Hello and welcome friends to another edition of this B1G Week. Obviously, this is a tough time in the basketball world. If you haven't already read Grant's piece about Kobe Bryant's death I would highly recommend it, click here to read it. Life is short, sometimes way too short, so we appreciate you taking time out of your life to read what we right.
In this week's edition of This B1G Week we'll be debuting a brand new segment. This segment is called Team of the Week and Team of the Weak. Basically, Team of the Week is highlighting a Big Ten team that had a great previous week and Team of the Weak is the exact opposite. This will be replacing the Power Ranking as let's be honest the Big Ten is too weird this year to have an actual strong idea of where everyone belongs.
In this week's edition of This B1G Week we'll be debuting a brand new segment. This segment is called Team of the Week and Team of the Weak. Basically, Team of the Week is highlighting a Big Ten team that had a great previous week and Team of the Weak is the exact opposite. This will be replacing the Power Ranking as let's be honest the Big Ten is too weird this year to have an actual strong idea of where everyone belongs.
Big Ten Game of the Week
Saturday - 1 PM - Fox - Michigan State @ Wisconsin - Things are about to get mad in Madison as the conference-leading Spartans of Michigan State square off against the Badgers. Okay, that was my best Gus Johnson impersonation. MSU heads into the week in a tie for first with Illinois while Wisconsin is just two games behind them despite a disappointing non-conference season.
Nonconference Game of the Week
Saturday - 6 PM - ESPN - Kentucky @ Auburn - This is a game with huge implications in the SEC title race. The young Wildcats are starting to hit a groove where they are all starting to figure out college basketball after winning a tough one at Texas Tech. Auburn got real close to being the last undefeated team until they had a two-loss week recently. At the end of the day, I think Kentucky just has more talent and home-court advantage doesn't seem to be a thing outside of the Big Ten.
Team of the Week
Team of the Weak
Illinois Fighting Illini - Win on the road at Purdue, Win on the road at Michigan - The Fighting Illini had an excellent week. They picked up wins at Purdue which is always a very tough place to win and followed it up with a victory at Michigan. Illinois has been a big surprise so far in conference play as they are in a tie against Michigan State for first and actually have a winning record on the road.
Team of the Weak
Michigan Wolverines - Loss to Penn State at home, Loss to Illinois at home - Michigan had a rough week. In a season where the home-court advantage is insane in the Big Ten, the Wolverines dropped two at home. At one point this team was ranked in the top five and now they are 12th in the league with a huge uphill battle left this season.
Actual Rankings
- Michigan State - 7-2 - 15-5
- Illinois - 7-2 - 15-5
- Maryland - 6-3 - 16-4
- Rutgers - 6-3 - 15-5
- Iowa - 5-3 - 14-5
- Wisconsin - 5-4 - 12-8
- Indiana - 5-4 - 15-5
- Minnesota - 5-5 - 12-9
- Penn State - 4-4 - 14-5
- Purdue - 4-5 - 11-9
- Ohio State - 3-6 - 13-7
- Michigan - 2-6 - 11-8
- Nebraska - 2-7 - 7-13
- Northwestern - 1-8 - 6-13
B1G Picks
Monday
8:30 pm - BTN - Wisconsin @ Iowa
Grant's Pick: Iowa, Troy's Pick: Iowa
Tuesday
7 pm - ESPN U - Michigan @ Nebraska
Grant's Pick: Michigan, Troy's Pick: Michigan
8 pm - BTN - Purdue @ Rutgers
Grant's Pick: Rutgers, Troy's Pick: Rutgers
Grant's Pick: Michigan, Troy's Pick: Michigan
8 pm - BTN - Purdue @ Rutgers
Grant's Pick: Rutgers, Troy's Pick: Rutgers
Wednesday
6:30 pm - BTN - Northwestern vs Michigan State
Grant's Pick: Michigan State, Troy's Pick: Michigan State
8:30 pm - BTN - Indiana @ Penn State
Grant's Pick: Penn State, Troy's Pick: Penn State
8:30 pm - BTN - Indiana @ Penn State
Grant's Pick: Penn State, Troy's Pick: Penn State
Thursday
7:30 pm - FS1 - Minnesota @ Illinois
Grant's Pick: Illinois, Troy's Pick: Illinois
8:30 pm - BTN - Iowa @ Maryland
Grant's Pick: Maryland, Troy's Pick: Maryland
Grant's Pick: Illinois, Troy's Pick: Illinois
8:30 pm - BTN - Iowa @ Maryland
Grant's Pick: Maryland, Troy's Pick: Maryland
Saturday
Noon - ESPN - Indiana @ Ohio State
Grant's Pick: Ohio State, Troy's Pick: Ohio State
1 pm - Fox - Michigan State @ Wisconsin
Grant's Pick: Michigan State, Troy's Pick: Wisconsin
4:30 pm - BTN - Rutgers @ Michigan
Grant's Pick: Michigan, Troy's Pick: Michigan
7 pm - BTN - Penn State @ Nebraska
Grant's Pick: Penn State, Troy's Pick: Penn State
9 pm - BTN - Purdue @ Nothwestern
Grant's Pick: Purdue, Troy's Pick: Purdue
1 pm - Fox - Michigan State @ Wisconsin
Grant's Pick: Michigan State, Troy's Pick: Wisconsin
4:30 pm - BTN - Rutgers @ Michigan
Grant's Pick: Michigan, Troy's Pick: Michigan
7 pm - BTN - Penn State @ Nebraska
Grant's Pick: Penn State, Troy's Pick: Penn State
9 pm - BTN - Purdue @ Nothwestern
Grant's Pick: Purdue, Troy's Pick: Purdue
Sunday
1 pm - FS1 - Illinois @ Iowa
Grant's Pick: Iowa, Troy's Pick: Iowa
Grant's Pick: Iowa, Troy's Pick: Iowa
Grant's Previous Week Pick Record: 7-6
Grant's Total Pick Record: 140-58
Troy's Previous Week Pick Record: 7-6
Troy's Total Pick Record: 144-54
To stay up to date on the newest Head in the Game articles (and general sports commentary), follow @headingameblog on Twitter. You can also find us on Twitter @T_RoyStory (Troy) and @G_Tingley (Grant)
As long as the Hoosiers are ahead of Ohio State, I'm a happy camper. Stinkin' Ohio... *cue the music* "Indiana, our Indiana, Indiana we're all for YOUUUU."
ReplyDelete