New England knocked off Seattle in one of the most thrilling Super Bowls of the last 20 years on Sunday night. Ohio State shocked the world in the first-ever College Football Playoff by barely making the field and then defeating the two favorites. All of you pigskin- obsessed sports fans now have a clear void in your life until next August. Have no fear, though, as Big Ten basketball is the elixir for your post-football withdrawal. Here’s a quick look at what’s happened through the first couple months of the regular season to get you up to speed.
- Wisconsin’s Dominance: If the last time you checked in with Wisconsin was while watching last year’s Final Four, you’ll find that the Badgers have shown that they have all the pieces in place to make a return trip. Bo Ryan’s team has only suffered two losses (to Duke and Rutgers) en route to a 19-2 overall mark (7-1 Big Ten), and the most efficient offensive team in America boasts likely Big Ten Player of the Year (and All-American), Frank Kaminsky. The Badgers are currently missing point guard Traveon Jackson with an injury until the end of the month, but Bronson Koenig has stepped in admirably and there’s a realistic chance the Badgers are headed for a 17-1 Big Ten record and a #1 NCAA Tournament seed.
- Excellent Freshmen: The league matriculated 13 top-100 recruits this season and that crop of diaper dandies hasn’t disappointed. Ohio State’s D’Angelo Russell has been on a tear, averaging 21.8 PPG, 6.9 RPG, and 5.0 APG in Big Ten play while making a legitimate run at first-team All-America honors. He’s certainly not alone, though, as Maryland’s Melo Trimble and Indiana’s James Blackmon Jr are the leading scorers for their teams. Nearly every league team has a freshman or two making an impact this season.
- Significant Injuries: Big Ten teams have really been hit hard by the injury bug this year. Headliners like Illinois’ Rayvonte Rice, Michigan’s Caris LeVert and Wisconsin’s Jackson have all missed multiple weeks and are still out of their lineups. Michigan is also currently missing its starting point guard, Derrick Walton Jr., to a foot injury. Injuries have had a large impact on conference teams thus far, resulting in a balanced league becoming even more equal.
- Parity Outside of Wisconsin: Heading into Tuesday night’s action, there are a whopping five Big Ten teams tied for second place with identical 6-3 records. The non-conference portion of the schedule did a great deal of damage to the overall perception of the league, but while outside of Madison the strength at the top isn’t as robust as normal, the league should feel confident that five to seven NCAA Tournament teams will emerge. Almost any team can beat another team in this conference on a given night.