Player of the Week:
Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana
Indiana took down the best team in the country and in-state rival this weekend, led by none other than our guy TJD. Jackson-Davis scored 25 points against Zach Edey, added 8 rebounds, and led his squad to a statement February win against the unanimous number one team in the country. Not to be outdone by himself, TJD then led the Hoosiers to another ranked win against Rutgers, where he scored 20 points and snagged 18 rebounds, almost giving him a 20-20 game. Indiana has now won 7 of their last 8 and Jackson-Davis has been the leading scorer of all but one of those games. These wins weren’t just a statement for the team, but for Jackson-Davis himself; He’s proving night-in-night-out that he deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Edey in the NPOY race this year. TJD and the Hoosiers have a chip on their shoulders, as they’re now the undisputed number 2 in the conference. There’s a reason Indiana is one of the premier college basketball states.
Who’s Hot?
Hunter Dickinson, Michigan
Somehow, Dickinson and the Wolverines have the second best conference record in the B10 at 8-5, while sitting at 14-10 on the season. Their out of conference woes and struggles throughout the season have had a bright spot though, and that’s Hunter Dickinson. Dickinson’s Michigan resume is already unanimously among the best in the program’s post fab four era. He consistently brings solid big man play for the Wolverines, whether that’s grabbing 15 rebounds and scoring 10 points or carrying the offensive load entirely with 20+ point performances. This week the Wolverines picked up their 3rd straight win after defeating Ohio State and then Wisconsin. Across those wins, Dickinson averaged 21 points per game and 10.5 rebounds. Dickinson is up to 18 points a game this season, as the Wolverines hope to lean on him to continue their solid play within the B10.
Northwestern Wildcats
The Cats are tied with the red-hot Hoosiers as the second-best record in the B10 at the moment, and they’ve won two in a row this week. Defeating a freezing cold Ohio State team, and a few days beforehand completing the season sweep of Wisconsin for the first time in nearly 30 years. The Cats also have their best record since 2017, and their best conference record since 2017 as well. What’s impressive about the Wildcats is how they have maintained a winning record throughout a lot of tight, grueling games. Some might say their inability to win games by a wide margin is a concern, however it’s a great sign for March basketball. Rarely do we see blowout wins in the second, third or fourth rounds of March Madness. Boo Buie and Chase Audige have anchored a scoring attack and defense that wins games competitively and never falters under large deficits or close leads. Northwestern has their shot at the top this week against Purdue, if their guard play makes up for their lack of dominant size to match Edey, Northwestern could very well hand Purdue their third loss of the season.
Who’s Not?
Penn State Nittany Lions
3 straight losses for Penn State, who had a promising start to the year starting 11-3. Seth Lundy has picked up his play, and Jalen Pickett is a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award as the only player in the country averaging 17, 7 and 7. However the Lions just can’t seem to figure it out in B10 play, having the fourth worst record in in-conference play this season. Penn State attempts the 11th most 3’s per game in the country and has the 19th best 3pt percentage to match. Nearly half of their field goal attempts are from three, however Penn State doesn’t have a strong enough defense or consistent interior presence to keep up with tough B10 teams, and it’s showed ever since their conference play started up in December. Their offense also isn’t complex enough to rely on getting good looks from three, as homing in on Pickett can cause Penn State to force tough shots and have tough possessions. Penn State was looking to get their 10th ever tournament appearance this year and barring a miracle in the conference tournament it unfortunately doesn’t look like it’ll happen.
Minnesota Golden Gophers
The Gophers are 1-11 in conference play and 7-15 on the season. They’ve been terrible in just about every facet of the game this year. Minnesota is shooting an atrocious 41.4% from the field this year and 30% from three. They’re not even within the top 363 teams on field goals made, and average 13 turnovers a game. I’ve refused to put them here for sake of not stating the obvious, however Minnesota needs some major retooling and recruitment to pull them out of the bottom of the B10. It seems as if every other team in the conference this year has been competitive from time to time except for the Gophers. This season is lost in Minnesota, and there’s slim chance of salvaging anything from it.
Power Rankings
5. Illinois
The Terrence Shannon-Matthew Mayer duo continues to impress for the Illini. They’re 16-7 on the season and 7-5 in conference play. Averaging just over 75 points a game isn’t bad either. Their potent offense will have to stay hot in the coming weeks to prepare for a likely 6-7 seed in the B10 tournament.
4. Rutgers
Losing to Indiana was tough for Rutgers as it seems like every time they enter the top 25 they get bounced out right away. This team is a defensive powerhouse and although I believe they’re the third best team in the conference, I can’t put them over Northwestern after a loss.
3. Northwestern
These guys win basketball games despite how it looks. Chase Audige is a terror on the defensive end and Boo Buie is one of the most capable scoring guards in the country. The Cats are having their best season in a while and will be dangerous come the tournament, as they truly have nothing to lose.
2. Indiana
Despite having some precarious moments throughout the year and battling inconsistency, the TJD and Jalen Hood-Schifino duo is starting to look every ounce as good as they should’ve been all year. The Hoosiers are 18th in the country and will only climb after a big win against Rutgers.
1. Purdue
Despite the loss to Indiana, Purdue is still the top dog in the conference. They played their worst half of basketball in the first half against Indy, and outscored the Hoosiers in the second. One half of basketball won’t dictate their season as this only adds fuel to the fire for a team with a plethora of weapons and abilities.