Bracketology: Bubble Watch (Building a resume and the bubble as it is)

Big Ten

Lead-Pipe Lock: N/A

Some Perspiration: Maryland, Minnesota, Northwestern, Purdue, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio State

Better Double-Up on the Deodorant: Rutgers, Illinois, Michigan State

Maryland Terrapins, 13-1: With a win over Illinois, Maryland has moved to 13-1 on the season and is 1-0 in the Big Ten.

Related Story: Michigan, Northwestern, Ohio State survive scares

Pittsburgh was their lone loss and although they have no marquee victories, they have allotted several quality ones that prove themselves to be among the league’s best. They’re likely going to end up in the second tier behind Indiana, Purdue, and Wisconsin, however.

Quality wins: vs. Oklahoma State, @ Georgetown, vs. Kansas State, vs. Illinois

Bad losses: None

Missed opportunities: vs. Pittsburgh

Up next: vs. Nebraska (1/1), @ Michigan (1/7)

Minnesota Golden Gophers, 12-2: After an outstanding non-conference slate, where the Gophers went 12-1 (their only loss was to Florida State), Minnesota did not have the greatest start to conference play. At home against Michigan State, Richard Pitino and company could not hold on late and took a loss in overtime. Losing at home is something that the Gophers cannot do if they want to stay in tournament contention, but maybe this was a sign that MSU is turning things around. Minnesota has two tough road games coming up and taking one of those is almost a must right now. They cannot start 0-3 in the Big Ten.

Quality wins: vs. UT-Arlington, vs. Arkansas

Bad losses: None

Missed opportunities: @ Florida State, vs. Michigan State

Up next: vs. @ Purdue (1/1), @ Northwestern (1/5)

Northwestern Wildcats, 12-2: So Northwestern has jumped out to an outstanding start to the season, as they sit at 12-2 with both losses coming against very high level opponents. They lost on a buzzer beater to Butler in Hinkle Fieldhouse, which is one of the hardest places in the country to play. They also have wins over both Wake Forest and Dayton. Big Ten play, however, is a whole different animal. They got off to a great start in game one by dismantling Penn State from start to finish. They currently sit at a seven seed in my Bracketology, and if that holds, this would be the first NCAA Tournament appearance for Northwestern. It is early, though, and a lot of things can happen.

Quality wins: vs. Wake Forest, vs. Dayton

Bad losses: None

Missed opportunities: vs. Butler, vs. Notre Dame

Up next: @ Michigan State (12/30), vs. Minnesota (1/5)

Purdue Boilermakers, 11-2:  With their ridiculous comeback against Notre Dame in the Crossroads Classic, Purdue solidified what was a great non-conference schedule for them. They took two losses to top-10 teams in the country, but with Caleb Swanigan playing as well as he is, the Boilermakers can beat anyone in the country. Purdue, along with Indiana and Wisconsin, are the clear front runners in the Big Ten this season.

Quality wins: vs. Notre Dame

Bad losses: None

Missed opportunities: vs. Villanova, @ Louisville

Up next: vs. Iowa (12/28), vs. Minnesota (1/1)

Rutgers Scarlet Knights, 11-3: After a strong non-conference without any bad losses, Rutgers came out and laid an egg against Wisconsin. This marks their third loss of the season, all of which have come on the road to quality opponents. The Scarlet Knights have yet to win a road game in the Big Ten (now their third year in the league) and that has to turn around, and fast, in order for them to prove that they’re the real deal.

Quality wins: None

Bad losses: None

Missed opportunities: @ Seton Hall, @ Miami, @ Wisconsin

Up next: vs. Penn State (1/1), @ Michigan State (1/4)

Wisconsin Badgers, 12-2: Currently the highest ranked team in the Big Ten, Wisconsin has been everything that people expected. 12-2 is a very solid non-conference record and both of their losses have been reasonable. However, in accordance with this, they haven’t shown the ability to knock off a top-tier team yet. After defeating Rutgers in the Big Ten opener, the Badgers play Indiana and Purdue in back-to-back games on the road next week. We will soon find out what the team brings to the table.

Quality wins: vs. Georgetown, vs. Marquette, vs. Rutgers

Bad losses: None

Missed opportunities: @ Creighton, vs. North Carolina

Up next: @ Indiana (1/3), @ Purdue (1/8)

Indiana Hoosiers, 10-2: As mentioned above, Indiana is one of the favorites to win the Big Ten this season. They have two of the best wins by any team in the country (Kansas, North Carolina), but also have one of the worst losses (Fort Wayne). Their loss to Butler in the Crossroads Classic was a tough one, as they made a nice comeback down the stretch. Nonetheless, it was too little too late. With Louisville coming up on New Years’ Eve, their non-conference slate is not quite done. Props to Tom Crean and company for such a fun non-conference schedule, including playing on the road against Fort Wayne, something most teams wouldn’t agree to do.

Quality wins: vs. Kansas, vs. North Carolina

Bad losses: @ Fort Wayne

Missed opportunities: vs. Butler

Up next: vs. Nebraska (12/28), vs. Louisville (12/31)

Illinois Fighting Illini, 10-4: It looked like Illinois was going to be a surprise team in the Big Ten after a strong showing in the non-conference, but one game into their conference schedule and it doesn’t look good. The Illini were picked apart by Maryland in a complete rout, leaving Illinois fans wondering what happened. With that rout, along with a loss to Winthrop earlier in the year, Illinois needs to right the ship, and quickly.

Quality wins: vs. NC State, vs. VCU

Bad losses: vs. Winthrop

Missed opportunities: vs. Florida State, vs. West Virginia, @ Maryland

Up next: vs. Ohio State (1/1), @ Indiana (1/7)

Michigan Wolverines, 10-3: Michigan has won every game that should have this season, but they have also missed a few opportunities. It is tough to go into UCLA and get a win, but both South Carolina and Virginia Tech were very winnable games that would’ve helped their resume. On the other hand, their win over SMU was solid, and if Marquette starts to play well in the Big East, that win will also look better.

Quality wins: vs. SMU, vs. Marquette

Bad losses: None

Missed opportunities: @ UCLA, @ South Carolina, vs. Virginia Tech

Up next: @ Iowa (1/1), vs. Penn State (1/4)

Ohio State Buckeyes, 10-3:  One good win, one (really) bad loss, two missed opportunities. Sounds like an average resume, and that is exactly what it is. Ohio State is nothing special this year, and will probably find itself near the middle of a very deep Big Ten. With a resume like this, however, Ohio State needs to do more to stay ahead of the rest of the bubble.

Quality wins: vs. Providence

Bad losses: vs. Florida Atlantic

Missed opportunities: @ Virginia, vs. UCLA

Up next: @ Illinois (1/1), vs. Purdue (1/5)

Michigan State Spartans, 9-5: With a shaky start to the season, there is still a lot of time left for Michigan State. Other than the loss to Northeastern, which was brutal, Michigan State had four losses to really difficult teams in a brutal non-conference schedule. The victory over Wichita State was really the only quality win during non-conference slate, though. To jumpstart conference play, however, Michigan State made a nice comeback and got a great victory on the road against Minnesota in “The Barn.”

Quality wins: vs. Wichita State, @ Minnesota

Bad losses: vs. Northeastern

Missed opportunities: vs. Baylor, vs. Kentucky, @ Duke, vs. Arizona

Up next: vs. Northwestern (12/30), vs. Rutgers (1/4)