There were two very lopsided games on Saturday in Big Ten basketball, but the overall slate did not disappoint. Illinois versus Purdue lived up to the hype as the stars for both sides got to play. Keaton Wagler definitely improved his draft stock with an elite showing for the Illini, and Braden Smith continues to be a top player in the Big Ten for the Boilermakers. The USC Trojans have been disappointing of late, while their rivals, the UCLA Bruins, are trying to hit their stride.
Here are the scores and the rest of my analysis from Saturday in Big Ten basketball:
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No. 10 Michigan State 91-48 vs Maryland
Michigan State steamrolls the Terrapins. This game was over right after tip-off. The Terrapins did not have a lead at all in this game. The Spartans’ defense suffocated the Terrapins, and they showed exactly why this team is one of the best defensive squads in the country. Jeremy Fears Jr. led the way with 17 points, and he was just as effective as a facilitator with 17 points. Michigan State showed off exactly how scary they can be when they are on their game.
No. 7 Nebraska 76-57 vs Minnesota
Nebraska stays perfect on the season, and it was not as easy as the score suggests. Despite a great first half from Sam Hoiberg, the Cornhuskers ended the first half down 6. It was a great effort from Nebraska’s defense as they buckled down and limited all the open looks the Gophers were getting from behind the arc in the second half. The Cornhuskers were able to win by 19 points, and it was behind Pryce Sandfort being a star once again with his double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds. His great performance offensively was complemented by 4 blocks and 2 steals. A complete all-around performance from Sandfort, the Cornhuskers now move to 20-0.
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No. 11 Illinois 88-82 vs No. 4 Purdue
Freshman forward Keaton Wagler took matters into his own hands and led the Fighting Illini to their biggest win of the season vs Purdue. Wagler had 46 points, shooting 13-17 from the field and an impressive 9-11 from the field. A hostile environment was not too much for the freshman as he dominated. The Fighting Illini dominated the 3-point line as a whole, shooting 47% from beyond the arc. That also played a huge factor in deciding this game. Braden Smith was fantastic for the Boilermakers as he had 27 points and 12 assists, only missing 5 shots himself. Unfortunately, his great performance was not good enough, and the Fighting Illini moved to 11 straight victories.
UCLA 71-64 vs Northwestern
UCLA keeps riding high after their huge upset win over Purdue with a big win over Northwestern. Tyler Bilodeu and Trent Perry both put up 18-point outings and helped the Bruins come out to a great start. That great start propelled the Bruins to victory and was too much for the Wildcats to overcome even with a rally late. The Bruins now move to 14-6 and 12-0 at home.
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Overview
The Cornhuskers stay sitting at the throne in the Big Ten, while Michigan State’s defense and all-around dominance lead to a win over Maryland, keeping them afloat as a top contender in the Big Ten. Illinois proves to be the biggest threat potentially to Nebraska with their win over Purdue and the continuation of their 11-game win streak. Other than Nebraska, no team has been hotter. UCLA, while still not being viewed as a potential contender, looks to build off of its upset over Purdue and stay in the thick of things.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Biggest winners and losers from January 24 in Big Ten men’s basketball
