The Big Ten delivered two highly entertaining battles on Tuesday night. Two upsets gave the Big Ten quite a shakeup. Illinois lost all of its momentum with two straight overtime losses. Nebraska lost another top-ranked matchup, putting its reputation even more into question.
Here are the scores and the rest of my analysis from Tuesday in Big Ten basketball:
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No. 13 Purdue 80-77 vs No. 7 Nebraska
Purdue gets a big-time victory in overtime to secure a top-ten road win. The Boilermakers were up 22 points in the second half and started the game off hot. Turnovers, missing free throws, and poor defense late almost led to a Purdue collapse. Purdue is still able to pull it off, but by the skin of their teeth. Nebraska missed a lot of shots in this game, and Purdue’s defense really was a factor in that, as they made things difficult, and they got 8 steals in this game. This is a huge win for the Boilermakers, but it is a win that still shows great concerns for how this team finishes games. Purdue’s start to this game was why they won, but they need to be better down the stretch to put games away early. Nebraska now comes up short vs another top contender, creating further doubt whether or not they are a true contender in the Big Ten.
Wisconsin 92-90 vs No. 8 Illinois
The Badgers pull off a statement win vs Illinois in overtime. Illinois led by double digits in the second half, but the Badgers willed themselves back from 12 points down. Nick Boyd and John Blackwell were both stars in this game, and Austin Rapp also provided 18 points off the bench, and he hit a crucial 3-pointer late in the game. The Badgers can play with anybody; they have the talent, and they continue to show they are one of the most dangerous teams in the Big Ten. As soon as this game went into overtime, the Badgers went on an 11-3 run. This is not a team you want to let continue to hang around. Keaton Wagler was fantastic in this game, but the Badgers had the scorers to combat his elite night. Wisconsin now has two of the best wins out of anybody in the conference, with victories over Michigan and now Illinois. The Badgers have also won 8 of their last 10 games. This team is getting hot at the right time. Illinois has now lost two straight games in overtime. Things in the Big Ten are continuing to get interesting.
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Top Performers
Keaton Wagler was the best player on Tuesday night. Wagler dropped 34 points on 12-23 shooting and 5-10 shooting from beyond the arc. Wagler also chipped in 7 assists in his explosive scoring outing. Wagler is making quite a name for himself this season and could end up being a lottery pick in the upcoming NBA draft. Wagler is averaging 18.5 points per game and is shooting 43% from 3, being the biggest MVP for Illinois this season.
Nick Boyd has been an elite scorer all season long. Boyd is averaging 20.2 points per game this season. He had himself 25 points vs Illinois in the overtime win. He was a stellar 3-5 from 3, had 5 assists, and 2 steals. Boyd sets the tone for this team, and in their victories, more than likely Boyd is leading the show with at least 20 points. Just like Wagler, he has also been the MVP for his team.
Overview
In two games, the Big Ten delivered two huge upsets in overtime. The Big Ten has been exciting all season long for men’s hoops, and it looks like this season will end just the same. The Badgers continue to put the conference and the country on notice, while Purdue gave the conference a reminder that they are still a top team in the conference. Both Illinois and Nebraska need a win more than ever to get things back on the right track after this past stretch of games.
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What’s Next
The slate for today should deliver 1-2 great games, while two of them could end up getting ugly. The Trojans will face off against the Buckeyes, and this game is critical for both teams as they each need to keep the momentum rolling. Iowa has a matchup versus Maryland, which could end up as a battle, but is more likely to end up as a battle. Michigan vs Northwestern should be another lopsided win for the Wolverines. Penn State vs Washington is the last game in the slate, and it will be the first of a nice upcoming stretch for the Huskies to get over their 500 record. The Huskies could move up in the standings if they take care of business.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Biggest winners & losers for February 10 in Big Ten men’s basketball
