Big Ten Basketball Roundup | ACC Challenge

The Big Ten has three basketball teams in the latest USA Today Coaches Top 25 (Indiana #1, Michigan #3 and Ohio State #4). Michigan State is still a Top 15 team and Illinois enters the poll for the first time this season. Wisconsin drops from the poll and Minnesota is the first team listed in "others receiving votes."

The AP Poll also has the same three Big Ten teams in the Top 5. Michigan State is #13 and Minnesota (#21) and Illinois (#22) are ranked. Wisconsin dropped from the poll but are still receiving a few votes.

Ken Pomeroy's rankings tell a little different story. Indiana is his top team. Ohio State is ranked #6 and Michigan #8. Wisconsin, despite the two losses, rounds out the Top 10. Minnesota is #13, Michigan State #14 and Illinois comes in at #42.

We'll pick up where we left off. If you missed the last roundup or need a refresher on the first week of Big Ten basketball, here you go.

INDIANA (7-0). The Nation's number one team needed overtime last week to defeat Georgetown at the Legends Classic Tournament. It wasn't close in the overtime period as Indiana pulled away to a 10-point win, 82-72. Cody Zeller is averaging 15.9 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. Freshman point guard Yogi Ferrell leads the team with five assists per game.

Last night, Indiana proved they are worth their number one ranking when they demolished North Carolina in Bloomington. At one point, Indiana held a 32-point lead over Roy Williams' Heels. Indiana beat the #12 team in the nation 83-59. They will host Coppin State this Saturday.

MICHIGAN (6-0). The Wolverines faced Pitt in New York as part of the Pre-season NIT Tipoff. Michigan found themselves in a battle and down four points at halftime. Michigan would clamp down the defense in the second half and pull away late with free throws. Trey Burke dropped in 17 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. added 16 in the 67-62 win.

They would face Kansas State in the final. The Wildcats had no answer for Hardaway Jr., who finished the game with 23 points and seven rebounds. Michigan cruised to a 71-57 victory.

Last night, Michigan built a comfortable lead over #18 North Carolina State in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. NC State never went away but Michigan pulled out the win 79-72. Up next for the Wolverines is Bradley on Saturday.

MINNESOTA (7-1). Minnesota was eager to prove they are worthy of their new ranking and did so by hammering host Florida State last night. The Gophers' lone loss on the season comes at the hands of Ohio State's opponent tonight, #2 Duke. Minnesota defeated Memphis and Stanford last week before getting the win last night in Tallahassee. It was never close for FSU as Minnesota ran out to a 38-25 lead. Led by Joe Coleman, Minnesota recorded the Big Ten's third win of the night with a 77-68 victory.

NEBRASKA (5-1). There wasn't much expected from Tim Miles in his first season at Nebraska. His Husker team got by Valpo 50-48 at home. They then faced Tulane and Kent State. KSU was their first slip up and loss on the young season. Not the greatest competition but they were (4-1).

Nebrasketball took to the road last night to face Wake Forest in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. They would record the Big Ten's fourth win on the night with a 79-63 road victory. Up next: USC next Monday.

NORTHWESTERN (6-1). Hey, this wasn't a conference game, yet. Northwestern joined Iowa as the only team to lose in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge opening night. Northwestern hosted a Maryland team that used a quick start in the second half to pull away from the Wildcats. Maryland wins 77-57.

ILLINOIS (7-0). Illinois spent Thanksgiving break on the beautiful beaches of Ka'anapali in the Maui Invitational. They played some serious basketball too. In their first two tournament games, Illinois smoked Southern Cal by 30 points and host team Chaminade by 24. The Illini finished off Butler in the tournament final, 78-61.

It took a last second three pointer last weekend to beat Gardner-Webb at home. Perhaps they were a little weary from the long flight back from the islands.

Tonight, Illinois hosts Georgia Tech as part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. They are nine point favorites according to Vegas. The game will be televised by ESPN2.

OHIO STATE (4-0). Ohio State got to (4-0) by beating Washington and Missouri-Kansas City. The Buckeyes head to Cameron Indoor Stadium to face #2 ranked Duke tonight at 8:30 (CST). ESPN will televise the last of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge games. Duke is a six point favorite over the Buckeyes.

MICHIGAN STATE (5-1). Sparty rebounded from the season opening loss to UCONN by defeating Kansas. They have a love of the dramatic as they've made games with Boise State and Louisiana-Lafayette a little closer than they should have.

Tonight, the Spartans head to Miami. ESPN will televise the game, tip-off is set for 6:30 pm (CST). Miami is a 1.5 point favorite at home.

WISCONSIN (4-2). Wisconsin has feasted on cupcakes (Cornell and Presbyterian) but got rolled when they played Florida and Creighton. Bucky has fallen from the ranks of the Top 25 but are still getting votes and can start the climb back in tonight.

Wisconsin hosts Virginia in the tip-off game of night two of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. ESPN2 will have the broadcast. Tip-off is 6:00 pm (CST). Vegas loves Wisconsin in this one. They are 10 point favorites at home.

PENN STATE (3-2). The worst news of the early Big Ten basketball season is Penn State's loss of Tim Frazier. He's a first team all-Big Ten player that tore an Achilles and will miss the remainder of the season. The Lions have battled on without their leader. They lost to N.C. State but found a way to beat Providence in overtime. They lost by 25 to Akron but then beat a Bucknell team that knocked off Purdue in their season opener.

Penn State hosts Boston College tonight. The game will tip-off at 9:15 pm (CST) on ESPNU. Vegas likes the host Nittany Lions. They are favored by 2.5 points.

PURDUE (2-3). The Boilermakers have two wins on the season (Hofstra and NC-WIlmington). They lost to Bucknell at home and Villanova and Oregon State They head to Clemson tonight to try to improve to .500 on the season. Vegas likes Clemson by five. It could be a long year in West Lafayette.