The Big Ten will be held without a national title winner – again, thanks to a stunning upset, disappointing play, bad match ups, and questionable coaching. Here’s a look at the cause of death for all fourteen teams in the Big Ten. I’ll start with the clubs that represented the league in the NCAAs.
Indiana – 27-8 (15-3), Sweet 16, COD: Matchup
North Carolina is a really, really good team. Their biggest weakness seems to only be when they beat themselves. Against Indiana, UNC’s powerful front court was a nightmare matchup situation. Troy Williams and Max Bielfeldt are nice pieces but they aren’t bangers. That left Thomas Bryant, admittedly an outstanding freshman, to try and hold the line against more experienced players. Fortunately for the Hoosiers, Tom Crean had a solid season, his seat is cold, IU won the regular season title and put a little bit of a run together in March. Sad to see Yogi go, but all in all, Season Grade: A
Iowa – 22-11 (12-6), Round of 32, COD: Matchup
Based on taking down Kansas and making the Final Four it is clear that Villanova is a pretty damn good team but they were magical against Iowa. Nova plays small with as many as four guards out there flying around. Iowa only ever plays three guards. That meant the only prayer for Iowa was to use their size to own the paint. Didn’t happen. Adam Woodbury was held to 0/3 shooting and one point as he was a non factor. For Iowa to stand a chance, they would have needed a career day from him. Still, Iowa was a force in January when they swept Purdue and Michigan State. There were some positives from this season and when coach Fran was putting this team together he took the best available recruit. Woodbury and the backcourt of Gesell and Clemmons departing might actually help de-clog some of the offensive issues that developed in the second half of league play. Season Grade: B
Maryland – 27-9 (12-6), Sweet 16, COD: Disappointing Play
The Terps drew Kansas in the Sweet 16 and it was obvious that the only way to take down the Jayhawks was to play outstanding defense and hold your own offensively. Maryland did neither. A 43 point second half and 79 points total was not the day defensively UM needed. Offensively it was a nightmare. 5/25 from deep, 6 missed free throws and just 70% from the line, 7 bench points and zero touch from the starters – highlighted by Layman’s 0/4 from three. If you contrast what Maryland did to what Nova did you see the difference. Villanova forced 16 turnovers, hit 18/19 from the charity stripe, and was much closer on the boards. This allowed them to win while not having a very sound offensive day, much to Kansas’s credit. Considering Maryland faltered at winning the league, or the Big Ten tournament and then laid an egg in the NCAAs this season was not up to par based on the talent the roster had. Not pretty. Season Grade: D
Michigan – 23-13 (10-8), First Round, COD: Sepsis
What is Sepsis? Sepsis is an infection, usually because of injury, that results in total organ failure. With Caris LaVert injured (and don’t forget Spike Albrecht), it was only a matter of time until everything shutdown. Michigan struggled without him, battling off a losing season in league but were eventually outclassed by Notre Dame, losing in the second half 41-22 to undo a brilliant first half. The defense, shooting, and coaching touch all melted down in those twenty minutes, just like how once organ failure starts it is is pretty quick and difficult to come back from. Season Grade: C+
Michigan State – 29-6 (13-5), First Round, COD: Stunning Upset
Since this is a medical-themed post the best way to explain MSU is to think of a perfectly healthy individual having an undiagnosed heart condition and tragically collapsing. That is essentially what MSU did. Middle Tennessee should never have been a 15 seed but they also played out of their minds. They sacrificed their body time and time again and hit 11/19 from three. Sometimes those nights happen in the NCAAs. Sometimes they happen in the Final Four and sometimes they happen in the first round. MSU still won the Big Ten tournament so you can’t ding them too hard but based on a two seed and a solid team led by Denzel Valentine you can’t give them an A either. Season Grade: B
Purdue – 26-9 (12-6), First Round, COD: Awful Coaching
I love small ball, I think when done properly it is a great equalizer. It is why Villanova with very little star power can win over 30 games, routinely make the NCAAs, and this year make the Final Four. I also think the best way to combat it is to go big. Dominate the glass, rack up points in the paint, and get the lone quality big small teams play in foul trouble. Purdue did that pretty well in building a 14 point second half lead. Then when Little Rock pressed, Painter panicked and went small to try and break the press (a season long bugaboo). Problem is Purdue’s weakness was subpar guards. As a result the offense lagged, the lead shrank, overtime was forced and Purdue lost in OT. Swanigan had six points in 23 minutes. Haas had 7 in 12. Hammons was a beast but got fewer touches late in regulation. Games like these are why Painter is on the hot seat entering next year. Season Grade: C-
Wisconsin – 22-13 (12-6), Sweet 16, COD: Disappointing Play
It’s easy to point to the collapse in the final minute against Notre Dame and call that the reason UW lost but despite having leads, the Badgers didn’t play well against the Irish. Happ fouled out, Hayes was 4/12 for just 11 points, Koenig was held to 8, and the bench which had provided sparks in the past had just four points. The only reason Notre Dame was even in a position to press late was the Badgers failed to put them away. Still, this team plays zero seniors, had a coaching change mid season, and was rebuilding (picked to finish 8th) and yet they made the NCAAs and put a run together – coming just a minute shy of the Elite Eight. Depending on the off season recruiting, this maybe the preseason favorite in the league. Season Grade: A
Big Ten and Counting 