HawkCentral.com's take:
Let’s break down the four leading Big Ten championship contenders, in order of the standings:
Indiana (17-3, 7-0)
So far: The Hoosiers have enjoyed the easiest conference schedule to date in the Big Ten. Their only road games have been at Rutgers, Nebraska and Minnesota. But they’re taking advantage, and they’ve been impressive at times, including in Saturday's 89-57 home rout of a solid Northwestern team. Senior point guard Yogi Ferrell has been a candidate for the conference player of the year, averaging 17.1 points and 6.1 assists.
What’s left: Wisconsin (road), Minnesota (home), Michigan (road), Penn State (road), Iowa (home), Michigan State (road), Nebraska (home), Purdue (home), Illinois (road), Iowa (road), Maryland (home).
Analysis: Indiana is off to its best Big Ten start since Bob Knight's 1992-93 team, so it's time to take notice, no matter the opponents. The Hoosiers can flat-out score, as evidenced by their No. 3 national ranking in 3-point percentage and No. 5 from 2-point range. Don't be surprised if they complete the first half of the league schedule 9-0, but the back nine will reveal Indiana's true grit.
Iowa (15-3, 6-0)
So far: Iowa has been maybe the nation’s most impressive team in the last month, parlaying road wins at Michigan State and Purdue into the school’s best Big Ten start in 29 years. Equally impressive is that five of those wins have come by double digits.
What’s left: Purdue (home), Maryland (road), Northwestern (home), Penn State (home), Illinois (road), Indiana (road), Minnesota (home), Penn State (road), Wisconsin (home), Ohio State (road), Indiana (home), Michigan (road).
Analysis: The Hawkeyes have one of the toughest Big Ten schedules, but even so, if they can protect Carver-Hawkeye Arena — where they have won 12 in a row since February — they could be on track to break the school record for Big Ten regular-season wins (14, first set in 1970 and tied in 1987). To do so, Iowa will need to win some one- or two-possession games down the stretch. At minimum, the Hawkeyes are in good position (barring a 2014-style class) to get a double-bye (top-four seed) at the Big Ten Tournament in March.
Maryland (17-3, 6-2)
So far: The Terrapins were the prohibitive preseason Big Ten favorites, and they have mostly acted the part. Their only losses before Saturday night’s 74-65 setback in East Lansing were to North Carolina (by eight) and Michigan (by three). For all the hype given to playmakers such as Melo Trimble, Maryland plays the Big Ten’s third-best defense, too, and leads the conference in free-throw percentage. That’s a good combination for a clutch team.
What’s left: Iowa (home), Ohio State (road), Nebraska (road), Purdue (home), Wisconsin (home), Minnesota (road), Michigan (home), Purdue (road), Illinois (home), Indiana (road).
Analysis: Maryland has a good chance of controlling its own fate to the end, with its final two road games against current title contenders. The Terrapins also benefit by not traveling to Iowa City, where they were slayed by 16 points a year ago. Regardless of Big Ten finish, this is a prolific team that should contend in both the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments.
Purdue (17-3, 5-2)
So far: Two puzzling second halves have deterred Purdue from possibly being a top-five team. The Boilermakers blew a 17-point halftime lead at home to Iowa, and they curiously lost by 14 at Illinois — allowing a combined 97 second-half points in those games. That’s out-of-character for one of the country’s top defensive teams.
What’s left: Iowa (road), Minnesota (road), Nebraska (home), Maryland (road), Michigan State (home), Michigan (road), Northwestern (home), Indiana (road), Maryland (home), Nebraska (road), Wisconsin (home).
Analysis: Purdue’s biggest weakness is the lack of a proven point guard, which might point to its three losses. That void will be tested in a schedule with the toughest road games ahead. But the stats – No. 3 in the league in offense, No. 1 in defense – indicate Matt Painter’s Boilermakers are built for a championship run. Getting swept by Iowa would really hurt their chances.
http://www.hawkcentral.com/story/sp...two-games-five-days-purdue-maryland/79224748/