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 Rutgers Scarlet Knights as this week’s spotlight team. I’ll give a report from the scene of Ohio State vs Purdue, Northwestern demanding respect, and an update on the backwards looking ACC. Finally, I’ll end with a look ahead to next week.
Week 9 Spotlight Team: Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Rutgers had a busy week this week as the spotlight team. The Scarlet Knights started with a win over no. 1 ranked Purdue in Mackey Arena. It was the Boilermakers first loss of the season and it might be the best win of the season for any team in the country. Transfer Cam Spencer cemented his legacy at Rutgers with a dagger three in the 65-64 win. Paul Mulcahy was huge in the second half isolating and backing down Purdue in the paint to will the Rutgers offense to victory. It is the second straight year Steve Pikiell and Rutgers have upset top ranked Purdue.
Rutgers followed that up with a victory at home against Maryland 64-50. Not as dramatic as the Purdue game, but Mulcahy again dominated in the second half and Rutgers pulled away.
Finally they end the week with a 65-76 loss at Iowa. Payton Sandfort finally had the breakout game I have been waiting for and scored 22 points with 4 threes to power the Hawkeyes to a win. Rutgers shot 38% from the field and only made 5 threes total.
Rutgers showed what they’re capable of this week. They can beat anyone, anywhere. Their defense makes them competitive in any game. The Scarlet Knights will play you close. They have enough veteran experience that they like their chances in tight games. If enough results go their way maybe Rutgers can even win the Big Ten.
At the same time Rutgers also showed us their ceiling. Rutgers was only able to score 64, 65, and 65 points in those three games. If you offense is limited and your defense is great you can beat anyone, but you can also lose to anyone. Virginia has shown us this. It just takes one person to get hot from three for the other team and it can wreck the game for you. Case in point, Payton Sandfort for Iowa.
Rutgers will likely be somewhere between a 4-8 seed. They could beat anyone in March. They could also only score 50 and lose in any game in March. Get ready to bite your nails all season Rutgers fans.
Reporting Live from the Purdue at Ohio State game
I attended the Purdue/Ohio State game in Columbus this past Thursday. For those who don’t know, I am a lifelong Purdue basketball fan and an Ohio State alum. Surprisingly those don’t conflict as much as you think. Anyways, I put on neutral colors, went to the game and here is my report.
Let’s start with the physical stuff lost on TV that pops more in person. Braden Smith is smaller in person. I mean he can’t be much taller or bigger than I am, and I am tiny compared to D1 basketball players. Zach Edey is huge, but in my opinion doesn’t seem as big as Isaac Haas was when he loomed over opponents. However, Edey doesn’t ever look tired out there playing 30+ minutes and doesn’t ever look labored running up and down the floor. Trey Kaufmann-Renn is bigger and a little slower than you think. I know Camden Heide is redshirting but if you’re a Purdue fan I am happy to report that his arms are long as all hell and man does he look athletic. I am less happy to report that Ethan Morton shoots just as bad in warmups as he has been this year from three.
For Ohio State, man Brice Sensabaugh is something. He creates space for his jumper so easily and everything looks like it is going in. At one point, Sensabaugh shot a jumper in front of my section where the Purdue defender perfectly contested it and Sensabaugh just effortlessly moved his shot around the contest in midair and knocked down the shot. I love Bruce Thornton too. Thornton is bigger than you think and especially strong when you remember he is a true freshman. I want him to start being more aggressive as he sort of disappeared in the second half. Justice Sueing didn’t disappear in the second half and when he is comfortable there isn’t much you can do to stop him. When the Buckeyes have him and Sensabaugh going they have two wing players who can just get a bucket. Not many teams will have the defenders to put on both of them.
The Zed Key injury was disappointing. It did thrust Felix Okpara into a leading role for the game. Okpara is sneaky strong and really held his own against Edey. Purdue’s gameplan coming in was to drive on Ohio State but when Key went out and Okpara came in he snuffed out attempts and led to a disjointed first half offense for Purdue. Painter made an adjustment in the second half bringing Edey up to the elbow to run handoff actions and that dragged Okpara out of the way to open up lanes again.
Purdue finally broke their rough shooting stretch this game but still started the game 1-9 from three. The Boilermakers finished strong with a 12-22 after that to shoot 42% overall for the game. None bigger than Fletcher Loyer’s game winning three. Loyer also had the go ahead three in the Rutgers game. He is quickly developing a reputation for being clutch. Shoutout to Morton who finally made some threes himself but had the huge steal on the press with the shot clock off before the Loyer three.
Ohio State had a tough week. Lose a heartbreaker to Purdue and then just don’t have enough to comeback against Maryland. The Buckeyes win at Northwestern last Sunday looks better now. Ohio State seems like an almost team. They almost get the big win, but lose. The Buckeyes have the potential to break free from being an almost team, it will be up to Coach Holtmann to get them over that hump.
Northwestern Demands Your Respect
I picked Northwestern to finish near the bottom of the Big Ten this year. Most people did. The Wildcats lost several key players to the transfer portal after a seven win season in the Big Ten last year. After Monday night’s victory at IU, Northwestern is now 3-1 in the Big Ten with wins against Michigan State, Illinois and IU. Northwestern demands your respect. Can they keep this going and be in the upper half of the Big Ten? Or will they fall apart as the games go on? For now just know that Northwestern is no pushover, easy win game.
Beyond the Arc: The ACC is drunk
This isn’t a normal ACC season…
- ACC powerhouses UVA, UNC, and Duke are 3-2 and are all apart of a six-way tie for 3rd in the conference
- In just over a week Pitt wins at home over UVA and UNC but then loses to Clemson at home leading to…
- Clemson is 5-0 and in sole possession of first place. Yet, still is barely getting AP votes to be ranked
- Successful programs like Louisville and Notre Dame are 0-5 in last place
- Florida State 2-9 out of conference with losses to Troy and Stetson but somehow is 3-2 in the ACC with wins over Notre Dame and Georgia Tech
- Meanwhile a team that looked strong out of conference in Virginia Tech — who were 11-1 to start the year with wins over UNC and Penn State — have lost 4 straight in conference
The ACC is drunk and has lost control of itself. There are 8 teams who could maybe win it but not in a good way. It’s more like eight teams could stumble into being ACC champions rather than eight awesome ACC teams could win it all.
No Explanation Power Rankings
Lots of movement in this week’s No Explanation Power Rankings. Wish I could explain the drastic change after lots of conflicting results this week. Sadly, I cannot as the Committee does not release explanations.
- Purdue
- Wisconsin
- Rutgers
- Michigan State
- Northwestern
- Ohio State
- Michigan
- Indiana
- Illinois
- Penn State
- Maryland
- Iowa
- Nebraska
- Minnesota
Next Week’s Big Games
- Rutgers at Northwestern is strangely a huge game for conference standings at this point of the season
- The Big Ten gets some National spotlight on Friday. With almost no games happening, Nebraska’s rematch against Purdue and Illinois hosting Michigan State can take center stage.
- Michigan can set the tone for their season this week with wins (or losses) at Iowa and hosting Northwestern.
- Wisconsin is next week’s team of the week as the Badgers host MSU on Tuesday and play at IU on Saturday. This is the week for the Badgers to establish that they can compete for a Big Ten Title.