Player of the Week:
Trayce Jackson-Davis (So., IU)
Game-time has been hard to come by for Jackson-Davis and the Hoosiers, as their Dec. 9th matchup against then-#20 Florida State was their first game since beating Stanford 79-63 on Dec. 2nd. In that game against Stanford, Jackson-Davis went for a season-high 31 points to go along with 6 rebounds. With the extended period between that game and their next, many were wondering if the 6’9, 245-pound big man from Greenwood, IN would be able to continue his dominant play against the team’s toughest opponent yet. Jackson-Davis once again proved he is elite, as he tore apart a stingy FSU defense for 25 points and 17 rebounds in a two-point loss. Luka Garza may be the overwhelming favorite for Big Ten Player of the Year at the moment, but Trayce Jackson-Davis definitely is not far behind. He has dominated in every Hoosier game this season, regardless of win or loss, and his play will continue to garner the attention he rightfully deserves as the season progresses.
Who’s Hot:
Iowa Hawkeyes
The Hawkeyes have shown early on that they are a tier ahead of the other strong Big Ten teams this season, such as Illinois and Michigan State. Behind Luka Garza, who is seemingly un-guardable, the boys out in Des Moines have won every game by double digits, including victories over UNC (93-80 on 12/8) and Iowa State (105-77 on 12/11). The Hawkeyes have scored over 100 points in half of their games this season, featuring a plethora of capable scorers both in the front court and back court to complement Garza. Their upcoming matchup with Gonzaga on Dec. 19th will likely determine who the #1 team in the country is, and could be a potential preview of the National Championship in March.
Hunter Dickinson (Fr., Mich)
A four-star recruit in the 2020 class out of renowned DeMatha Catholic in Maryland, Dickinson had offers from Duke, Florida State, and Notre Dame to get his services. Luckily for Juwan Howard and the Wolverines, Dickinson chose to commit to Michigan, and has already found himself some playing time following an injury to Austin Davis. The 7’1 big man has been a very pleasant surprise for fans down in Ann Arbor, averaging 15 points on nearly 70% from the field (3rd in B1G), 7.3 rebounds per game (10th in B1G), and 1.7 blocks per game (9th in B1G). Dickinson starred in the Wolverines 62-58 win against Penn State in the Big Ten conference opener on 12/13, going for 20 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks, including the tying and winning scores.
Ayo Dosunmu (Jr., Ill)
While the Illini fell to unranked Missouri 81-78 in the annual “Braggin’ Rights” rivalry game on 12/12, Dosunmu makes the list due to the ferocious comeback he led his team on late in the second half of the matchup. The Illini trailed the entire game and found themselves down 13 with nine minutes left, before Dosunmu, who already had the hot hand in the game, took it to another level. Had it not been for a questionable flagrant foul call and a lack of help from his teammates, Illinois definitely could have come back and won this game, thanks in large part due to Dosunmu’s career-night of 36 points on 13-20 shooting, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block and 1 steal.
Who’s Not
Maryland Terrapins
The balanced scoring attack the Terps boast this season usually means for production from a plethora of different players and an efficient offense, but this couldn’t have been further from the case in their Big Ten/ACC matchup against Clemson on 12/9. The Terps shot 20-50 (40%) from the field as a unit, including 6-18 (33.3%) behind the arc and a putrid 5-11 (45.5%) from the line. The game was never close, as Maryland trailed 38-15 at halftime, and never got within 12 points of Clemson at any point of the second half. Donta Scott was the only Terp who scored in double digits, contributing 11 points on the night. While this performance marked the first time Maryland has really struggled offensively this season, it has got to be a little concerning for Mark Turgeon and co. with Big Ten play looming right around the corner. They have a fantastic opportunity to right the ship and gain momentum on 12/14, when they open Big Ten play against #21 Rutgers in a winnable matchup.
Nebraska Corn Huskers
Expectations were not very high for Fred Hoiberg and his team this season, but they are only six games in and things already aren’t looking good in Lincoln. Teddy Allen has pulled his weight, showing he is one of the top players in the Big Ten, with averages of 18.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and an impressive 2.8 steals. Other than that, though, things are looking bleak. The Corn Huskers have two double digit losses in a row, an 11-point loss coming at the hands of Georgia Tech on 12/9 and a 24-point defeat to Creighton on 12/11. They are now 3-3 before Big Ten play has even started, and since they have struggled in the early-season pre-conference play, you can only assume that conference play in the countries best conference won’t be any better.
Top 5 Best Upcoming Matchups of Next Week (Dec. 14 – Dec. 21)
#21 Rutgers at Maryland (12/14)
Two tough, defense-oriented squads looking to prove they are among the best in the Big Ten come together in their Big Ten openers.
Minnesota at #6 Illinois (12/15)
The undefeated Golden Gophers travel to Illinois to take on the #6 ranked Fighting Illini. Future pro’s Marcus Carr, one of the best scorers in the country, and Illinois’ star Ayo Dosumnu go head to head in a matchup of stars.
#3Iowa vs #1 Gonzaga (12/19)
Matchup between arguably the two best teams in the country and potential National Championship matchup in March. Another star-studded matchup with future NBA players, featuring Iowa’s Luka Garza and Gonzaga’s {Player: Drew Timme], Jalen Suggs, and Corey Kispert.
Indiana vs. Butler (12/19)
In-state rivalry between two teams trying to build their tournament resumes. Indiana’s Trayce Jackson-Davis is one of the most dominant big men in the country and will look to help get his team another win to add to their tournament resume, while Butler will be looking to do the same thing.
#22 Ohio State vs #16 UNC (12/19)
Roy Williams, Garrison Brooks, and co. will travel to Cleveland for their matchup with E.J. Liddell and the #22 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. Another matchup featuring a couple of potential NBA players, and a game where both teams will be looking to add another quality win to their season and also prove they truly are among the elite teams in the country.