Player of the Week:
Hunter Dickinson, Michigan
This week’s POW award was definitely a tight race between Hunter Dickinson and Keegan Murray, but ultimately came down to the competition each played. Dickinson had himself a career night versus Michigan State dropping a whopping 33 points and 9 rebounds in a dominant 17-point victory over the Spartans. In his two previous games earlier this week, Dickinson posted back-to-back double doubles against Rutgers and Illinois. Dickinson is getting hot at just the right time for the Wolvarines.
Freshman Player of the Week:
Malaki Branham, Ohio State
Despite Ohio State’s struggles this week, in their only victory this week against #15 Illinois, Malaki Branham had himself a day. Branham dropped a whopping 31 points on 71.4% shooting from the field in a 86-83 Buckeyes win. Come tournament time, Branham can be a huge asset for the Buckeyes in potentially make a run. Branham’s consistent, standout play has put him on the map as a potential one-and-done first round draft pick, or at minimum a player that can explore his options at season’s end.
Who’s Hot:
Wisconsin Badgers
Three wins this week and clinching the Big Ten regular season title definitely earns you a spot on this week’s “Who’s Hot” list. The Badgers started out their week securing a 1-point victory over Minnesota behind Steven Crowl’s 20 points and 7 rebounds. Revenge was in sight for Wisconsin in their next game against Rutgers and four out five starters had double-digit points in a 66-61 victory over the Scarlet Knights. In their second to last game of the season, the Badgers fans secured a share of the Big Ten regular season title with a late Chucky Hepburn three to give Wisconsin a 70-67 win over #8 Purdue. Could we potentially see Wisconsin earn themselves a #1 seed in this year’s tournament?
Who’s Not:
Ohio State Buckeyes
The Buckeyes started out this week with a great win over #15 Illinois, but ended the week poorly earning themselves a spot in this week’s “Who’s Not” list. Following up their win over the Illini, Ohio State traveled to Maryland where guards Eric Ayala and Fatts Russell both dropped 20+ points in a 15-point victory over the Buckeyes. To end their week, for what seemed to be an easy victory on paper wasn’t so easy as Ohio State lost to last place Nebraska behind Bryce McGowens‘ 26 points. We’ll still get to see the Buckeyes come March Madness, but definitely not the direction they’d like to be trending with just one game left.
Top 5 Big Ten Teams with the Best Chance to Win the Big dance:
5. Ohio State Buckeyes
Anyone can get hot during March Madness and make a run, but they need the right players to have a real chance and E.J. Liddell and Malaki Branham are those guys for Ohio State. Looking for revenge after last year’s first round exit, the Buckeyes are eager to make it past the first weekend this year and if they do, we’ll see if they can get hot and potentially make a run deep in the tournament; not likely but definitely possible with the two stars they have.
4. Illinois Illini
Another team in the Big Ten everyone thought was going to go very far last season but didn’t is the Illini. Illinois is still a very talented team with their two main stars Kofi Cockburn and Alfonso Plummer, but if teams find a way to limit the rest of their starting five like Loyola-Chicago did last year, it’ll be a struggle for the Illini to make a run, but if they can’t, there’s a shot this team can make a Sweet 16 and potentially even Elite 8 run.
3. Iowa Hawkeyes
This Hawkeyes team chances at winning the title solely rests on their star and potential Big Ten Player of the Year, Keegan Murray. We’ve seen teams in the past make deep runs with players who are arguably un-guardable and this Iowa team possesses that type of center piece. Jordan Bohannon will also see a very important role in the potential run this Hawkeyes team can have and that’s why they belong high on this list.
1. Purdue Boilermakers and Wisconsin Badgers
Now usually these rankings would be separate but as of right now, these two teams have almost the same chance at winning the title. Wisconsin is currently riding a hot streak after beating Purdue and it’ll be interesting seeing teams try to guard potential Player of the Year, Johnny Davis. Purdue on the other hand, has lost two straight games but comes into this tournament with arguably one of the best rosters in all of college basketball. Also, Purdue can compete with these top tier rosters come tournament time as they showed with wins over UNC, Villanova, and Florida State and if the Boilermakers get hot, they are a team that nobody wants to face in that tournament. The Big Ten’s best chances at bringing home a national title this year clearly lies with these two teams.