Around the Big Ten

Story posted December 17, 2012 in CommRadio, Sports by Billy Kornfeld

As conference play is set to begin around the college basketball world, the Big Ten’s top team #1 Indiana looks to bounce back after its upset to Butler  last Saturday. The Hoosiers (9-1) suffered their first loss of the season to Butler in overtime. They look ahead to Tuesday where they face Mount St. Mary’s (4-4) in Bloomington.

#10 Illinois (12-0) and #3 Michigan (11-0) are the two lone undefeated teams in the Big Ten after both teams took home victories over the weekend against Eastern Kentucky and West Virginia, respectively. The Illini next travel to Missouri to take on the Tigers (8-1) this Saturday. The Wolverines will travel back home after their victory in New York to take on the Eagles of Eastern Michigan (6-3) this Thursday.

The #13 Minnesota Gophers (11-1) look to keep their undefeated record at home in take as the take on Lafayette (4-8) in the Williams Arena on Saturday night. The Gophers are currently 7-0 at home.

The #7 Ohio State Buckeyes (8-1) look to keep their 4 game winning streak going as they continue their home stand against Winthrop (4-4) on Tuesday. The Eagles will be facing their first AP ranked opponent of the season. 

Iowa (9-2) will continue to fight to crack into the AP top 25 as they face South Carolina State (4-6) this Tuesday. The Hawkeyes are currently on a four game win streak of their own.

The Spartans of Michigan State, currently 19 in the AP poll, will head to Bowling Green, Ohio on Monday to face the Bowling Green Eagles (5-4). The Spartans are coming off a five game homestead in which they won all five of their games.

Northwestern and Nebraska are both entering the week at 6-3 and both teams look to bounce back after losses. The Wildcats face Texas State (4-6), while the Cornhuskers head back to Nebraska after losing to Oregon last Saturday. They next face Jacksonville State (8-2) before heading back on the road Saturday to face Central Michigan in the Sun Bowl Invitational in El Paso, Texas.

Wisconsin (7-4) and Penn State (6-4) will look to continue their winning streaks during this coming week. The Badgers head back on the court this Saturday against the Milwaukee Panthers (3-9), while Penn State is back in action Monday against New Hampshire (4-6).

Finally Purdue at, 4-6, is in last place in the Big Ten and will look to snap its two game skid against Ball State (5-4).

All Big Ten teams head into conference play within the next two weeks. With non-conference play winding down, the Big Ten will look to establish itself among the other powers of college basketball come tournament time in March.

Billy Kornfeld is a senior majoring in Broadcast Journalism. To contact him, e-mail whk5013@psu.edu.