FRIDAYYYYY June 5 Links and Banter
Cheers to the freakin' weekend, all
All numbers via Torvik. All predictions not financial advice.
Last Night's Games
Michigan State Spartans 83, Kentucky Wildcats 66
MaximumSam: Nothing soothes the soul like going belt to ass on Kentucky. MSU put Kentucky in jail while shooting 50% from three. A Spartan team that shoots the ball is up there with Purdue and Illinois.
misdreavus79: Michigan State is good good again, ain't?
Kind of...: Maybe Kentucky is way overrated, but yeah, message sent.
HoustonBoiler: Sparty looking good! Keep up that hot shooting and you might win the B1G!
Rutgers Scarlet Knights 80, American Eagles 71
BoilerUp89: This was a 5 point game with 40 seconds remaining so Rutgers didn't lock this one down. Dylan Grant has a double double for the Knights but a shaky start (Rutgers spotted American an 11 point lead at 22-11) left a bad impression.
misdreavus79: So Penn State won't be 18th in the conference this year, ain't?
Kind of...: PSU and Rutgers play twice this year. A tie for 17th seems appropriate.
Minnesota Golden Gophers 66, Chicago State Cougars 54
BoilerUp89: Minnesota fooled around with this one for most of the game. Chicago State led with under 7 minutes remaining.
misdreavus79: I learned my lesson over the weekend and stay far far away from this one.
Kind of...: Minnesota plays San Francisco next. Will be interesting.
Iowa Hawkeyes 99, SEMO Redhawks 70
misdreavus79: I have not watched a second of Iowa basketball and I plan to keep it that way.
Kind of...: I dunno. They're averaging almost 90 a game. Fully expect a big reversion come B1G season, but it's been a pretty good show so far. My guy Alvaro Folgueiras dropped 16 points on 6 FG attempts! Sixth man of the year leader at this point. He is a bit of a foul machine though.
Washington Huskies 99, Southern Jaguars 93 (2OT)
MaximumSam: The Huskies got all they wanted from Southern and then some. Desmond Claude returned, perhaps out of desperation, as he was supposed to be on a minutes restriction but played 35 minutes. Washington was out German freshman Hannes Steinbach with an ankle - he might be the wichtig for the whole thing.
BoilerUp89: Honesty, Southern should have closed this out in regulation or OT. They had opportunities. Washington appears to be dependent on Steinbach.
misdreavus79: Oh maybe Penn State can climb to 16th this season!
Kind of...: Steinbach is definitely important. He's fun to watch. Not gonna get overheated with "Baby Jokic" BS, but do pay attention when the Huskies are on.
UCLA Bruins 79, Sacramento State Hornets 48
misdreavus79: This game happened.
Kind of...: If nothing else, I'm grateful UCLA stepped on their throat right away so I didn't have to debate whether to stay up and watch.
Wednesday's Big Ten Games
#136 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (3-0) at #5 Michigan Wolverines (7, 3-0)
6:30 ET, BTN
BoilerUp89: We still know nothing about MTSU this season. They've played two lower division teams and Evansville. They got some size and former Nittany Lion Jahvin Carter plays for them.
misdreavus79: Not entirely sure why Carter transferred given how he would have carved a role if he stayed, but maybe he didn't want just a role. Anyway.
Kind of...: Michigan has not looked great the last couple of games. But this should still be an easy win.
#178 Harvard Crimson (4-1) at #92 Penn State Nittany Lions (4-0)
6:30 ET, B1G+
BoilerUp89: Harvard doesn't have much size in the starting rotation but they do a solid job keeping other mid major and low major opponents off the offensive glass and don't attempt to get many put backs of their own. We will see if they can keep the Nittany Lions off the glass. They can shoot the three at a decent clip but struggled with turnovers which should feed into what PSU wants to do.
misdreavus79: Things get really real on Saturday against Providence, so this is the last tuneup before I can make any real observations on whether the bigs are better than expected or not. Ivan Jurić has been looking way better than I thought, but what I "thought" coming into the season was "good for five fouls a night" so there's that. Tibor Mirtič is serviceable so far, but he's a clear step behind Jurić.
Kind of...: Seeing as how the Nittany Lions won their season finale last year, but missed the B1G tournament, they will actually enter this game with THE NATION'S THIRD LONGEST WINNING STREAK!!!
#253 Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers (1-3) at #48 Maryland Terrapins (3-1)
7 ET, B1G+
MaximumSam: Pharrel Payne won't play apparently, though his status remains unclear. There are least internet rumors that he escaped serious injury and will be back this season, which would be important for this team.
BoilerUp89: Payne shouldn't be needed in this one.
misdreavus79: If you haven't seen a clip of his injury, don't.
Kind of...: I have not seen a clip and I have no intention of doing so. Will also try to avoid seeing any clips of Buzz Williams tonight.
#20 Alabama Crimson Tide (11, 2-1) at #3 Illinois Fighting Illini (6, 4-0)
9 ET, FS1
thumpasaurus: Alabama got hit by the choo choo train last week but tomorrow night another train is coming for em.
BoilerUp89: Alabama can really shoot the ball and have some talented guards. Their front court isn't the most intimidating when it comes to defending the paint or rebounding. Considering Illinois is one of the nation's best rebounding teams that spells trouble for the Tide. Expect Mirkovic to have a great night.
misdreavus79: If only this were a football game...
Kind of...: Really big opportunity to advance the B1G narrative what with Purdue already beating 'Bama and MSU just eviscerating Kentucky. Don't mess it up, Illini!
HoustonBoiler: Thump needs to DJ at the State Farm Center.
Today's Non-Big Ten Games of Interest
#10 Arizona Wildcats at #7 Connecticut Huskies, 7 ET, FS1
#173 Youngstown State Penguins at #248 Toledo Rockets, 7 ET, ESPN+
#205 Hofstra Pride at #124 Temple Owls, 7 ET, ESPN+
#44 Villanova Wildcats at #217 La Salle Explorers, 7 ET, CBSSN
#86 Dayton Flyers at #55 Marquette Golden Eagles, 7:30 ET, truTV
#60 South Florida Bulls at #43 Oklahoma State Cowboys, 8 ET, ESPN+
#106 UC Irvine Anteaters at #129 Utah Valley Wolverines, 8 ET, ESPN+
BoilerUp89: The highlight here is the Arizona/UConn game but Dayton/Marquette and USF/Okie State are potential resume defining games for those teams.
Kind of...: Yeah, I'm really interested in Dayton/Marquette. Things could get dicey in a hurry for Shaka if Marquette loses.
HoustonBoiler: UCI at UV has the makings of a competitive game.
