Big Ten Discussion

umhoops · February 23, 2019, 4:29am

Not Romeo Langford?

buckets12 · February 23, 2019, 4:30am

Feels like Trey Burke’s end of regulation plus overtime against Kansas reincarnated

Mattski · February 23, 2019, 8:48am

In his defense. . . he’s 18 years old with the world on his shoulders and looks so disaffected out there much of the time. This was so not what he signed up for.

kturnup · February 23, 2019, 3:42pm

At this point I would not pick Iowa to go far in the tournament, entirely too dependent on Bohannon heroics to beat Indiana and NW AT HOME

BP3 · February 23, 2019, 3:55pm

I wouldn’t want to play them if I’m a higher seeded team because they got so many shooters. If they are clicking they are tough to stop and you just hope your team can make shots too. Plus, with the way Bohannon has been playing late in games you got about as good of a closer as there is. I think Iowa could make a deep run if they get a decent draw.

chezaroo · February 23, 2019, 5:31pm

They’ve really struggled to beat NW-Rutgers-Indiana in three of their last four.

Not exactly NCAA tournament teams.

buckets12 · February 23, 2019, 5:32pm

So can Nebraska beat Purdue at home today?

kturnup · February 23, 2019, 5:54pm

I guess I can see them getting hot and puling an upset, but I’d say just as or even more likely is a first round loss.

steve · February 23, 2019, 5:57pm

Yeah, without a complete collapse by Northwestern, a prayer of a pass and shot against Rutgers, and a semi-collapse coupled with terrible FT shooting from IU, they’d be 0-3 in those games. Their KenPom luck factor is 34th in the country which seems about right!

jemblue · February 23, 2019, 6:11pm

The Iowa blog was complaining about a lack of respect. Well, when you play to the level of every opponent, how much respect do you want?

kturnup · February 23, 2019, 6:12pm

Those are possibly 3 of the easiest games possible in the Big Ten right now. Home against NW and IU who are both probably playing the worst basketball in the league and @ Rutgers.

jemblue · February 23, 2019, 6:21pm

If you’re IU I guess you can’t criticize that effort but wow, how is it possible they can be 13-14 right now? Weren’t they ranked when we played them in Crisler?

But the big question: are they still in some peoples’ bracket projections?

BP3 · February 23, 2019, 6:23pm

I get what you guys are saying. They play down to the competition frequently which leaves them very prone to upsets. To be fair though it’s not like Michigan has glided through big ten play vs most teams either. Michigan beat Minnesota at the buzzer at home and a lot of people on these topics don’t think Minnesota is a tourney caliber team. Rutgers has been playing pretty good lately. I don’t think most teams are thrilled to be playing them in recent weeks. I agree with you guys but I sort of think Iowa is a “low floor high ceiling team” not literal high ceiling like national title competitor but are a dangerous team that is capable of beating almost anyone if they are making shots.

steve · February 23, 2019, 6:29pm

Andy Katz was really pushing a case for them to still be in the conversation. It was laughable. Like suddenly IU is going to turn around and win out including games with Wisconsin and MSU after losing 12 of 13. Give me a break. This team is broken and Langford looks like he’s checking out a little.

jemblue · February 23, 2019, 6:37pm

Of our 13 conference wins, 11 have been by at least nine points. (Minnesota could have been, too - we were up 10 with a few minutes left.) Not really that comparable to Iowa’s situation.

Yeah, on the right day Iowa can do some things. But I think they’re another first-weekend tournament team, as usual under Fran.

BP3 · February 23, 2019, 6:40pm

Weren’t a lot of those points extended late though because of free throws? A lot of those games were close enough that teams played the foul card late because they were close enough.

jemblue · February 23, 2019, 6:44pm

Not really. Wisconsin was close for about 35 minutes but we just took over down the stretch - it wasn’t FTs that were the difference.

I can’t think of a game where we’ve faced any real pressure FT attempts. Minny fouling Poole down 12 points doesn’t count.

steve · February 23, 2019, 6:58pm

Nah. PSU at Crisler, Illinois, and Minnesota at the Barn did the foul thing but Michigan was already up double-digits in each game. IU may have tried the foul thing at Crisler but Simpson made both FTs at just under 2:00 left and then there were no more FT attempts (looking at the play log). Northwestern and Minnesota at Crisler came down to the final possessions but that was it. Wisconsin at Crisler was still close inside of two minutes left but Michigan was in control.

JBmoney · February 23, 2019, 7:06pm

Unless they have a complete collapse as per usual under Fran. VERY lucky to not be on a 4 game losing streak and their luck factor indicates that. Finish with 3 of their last 4 on the road

jemblue · February 23, 2019, 7:09pm

PSU about to beat Illinois and give us a tiny boost.