls (4-4) v. #149 Saint Joseph's Hawks (4-3), 3rd Place Game, 4:30 ET
#248 Penn Quakers (5-3) v. #41 Villanova Wildcats (6-1), Championship, 7:30 ET

Other

#123 Rhode Island Rams (7-2) at #77 Providence Friars (5-4), 12 ET, truTV
#67 Dayton Flyers (7-2) at #22 Virginia Cavaliers (7-1), 12 ET, ESPN2
#52 Boise State Broncos (5-3) at #56 Butler Bulldogs (7-1), 2 ET, TNT
#115 St. Bonaventure's Bonnies (8-1) at #269 Buffalo Bulls (8-0), 2 ET, ESPN+
#69 George Mason Patriots (9-0) at #71 Virginia Tech Hokies (7-2), 3 ET, ACC Extra
#65 Akron Zips (7-2) at #165 Tulane Green Wave (6-2), 4 ET, ESPN+
#42 Baylor Bears (6-1) at #66 Memphis Tigers (3-4), 4:30 ET, CBS
#72 Colorado Buffaloes (8-0) at #70 Colorado State Rams (6-2), 5 ET, CBSSN
#57 Wake Forest Demon Deacons (6-3) at #47 West Virginia Mountaineers (7-2), 6 ET, ESPN2
William & Mary Tribe (8-2) at George Washington Revolutionaries (7-2), 6 ET, ESPN+
#58 Mississippi Traitors (5-3) at #12 St. John's Red Storm (4-3), 8 ET, Peacock
#38 Santa Clara Broncos (8-1) at #101 New Mexico Lobos (6-2), 9 ET
#28 Auburn Tigers (7-2) at #11 Arizona Wildcats (7-0), 10 ET, ESPN

BoilerUp89: Honestly thought I would just list a couple of games but as I reviewed the slate, I kept saying that one is interesting! Skipped some P5 matchups that involve at least one team that's bad.