Big Ten Basketball January 3 Recaps, Previews, and Open Thread

Yesterday's Games

Michigan Wolverines 96, USC Trojans 66

BoilerUp89: Michigan went just 6 of 30 from three, Yaxel was limited in minutes due to an injury that occurred (he appears to be okay as he came back and played), and Michigan still won be thirty. The defense may be one of the best defenses ever.

Morez Johnson had 29 points as nobody could stop him. USC had 21 turnovers leading to 24 points for the Wolverines. You can't let Michigan get so many fast break points. They are too good of a half court offense to give them even more freebies.

Kind of...: Look, some of you need to pump the breaks a bit. Yes, Michigan has looked dominant. But early January concessions of a national title, even of an undefeated season, tend not to age well. A partial list: '84 UNC (Jordan's last UNC team), '85 Georgetown, '91 UNLV, '99 Duke, '15 Kentucky, '21 Gonzaga.

Sure, there are some who were overwhelming favorites and went on and finished it out--'92 Duke, '96 Kentucky, '01 Duke, '12 Kentucky, '18 Villanova, '24 UConn--but if you want to take Michigan and offered me the field, let me know in the comments. I'm happy to with my side of that bet.

Oregon Ducks 64, Maryland Terrapins 54

MaximumSam: The Terps aren't good and still don't have Pharrel Payne. The Ducks also aren't great and were missing Jackson Shelstad. Props to Oregon for winning the Shorthanded Bad Teams Bowl.

Kind of...: Crossing the country and winning has to be encouraging for Oregon. But it's a tall mountain to climb. Maryland knows they're just living in the valley this year.

The Ohio State Buckeyes 80, Rutgers Scarlet Knights 73

MaximumSam: This game technically occurred, though I'm not sure anyone can prove it's actual existence.

Kind of...: It feels like Ohio State just delayed things a bit. If you want to prove you're for real, beat Nebraska in Columbus Monday. (NOT AN IRONIC STATEMENT. NOT A JOKE.)

Nebraska Cornhuskers 58, Michigan State Spartans 56

BoilerUp89: Heck of a game. Turnovers plagued Michigan State (19) and while Nebraska failed to slam the door shut on them halfway thru the second half, the Cornhuskers held on late. Mast hit some big threes and Sparty failed to convert at the charity stripe as they missed three of their final four attempts. Really impressive half court defense by Nebraska.

Kind of...: NATION'S LONGEST WINNING STREAK!!!

Let's take a minute to reflect on Fred Hoiberg's journey. Iowa State is a sneaky good basketball program. But when he took over, in '10-'11, they were on a run of 4 straight losing seasons (the Greg McDermott era). His first year they went .500. His second, they made the tournament playing really fun, up tempo ball (don't ask about their best player). Three more tournament appearances--including a trip to the Sweet 16 where they hung tough with the eventual national champs--led Hoiberg to a crossroads: be coach for life at his alma mater, or give the NBA a try. It didn't go well in the Association and he landed in Lincoln just in time for Covid.

Given their rough hoops history, it's no surprised that the Huskers tend to be patient with MBB hires, but, boy is it paying off now. At the risk of getting ahead of myself, Hoiberg is only 53. Whatever you think of the portal, it's a godsend to coaches in talent-deprived states, but who have a reputation for acumen on offense (ask, um, Greg McDermott).

Sorry to have to do this, Husker fans, but in a sense the big question is if Hoiberg is still young enough to leap to a better job if it comes open. Regardless, this year is shaping up to be historic in Lincoln. Enjoy it Husker hoops peeps.

Today's Games

#88 Minnesota Golden Gophers (8-5, 1-1) at #70 Northwestern Wildcats (8-5, 0-2)

5 ET, BTN

BoilerUp89: Northwestern has got to stop digging their hole if their season is going to turn around. Don't turn in if you like watching lots of made three pointers. Neither team can hit from deep.

Kind of...: Yep, doctors are currently reading over the Wildcats' DNR order waiting for one more loss to unplug the monitors. This would be a good win for Medved, indicating things might be ahead of schedule.

#28 UCLA Bruins (10-3, 2-0) at #18 Iowa Hawkeyes (11-2, 1-1)

6 ET, Peacock

BoilerUp89: This game is very intriguing to me. I think there is a clear cut top 5 in the conference this season and either Iowa or UCLA could be team #6. As the only head to head matchup between the two, this game should tell us a lot. Stirtz v. Dent should be a great watch as well.

Kind of...: Everything about the analytics perspective says that Iowa is a solid favorite, especially at home. Carver has never been know as an intimidating environment, but UCLA is timing this road game well. I just think Iowa is closer to the team they want to be right now and should win. If the Bruins get the victory, then look out: there's a reasonable chance they could be 7-0 in league play with Purdue coming to town on 1/20. (Next four after today, at Wisconsin, vs. Maryland, at Penn State, at Ohio State.)

#9 Illinois Fighting Illini (10-3, 1-1) at #142 Penn State Nittany Lions (9-4, 0-2)

7 ET, BTN

BoilerUp89: This is a game that is happening. I know Brad Underwood's team often play with their food and wind up losing, but this shouldn't be too difficult for them.

Kind of...: If Penn State students are on winter break, can anyone at the Bryce Jordan Center tell the difference?

#3 Purdue Boilermakers (12-1, 2-0) at #49 Wisconsin Badgers (9-4, 1-1)

8 ET, FOX

BoilerUp89: Big game for the Boilermakers as Wisconsin has been one of the big demons in recent seasons. With a relatively backloaded conference schedule, the Badgers are the most dangerous team early. Purdue has been an elite offensive rebounding team and the Badgers are an elite defensive rebounding team so watch the battle for the boards on that side of the court.

Kind of...: Purdue is looking like a Final Four worthy team. Wisconsin is looking like the biggest disappointment in the B1G, relative to preseason expectations (has fallen from 15 to 43 in KenPom). Especially with the Kohl Center likely to be subdued, Purdue should win convincingly.

Yes, this may be an attempt at a reverse jinx. But, no, not solely. Wisconsin already has losses by 28 and 30. They're just not that good of a team. Purdue already has multiple clearly better wins on their resume. And, defensive rebounding statistics notwithstanding, they're really bad inside. Either Cluff or TKR (or both) should score at will today. I think it's likelier that Purdue wins by 10+ than that they win by 1-10.

Non-B1G Games of Interest

#24 Virginia Cavaliers (11-2) at #23 NC State Wolfpack (10-4), 11 AM ET, ESPN2
#29 Kentucky Wildcats (9-4) at #11 Alabama Crimson Tide (10-3), Noon ET, ESPN
#56 VCU Rams (10-4) at #131 Duquesne Dukes (9-5), Noon ET, USA
#36 Villanova Wildcats (11-2) at #48 Butler Bulldogs (10-4), Noon ET, TNT
#71 Virginia Tech Hokies (12-2) at #60 Wake Forest Demon Deacons (9-5), Noon ET, ACCN
#66 Oklahoma State Cowboys (12-1) at #25 Texas Tech Red Raiders (10-3), 1 ET, ESPN2
#35 Auburn Tigers (9-4) at #32 Georgia Bulldogs (12-1), 1 ET, SECN
#64 Dayton Flyers (10-4) at #318 Loyola Chicago Ramblers (5-9), 2 ET, CBSSN
#12 Kansas Jayhawks (10-3) at #53 UCF Knights (11-1), 2 ET, Peacock
#40 Baylor NBA Draftees (10-2) at #50 TCU Horned Frogs (10-3), 2 ET, TNT
#21 North Carolina Tarheels (13-1) at #38 SMU Mustangs (11-2), 2:15 ET, The CW
#14 Tennessee Volunteers (10-3) at #26 Arkansas Razorbacks (10-3), 3 ET, ESPN2
#59 Akron Zips (10-3) at #100 Miami Ohio Redhawks (14-0), 3:30 ET, ESPN+
#82 Mississippi Rebels (8-5) at #68 Oklahoma Sooners (10-3), 3:30 ET, SECN
#95 Wyoming Cowboys (10-3) at #83 New Mexico Lobos (10-3), 8 ET, CBSSN
#94 Colorado State Rams (9-4) at #84 Grand Canyon Antelopes (8-4), 8 ET
#41 Boise State Broncos (9-4) at #52 San Diego State Aztecs (8-4), 10 ET, CBSSN
#81 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (11-2) at #91 UC Irvine Tritons (11-3), 10 ET, ESPN+

BoilerUp89: Okay, Kind of... will be mad I included Dayton/Loyola here, but let me explain. Any of the A10 at-large hopefuls (St. Louis, VCU, George Washington, Dayton, and let's be generous and include George Mason for now) need to avoid allowing Loyola's awful metrics to break contamination. Loyola isn't that bad of a team talent wise (they've defeated Santa Clara and Rhode Island on the road). They have played like a terrible team early this season however. This isn't just an important game for Dayton. It's important for the other A10 contenders that may lose to Dayton later this season.

Miami Ohio could get run out of the gym this afternoon. Akron feels like the class of the MAC despite the Redhawks being the undefeated team in that game. The rest of the games highlighted here include a mixture of quality games, conference relevant battles (Hawaii/UC Irvine), and a smattering of games I think might end up mattering come Selection Sunday. It's hard to predict which games those are 2+ months out and it's a full Saturday slate, so the list is long.

Kind of...: Actually, I'm not mad. Anytime I can see a number higher than 300 next to MVC-abandoning Loyola, I'm down for it.

I think my distinguished colleague is right about Akron/Miami (OH), but the Redhawks are undefeated, and that merits noting today, while it's still the case.

What I would say is: don't overreact to any results today. John Gasaway's "Week 6 of the AP Poll" trick isn't written into law, but there are going to be plenty of things that happen the next couple of weeks that, come March, will look really weird in retrospect.