Busting Brackets
Fansided

Big Ten Basketball: Contenders and Pretenders for 2018-19 regular season title

By Ryan Kay

PISCATAWAY, NJ - NOVEMBER 30: Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts after a basket against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the second half of a college basketball game at the Rutgers Athletic Center on November 30, 2018 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Michigan State defeated Rutgers 78-67. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images,)
PISCATAWAY, NJ - NOVEMBER 30: Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts after a basket against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the second half of a college basketball game at the Rutgers Athletic Center on November 30, 2018 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Michigan State defeated Rutgers 78-67. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images,) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – DECEMBER 22: Luther Muhammad #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes attempts a shot in the first half against the UCLA Bruins during the CBS Sports Classic at the United Center on December 22, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – DECEMBER 22: Luther Muhammad #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes attempts a shot in the first half against the UCLA Bruins during the CBS Sports Classic at the United Center on December 22, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

With the non-conference now completely over, Big Ten Basketball teams are fighting for the regular season title. Here are the biggest contenders and pretenders in the league.

Big Ten Basketball Contenders

Michigan State

Spartans started Big Ten play beating top 25 ranked Iowa at home by a score of 90 to 68. The Spartans dominated the Hawkeyes and made a statement in early December beating the Scarlet Knights 78-67. To start Big Ten play in January, the Spartans dismantled the Wildcat defense of Northwestern on their way to a 26 point victory. Michigan State appears to be the top contender through three games thus far.

Michigan

The Wolverines began Big Ten play in December with a convincing 76-57 victory over the Purdue Boilermakers. Then Michigan struggled and squeaked out a two-point win at Northwestern by a score of 62-60. The Wolverines improved to 3-0 in the Big Ten with only a 5 point lead at halftime, Michigan distanced themselves from Penn State in the 2nd half on their way to a 68-55 home victory. The Wolverines are among the top 3 main contenders for the Big Ten title through three games.

Ohio State

The Buckeyes opened up Big Ten play with two home victories in December by easily beating a good Minnesota by 20 points with a final score of 79-59 and defeating Illinois by 10 points, 77-67. The Buckeyes along with the Wolverines and Spartans are currently one of the top three contenders for the Big Ten regular-season title.

Indiana

The Hoosiers are currently listed as contenders but barely. The reason being is their two early Big Ten contests were both two-point victories. They beat Northwestern at home by just a final score of 68-66. They followed it up with a road victory against Penn State, 64-62. Indiana was tied with the four-win Fighting Illini at halftime but pulled away in the second half for a single digit 73-65 victory over Illinois.

Home/Big Ten