Big Ten Weekly Men's Basketball Central - February 24-March 2
BIG TEN MEN'S BASKETBALL
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BIG TEN STATISTICS
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NCAA STATISTICS
BIG TEN SCHEDULE & RESULTS
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BIG TEN STANDINGS
NCAA AP TOP 25 POLL
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NCAA USA TODAY TOP 25 POLL
Big Ten. Big News.
- With two weeks left in the regular season, Michigan enters this week's action at the top of the Big Ten standings at 15-1, followed by Illinois in second at 13-4, then Michigan State, Nebraska, and Purdue in a tie for third at 12-4, Wisconsin in sixth at 11-5, UCLA in seventh at 10-6, and Iowa and Ohio State in a tie for eighth at 9-7. All 18 teams had recorded at least two league victories so far.
- On Thursday, seven Big Ten players were named to the Naismith Trophy Men’s College Basketball Player of the Year Late-Season Team. The Atlanta Tipoff Club included Illinois’ Keaton Wagler, Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz, Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr., Nebraska’s Pryce Sandfort, Ohio State’s Bruce Thornton, and Purdue’s Braden Smith in its list of 30 players now in contention for the prestigious award.
- The Division I Men’s Basketball Committee unveiled its top 16 teams on the Bracket Preview Show on Saturday. Six Big Ten teams were included on the list. Michigan was named the top overall seed, while Illinois and Purdue claimed number two seeds. Nebraska and Michigan State were placed on the numbers three and four lines, respectively. The official bracket will be announced on Sunday, March 15.
- The Big Ten closed its nonconference schedule with a record of 157-41, the second-best win percentage (.793) of any conference, behind only the Big 12 (.806). Big Ten teams have defended home court to the tune of an 118-4 (.967) record in non-conference home games, the highest non-conference home winning percentage of any D-I conference.
- Entering Tuesday’s games, Big Ten teams have combined to win 60 Quad 1 games, with 16 teams scoring at least one Quad 1 win, and 73 Quad 2 victories. At 10-1, Michigan joins Arizona (11-2) and Duke (12-2) as the only teams with 10 Quad 1 wins, while the Wolverines join Illinois and Purdue in a group of 12 teams with at least seven Quad 1 wins. The Big Ten also boasts six teams in a group of 27 nationally with at least 10 Quad 1 and 2 wins: Michigan (19-2), Illinois (13-6), Purdue (12-5), Michigan State (12-5), Nebraska (11-4), and Wisconsin (10-8).
- Through games on Monday, Feb. 16, the Big Ten boasts 12 teams in the top 75 spots in the NET Rankings, including three in the top 10 and nine in the top 50. Michigan leads the Big Ten tops the list at No. 1, followed by No. 4 Illinois, No. 6 Purdue, No. 11 Nebraska, and No. 12 Michigan State. Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio State, and UCLA also claimed spots in the top 50.
- Seven Big Ten teams were ranked or received votes in this week’s AP and USA Today Coaches Top 25 polls released on Monday, Feb. 16, including five ranked in the top 15. Michigan leads the way at No. 3 in both polls, followed by Purdue at No. 8 and Michigan State at No. 13. AP voters listed Illinois at No. 10 and Nebraska at No. 12, while the coaches placed Huskers at No. 10 and the Illini at No. 11. Wisconsin and Iowa also received votes in both polls.
- Ohio State guard Bruce Thornton was named Big Ten Player of the Week on Monday after averaging 29.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and shot over 52 percent from the field as the Buckeyes split a pair of games against top 20 opponents. Thornton paired 27 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists in an 86-69 win over Wisconsin. The senior also surpassed the 2,000 career point mark in the win, becoming the 36th Big Ten player to reach the milestone. In Sunday’s 66-60 loss at Michigan State, Thornton scored a game-high 32 points with four rebounds, two assists, and two steals with no turnovers, while playing all 40 minutes.
- Maryland freshman Andre Mills was also named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Monday. The freshman guard recorded 30.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists, while shooting 54.3 precent from the field and 60.0 percent from three-point range as Maryland went 1-1 on the week. Mills scored a Maryland freshman record 39 points in a 78-74 loss at Northwestern, then added 21 points, including seven consecutive points and the go-ahead three in the final two minutes of a 64-60 victory over Washington.
- Milestone Watch... Congratulations to Ohio State guard Bruce Thornton who surpassed 2,000 career points in the win over Wisconsin, becoming just the sixth Big Ten player with 2,000 career points and 500 career assists...With 994 career assists, Purdue’s Braden Smith enters this week ranked fifth on the NCAA Div. I all-time assists list. Only four players have collected 1,000 career assists, including NCAA record holder Bobby Hurley (1,076)... Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg enters this week’s action just eight rebounds from becoming the fourth active player to secure 1,000 career rebounds... USC’s Gabe Dynes stands just six blocked shots from becoming the fourth active Division I player in the country with 200 career blocked shots. … Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell enters this week’s action with 349 career wins, while Illinois head coach Brad Underwood owns 296 career victories.
- The 29th annual TIAA Big Ten Tournament will be played at the United Center in Chicago, March 10th – 15th, 2026. For the first time, all 18 Big Ten teams will compete for the tournament title. The tournament will open with a pair of games on Tuesday, March 10 and culminate with championship on Sunday March 15.