Big Ten Men's Basketball Weekend Recap: USC Breaks Through, Nebraska Keeps Rolling, Illinois Makes a Statement
It was a weekend of shifting tides in the Big Ten, with statement wins, streaks snapped, and a few eye-popping performances that could change the trajectory of the conference race. From USC finally landing a marquee win to Nebraska continuing its unbeaten march, here’s a full breakdown of what went down across the Big Ten hardwood.
Friday Night Highlights
Indiana 82, Rutgers 59
Indiana needed a get-right game, and they got it in emphatic fashion.
After dropping four straight to some of the conference's top-tier teams, the Hoosiers took out some frustration on Rutgers. Three Hoosiers poured in 20 or more points, with Lamar Wilkerson leading the charge with 27.
Indiana looked sharper, more connected, and played with the kind of urgency that had been missing during their recent slide. This was a confidence-restoring win-and one they’ll hope to build on.
No. 3 Michigan 74, Ohio State 62
Rivalry games always come with extra juice, and this one didn’t disappoint. Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg backed up his talk with a complete performance-18 points, 9 boards, and 4 steals-helping the Wolverines outlast Ohio State in a physical, emotional battle.
Colin White had some pregame words for Michigan, but it was Lendeborg who had the last say. This wasn’t just a win-it was a reminder that the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry burns hot in every sport, not just on the gridiron.
Saturday Showdowns
No. 10 Michigan State 91, Maryland 48
This was domination from the opening tip. Michigan State overwhelmed Maryland in every phase, turning defense into offense and putting together one of their most complete performances of the season.
Jeremy Fears was the engine, dishing out 17 assists to go with 17 points in a dazzling display of floor leadership. The Spartans looked like a team in full rhythm-and if Fears keeps orchestrating like this, they’re going to be tough to slow down.
No. 7 Nebraska 76, Minnesota 57
The Cornhuskers just keep rolling. Even with injuries thinning the rotation, Nebraska moved to 20-0 with another convincing win, this time over Minnesota.
The Huskers continue to play with a chip on their shoulder, defending at a high level and executing with poise. Every win adds to their growing résumé, and it’s getting harder and harder to find a weakness in this team.
Right now, they’re not just winning-they’re imposing their will.
**No. 11 Illinois 88, No.
4 Purdue 82**
This one had all the makings of a classic, and it delivered.
Keaton Wagler, one of the most electrifying freshmen in the country, picked the perfect moment to go nuclear-dropping 46 points on just four missed shots in a performance that will be talked about for a long time in Champaign. He was simply unstoppable.
On the other side, Braden Smith did everything he could to keep Purdue in it with 27 points and 12 assists, but this was Wagler’s night. Illinois didn’t just beat a top-five team-they announced themselves as legitimate title contenders.
UCLA 71, Northwestern 64
Quietly, UCLA is building something.
With this win over Northwestern, the Bruins remain one of only two Big Ten teams unbeaten at home (the other being Nebraska). They’ve already notched a big win over Purdue and continue to find ways to grind out victories.
It’s not flashy, but it’s effective-and it’s keeping them in the thick of the Big Ten race.
Sunday Closers
Washington 72, Oregon 57
In a matchup between two former Pac-12 programs now navigating the Big Ten waters, Washington made a statement.
The Huskies dominated the glass, out-rebounding Oregon 42-23, and got strong double-double efforts from Hannes Steinbach and Franck Kepnang. This was a wire-to-wire win fueled by balanced production and physical play.
The Huskies looked like the more complete team from the jump.
USC 73, Wisconsin 71
This was the breakthrough USC had been waiting for.
Down 12 with under 12 minutes to play, the Trojans stormed back behind Chad Baker-Mazara, who put on a clutch-time clinic. The transfer guard finished with 29 points, including 5 threes, and scored the final 7 points of the game to cap off a 16-2 run that stunned the Badgers.
Wisconsin came in riding a five-game win streak and fresh off a victory over Michigan, but USC’s late-game surge flipped the script. This wasn’t just a win-it was a gut-check moment for the Trojans, and maybe the start of something bigger.
Big Ten Takeaways
- Nebraska continues to look like the team to beat. Unbeaten.
Unshaken. Unstoppable-for now.
- Illinois is emerging as a real threat, especially with Wagler playing like a seasoned vet instead of a freshman.
- Michigan State is peaking at the right time, and Jeremy Fears is becoming a name to watch nationally.
- USC might’ve just turned a corner with their comeback win in Madison.
- UCLA and Washington are quietly stacking wins and proving they belong in the Big Ten mix.
With every passing weekend, the Big Ten picture gets a little clearer-and a lot more competitive. Buckle up. There’s still plenty of drama left to unfold.