The Big Ten had three games on Tuesday. None of the three looked particularly great on paper, but we got to see at least two serious NCAA Tournament contenders in action.
Let’s take a look at what happened.
Game of the Night:
–No. 13 Nebraska Cornhuskers 86, New Hampshire Wildcats 55
The Huskers entered this one as sizable favorites and generally lived up to expectations, earning an 86-55 win over a flawed New Hampshire squad. The Wildcats performed well in the first half and created a bit of drama before Nebraska pulled away later on. Pryce Sandfort proved to be the difference,
finishing with 19 points and seven rebounds. Braden Frager also had a nice game with 15 points.
The win pushed Nebraska to 13-0, which is the program’s best start of the KenPom era. Considering that timeline spans back to the late 1990s, it speaks to how remarkable the team’s performance has been to date. Even if it’s been aided by a relatively forgiving slate, making it to January with an unblemished record is a worthy accomplishment. Nebraska also continues to hold the nation’s longest winning streak dating back to late season. All told, the Huskers have won 17 straight.
Tuesday’s win now sets up a colossal matchup for the Huskers on Friday, as the team reopens Big Ten play against Michigan State at home. The Spartans are arguably a top 10 squad and have been one of the most consistent programs in the country over the last 25 years. Most simply stated, it’s a chance for Fred Hoiberg and the Huskers to announce they’ve arrived in the league. Buckle up for a big one.
The Rest:
–Northwestern Wildcats 80, Howard Bison 60
The Wildcats bounced back on Tuesday at home against Howard. Northwestern has been off since falling short against Butler in Indianapolis on December 20th and the team desperately needed to cleanse the palate. Fortunately, the team did just that, earning a 20-point home win. Nick Martinelli’s return was significant, as the star forward finished with 32 points and six rebounds in the win. Tre Singleton also had 17 points.
Northwestern improved to 8-5 overall with the win. The team will now prepare for an important game against Minnesota at home on Saturday. It’s a quietly important one, as the Wildcats are favored, but not overwhelmingly so. Northwestern needs a win to keep building a postseason resume.
–Wisconsin Badgers 80, Milwaukee Panthers 60
The Badgers took care of another underwhelming mid-major opponent on Tuesday, cruising past in-state Milwaukee to a 20-point win. Nolan Winter led the way with 14 points and seven rebounds. Nick Boyd also had quite a showing, with 16 points and three rebounds.
The win pushed Wisconsin to 9-4 overall. The team will now prepare for a massive matchup against Purdue at home on Saturday. It’s the Badgers’ best shot at establishing themselves as an upper squad in the Big Ten.
