The Big 10 Review: Week 1

The Big 10 week in review is a place to discuss the week that was in Big 10 basketball. I hope to make it a discussion of the best wins and worst performances of the week. Additionally, I will do a team by team recap of the week that was, and what each team has to look forward to in the coming week. Without further adieu:

Best win: In a week devoid of upsets, the best win goes to Purdue, dominating Michigan 80-57 in Ann Arbor in their opener. The Boilers were supposed to face a tough test from a Michigan team that played Syracuse tight in the preseason, but Purdue really came out with a statement win and embarrassed the Maize and Blue.

Worst loss: Indiana knew that they would take their lumps this year. They just did not think that they would drop their Big 10 opener, at home, to lowly Penn State. As I have stated previously (and will many times this year), Rome was not built in a day, and Tom Crean has a boatload of talent on the way, but Indiana appears to be on their way to the cellar and earn the distinction of Worst Loss of the Week.

Onto the team capsules:

1) Ohio State (14-0, 1-0). Ohio State had a pretty impressive win at home against Indiana to open Big 10 play. Impressive for the fact that they did not make a shot in the final 8:06 of the game and still won 85-67... and still shot better than 60% from the floor. Ohio State will hold the top spot in the conference power rankings until someone beats them. Don’t expect that loss to come in the week ahead. Ohio State travels to Iowa tomorrow and then hosts Minnesota on Sunday.

2) Purdue (13-1, 2-0). We covered the Michigan win, but Purdue did well defending their home court against Northwestern as well. Purdue is an interesting team, I can say with certainty that any week in which E’Twaun Moore averages 26 points will be a good week for the Boilers. Things do not get tougher for Purdue this week as they travel to Penn State tomorrow and host Iowa Sunday.

3) Wisconsin (11-3, 1-1). Wisconsin had a tough opening week, hosting Minnesota and traveling to Illinois (as an aside, I love the fact that Wisconsin always has 7 or 8 guys that look like they should be in an intramural game. The kid with the huge red fro cracks me up every time he has the ball). They beat the Gophers and lost to the Illini, exactly the results that were expected in the Big 10. Jordan Taylor had a huge week for the Badgers, though, with 22 points and 7 assists against Minnesota and 19 points and 5 assists against Illinois. Wisconsin only plays one game in the coming week: home against Michigan tomorrow, so expect them to be 2-1 at next week’s Big 10 Review.

4) Illinois (12-3, 2-0). The Illini jump past Michigan State in the power rankings this week because they had an easier time with Wisconsin than the Spartans had with Minnesota. Still, the Illini continue to struggle to put teams away, relying on Demetri McCamey to bail them out late, they managed to win at Iowa (in thoroughly underwhelming fashion). McCamey continues to be the only reliable offensive option for the Illini (as an aside, I do not think the Fiancé has ever seen Demetri McCamey make a free throw. Literally, McCamey gets fouled on a three, misses the first, she leaves the room, he makes the next two - mind boggling). Mike Davis and Bill Cole played well (Cole in particular even showcased a little athleticism with “the best block I’ve seen all week that was called a foul” on Jon Leuer). Illinois hosts Northwestern Thursday night in a game that could be a trap for the Illini.

5) Michigan State (9-4, 1-0). Michigan State needed a big second half to hold off Minnesota at home. The Spartans needed that win to put a tough non-conference slate behind them. Michigan State has a tricky little game tonight, traveling to Northwestern and then they travel to Penn State Saturday (I am convinced that Penn State will steal one game from the top 6 in conference this year).

6) Minnesota (11-3, 0-2). Minnesota is going to be the team this year that everyone writes off for dead because they have an awful schedule to start in conference. Then, after being left for dead, they will win 7 of their last 8 games and make the tournament. No one can blame Minnesota after losses at Wisconsin and at Michigan State this week. If they hope to win the Big 10, eventually you have to win a tough road game or two, but Minnesota battled in both losses. Up ahead this week, Minnesota hosts Indiana before they travel to Ohio State this weekend (3 of their first 4 games, on the road, against very tough Big 10 rivals - Minnesota thinks the Big 10 schedulers are jerks).

7) Northwestern (9-2, 0-1). Northwestern lost to Purdue this week and will need some manner of statement win to move into the top 6. Two chances to do so this week as they host Michigan State tonight and then make the 2.5 hour drive to Champaign Thursday. Northwestern completes a three game week hosting Indiana on the 9th. Northwestern would love to go 2-1 this week and would make quite a statement in doing so.

8) Michigan (11-3, 1-1). That “Michigan is actually good” campaign derailed very quickly when they were trounced at home by Purdue. But Michigan recovered nicely, escaping with a close win at home against Penn State. Michigan has an awful week ahead, traveling to Kohl to face Wisconsin and then hosting #3 Kansas over the weekend. Michigan should consider it a win if they aren’t embarrassed both games.

9) Penn State (8-5, 1-1). The Taylor Battles lost a chance to move up to number 8 and continue a trend of “beating bad Big 10 teams on the road” when they let a halftime lead slip in Ann Arbor. Taylor Battle had 31 in the loss. Penn State has a couple upset opportunities this week when they host Purdue and Michigan State. Fun Penn State fact, they are not higher than 223rd in the country in any relevant team stat.

10) Iowa (7-6, 0-1). Iowa made Illinois work to beat them this past week. But Iowa is still a very, very bad basketball team. Iowa hosts Ohio State and travels to Purdue this week. Not a likely week for the Hawkeyes to get their first Big 10 win.

11) Indiana (9-6, 0-2). A home loss to Penn State. Bobby Knight is rolling over in his grave. Indiana travels to Minnesota and Northwestern this week and will consider it a win if they are competitive in either.

Until next week...