Busting Brackets
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Big Ten Basketball power rankings: Michigan, Ohio State climb to the top

By Adam Childs

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 04: Kaleb Wesson #34 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates with fans after their win against the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Dean Smith Center on December 04, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Ohio State won 74-49. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 04: Kaleb Wesson #34 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates with fans after their win against the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Dean Smith Center on December 04, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Ohio State won 74-49. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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ANN ARBOR, MI – DECEMBER 6: Luka Garza #55 of the Iowa Hawkeyes and Austin Davis #51 of the Michigan Wolverines battle under the basket during the first half of the game at Crisler Center on December 6, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI – DECEMBER 6: Luka Garza #55 of the Iowa Hawkeyes and Austin Davis #51 of the Michigan Wolverines battle under the basket during the first half of the game at Crisler Center on December 6, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

If you haven’t heard yet, the Hawkeyes have this pretty good player named Luka Garza. If you have haven’t been paying attention you need to right away. Garza, still just a junior, is playing lights out for Iowa. He is fresh off a 21 point performance against Minnesota but that was nothing compared to his 44 point effort against Michigan.

The Wolverines took the approach of making Garza try and beat them all by himself and he about did. Michigan would win the game 103-91 but it wasn’t for a lack of trying by Garza. He has become almost unstoppable and is averaging a league-leading 22.5 points per game.

The problem Iowa is running into right now is they haven’t got anyone else going this year. Joe Wieskamp and C.J. Fredrick are both averaging double-figures this year, but they aren’t scaring anyone.

Teams are going to force Garza to beat them and see if they can shut down everyone else and win the game. While Garza is playing the best basketball in the Big Ten he needs more help if they want to win a lot of conference games this year.

The other thing still plaguing the Hawkeyes is their lack of defense. They locked down Minnesota but the Wolverines did whatever they wanted to them all night long. Iowa put up little resistance and it showed. Iowa can put up a lot of points, but if they can’t stop anybody it doesn’t matter.

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