Big Ten Basketball: February 13 - Dashed Hopes

Wednesday Night's Games

Michigan 87, Northwestern 75

Kind of...: Evidently I'm not the only person who, as a kid, would let the computer get off to a big lead on purpose in Madden, just to see how much of a comeback I could pull off, or how quickly I could erase a lead, on easy mode. Rough night for Martinelli (5-22; not even realizing that LJ Cason could be the main culprit).

Maryland 77, Iowa 70

HoustonBoiler: I didn't watch this game so I don't know how it happened. Regardless, this is a bad loss for Iowa.

Kind of...: Repeat after me: Iowa is a high floor, low ceiling team. Hawkeyes not named Bennett Stirtz went 12-38 from the floor. As for Maryland, next three games: @Rutgers, @Northwestern, vs. Washington. We're probably not looking at a 5 game winning streak, but it's not impossible, either.

MaximumSam: Can you say a team has a high floor if they lose to Maryland?

Ohio State 89, USC 82

Kind of...: 26 year-old Chad Baker-Mazara missed a second straight game (NOT with arthritis, I am being told) and this time it caught up with the Trojans. In a seven point loss, shooting 75% (24-33) from the line isn't a mortal sin, but it does stand out compared to OSU's 24-25. Either way, that's a lot of fouls!

Penn State 63, Washington 60

Kind of...: Given the travel element, this might have been the biggest faceplant of the year so far in conference play. Yates and Diallo combined to go 8-30 from the floor, allowing the Nittany Lions to notch a road win in a game where the racked up a grand total of FOUR assists (and 12 turnovers). Danny Sprinkle sad.

BoilerUp89: So much for Washington making a run at the bubble during the backend of their conference schedule.

Tonight's Games

#15 Michigan State Spartans (20-4, 10-3) at #34 wisconsin Badgers (17-7, 9-4) 8 pm ET, FOX

Kind of...: Dismiss Wisconsin at your own risk (I guess). They've definitely learned how to compete with road wins over Michigan and Illinois making earlier losses to BYU (by 28) and Nebraska (by 30) look all the more turd-ish. Basically this will be a not-so-classic matchup: does MSU clank so many shot their interior wrestling ability is offset? Does Nick Boyd blazing speed just mean he's easier pickings for Jeremy Fears's wayward feet? So many ways for either team to look ugly. You're going to hope for an exciting game. You're going to get trench warfare.