Player of the Week:
{Player: Chase Audige], G, Northwestern Wildcats
The Wildcats are off to their best start since 2016, and Chase Audige has been an electrifying lead guard for them all year. This past week it seems like everything came together for Chase, as he led the Cats to back-to-back 38 (!!!) point wins. Audige averaged 23.5 points and three steals between their two games while shooting better than 50% from the field and exactly 40% from three. Audige is leading Northwestern in points and steals this year, showcasing an effective skillset as a 2-way guard. He has his team tied for second overall in the B10 and with more time Northwestern could enter the top 25, with a lot of thanks to Audige and his brilliant play and leadership.
Who’s Hot?
{Player: Jalen Pickett], G, Penn State
Last week’s player of the week continued to put up ridiculous numbers in 2 wins for the Nittany Lions this week. Jalen Pickett may be the most versatile guard in the entire conference. In both wins over Canisius and Quinnipiac this week, Pickett dished out 9 assists. He almost put up a triple-double against the Wildcats, posting a stat line of 21 points and 12 rebounds to go along with the aforementioned 9 rebounds. Jalen Pickett is a Swiss army knife and might mean more to his team than any other team in the B10, spare Zach Edey. Pickett is now third in the nation in APG (7.6), while also scoring 16+ a game and snatching 7+ boards.
Northwestern Wildcats
As mentioned before, this team is on a heater. Winning by 38 points consecutively is no easy feat in division one hoops, and Northwestern made it look easy. The Wildcats have won 4 striaght, and their only two losses are to a great Auburn squad and a 9-4 Pitt team that without a one-point loss to Vanderbilt, would be currently in a 9-game winning streak. The Wildcats’ defense is second in defensive rating in the conference, only behind Rutgers. Chase Audige and {Player: Boo Buie] spearhead a veteran backcourt that has given a lot of teams troubles this season, and their play will be indicative of how good Northwestern can be.
Who’s Not?
{Player: Hunter Dickinson], C, Michigan
Hunter Dickinson got manhandled by {Player: Armando Bacot] this past week. Although Dickinson is having a great year, his disappearance in a game as big as this past Wednesday’s showdown with UNC can’t go not talked about. The Wolverines made it close and only lost by four points, while Dickinson only scored 9 points on 3/9 shooting, while fouling out and getting 26 points put on his head by Bacot. There’s no doubt in my mind that Hunter will pick his play right back up, however this Michigan team is only 7-4 and missing the veteran leadership of guys like Eli Brooks. Dickinson will have to fill that role and up his play even more if Michigan wants to sniff a chance to go dancing.
Iowa Hawkeyes
Iowa just gave up what is mathematically the largest upset in college basketball history. Eastern Illinois entered the game as 31.5-point underdogs in an away game and ended up winning by 9 points. Iowa started the game up 18-4 and led at half, but by the time there was only 5 minutes left in the second half, Eastern Illinois took a 10-point lead and never looked back. Iowa is still without star {Player: Kris Murray], however they shot 38.9% in this game; unacceptable for a team with aspirations to win the conference. Murray could return on the 29th against Nebraska, where the Hawkeyes will look to move on and forget this loss ever happened.
Big 10 Power Rankings
5: Penn State Nittany Lions
Jalen Pickett has the Nittany Lions back in relevancy within the B10. The Lions’ three-point barrage has led opposing teams to become flustered and unable to adjust. When playing the Lions you have to choose whether to secede 20 paint points to Pickett or 10 threes to the perimeter shooters surrounding him. Their electrifying offense will be heavily tested against Michigan on the 4th, and then again versus Iowa on the 9th.
4: Indiana Hoosiers
The Hoosiers have yet to prove any consistency against good opponents, but a team that has a player the caliber of {Player: Trayce Jackson-Davis] is more than likely to figure it out. I’m giving the Hoosiers the benefit of the doubt here, since their losses have been to good teams. Indiana will play Northwestern and Penn State back-to-back in the start of the new year, where their guards may be outmatched. TJD’s play will determine if they win those games.
3: Northwestern Wildcats
Their first entry into the top 5 this year for me, Northwestern earned this spot. They’re playing their best basketball this year and this squad will go as far as their feisty, energetic, draining defense can carry them. New Year’s Day sees them squaring off against the Buckeyes, where the Wildcats will attempt to move to 2-0 in conference play after defeating MSU earlier this month.
2: Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin hasn’t played a game since the 15th, however they’re still winners of 4 straight, undefeated in conference play, and haven’t been truly beaten yet this season. Their only two losses were very close contests and the Badgers have brushed those losses off and gotten better every game. Their matchup against Illinois on January 7th will be broadcasted nationally on ESPN2 and should showcase how good both squads are.
1: Purdue Boilermakers
Purdue is still number one in the nation, and until proven otherwise they look unbeatable. Even without {Player: Zach Edey], the Boilermakers won by 21 points over New Orleans this week. They very realistically could run through the entire conference and rest of the season unbeaten, however Ohio State will certainly test them in Columbus on January 5th.