Written by BTN.com staffOnline, track our in-game live blog in this post as BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart, BTN.com web editor Brent Yarina and the Big Ten Geek bloggers offer up their analysis. It will also be the first place BTN.com posts in-game video highlights, as well as selected tweets and photos.
Should be fantastic: Minnesota/Indiana, Illinois/Wisconsin. Huge games for all the teams involved.
Hey, it was fun guys. An excellent doubleheader. Can’t wait for Saturday’s BTN doubleheader.
Great team, but notch below IU/Michigan.
Irrespective of this game, I think Minnesota’s outside shooting will hold them back. Normally not very good from deep.
I don’t remember Drew Coleman, other than his last year, BTN’s first. But I assume Joe is the better Coleman?
How does Coleman get THAT opening coming off a timeout????
So many guys who can score for Minnesota. What an array, just like Michigan and IU. SO many weapons for all three teams.
And the backcourt is really, really good. Glad they’re making me look half smart.
Minnesota is so physical that they could give Indiana troubles.
3 for 19 on 3 pointers for Illinois so far. Woof.
Agree, Josh. I think IU still is the best team in the Big Ten? What you think? Who is best?
I think it’s likely they win at home against Michigan. I don’t think anyone but Indiana wins in Bloomington this year.
Josh: You think Minnesota can win at IU? Win at home vs. Michigan?
Yes, Josh. You would think Illinois would be equipped to get back.
This is starting to get ugly.
For a guard oriented team, you wouldn’t expect Illinois to have so much trouble getting back.
Minnesota just killing it in transition. So many easy hoops. Illinois is getting nada in transition.
Minnesota has really quieted down the crowd over the past 3 minutes.
I didn’t like it.
I think it was definitely intentional. He was trying to stop easy bucket. Should have gone for swat from behind.
How do you guys feel about that intentional foul call?
Nnanna Egwu thinks he’s Serge Ibaka.
Guys, do you think Hollins called glass?
Game is entering a danger zone for Illinois. Where is Brandon Paul?
They aren’t going to beat Minnesota on the interior.
I guess Illinois will keep shooting … and shooting … and shooting. It’s who they are, right?
Halftime recap:
Trevor Mbakwe scored 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds for No. 10 Minnesota as the Golden Gophers lead No. 13 Illinois 34-30 at the half.
The Fighting Illini shared the ball, finishing with five assists on eight field goals in the first half.
The Golden Gophers hit four threes in the first half, shooting 50 percent from deep.
Nnanna Egwu is putting together a nice game so far for Illinois. The sophomore has four points and six rebounds.
Illinois needs to keep Abrams on the court in the second half. Illini have no one like Mbakwe. Minny needs to feed him. He will score or get fouled or find an opener shooter with a pass.
Minnesota is 4-8 from 3, Illinois is 2-15. Illini lucky this is even a game.
I guarantee Illinois has not been defended like this all season.—
Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) January 10, 2013
Illinois’ transition defense is terrible tonight. Minnesota getting a lot of runouts.
Sheehey might be up there, too. He gets around 26-28 minutes per, I think.
So many quick, dumb, long shots by Illinois…
Sheehey’s a good candidate too, but I think Bertrand will be one of the top 5 Illini in minutes during Big Ten play.
What about Will Sheehey?
Can Illinois stop Mbakwe? I think not. I would run each possession through him.
I give you the crazy Brandon Paul slam
Joe Bertrand is the James Harden of the Big Ten. He’s a 6th man in name only.
Minnesota having some turnover issues.
Minnesota needs to slow it down, play halfcourt game. Don’t run with Illini. Make Illinois play defense for a while. And feed Mbakwe.
It doesn’t make any sense.
My only guess is that the ref was planning on waving it off, but was swayed by how impressive the dunk was.
Late on this, Josh, but I don’t understand that call, either. How can the bucket count on a charge like that?
To Brent’s early comment: correct, Minnesota must win this game. Don’t see them winning at Indiana. Could beat Michigan at home. I’m not sure how tough Michigan is.
I don’t understand that call. Would be one thing if it was a floater, but a dunk? Strange.
This may come down to which team’s stars play the best.
Wait, did they count the basket on that Paul dunk?
A lot of quick 3s, but I think some of that might be intentional–shoot it before they can turn it over. Wisconsin also shoots a lot of 3s, but they obviously take their time.
Feel like Wisconsin does the same thing, often times.
Yes. And it just seems like they settle for them a lot of times.
Too many 3s?
I’m not a fan of Illinois offense.
Expect Assembly Hall to be loud tonight. Students are probably back against a top 10 team.
With schedule ahead, including this one tonight, Minnesota really needs to win.
No one, probably not even Tim Miles, thought this one would be so competitive for so long.
Now a "Beat Ohio" chant from the crowd as this one's about wrapped up.—
Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) January 10, 2013
I never thought Michigan would get a “workmanlike” victory vs. Nebraska. But, that’s what it has been. Well, a win is a win.
Yes, Minnesota can crash the glass life few other teams.
Will Minnesota top that number at Illinois later tonight? Best in the nation.
16 offensive rebounds for Michigan….. nuff said.
Michigan gets easy hoops. Nebraska does not.
Burke, Hardaway, Stauskas and Robinson account for 72.5% of the teams offense this year….100% tonight—
Matt Shepard (@ShepMatt) January 10, 2013
Glenn Robinson dunks like his dad. I've seen that dunk before.—
Tony Gerdeman (@GerdOzone) January 10, 2013
So GR3 can dunk.
Mitch McGary will be (is) a good big body.
But there are so few big bodies who are good. They are usually at Duke or UCLA.
Huskers won’t go away. But then Stauskas shows his penetration skills.
Coaches love big bodies.
He’s normally better than this. Probably their best rebounder, and he shoots 57% on 2s.
I don’t see the point of playing big guys cause they are big. Height is overrated. Just play guys who hustle and work hard.
Honestly, what does Andre Almeida bring to the court? Just play a 6-5 guy who can move/hustle.
Ubel makes a desperation save, and it goes right to Michigan player. Stauskas does the same thing–in a crowd of red shirts–and the ball finds a teammate.
Floorburns tonight: McGary 11, Everyone else 0.
Nebraska is absolutely pathetic on the boards.
A big problem with Nebraska’s offense tonight is just how bad they’ve been at screening. Watch them make their cuts–it’s rare for a Wolverine to actually run into the screener. Guys aren’t running off of shoulders, just not crisp out there.
Here comes a run—
Zack Novak (@novak3159) January 10, 2013
Particularly solid on the offensive glass, too. Think he led the Big Ten in that category last year.
Ubel has really developed in Lincoln. Started out as a pretty bad freshman that couldn’t rebound. Now he’s solid on the boards and can score.
I didn’t know Stauskas could work off the dribble so well. He has done it a couple times tonight.
Yep. I’m a big fan of Ubel, which I’ve mentioned several times. Like how he plays.
Talley and Ubel can play for me any day.
Michigan is WAY off its scoring pace. Need to get out in transition and maybe pick up Nebraska dribble earlier with some pressure.
Here’s the video of Ed Hightower falling on the scorer’s table in the first half.
First-half recap:
No. 2 Michigan leads 25-20 at halftime after locking down Nebraska’s offense, holding the Cornhuskers to 32 percent shooting and just eight field goals. The Wolverines, who only registered two assists and shot 1-of-10 from distance, are winning the rebounding battle (24-17).
Michigan and Nebraska traded the lead eight times in the first half. The Cornhuskers led 12-11 when the Wolverines went on a 7-0 run to take a six-point lead.
Glenn Robinson III has eight points and three rebounds to lead Michigan. Shavon Shields already has six points and five rebounds.
Mitch McGary gets another nice swat. Kid is all heart, hustle.
Well, Michigan probably won’t get to 90 points tonight.
Exactly.
You kind of get the feeling it’s a matter of when Michigan will go on one of its incredible runs.
It is too easy for Michigan to get to the rim.
Huskers lack size, strength, toughness on the glass.
Michigan-Nebraska game is on in the media room. Why do the Wolverines keep teasing us with these close halves?—
Amelia Rayno (@AmeliaRayno) January 10, 2013
On team bus heading to Assembly Hall. Team looks to be focused and ready to go. #B1GTENTitleRun—
Spencer Tollackson (@STollackson50) January 10, 2013
Huskers have to hope Gallegos and Talley stay hot!!
I did not see this happening. Anyone else?
#Huskers doing a really nice job limiting the #Wolverines to one shot – and Michigan is missing a lot of those shots.—
Dave Revsine (@BTNDaveRevsine) January 10, 2013
My bad, other than Tim Hardaway Jr.
All of the best players are soph or younger.
Michigan is the youngest team in the Big Ten?!
Michigan fans, here’s parts of Taylor Lewan’s presser
I’m just saying he could.
GR IIII? I think he will need another year. Can he handle the ball well enough to be a 2 guard in the NBA?
I think both of those guys will leave. Maybe GRIII, too.
Burke and Hardaway probably will turn pro, right?
Michigan in full "let the other team hang around until we crush them" mode. #B1G—
Justin VanLaere (@storminspank) January 10, 2013
With Lewan news on the mind, it’ll be interesting to see how many of these Michigan studs return next season.
You can’t.
So many skilled players for Michigan, guys who can shoot AND get their own shot. How do you defend all of it? You don’t.
Just ran into Lewan at the basketball game. I said what's up. He said "Feeling pretty good, man. Feeling pretty good."—
Kyle Meinke (@kmeinke) January 10, 2013
I stand corrected. Huskers lead again, 8-7.
As will be the case in pretty much every Nebraska game, Gallegos needs to hit like 5-to-7 3-pointers to keep Huskers in it.
Remember, Michigan only had like 17 points late in the first half vs. Iowa. And then it went crazy en route to scoring 95 points.
Shots not falling–take it inside. Michigan can’t fall in love with its jumpers if they aren’t falling.
It will be interesting to see if Michigan takes care of business like it should.
Michigan down 2-1 early. Only seventh game all year that an opponent has had a lead.—
Andy Reid (@AReid_Wolverine) January 10, 2013
I think Nebraska just lost its first and only lead.
David (Nebraska) meet Goliath (Michigan).
Michigan has been very consistent – not to mention dominant – in its first two Big Ten games. Look at these similar scores: 94-66 at NU; 95-67 vs. Iowa.
“You probably can’t.” – John Beilein, on keeping up team’s crazy offensive effort (94.5 ppg in first two games).
The students are here in full force at Crisler — townies, however, are not.—
Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) January 09, 2013
Tim Miles is an entertaining guy. In our pregame interview, on the topic of his struggling offense, he said: “We’ve been offensive. Sorry, that was a bad joke.”
About ready to tip it off in Ann Arbor. #2 Michigan and Neb. on BTN top of the hour. Working with the great Greg Kelser, @MikelSevere—
Kevin Kugler (@kevinkugler) January 09, 2013
We’ll be kicking this off right before the first game tonight.
Look for #Michigan to speed this game up and extend the lead real soon