With Big Ten season starting today, the IDS basketball reporting crew is going to add in some weekly features to the Basketblog. We will be unveiling those throughout the next week or so as Big Ten play begins and second semester starts.
Every Monday, we'll do a little tour de Big Ten. And since it's Monday, here goes:
3 Big Ten games to watch this week
No. 12 Purdue at Michigan, Dec. 28 (Big Ten Network)
Many analysts see 10-2 Michigan as a surprise team in nonconference play, especially with just a 3-point loss to Syracuse. Moreover, there's plenty of debate about No. 14 Purdue. The Big Ten Network's blogger Brent Yarina placed the Boilers at seventh in his most recent conference power rankings. This game could be a good indicator for both teams.
No. 14 Minnesota at Wisconsin, Dec. 28 (ESPN2)
Wisconsin has been close to jumping into the top 25, and a win against Minnesota may get the Badgers there. The Badgers have had a relatively weak nonconference schedule. Meanwhile, Minnesota could make a statement with a win at the Kohl Center.
No. 14 Minnesota at No. 20 Michigan State, Dec. 31 (Big Ten Network)
This is the first of many top 25 showdowns in the Big Ten. Especially if Minnesota loses to Wisconsin, this game would either be loss No. 5 for the Spartans or an 0-2 Big Ten start for the Gophers.
Key Stats
2 - The number of losses for opponents that have beaten Michigan State. While the Spartans have lost four times already, three of those losses (UConn, Syracuse and Duke) are against undefeated teams. The other loss was to No. 22 and 2-loss Texas.
Consider, the loss count for opponents that have beaten Big Ten teams. Only undefeated Ohio State has (obviously) a lower number (0) than Michigan State. Each of the one-loss teams in the Big Ten (Minnesota, Purdue and Northwestern) have lost to teams with three or more losses. On the opposite end, Iowa's losses have come at the hand of teams with a combined 23 losses.
52.3% - The amount of Purdue scoring that comes from senior forward JaJuan Johnson and senior guard E'Twaun Moore. The team's third-leading scorer (John Hart) is out with injury. Is a two-player team sustainable through conference play?
Penn State is the only other team in the Big Ten with at least 50 percent of its scoring coming from the top two scorers, and that's mainly on Talor Battle (20.3 ppg) and not No. 2 scorer Jeff Brooks (12.3 ppg). Also, PSU is the lowest-scoring team in the conference at 65.8 ppg.
In the top 25
From the AP Top 25:
No. 2 - Ohio State
No. 12 - Purdue
No. 14 - Minnesota
No. 20 - Michigan State
No. 23 - Illinois
Also receiving votes: Wisconsin (28th overall), Northwestern (43rd)
A good read
The Columbus Dispatch's Bob Baptist previews the Big Ten season and says IU will have to wait until next year and projects the Hoosiers to have four conference wins.
