B1G Ten Men and Women’s Weekly Update

MEN’S WEEKLY UPDATE

• With just over a week left in the regular season, Michigan and Michigan State remain tied atop the Big Ten standings at 14-3, followed by Wisconsin at 12-5. Three teams, Maryland, Purdue, and UCLA, sit in a tie for fourth at 11-6. Seventh place Illinois (10-8) is followed by Oregon (9-8), Indiana (8-9). The top four seed in the final Big Ten standings will earn double-bye into Friday’s quarterfinal round, while seeds 5-9 will open play on Thursday.

• Milestone Watch… Congratulations to UCLA’s Mick Cronin, who recently joined the 500-career win club. Cronin joins Dana Altman (775), Tom Izzo (730), and Fran McCaffery (546) among the 24 active Division I head coaches with 500 career victories. McCaffery and Nebraska’s Fred Hoiberg are also approaching milestones, as McCaffery has 295 wins at Iowa, while Hoiberg owns 195 career wins.

• Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, UCLA, and Wisconsin have clinched their spots in the 2025 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament. Over the next week, eight more teams will secure their spots in the tournament, set to return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on March 12-16. The tournament will be the first to feature a 15-team field and begin.

• Illinois committed just five turnovers in its win over Iowa, the team’s fewest in a conference game since registering four turnovers against Minnesota on Feb. 28, 2024. The Illini also forced 16 Iowa turnovers, the team’s second most in a game this season and the team’s most in a Big Ten game since Jan. 31, 2023.

• Indiana’s Trey Galloway has dished out more than 100 assists in each of the last two seasons. He is the first Hoosier to achieve the feat since Kevin “Yogi’ Ferrell handed out 100-plus assists in four-straight seasons (2012-16). For his career, Galloway has handed out at least five helpers in 37 career games and at least eight dimes in eight contests. The Hoosiers hold a record of 7-1 in those games.

• Iowa is third in the Big Ten and is 17th nationally, averaging 83.1 points per game. The Hawkeyes have the top effective field goal percentage (.568) and second-best field goal (.490) in the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes have made at least eight 3-point field goals in 22 games, including at least 1+ in 13 contests — the most in a season since 2022-23 and rank second in the Big Ten with 9.8 makes per game.

• Maryland is averaging 82.6 points, third in the Big Ten, and leads the league and ranks eighth nationally with a 15.7 points per game scoring margin. The bulk of Maryland’s offense has been bolstered by fast starts as the Terps average 40.9 points in the first half of games. That ranks fourth nationally and is the best average for a Big Ten team over the last 15 seasons.

• Michigan’s Danny Wolf averages a near double-double (12.6 ppg and 9.8 rpg) and is second in the Big Ten with 12 double-doubles (Maryland’s Julian Reese, 13). Wolf has grabbed 10-plus rebounds in 15 of his 20 games as a Wolverine. Wolf has a chance to become the first Wolverine to average a double-double since Robert Traylor (1997-98; 16.2 ppg, 10.1 rpg) and Chris Webber — 1992-93 (24.3 ppg, 12.7 rpg) and 1991-92 (19.4 ppg, 12.5 rpg).

• Jase Richardson was the only Spartan to score in double figures in Michigan State’s win at Maryland but was one of 10 players to mark the scoring column. The win marked the 17th time this season the Spartans have had at least 10 players score points.

• Minnesota‘s Lu’cye Patterson is one of just two Golder Gophers to start every game this season. In addition to scoring 11.5 points per game, second on the team, the senior ranks third in the Big Ten and 24th in the country with a 2.76 assist-turnover ratio (94 assists, 34 turnovers).

• Nebraska’s Brice Williams has played in 62 games at Nebraska, and he is averaging 19.7 ppg over his last 32 games dating back to the 2024 Big Ten Tournament. He has been in double figures in 30 of the last 32 contests, including 18 20-point games. Williams averaged just 12.5 ppg over his first 30 games at Nebraska in 2023-24.

• Northwestern is scoring an average of 73.5 points per game this season, its highest scoring season since the 1993-94 team averaged 75.0 points per game. The Wildcats have scored 70+ points in 13 conference games this season, their most since 1989-90 (13).

• Ohio State’s Micah Parrish is the only active player with more than 1,500 career points, 200 three-pointers, 200 steals and 750 rebounds. He is also tied for fourth among active players with 163 games played.

• Oregon trailed by 17 points late in the first half of its overtime win at Wisconsin. It was the first time the Ducks have erased such a large deficit in a victory since a home win over Cal last January and the first time doing it on the road since Nov. 27, 2019, against Seton Hall.

• Five different Penn State players average double-digit points: Ace Baldwin Jr. (14.0 ppg), Yanic Konan Niederhauser (13.0 ppg), Nick Kern Jr. (11.8 ppg), Zach Hicks (11.7 ppg) and Puff Johnson (10.2 ppg). On the season, seven different players have led the team in scoring in a game, while six players have recorded a game of at least 20 points.

• Purdue’s Braden Smith needs 12 assists to become the 12th player in NCAA history with 700 assists by the end of his junior year and seven assists to become the first player in Big Ten history with two seasons of at least 250 assists. He is one of eight players in NCAA history to have played at least 75 games and average 12.0 PPG, 6.5 APG and 4.5 RPG. He is the first player since Marist’s Jared Jordan (2004-07) to reach those marks.

• Thursday’s game against Michigan marked the third consecutive game that Rutgers has scored 80 points. This is the first time the Scarlet Knights have scored 80 in three straight games since December 2022 and the first time it has happened in three conference games since joining the Big Ten in 2014-15. The last time Rutgers scored hit the 80-point plateau in three straight conference games was in February 1991 as a member of the Atlantic 10.

• With just three regular-season games left (through 28 total games), no player on UCLA’s roster has averaged more than 29 minutes per game. Senior Kobe Johnson leads the team in minutes (averaging 28.9 mpg). Since UCLA began recording minutes in 1978-79, the Bruins have always had at least one player average 30.0 or more minutes per game (by the end of the year). In 2019-20, then-freshman guard Tyger Campbell finished the year as the Bruins’ leader in minutes per game, at exactly 30.0 mpg. This year’s team has 10 players who have averaged at least 10.0 minutes per contest.

• Saint Thomas is only player to start every game for USC. He currently averages 34:06 minutes per game, the fifth-most in the Big Ten. The senior leads the Trojans with 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game, while his 9.6 points list fifth on the team. His 1.2 steals and 0.4 blocks are also good for second on the team.

• A career 37.6 percent three-point shooter, Washington’s Mekhi Mason has found his deep stroke of late. The junior is shooting nearly 42 percent from three-point range this season and has shot 16-for-30 over his last four games and is averaging 17.0 points during the stretch.

• With the 26-point win, over Washington, Wisconsin has now tallied five conference wins this season by at least 20 points, matching the most in program history. The only other season UW posted five 20-point Big Ten wins was 2003-04. The Badgers became the first Big Ten team this season to record five wins of 20 points in conference action.

• The 2025 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament will return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 12-16. This will mark the 14th time the tournament has been held in Indianapolis. The tournament will be the first to feature a 15-team field and begin with three games on Wednesday, March 12. Peacock will televise the opening three games of the 2025 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament, with second-round and quarterfinal games on Thursday and Friday slated for Big Ten Network. For the 28th consecutive year, CBS Sports will broadcast the semifinals and championship game on CBS, with those games also streaming live on Paramount+.

WOMEN’S WEEKLY UPDATE

• The battle for the 2024-25 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Championship takes place Saturday between No. 4/3 USC and No. 2 UCLA. The marquee matchup for the regular season title and top spot in the Big Ten standings tips off at 9 p.m. ET on FOX. Seven games are slated for Sunday with tournament implications on the line. Action begins as Michigan travels to RV/NR Illinois for a 1:30 p.m. ET outing on the Big Ten Network (and the FOX Sports App). Peacock will air two more games – Indiana at Purdue (2 p.m. ET) and Wisconsin at RV/NR Iowa (4 p.m. ET). No. 12 Ohio State and No. 19/17 Maryland are set to meet on FS1 at 4:30 p.m. ET. The week’s remaining games will be streamed live on B1G+ (visit bigtenplus.com for more information).
• The NCAA unveiled its final top 16 reveal on Feb. 27, which included three Big Ten teams. UCLA was tabbed as the overall No. 1 seed for a second time. USC moved up to the overall No. 3 seed position while Ohio State was selected as a No. 4 seed.
• USC and UCLA are locked at 16-1 for the top spot in the conference standings. Ohio State sits at 13-4 in league play, followed by Maryland (12-5) and Illinois (11-6).
• Teams continue to clinch spots in the 2025 TIAA Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament, set for March 5-9 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. So far, 14 teams have earned a berth into the tournament (listed in alphabetical order) – Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oregon, UCLA, USC, Washington and Wisconsin.
• With an 89-78 win over No. 23/22 Michigan State, the Buckeyes finished the regular season undefeated on their home court for the first time since the 2011-12 season. Ajae Petty went 11-for-11 from the floor, tying the Big Ten record for field goal percentage (1.000, minimum 10 attempts).
• This week’s Associated Press (AP) poll featured five teams from the Big Ten. UCLA clocked in at No. 2 and was joined by No. 4 USC, No. 12 Ohio State, No. 19 Maryland and No. 23 Michigan State while Illinois and Iowa received votes.
• The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA)/USA Today poll featured five Big Ten teams this week. UCLA checked in at No. 2, followed by No. 3 USC, No. 12 Ohio State, No. 17 Maryland and No. 22 Michigan State.
• Through Thursday, USC’s JuJu Watkins is the only player averaging at least 20 points per game during conference play (23.6 ppg). On the boards, Illinois’ Kendall Bostic (11.3 rpg) is the lone player averaging double-digit rebounds.
• The Big Ten leads all Division I conferences with 11 teams among the top 40 in the latest NET rankings, including four in the top 25 – No. 5 UCLA, No. 6 USC, No. 17 Ohio State, No. 21 Michigan State, No. 26 Maryland, No. 27 Iowa, No. 28 Michigan, No. 30 Illinois, No. 35 Minnesota, No. 38 Oregon and No. 40 Indiana. The NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) is the primary sorting tool used by the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee for determining NCAA Tournament teams.
• Purdue currently has the fourth-toughest NET strength of schedule in the country. The Boilermakers are joined by Iowa (9th), Indiana (10th), USC (11th), UCLA (15th), Maryland (18th), Oregon (19th) and Michigan (20th) with some of the toughest schedules this season based on NET rankings.
• As a team, USC leads the country behind 7.2 blocks per game while UCLA averages 20.6 assists (4th), shoots 48.5 percent from the field (6th) and has the top rebounding margin (+13.8). Ohio State has the best mark in the nation in turnover margin (+9.96). Illinois (79.1) and Washington (78.9) are sixth and seventh, respectively, in free throw percentage.
• Offensive production remains the calling card of the Big Ten Conference. The league has seven teams averaging more than 75 points per game, five of which are included among the nation’s top 25 scoring offenses – USC (9th – 81.9), Michigan State (13th – 80.4), Ohio State (14th – 80.3), Maryland (17th – 79.8) and UCLA (20th – 79.2).
• Individually, the Big Ten has two players ranked in the top 10 in the nation in field goal percentage – Penn State’s Gracie Merkle (4th – 67.0) and UCLA’s Lauren Betts (7th – 62.9). USC’s JuJu Watkins is fifth in the country in total points (654) and third in points per game (24.2). Illinois’ Kendall Bostic (11.3) stands eighth in rebounds per game, Northwestern’s Caroline Lau dishes 6.2 assists per game (5th) and Betts averages 2.84 blocks per game (5th).
• Big Ten teams have been passing the rock quite well this season as six programs rank in the top 25 in the country in assists per game, led by UCLA (4th – 20.6), Michigan State (10th – 18.4), Penn State (17th – 17.8), Northwestern (19th – 17.7), Iowa (22nd – 17.4) and USC (23rd – 17.4).
• In the latest Massey ratings, the Big Ten is second in the nation among Division I conferences in strength of schedule, overall strength, power rating, offensive power to score and strength of schedule for future games.
• The Big Ten currently leads all Division I conferences in assists (16.0 apg) and field goal percentage (.446) while standing second in points (73.5 ppg).
• The Big Ten has consistently ranked among the top three conferences in women’s basketball attendance for the past three decades and that trend has continued into the 2024-25 season. Currently, 14 Big Ten schools rank among the top 40 in the nation in average attendance, including 10 in the top 25, with both figures leading all Division I conferences. Iowa is second nationally in attendance (14,998 fans per game), followed by Indiana (4th – 10,828), Maryland (9th – 8,415), Ohio State (13th – 6,705), USC (14th – 5,932), Nebraska (15th – 5,638), Oregon (17th – 5,374), UCLA (20th – 5,244), Purdue (24th – 4,849) and Illinois (25th – 4,847).
• Sophomore JuJu Watkins was named Big Ten Co-Player of the Week on Monday and selected as one of five Ann Meyers Drysdale National Players of the Week by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) on Tuesday. Watkins paced USC to a pair of wins over ranked opponents in No. 22 Michigan State and No. 25 Illinois. She had 28 points, eight rebounds, three steals, three blocks and three assists against the Spartans and added 22 points, five rebounds, four blocks and three assists versus Illinois. Watkins moved up two spots in USC’s career list and is ranked No. 11 all-time with 1,574 career points, surpassing Cynthia Cooper.
• Junior Lauren Betts earned Big Ten Co-Player of the Week honors on Monday after averaging 22 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.5 blocks and 2.5 assists in two wins for UCLA. She scored 22 points with seven rebounds, six blocks and three assists versus No. 25 Illinois. Betts broke UCLA’s single-season blocks record with her six-rejection effort, surpassing Monique Billings for the all-time spot. She also recorded a double-double (22 points, 12 rebounds) while shooting 75.0 percent (9-of-12) from the field at Iowa.
• Ohio State’s Jaloni Cambridge was tabbed as the Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Monday and the Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Week by the USBWA on Tuesday. She averaged a team-high 22.3 points, 3.7 assists and 3.0 steals over Ohio State’s three games. Cambridge finished with a game-best 29 points, four assists and three rebounds versus Iowa and tallied 18 points with four steals and four rebounds at Indiana. She wrapped up the week with 20 points, five assists, four steals and three rebounds against Purdue, going 7-for-7 at the free throw line versus the Boilermakers.
• UCLA spent 12 consecutive weeks at No. 1 in the AP Top 25, a new Big Ten women’s basketball record for weeks atop the rankings.
• The Big Ten closed out its non-conference slate with a .841 win percentage, outperforming the SEC (.808), Big 12 (.776) and ACC (.753).
• The Big Ten has faced numerous ranked non-conference opponents this season and has handed out its fair share of upsets – Oregon def. No. 12 Baylor, 76-74; Illinois def. No. 19 Florida State, 83-74; No. 18 Maryland def. No. 11 Duke, 85-80; Indiana def. No. 24 Stanford, 79-66; No. 5 UCLA def. No. 1 South Carolina, 77-62; Indiana def. No. 18 Baylor, 73-65; No. 21 Iowa def. No. 18 Iowa State, 75-69; No. 7 USC def. No. 4 UConn, 72-70.
• On Dec. 2, for the first time in the history of the Big Ten Conference, nine women’s basketball teams were ranked in the Associated Press (AP) poll. The last time any conference had nine teams ranked in the AP poll was in 1996. UCLA remained in the top spot and was joined by No. 6 USC, No. 7 Maryland, No. 12 Ohio State, No. 17 Iowa, No. 21 Illinois, No. 23 Michigan, No. 24 Michigan State and No. 25 Nebraska.
• On Nov. 25, UCLA received 20 first-place votes to overtake South Carolina for the No. 1 spot in the Associated Press (AP) poll. The Bruins handed the Gamecocks their first loss of the season to earn the first No. 1 ranking in program history.
• DOWN GOES NO. 1! In front of a sellout crowd at Pauley Pavilion, No. 5 UCLA took down the defending national champions in No. 1 South Carolina, 77-62, on Nov. 24. The win marked the first victory for the Bruins over a number one ranked opponent in program history and snapped the Gamecocks’ 43-game winning streak. South Carolina hadn’t lost since falling to Iowa in the Final Four of the 2023 NCAA Tournament and it was the first road defeat for the Gamecocks since December 2021.
• Rutgers legend Cappie Pondexter was selected as one of seven inductees into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the 2025 class. Pondexter, who was inducted into the Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016, led the Scarlet Knights to back-to-back BIG EAST Championships in 2005 and 2006. She was the first player to earn All-BIG EAST First Team laurels four times in the history of the league and ranks third in Rutgers history with 2,211 career points. Pondexter was the second overall pick in the 2006 WNBA Draft by the Phoenix Mercury. She went on to win two WNBA titles with the Mercury, be named Finals MVP in 2007, earn seven All-Star appearances and win a gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
• The new era of Big Ten women’s basketball got off to a hot start as programs won more than 87 percent of their games during the first week of the 2024-25 campaign. The stellar results included five wins over AP Top 25 opponents, including three upsets.
• The 2024-25 television schedule features the most coverage on nationally distributed platforms in Big Ten women’s basketball history. Twelve Big Ten matchups, including eight regular season games, will be televised on a broadcast platform via NBC or FOX, the most in conference history. All 162 conference games will be nationally produced or distributed for the 11th consecutive season.
• The 2025 TIAA Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament is set for March 5-9 inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse. This will mark the 26th time the tournament has been held in Indianapolis since the event began in 1982. The tournament will be the first to feature a 15-team field. Peacock will televise the opening three games on Wednesday, with second-round, quarterfinal and semifinal games on Thursday, Friday and Saturday slated for the Big Ten Network. CBS will broadcast Sunday’s championship game for the second year in a row