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Big Ten Basketball: 10 facts of 2019-20 for conference through November

By Ryan Kay

EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 10: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans hugs Cassius Winston #5 during the second half against the Binghamton Bearcats at Breslin Center on November 10, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 10: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans hugs Cassius Winston #5 during the second half against the Binghamton Bearcats at Breslin Center on November 10, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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COLUMBUS, OHIO – MARCH 22: Luka Garza #55 of the Iowa Hawkeyes handles the ball during the second half against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO – MARCH 22: Luka Garza #55 of the Iowa Hawkeyes handles the ball during the second half against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

A lot has gone on within Big Ten Basketball in the early part of the 2019-20 season. Here are some specific facts to keep in mind.

1. There are five Big Ten Basketball teams that are undefeated after two weeks of play. 

Ohio State leads the group with an impressive double-digit win over No. 10 ranked Villanova and a victory over in-state rival Cincinnati.

Maryland is the highest rated undefeated Big Ten team at No. 7 and even though they don’t have a signature win like the Buckeyes but they beat Rhode Island 73-55 who beat Alabama by double-digits.

Penn State has an impressive double-digit road win over Georgetown and Michigan defeated Creighton 79-69. Indiana is the other Big Ten team undefeated.

2. The Big Ten leading scorer thus far is Iowa center Luka Garza.

He is averaging 21.3 points per game at this point of the season. The junior from Washington D.C. scored 30 points in Iowa’s victory over Oral Roberts. Garza is also averaging 10 rebounds per game and is thus averaging a double-double.

3. Three Big Ten teams have been upset by smaller lesser-known schools.

Nebraska actually was upset twice already this season being defeated by UC Riverside from the Big West Conference by a score of 66-47 which was the first time Nebraska had lost a season opener at home since 1980. Then to make matters worse, the Southern Utah Thunderbirds beat the Huskers in double overtime by one point by a final score of 79-78.

Northwestern was upset by Merrimack, more known as a hockey school, by a shocking 71-61 victory over the Wildcats.  It was only Merrimack’ s second game as a Division I basketball team. The Wildcats were predicted to finish to last in the Big Ten this season. However, losing to a team not expected to finish in the top half of the Northeast Conference this season is not a good start to the season.

Rutgers who started the season 3-0 suffered a surprising lose as St. Bonaventure who started the season 0-3 won its first game of the season, upsetting Rutgers by a final score of 80-74 in Toronto, Canada in the James Naismith Hall of Fame Classic. They like Northwestern were predicted to finish near last place in the Big Ten standings. However, the Wildcats and Scarlet Knights more than likely will finish ahead of Nebraska by the end of the season in the Big Ten standings.

4. The Big Ten has two top 12 victories over highly ranked opponents after two weeks of play 

No. 3 Michigan State defeated No. 12 Seton Hall and No. 18 Ohio State beat No. 10 Villanova both high profile victories for the Big Ten. The Big Ten did have other opportunities to defeat top-25 ranked teams but came up short. There will be other chances for Big Ten teams to defeat top-ranked teams in holiday tournaments and in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Michigan State, for example, will have opportunities to beat top-ranked teams in non-conference play. 

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