Around the Big Ten

By Logan Harper

Welcome to this week’s installment of “Around the Big Ten.” With Big Ten play in full swing, let’s get started…enjoy!

ILLINOIS
The Fighting Illini had no troubles at all last week in defeating Northwestern in Champagne. Led by a balanced scoring attack that saw five players scoring in double figures, including a game-high 14 by Demetri McCamey, Illinois won 88-63. Illinois will travel to Pennsylvania to battle Talor Battle and the Nittany Lions on Tuesday.

INDIANA
After dropping a New Year’s Eve game to the Buckeyes, Indiana was looking forward to an upset in The Barn against Minnesota. Despite a solid defensive effort and as much as a nine point lead on the Gophers, as well as a six point lead at the break, Indiana again faltered down the stretch to lose 67-63. After a disappointing loss to the Gophers, IU headed to Evanston to face Northwestern Sunday. Led by Christian Watford’s 17 points, IU lost…again 93-81. Northwestern’s 93 points was the most scored by the Wildcats against the Hoosiers since 1963. Indiana will face Michigan at Assembly Hall on Saturday. Game is set for 8.

IOWA
The Hawkeyes put a bit of a scare into the Buckeyes at Carver-Hawkeye Arena last week. Led by freshman Melsahn Basabe’s 22 points and 13 rebounds hung tough with the Buckeyes before falling 73-68. After an exciting game against Ohio State at home, Iowa travelled to West Lafayette to take on the Purdue Boilermakers. Despite a solid performance from Matt Gatens (18 points), Iowa fell big on the road 75-52. The Hawkeyes will return to Iowa City to face Northwestern on Wednesday night.

MICHIGAN
The Wolverines visited Madison to face the Badgers last week, but despite getting 15 points from Zack Novak, fell to the Badgers big 66-50 at the Kohl Center. After a grueling road game against Wisconsin, the Wolverines headed back home to welcome the No. 3 Kansas Jayhawks on Sunday. The Wolverines showed a lot of fight against Kansas, taking the Jayhawks into overtime before falling 67-60 behind Tim Hardaway Jr.’s 19 points. Michigan will welcome Ohio State to Ann Arbor on Wednesday.

MICHIGAN STATE
Michigan State took on the Northwestern Wildcats in Evanston, Illinois last week. In need of a win for some momentum, Draymond Green led the Spartans with 15 points in the close 65-62 victory. After surviving the scare against the Wildcats, the Spartans headed out on the road again to face Penn State. This game did not go as planned, as Penn State defeated the Spartans 66-62 to pull off the upset. Michigan State will face Wisconsin in Madison on Tuesday.

MINNESOTA
The Golden Gophers welcomed IU to Williams Arena last week, after dropping two straight conference games. After trailing by six points at the half, Minnesota rallied behind 11 second half points from Blake Hoffarber to win 67-63. After taking down the Hoosiers, Minnesota hit the road to Columbus to face Ohio State. After trailing big, Minnesota mounted a second half run, but came up short against Thad Matta’s Buckeyes and lost 67-64. Trevor Mbakwe led the Gophers with 16 points and 12 rebounds in the loss. Minnesota will face Purdue in Minneapolis on Thursday.

NORTHWESTERN
The Wildcats faced Michigan State at home last week, but fell to the Spartans 65-62 after a great effort. Led by Drew Crawford’s 17 points, Northwestern did not have an answer for Draymond Green and the Spartans. Northwestern then travelled to Champagne to battle in-state rival Illinois, and despite JerShon Cobb’s career-high 18 points fell to the Illini 88-63. Northwestern finally welcomed Indiana on Sunday and won 93-81, led by John Shurna’s 24 points. The Wildcats will face Iowa in Iowa City on Wednesday.

OHIO STATE
Ohio State travelled to Iowa City to face the Hawkeyes last week, and got more than they expected, but were able to hang on for the win 73-68 behind Jared Sullinger’s 24 points and 12 rebounds. Ohio State then welcomed Minnesota to Columbus on Sunday for yet another tough victory. Led by tenth-year senior…(okay, just fifth-year senior) David Lighty’s 19 points, OSU defeated Minnesota 67-64, and will face Michigan in Ann Arbor on Wednesday.

PENN STATE
The Nittany Lions welcomed the Purdue Boilermakers to Happy Valley last week and lost big despite a good performance from freshman Jermaine Marshall, who added 18 points in the 83-68 loss. Penn State then welcomed the Michigan State Spartans to Happy Valley, only this time were able to pull off the upset and downed the Spartans 66-62 behind Jeff Brooks’ 17 points and 12 rebounds. Penn State will welcome Illinois on Tuesday.

PURDUE
The Boilermakers visited the Nittany Lions last week and got a big win 83-68 behind Ryne Smith’s 20 points. Purdue then played Iowa inside Mackey Arena, and again behind a solid performance from Smith (18 poins) won big…again 75-52. The Boilermakers will face Minnesota on the road on Thursday.

WISCONSIN
The Badgers welcomed Michigan to the unfriendly confines of the Kohl Center in Madison and won big behind Jordan Taylor’s 66-50. What was even more impressive was the fact that the Badgers went almost 19 minutes without a single turnover. The Badgers welcome Michigan State on Tuesday.

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