B1G Hoops Recap: Stopping by Woods

The court is shiny from all of Izzo's tears

Welcome back, my friends, to your weekly Big Ten Hoops Recap. We're closing out January in a way many of us expected: Ohio State is holding the fort at the top of the standings and Penn State is rounding out the bottom.

However, with Michigan State just half a game out of first, and with a ruthless upcoming schedule for the Buckeyes, it's safe to assume that this race is far from over. As Thad Matta put it early last week, "if you relax, you could be in trouble." His Spartan counterpart agreed, saying, "it's hard to figure out any games you can relax just a little bit even."

Or, as poet Robert Frost so famously wrote, "And miles to go before I sleep."

That applies to the rest of the conference, too. As of Wednesday, Jerry Palm predicted nine Big Ten teams to make the NCAA tournament. That doesn't mean every one of them will dance in March, especially since certain squads, like Illinois¹ and Northwestern, are headed in the wrong direction. Still, those nine schools are all ranked in the top 50 in RPI, more than any other league.

Although Ohio State, the only one to post a 2-0 record, should receive team of the week honors, my own rules prohibit me from ever choosing them. Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Nebraska were also perfect, albeit with 1-0 records, but Michigan State's win gave Tom Izzo his 400th career victory. Because of that, Sparty gets the nod.

MICHIGAN STATE (1-0) // Beat Minnesota 68-52

In front of a home crowd, Tom Izzo reached the milestone win as Michigan State handled Minnesota. Draymond Green returned to his double-double form to the tune of 22 points and 14 boards. To help his campaign for Big Ten Player of the Year, the senior threw in 6 assists for good measure. Making up for a quiet night from Keith Appling was freshman Branden Dawson, who scored 16 points. After the game, a crying Izzo² celebrated #400 and recited, "It is a night to make the heavens our home."

WISCONSIN (1-0) // Beat Indiana 57-50

Reeling off their fifth consecutive win, Wisconsin took down Indiana. Ben Brust came off the bench to score a team-high 13 points for the Badgers, who struggled offensively, hitting just 39.6% from the field and 4/17 from distance. As Thomas Campion once described Wisconsin basketball, "Much speech hath some defense", and they used that defense to stymie the Hoosiers. Jared Berggren tallied five blocks and held Cody Zeller to 7 points. It was a close contest all evening until the final minute, when rebounding and free throws sealed the victory for the Badgers.

NEBRASKA (1-0) // Beat Iowa 79-73

Thanks to a 14-4 run, Nebraska notched their first conference road win with a second half comeback against Iowa. Brandon Richardson put up his most productive numbers this season with 25 points on 9/10 shooting from the floor. He was also 6/7 on three-pointers, grabbed 6 rebounds, and dished out 5 assists. Bo Spencer contributed 16 points and 4 assists. This week, Doc Sadler's crew could understand Robert Louis Stevenson when he noted, "And my heart springs up anew / Bright and confident and true." 

What freezings have I felt, what dark days seen!

MICHIGAN (1-1) // Beat Purdue 66-64, Lost to Ohio State 64-49

Earning their first true road victory of the season, Michigan nipped Purdue in the supernatural world of West Lafayette. Led by Tim Hardaway Jr. and his 19 points, four different Wolverines reached double figures as the team connected on 54% of their field goal attempts. A close game most of the way, Michigan was up one with a minute to go and held on for the W due to rebounding and Purdue's missed shots. 

Then, Ohio State beat Michigan, because that's what's supposed to happen. For the good guys, it was "as near a paradise as it can be" while the Wolverines spent A Winter Day in Ohio and lamented, "All Afternoon, I take my time to mourn." 

PURDUE (1-1) // Lost to Michigan 66-64, Beat Northwestern 58-56

In their first of two two-point games for the week, Purdue could not hit a shot in the final minute. Both Ryne Smith and Robbie Hummel had the chance to give the Boilermakers the lead, but Michigan told them, "Play louder. You will not succeed." Overall, Hummel played well, posting 16 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds while Lewis Jackson ended up with 17 points and 8 assists. 

It was a different story on Saturday when Purdue edged Northwestern. With 12 seconds left and the game tied, Hummel's leaner along the baseline was all net. The twenty-fifth year senior struggled from the floor (5/11 for 11 points) until that game-winner, and yet, the real hero may have been DJ Byrd, whose defense frustrated John Shurna in the second half. He also had 12 points. 

MINNESOTA (1-1) // Lost to Michigan State 68-62, Beat Illinois 77-72 (OT)

The Golden Gophers noticeably missed injured Trevor Mbakwe against Michigan State. Getting outrebounded 32-25, Minnesota found it difficult to contain Michigan State in the paint. Rodney Williams led his team with 15 points. He was also the intended recipient of Julian Welch's half-court alley-oops-that's-a-three-instead³.

Avenging their OT loss a month ago to Illinois, Minnesota overcame a madcap last minute to tie the game with four seconds left in regulation. Down three, Austin Hollins elected to drive to the basket, and his shot fell in as Myers Leonard fouled him. The free throw was good, forcing overtime and causing Tubby Smith to declare that it "has given my heart/ A change of mood/ And saved some part / Of a day I had rued."

The bench for the Gophers came up huge, scoring 39 points. Andre Hollins had 12 of them, two fewer than his twin brother Austin⁴. Character from an '80s movie Chip Armelin put up 14 points and 7 rebounds.

INDIANA (1-1) // Lost to Wisconsin 57-50, Beat Iowa 103-89

Despite outshooting and outrebounding Wisconsin, Indiana could not hold on to their two-point halftime lead. Verdale Jones III and Christian Watford each accounted for 12 points, but Jones was scoreless in the second half. On the road, the Hoosiers got a taste of their own medicine, facing a hostile crowd and bemoaning the officiating. The evening most likely brought to their minds the words of Walt Whitman, who penned, "Thy madly-whistled laughter, echoing, rumbling like an earthquake, rousing all." 

In their next outing, Indiana doubled their offensive effort, topping Iowa by a non-B1G score of 103-89. Cody Zeller recovered from a tough night against Wisconsin to record a career best of 26 points on 11/12 shots in addition to his 4 boards, 4 assists, and 3 steals. Six Hoosiers were in double figures, and they also hit the glass, scoring 23 points on 20 offensive rebounds, making Tom Crean channel a Bronte sister and profess, "Strange Power! I trust thy might."

ILLINOIS (0-1) // Lost to Minnesota 77-72 (OT)

In the loss to Minnesota, Brandon Paul paced all scorers with 28 points, but he was only 1/8 from behind the arc. Overall, Illinois hit just 3/21 three-pointers and committed 16 TOs. However, the Illini's most egregious error was when Myers Leonard fouled out with four seconds left, allowing Austin Hollins to send the game to OT. Bruce Weber wailed, "the night is darkening round me" as his unit could not manage much production after that. Since conjuring up a win against Ohio State, Illinois has lost three straight.

NORTHWESTERN (0-1) // Lost to Purdue 58-56

When Robbie Hummel's jumper fell, Northwestern chose to take a timeout to set up a potential game-winning shot. What they ended up with was a bad look when John Shurna threw up a three-point prayer that hit nothing but glass. Drew Crawford led the way with 23 points, including four 3's. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, this was their third game decided by 2 points or fewer, and they have lost all three, causing their fans to adopt the mantra,  "People hit / the sauce in a big way all winter."

PENN STATE (0-1) // Lost to Ohio State 78-54

The Nittany Lions were pounded by Ohio State for their fifth loss in six games, making them realize, "Winter uses all the blues there are."

IOWA (0-2) // Lost to Nebraska 79-73, Lost to Indiana 103-89

Blowing a 7-point halftime lead, Iowa fell at home to Nebraska. Zach McCabe was the top scorer for the Hawkeyes with 20 points, but he fouled out and on his way to the bench, quoted my great-great-great-great grandfather Thomas Hardy⁵, "The cruel frost encrusts the cornland!"

Even though Iowa made 63% of their shots, and a staggering 79% in the second half, against Indiana, their zone defense left much to be desired. Josh Oglesby produced his highest-scoring game this season with 24 points and Matt Gatens nearly matched him with 20. Still, the Hawkeyes turned the ball over 17 times and lost the rebounding battle 37-22. It was Iowa's third consecutive loss.

Right now, Iowa can relate to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's Snow-flakes: "The troubled sky reveals / The grief it feels."

• ¹ That's what happens when you blow your entire dark magic wad on one game. 
• ² Never watch a Nicholas Sparks film with this man. Actually, never watch a Nicholas Sparks film period. 
• ³ /Aaron Craft'd
• ⁴ No relation, actually. 
• ⁵ Nope.