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Well, to say the least, the last week has been pretty chaotic across the Big Ten. Some of the highlights included Purdue taking care of Michigan at home, Maryland grabbing that epic win against Wisconsin on Saturday, and the same Purdue team going down in surprising fashion to Illinois on the road. There was plenty of drama and that same excitement should continue into this week.
Let's take a look at the top games of the week.
Game Of The Week:
- Iowa Hawkeyes at Michigan State Spartans:
It was a tough choice this week, but ultimately, this was the selection. Iowa and Michigan State are both currently near the top of the conference and both are in serious contention for the Big Ten title. Additionally, this is also a rematch of Iowa's upset win over Michigan State from a few weeks ago. As such, there should be a little extra sizzle to this one.
Undeniably, the most interesting aspect of this game will be the role of Denzel Valentine. He missed the last game between the two teams and should make a big difference in this one. It's uncertain whether Valentine will be at 100 percent by tip-off, but there's no denying that he changes the outlook for the Spartans. How Iowa attempts to slow down Valentine could very well determine the game.
On the other side, it will be interesting to see if Michigan State has a new approach for Mike Gesell. He had a huge game against the Spartans last time with 25 points, three rebounds, and three assists. He got to the free throw line early and often and this has to be a big part of of the plan for the Spartans heading into the game.
It's too early to know the impact of this one for either team, but it's not hard to think that this game could very well determine whether either ends up winning the Big Ten.
Honorable Mention:
- Maryland Terrapins at Michigan Wolverines:
This is a game that seems to be getting mixed attention nationally, but looks really good on paper. Without a doubt, this is the most difficult Big Ten opponent that Maryland has faced so far and another chance for Michigan to legitimize itself against a top end team. Honestly, this very well could have been Game of the Week.
There are plenty of intriguing matchups here, but how Michigan attempts to defend Diamond Stone inside will likely tell a lot about the outcome on Tuesday. Frankly, the Wolverines have been pretty underwhelming inside all year, so defending Stone looks like a pretty big challenge.
One other thing that should be noted is that it appears that Michigan's Caris LeVert will not play in this matchup.
- Ohio State Buckeyes at Maryland Terrapins:
On paper, this one might look one-sided, but that might not end up being reality. Although it can be hard to predict which games end up being trap games, this matchup certainly looks dangerous. To start, Maryland will be coming off two difficult road games at Wisconsin and Michigan and will have another real test in Ohio State. There's no denying that Maryland will be the favorite, but an upset is certainly possible here.
Undoubtedly, the battle to watch in this game will come in the backcourt. Maryland will have its start in Melo Trimble and Ohio State will bring a budding star in JaQuan Lyle. In their last games, the two players combined for 50 points in road games against Indiana and Wisconsin. There will be certainly be plenty of rotations in the game, but watching Lyle and Trimble battle will be fun to say the least.
Season Stats:
- Game of the Week Appearances By Team:
- Iowa - 1
- Michigan - 1
- Michigan State - 1
- Purdue - 1
- Game of the Week Honorable Mention Appearances By Team:
- Maryland - 3
- Ohio State - 2
- Michigan - 1
- Northwestern - 1
- Wisconsin - 1
- Total Appearances By Team:
- Maryland - 3
- Michigan - 2
- Ohio State - 2
- Iowa - 1
- Michigan State - 1
- Northwestern - 1
- Purdue - 1
- Wisconsin - 1