We are getting ever so close to the greatest postseason in sports. But what is so great about college basketball is that there is an abundance of time left for teams to inch ever so closely toward the bubble and increase (or decrease) their seeding in conference tournaments.
It was once again another awesome week in the world of the Big Ten, let's talk about it!
Mike Woodson to leave Indiana at the conclusion of the season
It has been a full and utter disappointing season for Indiana this year. With all of the transfer additions, NIL money spent and retention of a good chunk of last year's team, Indiana is failing in 2024-25.
I said in the Feast Week recap of this series, I loved all the moves that were made in hopes to get this team on the right track. It just has not been able to come to fruition.
This team can’t shoot, this team has no continuity, they have not played many full games of complementary basketball. Now, after starting the season in the top 25 and being a favorite to win the Big Ten, this team is getting farther and farther away from the bubble and could maybe even miss the conference tournament. Unfortunately, a lot of that goes on coaching and the job Woodson has done in his time at Indiana.
The announcement of Woodson’s resignation, or wishes to mutually part ways with Indiana after the season, came on Feb. 7 just one day before former Indiana basketball student manager Dusty May’s Michigan Wolverines came to Bloomington.
May welcomed back with cheers and leaves victorious (in a fashion exclusive to the 2024-25 Wolverines)
The tension was quite high at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Saturday and for good reason. Indiana could have accepted the fate that its season has not been a success so far and play for its coach in his recently minted last hurrah of his Indiana coaching career, or falter to one of their own that just happened to be wearing different colors. It chose the latter.
While Michigan tried everything in its power to try to lose this game during the first 16 minutes of the second half (as it has done time and time again this season), Indiana couldn’t get it done.
In terms of the actual game, Michigan looked unstoppable when it was not actively turning the ball over and getting in its own way.
Tre Donaldson continued to impress as a playmaking point guard with 18 points, plus Danny Wolf was a force in the first half and when it came to winning time he made the right plays at the right time.
For Indiana, they deserve credit for getting off the mat and taking advantage of Michigan’s terrible turnovers. But if Indiana could’ve just kept the halftime deficit under eight or even 10 points, this result could’ve been different.
As someone very aware of what Indiana needs to do to win, Myles Rice cannot finish any game with two points just one assist and expect to win any game. Oumar Ballo played just 20 minutes and was a non-factor on either of the Michigan bigs on defense, who combined for 38 points.
These transfer additions were supposed to push this team to new heights, and it did not do that against Michigan.
Now, Indiana has to find a way through a tough end to its regular season schedule, which starts Tuesday against Michigan State in East Lansing. One would think they can find a way to put it together for the sake of its head man’s legacy, but only time will tell.
Jase Richardson scores 29 as Spartans beat Oregon, Izzo ties Knight
Walk with me… Ace Bailey will win Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Many knew that was a possibility for a long time. But somehow Jase Richardson being the second best freshman in the Big Ten should be recognized as a bigger honor. I have been in awe of how good Richardson has been for Michigan State.
The stars aligned on Sunday at Breslin. In the game where the 2000 National Championship team was honored, Richardson put up 29 points in his first career start, with dad, Jason in attendance.
Sparty needed a win after its 0-2 west coast trip and the Ducks had their number for a good chunk of this game, but Tom Izzo said postgame that defense was key to getting the victory. That defense only gave up 24 Oregon points in the second half. It was a true complementary performance from MSU, more than doubling that total with 50 points of their own.
We’ll talk big picture in a moment, but this is setting up to be a photo finish for the Big Ten regular season championship.
Quick Hitters
Inconsistencies continue for Ohio State
The Buckeyes beat a ranked Maryland team that I think very highly of 73-70 at Value City Arena on Thursday. But then they came crashing back to earth with a loss to Nebraska.
While the game was in Lincoln, Ohio State was looking like the better side, even though I have been pretty impressed with the Huskers recently.
Dylan Harper returns from injury. Rutgers remains above water in the Big Ten standings
Nobody feels better about Dylan Harper returning than Ace Bailey, whose shoulders are much lighter now that Harper has returned. Harper’s return resulted in 28 points and a victory over a then-ranked Illinois team.
Now, Rutgers did lose to Maryland on Sunday but still remain in contention for a spot in the Big Ten tournament. It is the 13 seed as of Feb. 11.
In the subhead you just read, I mentioned that Rutgers is above water in regards to the Big Ten tournament. I say that under the assumption that this Scarlet Knight team will not make the NCAA tournament, so the more these two get to play together, the better for college basketball and its fans.
Previewing a massive Tuesday in Big Ten Basketball
Tuesday (hopefully the day you are reading this) Feb. 11 is a massive day in the eyes of the Big Ten conference. Purdue, Michigan and Michigan State are all in striking distance of the No. 1 position in the standings. Those three all play Tuesday, and the Wolverines and Boilermakers are set up for a huge rematch of the shellacking that took place at Mackey. Purdue has one extra win, but all three have the same number of losses. The pack will be split up by the end of the night.
Keys to the game, Purdue @ Michigan
For Purdue
- If they can succeed from 3-point range, that will be a major factor
- Keep it as tight as possible during the first half
- Given that Michigan will probably blow a double-digit lead during the game, if Purdue can keep the difference to single-digits they can potentially blow the game open in the second half
- Player to watch: Trey Kaufman-Renn
- Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer will be able to make plays, but if TKR can get action inside, much like he did against Indiana, that would be a game changer for Purdue
For Michigan
- Double-digit leads cannot be blown, Purdue will pounce and not give it back, like how Oregon and Indiana did
- Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers. Controlling possession will be the deciding factor
- The crowd will be a factor
- Player to watch: Tre Donaldson
- Donaldson (and the entire Michigan team, really) was a non-factor from the start. Multiple terribly poor turnovers to start the game against Purdue in the first matchup, he has been much better since
Keys to the game, UCLA @ Illinois
Two teams that could really use a Q1 win, UCLA is 25 in the NET, Illinois is 12.
For UCLA
- Offense, which can be a struggle, must translate
- UCLA has not won a Big Ten road game outside of LA, Eugene, or Seattle
- Not only have the Bruins not won, it has not scored more than 70 points in any of the games that fit that billing
- UCLA needs to be ready for dribble drives
- To me, it seems like every Illini player can hurt you off the dribble, especially Will Riley who has been really good as of late
For Illinois
- Kasparas Jakucionas needs to find himself again
- He has not been the same since the end of winter break
More games to watch
Tuesday Feb. 11
Indiana @ No. 9 Michigan State, 9 p.m., Peacock
Thursday Feb. 13
No. 25 Maryland @ Nebraska, 8:30 p.m., BTN
Friday Feb. 14
UCLA @ Indiana, 8 p.m., FOX
Saturday Feb. 15
No. 16 Wisconsin @ No. 7 Purdue, 1 p.m., CBS
No. 11 Michigan State @ Illinois, 8 p.m., FOX
Sunday Feb. 16
No. 20 Michigan @ Ohio State, 1 p.m., CBS
Iowa @ No. 25 Maryland, 5 p.m., FS1
Rutgers @ Oregon, 7 p.m., FS1
Team of the Week
Danny Wolf (UM)
Bruce Thornton (OSU)
Will Riley (ILL)
Jase Richardson (MSU)
Derik Queen (MD)
Freshman of the Week
Jase Richardson (MSU)
Power Rankings
1. Purdue
2. Michigan
3. Michigan State
4. Maryland
5. Wisconsin
6. UCLA
7. Illinois
8. Nebraska
9. Ohio State
10. Oregon
11. USC
12. Indiana
13. Rutgers
14. Iowa
15. Minnesota
16. Penn State
17. Northwestern
18. Washington
