Saturday Big Ten Recap: Illinois Surprises Purdue

The Big Ten had 4 games on Saturday. The greatest concerned a large battle between Illinois and Purdue and a highway journey for Nebraska.

Let’s check out what occurred.

–No. 11 Illinois Fighting Illini 88, No. 4 Purdue Boilermakers 82

Earlier in the week, we wrote about how Illinois may be the nation’s most underrated team. Despite a strong report and spectacular analytics, Illinois was only getting a share of the coverage and dialogue that other Big Ten powers like Michigan and Purdue had been receiving. It all arrange a large game against Purdue on Saturday, the place the Boilers had been hoping to guard house courtroom and hold tempo in the Big Ten title race.

The game itself was fairly good. Purdue had the momentum out of the gates, however the team’s protection pale down the stretch and struggled to comprise freshman star Keaton Wagler, who completed with 46 factors and 4 assists in the afternoon. Illinois completed at 1.39 factors per possession, which is an unimaginable quantity for a highway game against a team like Purdue. Braden Smith also had a pleasant displaying with 27 factors and 12 assists, however it wasn’t sufficient to get the win.

Illinois improved to 17-3 general and 8-1 in Big Ten play with the win. However, more importantly, the group made an announcement about their case in the Big Ten. Illinois has now received 9 straight relationship again to early December and is clearly adequate to win the convention. While the team has a brutal closing slate, it’s also onerous to think about many harder environments than what the group noticed on Saturday. And if Wagler retains playing like this, Illinois may very well be a major participant in the Big Dance.

On the other facet, Purdue fell to 17-3 general and 7-2 in Big Ten play with the loss. It was the team’s second straight loss after falling on the highway to UCLA on Tuesday. And while a tough fought loss to an opponent like Illinois won’t be horrible in a vacuum, it’s devastating to Purdue’s convention title hopes. The Boilers entered the afternoon a game again from Nebraska and now discover themselves in a two-game gap. However, maybe more worrisome, the group also trails Illinois, Michigan, and Michigan State in the convention standings as properly now. Making up that deficit goes to be fairly a challenge.

Illinois will now put together for Washington at house on Thursday. Purdue will get arch-rival Indiana on the highway on Tuesday.

–No. 10 Michigan State Spartans 91, Maryland Terrapins 48

This appeared like a mismatch heading into tip and it definitely performed out that means, as Michigan State crushed an overmatched Maryland squad. The game was never competitive. Jeremy Fears led the means with 17 factors and 17 assists. Carson Cooper also had a pleasant displaying with 14 factors and eight rebounds.

Michigan State improved to 18-2 general and 8-1 in Big Ten play with the win, while Maryland fell to 8-12 general and 1-8 in Big Ten play with the loss. The Spartans will now put together for Rutgers on the highway on Tuesday. Maryland will host Purdue on February 1st.

–No. 7 Nebraska Cornhuskers 76, Minnesota Golden Gophers 57

Heading into tip, this offered as a possible entice game for the Huskers. However, Nebraska took care of enterprise and scored a 19-point highway win. Pryce Sandfort led the means with 22 factors and 10 rebounds. Jamarques Lawrence also had 14 factors, 5 assists, and 5 rebounds.

Nebraska improved to an ideal 20-0 and 9-0 in Big Ten play with the win, while Minnesota fell to 10-10 general and 3-6 in Big Ten play with the loss. The Huskers will now put together for a large highway game against Michigan on Tuesday. Minnesota will try to get again on observe against arch-rival Wisconsin on the highway on Wednesday.

–UCLA Bruins 71, Northwestern Wildcats 64

The Bruins took care of enterprise in this one because of 18 factors and 4 rebounds from Tyler Bilodeau. UCLA’s protection also held Northwestern to just 1.0 factors per possession. Nobody exterior of Nick Martinelli on the Northwestern facet did a lot in this one.

The win pushed UCLA to 14-6 general and 6-3 in Big Ten play, while Northwestern fell to 9/11 general and 1-8 in Big Ten play with the loss. The Bruins will now put together for Oregon on the highway on Wednesday. Northwestern will get Penn State at house on Thursday.

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Saturday Big Ten Recap: Illinois Surprises Purdue