JonDMiller
Publisher/Founder
Many of us have seen the other Big Ten teams play this year...with roughly a third of the season in the books, a good time to dive in.
As a quick aside, Tom Izzo said on Monday's Big Ten conference call that this is the best the Big Ten has been, 1-10, in his time in the league.
1. Indiana: It's a no doubter. The Hoosiers have destroyed the nine teams they have played with a scoring margin of +31.7. In nine games. That's freaking amazing and is #1 in all of college basketball with Ole Miss second at 29.8. Their closest game was a 10 point margin against Georgetown, an overtime win.
2. Michigan: I like this team; very exciting to watch and Glen Robinson III is gonna be a load. He is 4th on the team in scoring at 12.2 per game and leads them in rebounding at 6.7. Nice wins against Pitt and NC State thus far and four players are averaging double figures, with Trey Burke leading the way at 16.9 per game. I think their weakness will be against a physical team with good play in the paint.
3. Ohio State: The Buckeyes have played just seven games and their lone loss is by five at #2 Duke. They certainly represented in that game and DeShaun Thomas is having a great start to the year averaging 20.6 points anad 6.1 rebounds per game. I think depth could be an issue for them as it relates to challenging for the title.
4. Minnesota: I liked this team in the out of season and they have certainly played up to expectation. One of the better on ball and help defensive teams in the nation when they are focused. Weakness is outside shooting. Play toughest Big Ten slate with Indiana, Illinois, Michigan State and Wisconsin twice and Purdue and Penn State just once.
5. Michigan State: This is a classic Izzo team in the sense that they are going to be better in February than they are in December as they are still trying to figure themselves out. Two years ago, they didn't do it. Not sure what the ceiling is for this year's Spartans. This is a grinder type of team; don't score a lot, won't run you off the floor but can dictate tempo with defense and physicality. Top scoring defense in league but they don't get to the line and when they do they are not great there. Not a great outside shooting team, either.
6. Illinois: I put them here because they rely too much on three point shooting. They are making better than 40% from three and they are 10th in the nation in the percentage of their points that come from three. A perimeter oriented team and while Paul and Richardson are good, can they rise above this mark in this year's Big Ten?
7. Iowa: It's close between Wisconsin and Iowa here, so I went with the Hawks. They have their warts; not a good shooting team from beyond the arc and they were pushed around by Wichita State and run off the court by Virginia Tech. Aaron White was in the three spot during those games and has been back at the four the last two games and has averaged 19.5/6.6 in those two contests. Marble has more than he has shown and Fran McCaffery is still learning how to play chess with so many pieces.
8. Wisconsin: They have point guard problems. Big time. They are struggling against pressure defenses and Ben Brust is their leading rebounder. They are 6-4 on the year.
9. Northwestern: Beat Baylor in Waco and the Bears beat Kentucky in Lexington. They are 7-3 with losses to Maryland, UIC and Butler. They don't shoot free throws well and are 10th in field goal percentage. They are 11th in rebounding margin.
10. Nebraska: Surprise team thus far at 6-2. Wins against Wake Forest and USC. Not great teams but Nebraska is rebuilding. Creighton held them to 42 points on Thursday night and they are 11th in the league in scoring and scoring margin, 10th in free throw percentage, 11th in field goal percentage defense and 11th in rebounding margin.
11. Purdue: Some in the preseason had Purdue in the dance. I thought that was crazy talk then and it certainly seems so now. They are 4-5 and just don't shoot the ball well and aren't a great defensive team, either. They do rebound well so that gives them a chance. Are they the second worst team in the league? Probably not or rather I don't think it will play out that way. But based on what I have seen, this is their slot. Just one scorer among the top 30 in the league and he is 19th.
12: Penn State: They are so bad I forgot to add them when I first posted this. Without Tim Frazier, they are horrid
I think the league gets seven into the dance, but right now I would say the Top Six are very strong picks to the dance with Iowa and Wisconsin battling to see if they can put together a good enough resume for the seventh slot.
Also, the gap between Minnesota, Illinois and Michigan State is minuscule and I wouldn't argue anyone having those teams in a different order
As a quick aside, Tom Izzo said on Monday's Big Ten conference call that this is the best the Big Ten has been, 1-10, in his time in the league.
1. Indiana: It's a no doubter. The Hoosiers have destroyed the nine teams they have played with a scoring margin of +31.7. In nine games. That's freaking amazing and is #1 in all of college basketball with Ole Miss second at 29.8. Their closest game was a 10 point margin against Georgetown, an overtime win.
2. Michigan: I like this team; very exciting to watch and Glen Robinson III is gonna be a load. He is 4th on the team in scoring at 12.2 per game and leads them in rebounding at 6.7. Nice wins against Pitt and NC State thus far and four players are averaging double figures, with Trey Burke leading the way at 16.9 per game. I think their weakness will be against a physical team with good play in the paint.
3. Ohio State: The Buckeyes have played just seven games and their lone loss is by five at #2 Duke. They certainly represented in that game and DeShaun Thomas is having a great start to the year averaging 20.6 points anad 6.1 rebounds per game. I think depth could be an issue for them as it relates to challenging for the title.
4. Minnesota: I liked this team in the out of season and they have certainly played up to expectation. One of the better on ball and help defensive teams in the nation when they are focused. Weakness is outside shooting. Play toughest Big Ten slate with Indiana, Illinois, Michigan State and Wisconsin twice and Purdue and Penn State just once.
5. Michigan State: This is a classic Izzo team in the sense that they are going to be better in February than they are in December as they are still trying to figure themselves out. Two years ago, they didn't do it. Not sure what the ceiling is for this year's Spartans. This is a grinder type of team; don't score a lot, won't run you off the floor but can dictate tempo with defense and physicality. Top scoring defense in league but they don't get to the line and when they do they are not great there. Not a great outside shooting team, either.
6. Illinois: I put them here because they rely too much on three point shooting. They are making better than 40% from three and they are 10th in the nation in the percentage of their points that come from three. A perimeter oriented team and while Paul and Richardson are good, can they rise above this mark in this year's Big Ten?
7. Iowa: It's close between Wisconsin and Iowa here, so I went with the Hawks. They have their warts; not a good shooting team from beyond the arc and they were pushed around by Wichita State and run off the court by Virginia Tech. Aaron White was in the three spot during those games and has been back at the four the last two games and has averaged 19.5/6.6 in those two contests. Marble has more than he has shown and Fran McCaffery is still learning how to play chess with so many pieces.
8. Wisconsin: They have point guard problems. Big time. They are struggling against pressure defenses and Ben Brust is their leading rebounder. They are 6-4 on the year.
9. Northwestern: Beat Baylor in Waco and the Bears beat Kentucky in Lexington. They are 7-3 with losses to Maryland, UIC and Butler. They don't shoot free throws well and are 10th in field goal percentage. They are 11th in rebounding margin.
10. Nebraska: Surprise team thus far at 6-2. Wins against Wake Forest and USC. Not great teams but Nebraska is rebuilding. Creighton held them to 42 points on Thursday night and they are 11th in the league in scoring and scoring margin, 10th in free throw percentage, 11th in field goal percentage defense and 11th in rebounding margin.
11. Purdue: Some in the preseason had Purdue in the dance. I thought that was crazy talk then and it certainly seems so now. They are 4-5 and just don't shoot the ball well and aren't a great defensive team, either. They do rebound well so that gives them a chance. Are they the second worst team in the league? Probably not or rather I don't think it will play out that way. But based on what I have seen, this is their slot. Just one scorer among the top 30 in the league and he is 19th.
12: Penn State: They are so bad I forgot to add them when I first posted this. Without Tim Frazier, they are horrid
I think the league gets seven into the dance, but right now I would say the Top Six are very strong picks to the dance with Iowa and Wisconsin battling to see if they can put together a good enough resume for the seventh slot.
Also, the gap between Minnesota, Illinois and Michigan State is minuscule and I wouldn't argue anyone having those teams in a different order
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