Ten for Ten is a weekly Big Ten basketball column. Every week, Adam and Donovan will discuss 10 of the biggest questions buzzing around the league and keep tabs on the conference’s best players, coaches and teams.
As Adam and Donovan walked into the United Center on Tuesday night, one thing was clear: college basketball is in a league of its own. The Champions Classic — which was the highlight of an epic Big Ten slate this past week — brought together four teams, four fan bases and four cultures,
turning Chicago into a melting pot of some of the biggest brands in the sport. Michigan State represented the Big Ten by upsetting the ACC’s finest, No. 2 Duke, punctuating what was a roller coaster week of ups (hello, UCLA) and downs (oh, Purdue) throughout the rest of the conference.
Weekly ballot
1. Who was your team of the week?
Adam: Michigan State
I picked Duke to beat the Spartans 80-68 ahead of Tuesday’s Champions Classic. I was wrong.
Tom Izzo’s squad is UNREAL on defense this season, and that was something I didn’t pick up on ahead of its performance against Duke. Against the Blue Devils’ five-star-laden roster, I was amazed by how well the Spartans rotated to help each other in the paint. There was never a free drive to the basket, and it forced Duke, a team without a true shooter, to play from the outside. The Blue Devils shot nearly 50% of their field goals from three-point range, despite being a team that now through three games has shot just 30.1% from distance. Duke wanted to get to the basket and the Spartans just didn’t let it happen.
After holding Duke to 33% shooting from the field, Michigan State is now KenPom’s No. 3 defense and has the best win of the college basketball season under its belt. Bravo, Sparty!
Donovan: Michigan State
Tom Izzo is known as one of the most vocal and emotional figures in the world of college basketball. Yet, look at his face on Tuesday:
Izzo, and everyone in the stadium and watching at home, knew that they were seeing something special. The Spartan defense, led by Jordan Scott, put the No. 2 team in the nation in an absolute torture chamber. MSU’s freshman duo of Carlos Medlock Jr. and Jasiah Jervis took off their diapers to hit four of the most impactful threes of the college basketball season thus far. Jeremy Fears Jr., the preseason National Player of the Year, orchestrated the whole thing like Ludwig van Beethoven at his peak. The final margin was six, but it was a wire-to-wire Sparty Party in which MSU jumped out to an 11-2 lead and never let go. Michigan State picked up a statement win and proved itself as a national title contender.
2. Who was your player of the week?
Adam: Nikola Kusturica (UCLA)
It was hard not to get excited about Nikola Kusturica in the offseason. At just 17 years old, the kid already has a Wikipedia page full of accolades, including the 2025 FIBA U16 EuroBasket MVP award and the 2026 FIBA U17 World Cup Defensive MVP award. Last December, he made his debut in the EuroLeague, becoming the youngest player to ever for FC Barcelona in the competition.
But, as is always the case with young international players, it was hard to know exactly how the 6-foot-9 forward’s game would transfer to college basketball, and, furthermore, how fast it would take for him to get fully acclimated.
After this past week, I think it’s safe to say that the Serbian first-year is on pace for a BIG year in Westwood.
Across two games against North Florida (Friday) and Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Wednesday), Kusturica shot 17-for-21 from the floor, 6-for-9 from deep and a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. These incredible shooting splits were good for a combined 46 points across the games — with 29 coming against UNF — while he would add nine rebounds, six assists, three blocks and three steals. WHAT DOESN’T HE DO?
Advanced analytics are already warm to him too. Through three games, Kusturica has earned a PORPAGATU! (which measures a player’s production and efficiency at his usage rate) of 5.6 that ranks him 10th in the Big Ten. Per Evan Miya, Kusturica’s defensive Bayesian player rating of 3.04 currently ranks eighth in the Big Ten and 4oth in all of Division I.
Mick Cronin has found something special.
Donovan: Rodney Rice (USC)
Rodney Rice dropped 32 points in USC’s 93-86 win over Wichita State. Yet, four of those points stand above the others.
With 1:52 remaining and his team clinging to a four-point lead, Rice calmly knocked down a 17-foot jumper from the right elbow to give the Trojans some breathing room. Then, with the lead cut to three and 44 ticks left on the clock, Rice netted two free throws to stick the dagger in the Shockers’ hearts.
He played 39 minutes, shooting 7-for-17 from the field and adding nine assists. Rice’s backcourt mate, Alijah Arenas, added 30 points of his own on the night, but the Maryland native’s all-around command of the game was the reason for USC’s victory.
Rice followed that up with 18 points and five rebounds in USC’s win over California on Wednesday. The Trojans are loaded with talent, and if Rice can keep scoring consistently, there’s no telling where they can go.
3. What was your favorite game you watched this week?
Adam: Valparaiso 83, Purdue 80
JUSTUS MCNAIR AT THE BUZZER!!! DOWN GOES PURDUE.
I watched this game in the press box of Welsh-Ryan Arena while covering Northwestern’s 78-65 victory over Stony Brook. It was me, Bryan Boanoh and the game’s Northwestern Athletics communications contingent all in shock of Valpo’s heroics in the game’s final moments. NU would replay the ending on the Welsh-Ryan Arena Jumbotron during a timeout, drawing roars from the crowd.
It’s still incomprehensible to me that Valparaiso made not one, but TWO buzzer-beater threes — one at the end of both OTs — en route to its crazed victory at Mackey Arena. This. Is. Why. We. Love. College. Basketball. Pure mid-major chaos.
Donovan: Michigan State 79, Duke 73
I don’t mean to throw too much Spartan energy on the page, but I think the game, the atmosphere and the significance of the clash between Michigan State and Duke is too much to overlook. Although neither team played beautiful basketball, it was an old-school battle of two titans of the sport figuring out how to win. The Blue Devils are overflowing with talent and will be heard from late in March, but the Spartans went toe-to-toe with them and came out on top. Michigan State seemingly always found the big shot to maintain its multi-possession lead throughout the game, but Duke also came away with meaningful baskets to stay competitive in a game in which it was thoroughly outplayed. This could have been a Final Four preview, something that’s always a treat in November.
4. What was your highlight reel of the week?
Adam: Markus Burton ankle-breaker against Syracuse
There were a couple of buzzer beaters around the Big Ten this week — those were awesome, don’t get me wrong. But y’all have already seen those highlights and I’m a sucker for seeing someone pull major bag work on an ordinary possession. No clip I saw this week made my jaw drop like this spin move from Markus Burton.
Donovan: Bobby Durkin 26-footer at the buzzer to knock off Cincinnati
Trailing 61-54 with 2:38 left in the game, it looked like Minnesota was destined for a sad trip home from Cincinnati. It looked like Minnesota was destined for yet another season defined by “what if?”
But then, the Gophers dug deep. They scored the next seven points and cut the deficit to one with 10 seconds remaining. The Bearcats proceeded to miss the front end of a one-and-one from the free throw line twice, while the Gophers did so once. Nonetheless, Minnesota grabbed the ball with five seconds left and a dream. Bobby Durkin made that dream reality.
Judging overreactions
5. Tom Izzo will set the Big Ten regular-season conference title record, winning his 12th.
Adam: OVERREACTION
Michigan State is my team of the week and they looked phenomenal against Duke on Saturday, but I still think once Illinois gets David Mirkovic back from injury, it will be the best team in the conference. Plus, everybody is overreacting to the Illini’s narrow loss to Texas Tech, who is a team currently ranked in the top-12 by both Evan Miya and Bart Torvik. Illinois is still a juggernaut and my pick to win it all.
Donovan: NOT AN OVERREACTION
My pick isn’t an indictment of Illinois or an overreaction to Michigan State, but rather a growing distrust in the rest of the Big Ten. There are several teams in the conference that are good and will be tough outs, but there aren’t many elite contenders. Michigan and Purdue have major questions. USC and Indiana are unproven and just played close games with lower-tier high-major teams. Nebraska and Ohio State lack the depth of talent needed to win the Big Ten. UCLA is the only team that could challenge Illinois and Michigan State for the crown, but the Bruins might be missing a go-to guy. It’s going to be the Fighting Illini or the Spartans, and, right now, the Spartans are the team that looks substantially more complete on both sides of the ball. Izzo is as passionate as ever and will find a way to win the Big Ten title.
6. Iowa was a one-hit wonder.
Adam: OVERREACTION
Despite Iowa’s five-point loss to Virginia Tech, I’ve been encouraged by what I’ve seen from the Hawkeyes in their first three games.
Iowa can score the rock! I was worried before the season about how the Hawkeyes would rebuild their offense following Bennett Stirtz’s graduation, but they have been just fine, averaging 85.0 points per game. Illinois State transfer Ty’reek Coleman is 15-for-24 from the field through three games, averaging 14.3 points and 3.3 assists, while forward Cooper Koch looks primed for a breakout season after pouring in 26 against the Hokies.
Right now, Iowa’s problem has been its defense, but I’m not worried about that. I trust Ben McCollum to get the defense in shape as the season goes on — that’s what he does. If the Hawkeyes can keep scoring like they have, everything will just be fine.
Donovan: OVERREACTION
I have no doubt about Ben McCollum’s game-planning and Xs and Os. He showed he was one of the best in-game coaches in the sport last year when leading Iowa to an Elite Eight in his first season as head coach. However, McCollum’s roster in his second season is much worse than his first. The Hawkeyes’ identity last season was Bennet Stirtz; they didn’t bring in anyone to replace him. In its loss to Virginia Tech, all five of Iowa’s starters were returners from last season. Typically, returning experience is a good thing, but not when a team loses its best player who was the offense. Last year’s Iowa team without Stirtz would have struggled, and it looks like that’s what we might get this year.
The bigger picture
7. Backcourts have been off to a hot start to the season all over the Big Ten. Who do you think has the best backcourt in the conference?
Adam: UCLA – Trent Perry and Jaylen Petty
Donovan was surprised when I made this pick, and that’s fair — neither Perry nor Petty were major impact players in college basketball last year. Perry played 29.9 minutes per game and averaged 12.6 points and 2.8 assists, while Petty, at Texas Tech, played 30.5 minutes per game and averaged 9.9 points and 2.2 assists.
But now they’ve arrived; don’t sleep on this duo.
Petty’s been the Bruins’ top scorer, averaging 17.0 points per game on 10-for-21 (47.6%) three-point shooting, while Perry has thrived in an expanded point guard role, averaging 7.3 assists per game, a mark that is currently third in the conference.
However, what really makes me believe in Perry and Petty are the advanced metrics (get used to these), which denote UCLA’s duo as the best backcourt in not only the Big Ten but the entire country! Petty and Perry are ranked seventh and eighth, respectively, in Evan Miya’s Bayesian player rating in the Big Ten, making them the only top-10 backcourt duo in the conference. Meanwhile, they are ranked 24th and 37th, respectively, in the entire nation, as the only top-40 backcourt duo in Division I.
Donovan: Illinois – Andrej Stojakovic and Quentin Coleman
I was debating between Illinois, USC and Michigan State for this one, but as I’ve already talked about the Trojans and the Spartans, it’s time to highlight the talent on the Fighting Illini roster. Andrej Stojakovic was one of the best all-around guards in the Big Ten last season, and he’s back with vengeance. Stojakovic is averaging 21 points this season and scored 18 in Illinois’ loss to Texas Tech. At 6-foot-7, he’s lengthy and versatile — a tool that Brad Underwood is still learning to utilize on both ends of the floor. Quentin Coleman is the flashy youngblood of the ball-handling duo. He’s 6-foot-4 but only weighs 180 pounds, which gives him dynamic quickness on offense, but he’s sometimes a liability on defense. Coleman shot 5-for-6 from deep against the Red Raiders, flashing his ability to take over a game at any moment. While Stojakovic should bring steady consistency, Coleman contains the high-octane upside that makes Illinois a tantalizing threat.
8. Michigan State handily lost to UConn and Marquette in exhibition matches, but just beat Duke. LA Pratt was a liability on both ends of the court in Northwestern’s preseason games, but is averaging over 18 points. How much can we take away from exhibition games?
Adam: It tells you generally about teams, not players
I do think that exhibitions give you a general sense of how good a team is going to be. It doesn’t mean that you can pin them down for an exact record, but Northwestern, for example, would not be losing to Illinois State and falling by 35 points to Iowa State if it was going to be a top-half of the Big Ten team… that tells you something.
But, for players, it really tells you nothing. A player’s game-to-game box score varies so much based on matchup, shooting rhythm, how they were feeling that day, etc. Exhibition is just too small of a sample size to take anything way from it.
Donovan: Honestly, nothing
It’s a story as old as time. Teams lose an exhibition, their fanbases panic and call for the coach’s head, and then the team performs during the regular season. Think about last year, when Michigan lost to Cincinnati and then went on to win the national championship. Exhibition games are exactly what they sound like: exhibitions. There is no life-or-death feel at the end of the games, and the juice doesn’t flow like it does when every play contributes to a win or a loss. If anything, I’d actually pick the teams that lose exhibition games to go further because it gives them a reality check and tape to watch while still keeping them unbeaten for the year.
9. Six Big Ten teams have now suffered early-season losses. Which of these teams are you the most worried about?
Adam: Maryland
My real is answer is that I’m not really worried about any of these teams, since it’s too early in the season to make a real judgment.
However, I was surprised to see Maryland drop its matchup against Georgetown 86-74 on Saturday.
In our preseason edition of Ten for Ten, I picked Maryland as my dark horse in the conference. I was amped about the Terps getting Pharrel Payne and Andre Mills back for another season and adding to the mix a phenomenal transfer class composed of Bishop Boswell, DJ Wagner and Tomislav Buljan.
Though Payne is on his way to being a First Team All-Big Ten player, averaging 20.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, the Terps’ transfers have not meshed well with the returning roster. Boswell, Wagner and Buljan are all playing 25 minutes per game or less, combining for just 20.0 points per game. I’m not sure where the blame falls for this — perhaps on head coach Buzz Williams — but right now Maryland isn’t maximizing its talent and that’s concerning.
Donovan: Still Purdue
I don’t want to come across as a Purdue hater. I don’t want to upset the bull and inspire a dramatic Matt Painter turnaround. Yet, what I’ve been saying all season about the Boilermakers has been true. Daniel Jacobsen is an excellent player – he’s averaging 24 points and 8.5 rebounds per game – but there’s not enough around him. Purdue’s guard play lacks pop and the energy Braden Smith had night to night. Jacobsen isn’t good enough to carry the Boilermakers by himself through the Big Ten slate, and someone will need to step up. I’m not sure anyone will.
Looking ahead
10. What are you excited about next week?
Adam: No. 19 Arkansas vs. Indiana at Madison Square Garden
This definitely isn’t the highest-octane game on the calendar for the coming week, but I am intrigued to see what this game will reveal about Indiana, who I was high on in the preseason. Darian DeVries’ Hoosiers have started the season 3-0, but haven’t graded out well so far from an efficiency standpoint, with current ranks of 49th on KenPom, 54th on Evan Miya and 29th on Bart Torvik. Against coach John Calipari’s Razorbacks we will finally see if Aiden Sherrell, Markus Burton and this Indiana team are legit.
Donovan: No. 2 Duke vs. No. 3 Illinois, Tuesday 6:00 p.m. CST
Duke and Illinois would have been in a majority of the public’s Final Fours. The Blue Devils and Fighting Illini are similar in the fact that they have an overabundance of talent. Still, both teams lost on Tuesday and will be forced to answer some difficult questions about just how good they really are. After the two teams clash, one will fall to 3-2 and witness a spiraling fanbase and doubts about the roster.
