Big Ten grind highlights marquee matchups of ranked teams

Big Ten grind highlights marquee matchups of ranked teams
Minnesota’s Marcus Carr (5) high-fives teammate Liam Robbins (0) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Michigan State, Monday, Dec. 28, 2020, in Minneapolis. Minnesota won 81-56. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)

The Large Ten Conference were built with a outstanding nine from the teams rated within the Top 25 within the latest poll Monday.

Naturally, the very best rated of individuals would immediately lose with an unranked opponent.

Maryland’s victory over sixth-rated Wisconsin on Monday night – together with No. 21 Minnesota’s rout of No. 17 Michigan Condition – sets happens for just what is a legendary begin to 2012 within the improbably deep Big Ten.

Tenth-rated Iowa, fresh off its overtime loss for that Golden Gophers, assumes No. 19 Northwestern on Tuesday night while No. 14 Purdue hosts Rutgers. Nebraska heads to No. 25 Ohio Condition on Wednesday, and Minnesota faces the Badgers with no. 16 Michigan attempts to remain unbeaten within the Terps on New Year’s Eve.

All prior to the weekend even begins.

The Hawkeyes continue their brutal schedule at Rutgers on Saturday, when Purdue heads to No. 15 Illinois and Michigan Condition visits the Cornhuskers. The weekend concludes Sunday with Wisconsin visiting Penn Condition, Northwestern prone to Michigan and Ohio Condition visiting Minnesota in certain matchups involving rated teams.

Prepare for an crazy begin to 2021 within the Big Ten.

GONZAGA Will get a BREATHER

After blowing out then-No. 16 Virginia, giving the Bulldogs an increasing four wins against Top 25 teams within the first seven games of the year, coach Mark Few’s team finally will get a breather now. Gonzaga ran roughshod over Northern Arizona on Monday night within the makeup in the game canceled earlier in December because of COVID-19, then removes to deal with Dixie Condition night. The Bulldogs’ breezy week concludes Saturday against San Fran.

“They’re the very best we’ve performed thus far,” Cavaliers coach Tony Bennett pointed out, “and appearance to get well-worth that ranking.”

The Very Best 25 TUSSLES

Two teams which have navigated their first six games with no loss meet Wednesday night when seventh-rated Tennessee visits No. 12 Missouri within the Southeastern Conference opener for teams.

On Saturday, the Chesapeake Bay Conference takes center stage. No. 18 Florida Condition plays No. 20 Duke in just the following game for the Blue Demons since 12 ,. 4, with no. 23 Virginia plays No. 24 Virginia Tech within the showdown of colleges separated by about 150 miles of Interstate 81. The Hokies presently have wins over teams which have been rated in Villanova and Clemson.

BIG 12 BATTLES

The Large Ten will get probably the most teams within the Top 25 nonetheless the large 12 might have the very best – the league has five teams rated within the top 13. And A Pair Of best meet at Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday when No. 8 Texas visits third-rated Kansas.

Second-rated Baylor added a late tune-facing Central Arkansas previous night visiting Iowa Condition on Saturday. No. 9 West Virginia heads to Oklahoma and Oklahoma Condition visits No. 13 Texas Tech exactly the same mid-day.

Outdoors The Ability 5

Fifth-rated Houston has navigated a concept marked getting a showdown while using the Red Raiders and three postponements because of COVID-19 with no loss. The Cougars must be heavy favorites against Tulsa previous night a marque game within the American Sports Conference against unbeaten SMU on Sunday.

No. 11 Creighton plays its first game since beating then-No. 22 Xavier on 12 ,. 3 when the visits Providence on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Villanova wishes it might play anybody right now. The 4th-rated Wildcats stopped their season Sunday when coach Jay Wright tested positive for COVID-19. Their game within the Musketeers on Saturday remains postponed but no decision remains created for the next three Big East games against DePaul, Marquette and Connecticut.

“Our players are really very diligent and disciplined using the COVID protocols,” Wright pointed out within the statement within the college. “Unfortunately, we’ve had two staff people test positive. I’m one of these brilliant. My signs and signs and signs and symptoms are mild, and then we remain connected together and staff on the telephone and Zoom.”