Big Ten Basketball Weekly Recap

Scores

Tuesday, December 27

Wisconsin 64, Nebraska 40

Illinois 81, Minnesota 72 (2OT)

Wednesday, December 28

Ohio State 87, Northwestern 54

Michigan State 80, Indiana 65

Purdue 79, Iowa 76

Thursday, December 29

Michigan 71, Penn State 53

Saturday, December 31

Iowa 72, Wisconsin 65

Indiana 74, Ohio State 70

Purdue 75, Illinois 60

Michigan State 68, Nebraska 55

Sunday, January 1

Michigan 61, Minnesota 56

Northwestern 68, Penn State 56

The past week of basketball in the Big Ten offered several rich and juicy storylines, enough material to cover three weeks worth of ball and not just one. Where to begin? Try the shocker that has everyone in the Big Ten groping for answers and explanations that just won't emerge very easily.

The Wisconsin Badgers have been one of the most untouchable home-court teams in college basketball over the past decade, losing an average of one home game per season over the course of a full decade under credentialed coach Bo Ryan. The Badgers have made the Kohl Center one of the toughest buildings to play in, using their cozy confines to create an environment in which they can impose their style of play on opponents. The formula has worked so well for Wisconsin over the past 10 years, which is exactly why the Badgers have been a regular NCAA Tournament team, usually a higher-end seed. Whenever Wisconsin has been in trouble over the past several years, the Kohl Center has been a place where UW could always grab that resume-building win against a top Big Ten foe, thereby punching its ticket to the Big Dance.

Now, however, the locals in Madison must be wondering what's going on. Wisconsin began its Big Ten home slate by losing, of all things. Moreover, Wisconsin dropped this decision not to mighty Ohio State or to a surging Indiana club, but to the Iowa Hawkeyes, who got beaten up throughout the non-conference portion of the season and showed absolutely no indication that they were ready to win in Madison. Yet, it happened. Iowa and coach Fran McCaffery scored a monster win thanks in large part to the fact that Wisconsin hit only 2 of 23 threes, a mind-blowing statistic. Wisconsin basketball has to answer the call at home if it wants to make anything of its season.

The past week also involved a tale of two outcomes for Indiana. The Hoosiers got whacked on the road at Michigan State by the Spartans, showing that Tom Izzo hasn't lost his magic touch in East Lansing. Indiana's 15-point loss indicates that the Hoosiers will need to be a much better road team if they want to go far in the NCAAs. However, Indiana is lights-out at home. The Hoosiers defeated Ohio State in a delightfully entertaining and richly electric war to register their second win over a top-five team. Indiana had already beaten Kentucky, so this win over Ohio State will further fuel Indiana's upward move in the college basketball world.

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