The Big Ten has a nice slate of action on Saturday, with eight teams set to play. The biggest game will be in Los Angeles with Indiana traveling to take on the Bruins.
Let’s take a look at the schedule.
-Indiana Hoosiers at UCLA Bruins
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Time/TV: 5:00 p.m. ET (Peacock)
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Despite some tough moments, Indiana and UCLA enter Saturday’s matchup with momentum. The Hoosiers are coming off a massive win over arch-rival Purdue on Tuesday and the Bruins have won five of the team’s last six games. These victories put both players in strong positions for NCAA Tournament bids. However, there is still work to be done and the winner will receive quite a boost.
The game itself will likely come down to the battle on the wing. Indiana relies heavily on Lamar Wilkerson and Tucker DeVries, while Tyler Bilodeau and Eric Dailey have recently worked out for the Bruins. UCLA’s group has certainly been more cohesive, but Wilkerson has elite potential when he plays well. Whoever comes first probably wins.
Another interesting thing to watch will be how Indiana defends Donovan Dent. The Bruin guard has been tearing it up lately and the Hoosiers don’t have an obvious matchup. It’s going to be quite a challenge for Conor Enright and Tayton Conerway to hold up. All things considered, this is why UCLA is the choice here.
– Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Wisconsin Badgers
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Time/TV: 2:00 p.m. ET (FOX)
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KenPom spread: Wisconsin by 2
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These are two other teams that saw an upward trend last month. Ohio State enters Saturday having won three of its last four games and Wisconsin is 8-2 in its last 10 games. However, both still have work to do to lock down an NCAA bid, and that certainly includes the Buckeyes, who are only narrowly inside the field in most projections.
Wisconsin certainly looks better positioned to win this game. The Badgers have a home field and a much more cohesive defensive unit. John Mobley and Bruce Thornton can light it up, but Wisconsin has its own backcourt duo, Nick Boyd and John Blackwell, to match. If Ohio State wants to pull off the upset, it will likely take a huge game from Christoph Tilly. Otherwise, the Badgers are the pick here.
-Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs. USC Trojans
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Time/TV: 7:00 p.m. ET (Peacock)
The Trojans are looking to bounce back from a tough loss to Iowa on Wednesday and should have a decent chance here, with a flawed Rutgers team traveling across the country to contend. And that’s good news for Trojan fans, because the team is still fighting to earn a spot in the NCAA.
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The most interesting part of this matchup should take place in the backcourt, where Tariq Francis goes against Chad Baker-Mazara. They are two of the best goalies in the league and should put on a show here. However, Rutgers simply doesn’t have enough support around Francis to believe this will be a win.
-Washington Huskies vs. Northwest Wildcats
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Time/TV: 8:00 p.m. ET (BTN)
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KenPom spread: Northwest by 1
This has been a frustrating season for both of these teams. Despite strong numbers and decent analytics, neither really managed to pull it off. Washington is just 3-7 in the Big Ten and Northwestern is an even worse 2-8, with most of those losses coming in competitive contests. However, at a certain point in the season, teams become their record. And unfortunately, we’re getting there with these two.
That’s what makes this one so important. Despite the records, both have a chance to earn playoff bids, if they can finish strong. The biggest question will be how Zoom Diallo performs against Nick Martinelli, who is one of the most consistent offensive players in the league. Plus, this could be a chance for Hannes Steinbach to show off against a disappointing Northwestern frontcourt. All things considered, Washington is the choice.
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Record pick this season: 40-6
