Last week was supposed to be an uneventful week in the Big Ten. The favorites had relatively easy schedules, as easy as teams can have in the deepest conference in the country. But then, Purdue happened.
- Last Week’s Breakdown
- Game of the Week: Nebraska @ Ohio State, Friday, November 17th, 5:00 PM ET – the last hurdle for Nebraska to win the Big Ten title.
The Boilermakers got just their 2nd win against a ranked opponent of the season when they upset then-#3 Minnesota, and then upended Wisconsin, in back-to-back games. That win should cement Purdue’s spot in the NCAA tournament field of 64.
The other relevant question then is what does this do to Minnesota’s chance at the Big Ten title? While they’re not down-and-out, it definitely hurts. In effect, the Gophers’ season-ending matchup with Penn State becomes must-win, and as compared to before, that might even be enough to move the Gophers out of 3rd. Penn State will be heavy favorites in every game until they face Minnesota, and Nebraska doesn’t have a single game left against a team with a Big Ten winning record.
More after the standings:
| STANDINGS | CONF. | PCT. | OVERALL | PCT. | HOME | AWAY | NEUTRAL | LAST 10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penn State | 15-1 | .938 | 25-1 | .962 | 11-1 | 9-0 | 5-0 | 10-0 | W15 |
| Nebraska | 15-1 | .938 | 22-4 | .846 | 14-0 | 7-2 | 1-2 | 9-1 | W9 |
| Minnesota | 13-3 | .813 | 24-3 | .889 | 10-1 | 8-2 | 6-0 | 9-1 | W1 |
| Michigan State | 12-4 | .750 | 19-6 | .760 | 10-2 | 5-4 | 4-0 | 7-3 | W3 |
| Purdue | 10-6 | .625 | 20-7 | .741 | 10-3 | 6-4 | 4-0 | 5-5 | W3 |
| Illinois | 9-7 | .563 | 18-9 | .667 | 5-4 | 7-5 | 6-0 | 5-5 | L2 |
| Wisconsin | 8-8 | .500 | 17-8 | .680 | 11-3 | 4-5 | 2-0 | 6-4 | L1 |
| Michigan | 7-9 | .438 | 17-11 | .607 | 11-3 | 3-8 | 3-0 | 5-5 | W1 |
| Ohio State | 7-9 | .438 | 14-13 | .519 | 8-6 | 4-7 | 2-0 | 4-6 | L1 |
| Iowa | 6-10 | .375 | 17-12 | .586 | 10-7 | 5-4 | 2-1 | 4-6 | W1 |
| Maryland | 5-11 | .313 | 16-12 | .571 | 8-4 | 4-8 | 4-0 | 3-7 | L4 |
| Northwestern | 4-12 | .250 | 14-14 | .500 | 2-5 | 4-8 | 8-1 | 2-8 | L1 |
| Indiana | 1-15 | .063 | 12-16 | .429 | 6-8 | 2-8 | 4-0 | 1-9 | L7 |
| Rutgers | 0-16 | .000 | 5-23 | .179 | 1-8 | 1-11 | 3-4 | 0-10 | L17 |
Still in Control: Nebraska Cornhuskers (22-4, 15-1 Big Ten)
As they have been since we started looking 3 weeks ago, Nebraska remains the heavy favorite to win the title, even with just an equivalent record to Penn State. That’s because the Huskers have that win against Penn State, still the only game in the right-hand-column for the Nittany Lions this season, to fall back on as a tie-breaker. That combined with the easiest schedule of the 3 contenders remaining, and we’re still riding Nebraska’s chances with 4 games to go.
All 3 of their remaining opponents have losing records, and even without the conference’s two bottom-teams Indiana and Rutgers, their opponents still have just a 22-42 record in Big Ten play so far.
Remaining Schedule (Conference Records):
- @Ohio State (7-9)
- @Maryland (5-11)
- @Northwestern (4-12)
- Iowa (6-10)
#1 in our Hearts, But Not in our Conference: Penn State Nittany Lions (25-1, 15-1)
Penn State should have a very easy week this week, with their 2 upcoming opponents having a combined 1-31 record in the Big Ten so far this season, but the week after that things will get tough. They’re on the road at Wisconsin and at Minnesota. Wisconsin is on a down season, but there’s still intensity in that rivalry, and Minnesota has rebuilt in a hurry thanks in large part to Samantha Seliger-Swenson’s setting. Winning out (probably) won’t be enough though – even if the Nittany Lions handle their business. That scenario leaves them with the likely #1 seed in the NCAA tournament, but losing the Big Ten Conference title on tie-breakers.
Penn State’s remaining opponents have a combined 22-42 conference records, the same record as Nebraska’s opponents, but Penn State’s 22-42 looks very different than does Nebraska’s.
Remaining Schedule (Conference Records):
- @Indiana (1-15)
- @Rutgers (0-16)
- @Wisconsin (8-8)
- @Minnesota (13-3)
Hopes Fading Fast: Minnesota Golden Gophers (24-3, 13-3 Big Ten)
The loss to Purdue all-but eliminates Minnesota, even with a stellar 13-3 record, from contention for the conference title. They would need Penn State to lose twice, and Nebraska to lose 3 times, because of tie-breakers. We’ve left the Gophers on the list, just because they’re good, but they’re pretty much down-and-out.
Remaining opponents’ conference records are 28-36.
Remaining Schedule (Conference Records):
- @Northwestern (4-12)
- @Illinois (9-7)
- Rutgers (0-16)
- Penn State (15-1)
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