This week in Big Ten basketball, we saw another great series of matchups. All 18 teams played various kinds of matchups. Seemingly, you are playing a ranked team or you continue to play mid-majors. That’s what you get the week before Thanksgiving and two weeks away from the annual two conference matchup week every December.

But nonetheless, we continue to learn more about all of the teams in the conference. Without further ado, lets recap!

Nebrasketball shocks the nation and beats No. 14 Creighton in Omaha

If you recall the first two entries in this series, I’ve written about how a couple teams in the Big Ten would be looking to replace its scoring. Like Purdue, Wisconsin and Illinois. The footnote on those squads is that Matt Painter, Greg Gard and Brad Underwood have always delivered when trying to find new scoring options.

Fred Hoiberg has never had a Nebraska team worth mentioning its scoring in the first place before last season. Five of Nebraska’s seven leading scorers from 2023-24 are not on this current team for various reasons. Notably the sensational 3-point threat Keisei Tominaga, forwards Rienk Mast and Jamarques Lawrence.

But after storming into the CHI Health Center and defeating the Jays 74-63, the Huskers certainly have found some new scoring to complement the returnees.

Enter fifth-year senior guard Rollie Worster and junior guard Connor Essegian. Worster notched 11 points against Creighton and also 18 points in Nebraska’s first game this season against UT Rio Grande Valley on Nov. 4. Worster will continue to be a veteran on this team and can be a spark plug when others fail to get going.

Essegian on the other hand, an Indiana native who started his career in Madison, was expected to have an increased role last season after a freshman season in 2022-23 where he averaged 11.7 points per game. The 8.5 point decrease in that average was enough for Essegian to find a new home. The 3-point specialist could’ve gone back to his home state of Indiana, but the Fort Wayne native chose Hoiberg’s squad.

The 24 points combined from Worster and Essegian complemented the performance(s) from the returnees like seniors Juwan Gary and Brice Williams’ combined 32 points well.

One thing to monitor for this Nebraska team is the defense. To end last season the Cornhuskers gave up 98 points in its Big Ten Tournament semi-final against Illinois and the NCAA Round of 64 against Texas A&M.

Kam Jones, Stevie Mitchell lead Marquette past Purdue

If you are a Boilermaker fan and were told that Purdue would go 1-1 vs at the time No. 2 Alabama and at No. 16 Marquette, you take that all day long.

Much like the Boilers, the Golden Eagles are passing the baton from one national player of the year candidate to another, with Tyler Kolek leaving. Stepping into his role is Kam Jones. Much like Braden Smith’s efforts to replace Zach Edey, it has been a near seamless transition for Jones to replace Kolek, a fellow guard.

The good news for Purdue’s veterans did not falter in this loss. Juniors Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kaufman-Renn combined for 40 points.

The bad news is they got little to no help. In regards to the Big Ten season approaching, if Purdue goes to a campus where a high scoring offense resides, whether it be Bloomington, Champaign, College Park or Ann Arbor to list a few, getting a combined zero points from sophomore guard Myles Colvin and sophomore guards C.J. Cox and Gicarri Harris, Purdue will have a very tough time winning those games.

This is just how it works for inexperienced players. There is no doubt in my mind that Purdue will figure it out on the road in the Big Ten.

In the absence of Daniel Jacobsen, it appears that senior forward Caleb Furst will handle the majority of the minutes at the five. With sophomore center Will Berg only playing nine minutes in each of Purdue’s last three games, Marquette, Alabama and its win against Marshall. First had eight points against Marquette.

Expanding on Tuesday's result, Marquette will be one of the teams to beat in the Big East and Purdue’s inexperienced players will definitely benefit from this loss and prepare them for the road environments.

Quick Hitters

Wisconsin gets more two more 30+ point performances from the Johns

After sixth-year senior guard John Tonje’s 43 points against Arizona, Greg Gard got another great performance from the other John. Sophomore guard John Blackwell scored 30 points in the Badgers’ victory over UT Rio Grande Valley last Monday.

Blackwell, a graduate of Brother Rice High School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, will be a great combination with Tonje, who had 33 points in the win over Pitt on Sunday.

“It looks like the new A.J. Storr might be better than the original!” is a thought I had. We’ll see how it ages. It’s only November.

Alabama gets its revenge on the Big Ten. Tide roll past Illinois in 100-87 boat race

It’s hard to outscore a ticked off Nate Oats team, a good Illinois team could not do it on Wednesday.

The Fighting Illini hit 10 3s, and had five players score in double figures. A great sign, its leading scorer, freshman Will Riley came off the bench and scored 18 points.

Alabama is just a mean wrecking machine. To combat Illinois’ five double-figure scorers, the Tide had five of its own. Fifth-year senior forward Grant Nelson led the scoring with 23 points.

I have run out of adjectives to describe how good this Alabama team can be because Mark Sears had a total of zero points.

Illinois did not do much wrong in this one, except leave 13 points at the charity stripe. The Fighting Illini will be alright.

Oregon’s late comeback pulls away from rival Beavers in Corvallis

Oregon trailed by 12 in the second half but a combined 28 points from senior forward Nate Bittle and sophomore guard Jackson Shelstad, who had three 3-pointers in the second 20 minutes, led the Ducks past Oregon State, 78-75 Thursday.

In addition to the Duck leaders living up to their expectations, Oregon had 12 points on 10 Oregon State turnovers.

After the Oregon comeback, the game was won with the defense that Dana Altman’s team posed to the Beavs. In a game that was determined by one possession, Oregon State went without a field goal for the last three minutes.

Freshman updates: Derik Queen and Bryson Tucker soar. Ace Bailey costs Rutgers a win over Kennesaw State

Feast Week Preview

Every single year, Feast Week always delivers. Whether it’s the Maui Invitational, Battle 4 Atlantis or various neutral site events, ranked on ranked matchups fill the holiday week and weekend. It’s a great time learn more about power five teams, while continuing the parity that makes college basketball great.

Big Ten teams in Feast Week — Notable matchups in alphabetical order by team

Illinois:

Thursday Nov. 28 vs. Arkansas - Kansas City, MO

Indiana:

Battle 4 Atlantis - Nassau, Bahamas

Wednesday Nov. 27 vs. Louisville

Thursday Nov. 28

With win vs. UL: vs. winner of West Virginia vs. Gonzaga, in semi-final.

With loss vs. UL, vs. loser of West Virginia vs. Gonzaga in consolation bracket.

Friday Nov. 29

With win vs. WVU or GON in semifinal: vs. winner of Oklahoma or Providence vs. Davidson or Arizona, in championship

With loss vs. WVU or GON in semifinal: vs. winner of Oklahoma or Providence vs. Davidson or Arizona, in third-place game

With win over WVU or GON in consolation bracket: vs. Oklahoma, Providence, Davidson or Arizona in fifth-place game.

Michigan State:

Maui Invitational - Maui, Hawaii

Monday Nov. 25 vs. Colorado

Tuesday Nov. 26 vs. Memphis

Wednesday Nov. 27

With win vs. MEM: vs. winner of Auburn vs. Dayton or. North Carolina, in championship

With loss vs. MEM: vs. loser of Auburn vs. Dayton or. North Carolina, in third place game.

Michigan:

Fort Myers Tip-Off - Fort Myers, Florida

Monday Nov. 26 vs. Virginia Tech

Wednesday Nov. 27 vs. winner of Xavier vs. South Carolina

Minnesota:

ESPN Events Invitational - Lake Buena Vista, Florida

Thursday Nov. 28 vs. Wichita State

Friday Nov. 29

With win vs WSU: vs. winner of Wake Forest vs. Florida

With loss vs WSU: vs. loser of Wake Forest vs. Florida

Northwestern:

Arizona Tip-Off (Cactus Division) - Tempe, Arizona

Thursday Nov. 28 vs. Butler

Friday Nov. 29

With win vs. BU: vs. winner of UNLV vs. Mississippi State

With loss vs. BU: vs. loser of UNLV vs. Mississippi State

Ohio State:

Friday Nov. 29, Pitt @ Ohio State

Oregon:

Players Era Festival - Las Vegas, Nevada

Tuesday Nov. 26 vs. Texas A&M

Wednesday Nov. 27 vs. San Diego State

1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th place game(s) Saturday Nov. 30*

*Link for seeding via event website: https://www.playersera.com/thanksgiving-festival

Penn State:

Sunshine Slam - Dayton Beach, Florida

Tuesday Nov. 26 vs. Clemson*

*Championship game

Purdue:

Rady’s Children Invitational - San Diego, California

Thursday Nov. 28 vs. NC State

Friday Nov. 29

With win vs. NCST: vs. winner of Ole Miss vs. BYU

With loss vs. NCST vs. loser of Ole Miss vs. BYU

Rutgers:

Players Era Festival - Las Vegas, Nevada

Tuesday Nov. 26 vs. Notre Dame

Wednesday Nov. 27 vs. Alabama

1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th place game(s) Saturday Nov. 30*

*Link for seeding via event website: https://www.playersera.com/thanksgiving-festival

USC:

Acrisure Classic - Coachella, California

Thursday Nov. 28 vs. St. Mary’s

Friday Nov. 29

With win vs. SMC: vs. winner of New Mexico vs. Arizona State

With loss vs. SMC: vs. loser of New Mexico vs. Arizona State

Washington:

Acrisure Classic - Coachella, California

Thursday Nov. 28 vs. Colorado State

Friday Nov. 29

With win vs. CSU: vs. winner of TCU vs. Santa Clara

With loss vs. CSU: vs. loser of TCU vs. Santa Clara

Power Rankings

1. Purdue (+2)

2. Indiana

3. Ohio State (-2)

4. Illinois (+1)

5. Oregon (+1)

6. Wisconsin (+11)

7. Maryland (-3)

8. Michigan

9. Michigan State (-2)

10. Rutgers (-1)

11. UCLA (-1)

12. Iowa (-1)

13. Nebraska (-1)

14. Washington

15. Northwestern

16. Penn State

17. USC (-4)

18. Minnesota

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