The Big Ten had a loaded slate on Saturday, featuring eight games. Four of those included ranked teams on the road and fans also got to enjoy a huge one in Bloomington.
Let’s take a look at what happened.
Game of the Night:
–No. 5 Purdue Boilermakers 69, USC Trojans 64
While the Boilers entered this one as favorites, plenty had circled this one as a potential upset opportunity for USC. Going on the road is never easy, let alone across the country in Los Angeles against a pretty solid Trojan squad. And the game played out that way, with the two sides battling back
and forth for the entire evening. Fortunately for the Boilermakers, Oscar Cluff and Braden Smith did just enough to carry Purdue to a narrow five-point win. Smith finished with 22 points and five assists. Cluff had 19 points and six rebounds.
Purdue improved to 17-1 overall and 7-0 in Big Ten play with the win. The Boilers have now won nine straight dating back to the loss to Iowa State in early December, though the margins have been narrowing as of late. In fact, Purdue’s last four wins have all come by single digits, including a 93-85 win at home against an underwhelming Penn State squad just over a week ago. Still, winning is winning and Purdue keeps doing it.
On the other side, USC fell to 14-4 overall and 3-4 in Big Ten play with the loss. It’s the team’s third loss in five games, though all three came against top 10 KenPom opponents. This one also went significantly better than the last two, when the Trojans got blasted by Michigan and Michigan State to open the new year. Notably, USC hasn’t lost to anyone outside the top 10 on the site since December 6th.
The Boilers will now prepare for UCLA on the road on Tuesday. USC will try and rebound against Northwestern at home on Wednesday.
The Rest:
–No. 13 Illinois Fighting Illini 77, Minnesota Golden Gophers 67
This one went according to plan, with Illinois taking care of business at home against Minnesota. The Gophers fought relatively well and led early on, but just couldn’t keep pace in a hostile environment. The Ivisic’s led the way with a combined 28 points and 16 rebounds. Keaton Wagler also had 17 points and five assists.
Illinois improved to 15-3 overall and 6-1 in Big Ten play with the win, while Minnesota fell to 10-8 overall and 3-4 in Big Ten play with the loss. Illinois will now prepare for Maryland at home on Wednesday. The Gophers will try and snap the team’s three-game skid on the road against Ohio State on Tuesday.
–Iowa Hawkeyes 74, Indiana Hoosiers 57
We picked this as our Game of the Day in the preview, but it didn’t quite play out that way, as Iowa cruised to an impressive road win over Indiana. Tavion Banks was particularly impressive in the effort, finishing with 26 points, eight rebounds, and two assists. Bennett Stirtz also had 27 points. Meanwhile, Indiana’s offense finished with just 0.99 points per possession and Lamar Wilkerson was held to just nine points and a 78 offensive rating.
Iowa improved to 13-5 overall and 3-4 in Big Ten play with the win, while Indiana fell to 12-6 overall and 3-4 in Big Ten play with the loss. The Hawks will now prepare for Rutgers at home on Tuesday. The Hoosiers will try and rebound on the road against Michigan on Tuesday.
–No.4 Michigan Wolverines 81, Oregon Ducks 71
Heading into tip, it was hard to see this one being competitive. Michigan entered with one of the best resumes in college basketball, while Oregon was down two starters in Nate Bittle and Jackson Shelstad. However, the Ducks were able to make the Wolverines sweat a bit in the second half, grabbing a lead and keeping things competitive for most of the afternoon. Still, Michigan’s offense proved to be too much for Oregon. Elliot Cadeau led the way with 17 points and five assists. Nimari Burnett also had 15 points.
Michigan improved to 16-1 overall and 6-1 in Big Ten play with the win, while Oregon fell to 8-10 overall and 1-6 in Big Ten play with the loss. The Wolverines will now return home to face off against Indiana at home on Tuesday. Oregon will try and bounce back against Michigan State at home on Tuesday.
–No. 12 Michigan State Spartans 80, Washington Huskies 63
This was an impressive one for the Spartans, as the team went on the road and completely dominated on both sides of the floor. Jeremy Fears led the way with 19 points and five assists. Michigan State also held Washington to just 0.94 points per possession and moved up to first nationally in defensive efficiency. The Huskies never really had a chance in the second half.
Michigan State improved to 16-2 overall and 6-1 in Big Ten play with the win, while Washington fell to 10-8 overall and 2-5 in Big Ten play with the loss. The Spartans will now prepare for a short-handed Oregon on the road on Tuesday. The Huskies will get Nebraska on the road on Wednesday.
–No. 8 Nebraska Cornhuskers 77, Northwestern Wildcats 58
Another day and another Husker win. Saturday looked like a potential stumbling block, with Nebraska heading on the road to face off against an underrated Wildcat squad. However, that didn’t play out, as the Huskers cruised to a 77-58 win. Pryce Sandfort led the way with 22 points, as Nebraska shredded Northwestern’s defense en route to 1.28 points per possession.
Nebraska improved to 18-0 overall and 7-0 in Big Ten play with the win, while Northwestern fell to 8-10 overall and 0-7 in Big Ten play with the loss. The Huskers will now prepare for Washington at home on Wednesday. The Wildcats will try and get their first leage win of the season on Wednesday on the road against USC.
–Ohio State Buckeyes 86, UCLA Bruins 74
The odds for this one looked relatively even heading into tip, but Ohio State had different thoughts, shredding UCLA’s defense and scoring a 12-point win at home. John Mobley led the way with 28 points and three assists. Devin Royal also had 22 points. Tyler Bilodeau carried the Bruins with 30 points.
Ohio State improved to 12-5 overall and 4-3 in Big Ten play with the win, while UCLA fell to 12-6 overall and 4-3 in Big Ten play with the loss. The Buckeyes will now prepare for Minnesota at home on Tuesday. The Bruins will try and bounce back against Purdue at home on Tuesday.
–Wisconsin Badgers 96, Rutgers Scarlet Knights 87
The Badgers kept rolling at home in this one, taking care of Rutgers to score the team’s fourth straight win and its sixth in seven games. Nick Boyd led the way with 32 points and nine assists. The lead ballooned to 71-45 with 13 minutes remaining, which allowed Wisconsin to unload the bench. The final score ended up looking far closer than it should have been.
Wisconsin improved to 13-5 overall and 5-2 in Big Ten play with the win, while Rutgers fell to 9-9 overall and 2-5 in Big Ten play with the loss. The Badgers will now prepare for Penn State on the road on Thursday. The Scarlet Knights will try and rebound against Iowa on the road on Tuesday.
