Big Ten Weekly Men's Basketball Central - Jan. 2-6

WEEKLY RELEASE - JAN. 2

Big Ten. Big News.

The turn of the calendar to 2025 means the collective attention of the 18 Big Ten men’s basketball teams turns to conference play. After two Big Ten games completed in December, the league will return to conference action with five games on Thursday, Jan. 2. Michigan, Michigan State, and UCLA currently sit atop the league standings at 2-0, while 12 teams sit at 1-1.
After winning all 16 nonconference games since Christmas, the Big Ten owns a 160-37 record in nonconference games, besting last season’ 144 nonconference victories. Among those wins, the B1G was 122-7 (.946) on home court. The Big Ten’s 160 wins and .812 nonconference win percentage sit behind only the SEC’s 185 wins and .889 (185-23) win percentage. While all 18 Big Ten teams own at least seven wins this season, Oregon (12-1) is one of just 13 teams nationally with one or fewer losses, while five Big Ten teams are among the 42 with six with two of fewer defeats.
Among the Big Ten’s victories last week was UCLA’s 65-62 win over then-No. 14 Gonzaga on Dec. 28. Trailing 60-58 in the final minute, Sebastian Mack scored under the basket and drew a foul, knocking down the free throw with 33 seconds left to give UCLA a 61-60 cushion. Skyy Clark helped seal the victory, going 4-4 from the free throw line and securing three defensive rebounds in the final 13 seconds, as the Bruins snapped a four-game losing streak to the Zags.
There have been 14 triple-doubles this season in Division I. A pair of them from Big Ten players on back-to-back nights last week. On Sunday, Illinois’ Kylan Boswell recorded the seventh triple-double in program history, tallying 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in leading Illinois to a 117-64 win over Chicago State. One day later, Rutgers’ Dylan Harper posted 16 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 assists, recording the program’s first triple double since Roy Hinson did so on March 2, 1983, against Rhode Island (24 points, 10, rebounds, 10 blocks).
Twelve different B1G teams were ranked or received votes in the Associated Press and/or USA Today Coaches Top 25 polls released on Dec. 30th. Oregon led the way in the media poll at No. 9, followed by No. 15 UCLA, No. 18 Michigan State, No. 20 Purdue, and No. 22 Illinois, while the coaches listed the Ducks at No. 9, with the Spartans at No. 15, the Bruins at No. 18, and the Illini at No. 20, followed by the Boilermakers and Terps at Nos. 22 and 24, respectively. Maryland, Michigan, Ohio State, Indiana, Wisconsin, Penn State and Nebraska also received votes in the polls.
Seven Big Ten teams were ranked in the top 30 and 13 in the top 50 in the NET Rankings through games on Dec. 31. Illinois leads the way at No. 11, followed by No. 12 Oregon, No. 13 Maryland, No. 14 Michigan, No. 15 UCLA, and No. 22 Ohio State. Michigan State, Wisconsin, Penn State, Purdue, Nebraska, Northwestern, and Iowa also rank in the top 50. Only the SEC has more teams in the top 50 (14) than the Big Ten.
Thirteen of the Big Ten’s 18 teams rank in the top 45 of the Kenpom Ratings entering games on Jan. 1, more than any other conference in the country. Michigan leads the way at No. 10, followed by No 12 Oregon, No. 13 UCLA, No. 17 Maryland, No. 18, Illinois, and No. 20 Michigan State. Purdue, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Penn State, Iowa, and Northwestern also lit among the top 50. The SEC also boasts 13 teams in the top 50, while the Big 12 owns nine entrants in the top 50.
Milestone Watch... Congratulations to Penn State head coach Mike Rhoades who earned his 400th career victory on Sunday, as the Nittany Lions topped in-state rival Penn 86-66. Rhoades is one of six Big Ten coaches with 400 career wins on their resumes (Altman, ORE-767; Izzo, MSU-718; McCaffery, IOWA-541; Cronin, UCLA-491; Painter, PUR-481). UCLA’s Mick Cronin (491 wins) and Wisconsin’s Greg Gard (197 wins) also stand on the verge of career milestones.
On Tuesday, Nebraska’s Brice Williams and UCLA’s Eric Dailey were named two of this week’s Oscar Robertson Trophy National Players of the Week by the United States Basketball Writers’ Association (USBWA). Williams earned his second honor of the season after leading the Huskers to a win at the Diamond Head Classic. The senior averaged 22.0 ppg in the tournament’s three games and as named MVP after scoring 25 points on 9-of-13 shooting along with a season-high seven rebounds and four assists in a 78-66 win over Oregon State in the championship game. Dailey hit four of his five three-point attempts en route to 18 points in 26 minutes to lead UCLA to its 65-62 win over Gonzaga.
UCLA’s Dave Meyers and USC’s John Rudometkin are among the are among eight coaches and players who will be posthumously inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, the Hall announced on Tuesday. Meyers totaled 1,051 career points over his three varsity seasons at UCLA (1973-75), shooting 48.5 percent from the field and 72.9 percent at the free throw line. As a senior for the Bruins in 1974-75, he secured consensus first-team All-America honors as he averaged 18.3 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. A two-time All-American, Rudometkin secured 1,484 points and 831 rebounds. He was the first player in USC history to reach 1,000 career points in two seasons as he led the Trojans in scoring all three years.

Big Ten Weekly Men's Basketball Central - Jan. 2-6

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