Game of the Week
Illinois vs Villanova (New York City, Jimmy V Classic)
Illinois’ hot start was tempered a bit by a loss to Miami. Here’s the thing, the ‘Caines are really really good and it was in Coral Gables. The Fighting Illini get a chance to get back on track and make some noise against 10th ranked ‘Nova. Jay Wright’s team is 8-0 but have wins over VCU and Michigan to validate the start and the lofty rank.
Tuesday, 7 / 6, ESPN / WatchESPN app
Monday Meetings
Best Game: Purdue vs IPFW, 7 / 6, ESPNU / WatchESPN app – Purdue tries to get up from a stunning home loss to North Florida tonight. Taking on in-state opponent IPFW could prove tricky as these smaller schools play with chips on their shoulders. IPFW is also 5-2 on the season and played alright at Georgia Tech so they won’t be afraid of the environment.
Minnesota vs North Dakota, 9 / 8, ESPNU / WatchESPN app – Goldy is undefeated at home and the sub-.500 ND team has looked awful against NCAA-bound clubs. They lost to Northern Iowa by 12 and to Utah by 37.
Tuesday Tilts
Best Game: Illinois vs Villanova (See Above)
Indiana vs Louisville (NYC, Jimmy V Classic), 9 / 8, ESPN / WatchESPN app – Hoosiers sit at 7-1 but it is a little strange since they beat tough teams in SMU and Houston but then lost to Eastern Washington. Either way they are playing really good basketball. Will that be enough to take down 5th ranked Louisville? Probably not, especially if UL’s press gets to Indiana.
Iowa vs Alcorn St., 9 / 8, ESPNN – Hawks host their second straight cupcake. The Braves are 1-5 and the spread is 34 points. Enough said.
Michigan vs Eastern Michigan, 9 / 8, ESPNU / WatchESPN app – Losing to NJIT may have been a blessing since it will re-focus the Wolverines. They might need that focus Tuesday against a frisky 7-1 EMU team. That lone loss was a competitive battle with Dayton.
Rutgers vs New Hampshire, 7 / 6, BTN – RU sits at 4-4 but their last 3 have been strange to say the least. Sandwiched between humiliating 19 and 27 point losses was a road win at Clemson in the Big Ten-ACC challenge. UNH has won four straight to get to 5-2 but their only other game against a power league team, Boston College, was a loss.
Wednesday Slate
Best Game: Nebraska vs Incarnate World, 8 / 7, ESPN 3 – The Cardinals are moving from divisions so they have had a joke of a schedule so far. Still they are 5-0 and the second highest scoring team in the nation. It will be interesting to see if they can come anywhere close to their 90ppg against the Huskers.
Maryland vs North Carolina Central, 7 / 6, BTN – NCCU is 6-3 but have been waxed by anyone of note. Nationally ranked Terps should have no worries.
Minnesota vs Southern, 8 / 7, ESPN 3 – The 2-6 Jags should be little resistance for the Gophers.
Ohio State vs High Point, 7 / 6, ESPNU / WatchESPN app – OSU is undefeated at home and HPU is 5-2 so something’s gotta give…not really. HPU’s schedule has been pretty weak and their only two games against decent opponents (Richmond and Clemson) were both losses.
Penn State vs Duquesne, 9 / 8, BTN – The surprisingly hot Nittany Lions (8-1) get another chance to pad the W-L against this soft foe. PSU has only played two power league teams and won those games by a combined 5 points so let’s not read too much into this start, but it has to be fun for the players and staff to enjoy success.
Purdue vs Arkansas State, 7 / 6, ESPN 3 – When you lose to North Florida, I suppose any game can bite you but this ASU team is pretty dismal.
Wisconsin at UW Milwaukee, 9 / 8, ESPN 2 / WatchESPN app – In the past the small school “rivals” could give Wisconsin some trouble but this UWM team is not like their previous good clubs. Should be a laugher.
Thursday – No Games
Friday Docket
Iowa vs Iowa State, 8 / 7, BTN – One of the better in-state rivalries the Big Ten has in the non-conference. Heck on of the better rivalries the Big Ten has period for the hardwood. The top-15 Cyclones have bounced back nicely since the Maryland loss, including pasting then #18 Arkansas. Iowa let marquee games against Texas and Syracuse slip out of reach but should be more confident after winning at North Carolina. Should be a fun one with Iowa’s improved defense going against the ready to chuck a three Cyclones.
Saturday Schedule
Best Game: Michigan at Arizona, 5:15 / 4:15, ESPN / WatchESPN app – Third ranked and undefeated Arizona hosts a solid Big Ten team with aspirations of their own. Arizona has had some tight games against quality opponents (Gonzaga, SDSU, Kansas State) so they are good…but not necessarily great. Michigan has a chance if they defend the parameter a lot better than they have as of late (i.e. 11 three pointers by NJIT).
Illinois vs Oregon (Chicago, IL), 7 / 6, BTN – With a ton of off-season roster flux this Duck team did not look like one of the stronger Pac 12 teams. Sitting at 5-3 they have lived up (down?) to expectations. Don’t let them off the hook, Illinois!
Indiana vs Grand Canyon, 5 / 4, BTN – The brand new Antelope program is 4-4 this year but still in its infancy. Hoosiers helped their athletic department with a paycheck in this one.
Maryland vs USC Upstate, 11 / 10 am, BTN – Yes the tiny South Carolina school is a surprising 8-2 but there is a reason this game is being played before noon. The Spartans did just knock off Georgia Tech though, so even if it is easy on paper, the Terps can’t sleep on this club.
Nebraska vs Cincinnati, 9 / 8, BTN – If the Huskers are anywhere as good as they would like us to think they are, they need to hold home serve against clubs like UC. Bearcats are 6-1 but haven’t really played anyone quite yet. Still, they are expected to give SMU, Memphis and UConn some play in their league.
Ohio State vs Morehead State, 1 / 12, BTN – The 4-7 Eagles stand zero chance in Columbus.
Purdue at Vanderbilt, 9 / 8, SECN / WatchESPN app – Nashville is never an easy place to play. Worse, Vanderbilt is having on of their up-swing years at 5-2. Their losses though are against power league teams (Baylor and Rutgers) so Purdue has a shot for a nice road victory.
Wisconsin vs Nicholls State, 3 / 2, BTN – a 1-4 team at the Kohl Center? Uh-oh.
Sunday Showdowns
Best Game: Penn State vs George Washington, Noon / 11, ESPN 3 – GW is 5-2 and pasted Rutgers. They are expected to contend well in the A-10. Good test for Penn State.
Michigan State vs Oakland, 8 / 7, ESPNU / WatchESPN app – Oakland is a fine in-state small program that has made the NCAAs before but this isn’t one of their stronger years at 4-5. Sparty bench should see a lot of action in the second half.
Northwestern vs Mississippi Valley St, 6 / 5, BTN – The Delta Devils are just 1-7 this year with all seven losses coming on the road. Very soft foe for NU to tune up against before league play.
Rutgers vs Manhattan (NYC), Noon / 11, No TV – The Jaspers have been a 2-5 mess so far this year. RU should pancake them.
Big Ten and Counting 