FanHouse Big Ten Diaries

The Big Ten Diaries recaps the previous night's action in Big Ten Basketball, but of course, you're probably smart enough to figure that out on your own.

Iowa Hawkeyes 43 Michigan State Spartans 36

As Charles Rich already told you, the Spartans set a school-record of fewest points in the shot clock era by scoring only 36 points against the Iowa Hawkeyes on Saturday. On the plus side, at least they were consistent, scoring only 18 points in each half.

Also, let's be fair here. Yes the Spartans played absolutely horribly on Saturday, but it's not like Iowa played that much better. In fact, the Spartans out-shot the Hawkeyes by making 30.8% of their shots. The Hawkeyes could only manage to make 27.5% of their field goal attempts.

Looking at the numbers you can find a hundred reasons why the Spartans lost this game besides their inability to score. They had 18 turnovers, committed 25 personal fouls, and made only 3 of their 12 three-point attempts, but what really killed them was the free throw line. Those 25 personal fouls sent the Hawkeyes to the line 29 times, where as the Spartans only took 4 free throws in the game.

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The Big Ten Diaries recaps the previous night's action in Big Ten Basketball, but of course, you're probably smart enough to figure that out on your own.


Wisconsin Badgers 70 Illinois Fighting Illini 60

Since Bo Ryan took over in Madison, only one Big Ten team has ever come into the Kohl Center and beaten the Badgers. That team is Illinois, but I don't think many people thought the Illini would pull it off this time around, and they didn't.

Trevon Hughes led the way for Wisconsin with 22 points, and senior Brian Butch also scored 16 points and dominated the glass for Wisconsin with 7 rebounds. Jason Bohannon scored only 8 points for Wisconsin, but six of those points came via the three-point shot after Illinois had closed the gap and started to build up some momentum.

For Illinois it's their fourth straight loss, a first under Bruce Weber, and they're now 0-3 in conference play. Still, if there's anything positive to be taken from this game it's that they shot better on Thursday than they have been lately. Though that's not saying much, as Illinois only hit 41% of it's shots, but they did hit 6-of-10 from beyond the arc.

Unfortunately for the Illini, on the night their outside shots started falling, they couldn't get any help on the inside as Shaun Pruitt and Brian Randle battled foul trouble all night.

The Big Ten Diaries recaps the previous night's action in Big Ten Basketball, but of course, you're probably smart enough to figure that out on your own.

Indiana Hoosiers 78 Michigan Wolverines 64

If D.J. White and Eric Gordon play like they did in Ann Arbor on Tuesday night all season, I don't know that there's anybody in this country that can beat the Hoosiers. Of course, it will probably be a bit tougher to do against North Carolina than Michigan, but it's not the Hoosiers' fault the Big Ten is very top heavy this year.

White scored 21 points and also grabbed 22 boards to become the first Hoosier to have a 20/20 game since Alan Henderson in 1995. D.J. was already scary enough in his first three years on campus, now that he's gotten into much better shape physically, he's an absolute beast.

Eric Gordon matched his number with 23 points, including 4 three-pointers, just another ho-hum night for the youngster. He just makes everything he does look so easy, which you just don't see freshman do very often. At least not the kind that stick around longer than a year.

For Michigan, Manny Harris-speaking of freshman-led the team with 19 points. There's hope on the horizon, Wolverines fans!

The Big Ten Diaries recaps the previous night's action in Big Ten Basketball, but of course, you're probably smart enough to figure that out on your own.

Penn State Nittany Lions 68 Illinois Fighting Illini 64

While the top four spots in the Big Ten figure to belong to MSU, OSU, Indiana, and Wisconsin, don't be surprised if the Penn State Nittany Lions sneak up into 5th place this season. After only being able to win three conference games last season the Nittany Lions picked up their second conference win in as many games on Sunday afternoon in Champaign.

The duo of Geary Claxton and Jamelle Cornley looks like one that could give a lot of Big Ten teams trouble this season, as both players had their second consecutive double-doubles at the expense of the Illini. Cornley lead Penn State with 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Claxton scored 11 and grabbed 11 boards as well.

The Illini had a chance to win the game after freshman Demetri McCamey hit two three-pointers in the final minute to pull Illinois within a point with 10 seconds left, but his floater in the lane that would have won the game missed it's mark and Illinois lost it's second straight home conference game, and third overall.

Another factor that helped Penn State pull of a big road victory was outworking the Illini 49-24. This despite the fact the Nittany Lions don't have a single player over 6'5 in their starting lineup.

Illinois' next two games are at Wisconsin and Indiana, so if Bruce Weber's already feeling the heat for his teams lackluster play, just wait until they start out 0-4.

The Big Ten Diaries recaps the previous night's action in Big Ten Basketball, but of course, you're probably smart enough to figure that out on your own.

Michigan State Spartans 65 Minnesota Golden Gophers 59

Minnesota's 10-2 start to this season is a nice story for the program and new head coach Tubby Smith, but we've reached the conference schedule, and it's goodbye creampuffs, hello Spartans. Minnesota just doesn't have the overall talent right now to compete with the Spartans, though much to their credit, they didn't just let the Spartans walk out of the Breslin Center with an easy victory.

Unfortunately the Gophers just had no answer for Raymar Morgan who led the Spartans with a career high 31 points and also decided to chip in with 10 boards as well. Morgan's performance even earned him some high praise from his head coach, Tom Izzo.

"I told some people that Raymar had a chance to be one of the best forwards ever to play here," Michigan State coach Izzo said of the versatile 6-foot-8 sophomore. "I know I've been tough on Raymar. We expect an awful lot from him. He reminds me of Morris (Peterson, the 2000 conference MVP)."

The Spartans also got a strong effort from freshman Kalin Lucas, who came off the bench to score 17 points. The biggest play Lucas made though was a steal that led to two free throws after Minnesota fought back from a 13-point deficit to make the score 58-57 Spartans.

The Big Ten Diaries recaps the previous night's action in Big Ten Basketball, but of course, you're probably smart enough to figure that out on your own.

Thursday night was the second day of action in Big Ten conference play, and if the first two nights are any indicator, playing at home is not an advantage. On Wednesday night all three home teams (Iowa, Northwestern, and Michigan) lost their conference openers, and on Thursday night Ohio State went into Champaign and handed Illinois their second consecutive home loss.

Ohio State Buckeyes 74 Illinois Fighting Illini 58

While most people seem to think the Big Ten is going to be settled between Michigan State, Indiana, or even Wisconsin, it's important we don't forget about the defending conference champion Buckeyes. Ohio State started it's conference title defense with a relatively easy victory in Champaign over the Fighting Illini. The star of the game was undoubtedly Ohio State senior point guard Jamar Butler, who seems to be enjoying himself now that he's out of Mike Conley's shadow.

Illinois went into the half with a 30-29 advantage, but the Buckeyes ran away with things in the second half. Ohio State used a 15-2 run early in the second half to pull away, and Illinois never really got back into contention after that. I'm sorry, did I say Ohio State went on a 15-2 run? I meant to say Jamar Butler went on a 15-2 run, as Butler reeled off 15 consecutive points for the Buckeyes. Jamar would score 19 of his career high 32 points in the second half.

As for the Illini, it was the same old story we've seen all season. Good defense and strong rebounding combined with an absolutely atrocious output on the offensive end. In fact, the only thing offensive about this Illinois team is having to watch them play.

Illinois shot 40% from the field, which isn't that bad, but they were only 4-21 from behind the three-point line and it killed them. The loss was Illinois' third home loss of the season, the most they've had in any season since 1998-99. At their current rate, Bruce Weber will have lost his voice by mid-January.

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