It was a big week of big matchups for the Big Ten. So let’s see what we learned about the conference this week including a discussion of the Indiana Hoosiers as this week’s spotlight team. I’ll hit the frustrating Buckeyes, the floundering Terrapins, and a national update after a huge slate of ranked matchups. Finally, I’ll end with a look ahead to next week.
Week 6 Spotlight Team: Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana vs Arizona
Quickly I want to cover IU’s loss to Arizona. Jalen Hood Schifino was a late scratch from the game. Trayce Jackson Davis struggled in this game. Arizona’s double big style with Oumar Ballo and Azuolas Tubelis gave the hoosiers and Davis troubles. IU was better from outside the arc than inside the paint.
The previous week was weird for the Hoosiers. Start the week with a loss to Rutgers. Follow that up with an easy win against Nebraska in which they chase a triple double for TJD. Then the previously mentioned loss to Arizona.
Indiana follows up the Arizona game with a beat down from Kansas. Almost impossible to beat Kansas in Lawrence when everyone plays that well. Kevin McCullar, DaJuan Harris Jr., Bobby Pettiford all had good games as KU guards and Dick was hot from 3. This KU team will be at its best when Jalen Wilson doesn’t have to carry them.
Trayce Jackson-Davis is amazing but how much does he affect winning? Disappeared a little offensively but had an incredible 9 blocks. Indiana needs him to be more of a playmaker not just a scorer.
Jalen Hood Schifino was back in this game and played alright, but Bates and Galloway didn’t step up enough after Xavier Johnson was injured midgame. Indiana continues to lack an identity outside of Jackson-Davis.
It is clear that IU is a good team. TJD, Race, JHS, X are enough to make the Hoosiers a top 20 team. The freshmen haven’t elevated the team like you might hope. Reneau is limited next to TJD, JHS needs to be healthy and will only get better, Gunn and Banks couldn’t crack the rotation.
Going forward, What is IU’s offensive identity? When TJD isn’t dominating, where do they go? Indiana needs to establish a more well rounded identity to succeed.
IU will likely clean up against all the teams that are worse than them. They don’t seem to have the firepower on offense to beat the tier above them. Their defense is good enough against lower competition but they are outclassed by KU and Arizona’s offenses.
IU probably won’t make the final four, they could maybe win the B1G if Purdue stumbles…And that’s okay. Woodson is building IU back up from the lows of the Archie years. Consistently being ranked and finishing in the top 3 in the B1G is building in the right direction.
Who knows IU could be in the bracket with all the upsets and beat the teams in front of them and make the final four… but if you are an IU fan its not too early to start thinking about how Gabe Cupps and Jakai Newton will fit next to JHS and Reneau
Ohio State vs North Carolina
Ohio State loses a tough one in overtime to UNC. Puff Johnson hits the buzzer beater to force overtime as it barely leaves his hands in time. UNC dominates the interior with 28 points from Armando Bacot. Bruce Thornton and Brice Sensabaugh have big games for the Buckeyes.
Maryland vs UCLA
Maryland loses 87-60 in the Under Armor revenge game. That score is closer than the game really was too. If you’re a Terp fan try and block this game out of your memory and throw it away.
No-Explanation Power Rankings
- Purdue
- Indiana
- Wisconsin
- Illinois
- Maryland
- Ohio State
- Rutgers
- Michigan
- Iowa
- Michigan State
- Penn State
- Northwestern
- Nebraska
- Minnesota
Beyond the Arc: National Landscape after a Huge Saturday in College Basketball
Saturday was a huge day for College Basketball as the Bowl season started in football marquee games were littered all over. 10 of the top 16 ranked teams in the AP poll played each other. We learned a lot about some of the best teams in the country so I wanted to here are my thoughts on all the big results.
Gonzaga beats Alabama
Gonzaga won a ‘neutral site’ game over Alabama in Birmingham early Saturday. Gonzaga had faced a gauntlet in the non conference with games against Michigan State, Washington, Kentucky, Purdue, Baylor, Texas and now Bama. Gonzaga isn’t as good as they have been the past few years, but this game showed that when they get consistent guard play around Drew Timme the Bulldogs can still win against top competition.
Alabama has also had their fair share of good non conference games too with Michigan State, UNC, UConn, Houston, Memphis, and Gonzaga. Alabama shoots themselves in and out of every game they play in. Brandon Miller is an All-American and a top 5 pick. But what will Nate Oats get out of the players around Miller? Jahvon Quinnerly needs to get healthy. The best version of this alabama team is more balanced with Mark Sears and quinnerly doing more and leaning on Miller less.
Houston wins in Charlottesville
Houston Cougars are for real this year. Kelvin Sampson and the Cougars went into Charlottesville and beat UVA on the road. Houston’s defense and rebounding effort is a thing of beauty to watch. Their offense… not so much.
UCLA suffocates Kentucky
This UK team is still figuring itself out. This years Wildcats aren’t as good as last years team. Yes, they aren’t as good as the 2 seed who lost to St. Peter’s in the first round, but that doesn’t mean they can’t make the Final Four. Oscar Tshiebwe is the centerpiece of the team, but what combination of the other guys is best for big blue to succeed. Sahvir Wheeler and Jacob Toppin should feel comfortable in their roles. Coach Calipari will have to figure out what roles, amount of minutes, and touches for Cason Wallace, Chris Livingston, Antonio Reeves, and CJ Fredrick makes sense. If the right combination pops at the right time that’s when Kentucky can make a run.
Arizona outlasts Tennessee
Arizona vs Tennessee was a matchup of the best offense meets the best defense. In this instance the unstoppable force that is Arizona’s offense won. Arizona relies on being bigger, faster, stronger than their opponent to punish them with two bigs, Oumar Ballo and Azuolas Tubelis, in transition and in the half court. The danger for the Wildcats is when they don’t win the game from the paint. Their lone loss to Utah happened on a night where Kerr Kriisa and Pelle Larson had bad games. Tubelis and Ballo had good games but Kriisa and Larson’s poor play sunk them. The Wildcats offense is good enough to outscore most opponents but the worry for them in the tournament is if the players outside of the paint go cold. Can they defend well enough to win games where shots aren’t falling? No matter what it seems that Tommy Lloyd’s team is once again one of the best in the country.
Tennessee doesn’t know who the guy is. The Vols defense is maybe the best in the country but their offense is very inconsistent. Zakai Zeigler was the best player in the game against Arizona, but he has had some duds and now comes off the bench. Freshman Julian Phillips laid an egg against the Wildcats. Josiah Jordan-James didn’t play. One or multiple of those three players need to step up and be more of a go-to scorer for the Vols. Santiago Vescovi and Tyreke Key add great balance but neither will ever be the guy. Tennessee’s defense will keep them in almost every game. However, the Vols can lose any game if they all come down to the last possession. Vol fans will have some high heart rates sweating out games this year.
Next Week’s Big Games
- Michigan is next weeks spotlight team as they play UNC in what was supposed to be a much bigger matchup. Both need a win to get on track and build confidence.
- Illinois takes on a plucky Missouri team in a border rivalry. The Illini could use some momentum heading into winter break.
- Besides that, this week is pretty weak. I guess, spend some time with family or something? UVA vs Miami is a pretty good ACC game too. Idk, better games will come after winter break. Merry Christmas!