Behind the Bracket: Big Ten bolstered by high-profile returnees
After a dismal NCAA tournament showing in 2017-18, the Big Ten can expect a better haul next season. Plus, Arizona returns to the field after an impressive recruiting rebuild.
2018 ScheduleAll times ET
2018 Schedule
4th in Big Ten
- 11/11W 72-68
- 11/13W 86-67
- 11/16L 79-56
- 11/19W 92-70
- 11/23L 68-59
- 11/24W 84-59
- 11/26W 85-80
- 11/29W 71-62
- 12/33L 86-57
- 12/514W 78-68
- 12/9L 75-65
- 12/1613L 73-72
- 12/20W 104-94
- 12/22W 85-68
- 12/29W 71-62
- 1/2W 70-55
- 1/613L 74-62
- 1/9W 63-59
- 1/12L 76-74
- 1/15W 64-63
- 1/1823W 72-52
- 1/2213L 64-59
- 1/24W 60-54
- 1/27W 98-84
- 1/29W 74-63
- 2/6W 91-85
- 2/10W 67-55
- 2/13W 70-66
- 2/18L 72-66
- 2/20W 66-57
- 2/25W 76-64
- 3/215L 77-58
- 3/144L 66-59
- Full Schedule
UNC-Michigan highlights ACC/Big Ten clashes
Michigan, the 2017-18 national runner-up, will host North Carolina on Nov. 28 as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Other matchups include Michigan State at Louisville and Indiana at Duke on Nov. 27.
Winners, losers from NBA draft early entry deadline
North Carolina, Nevada and UCLA each saw key contributors spurn the NBA and return to school, while defending champion Villanova faces a major roster overhaul.
Gates joins Nebraska after brief Florida stay
Less than a month after being named associate head coach for the men's basketball team at Florida, Armon Gates was introduced Monday as an assistant on Tim Miles' staff at Nebraska.
All-NEC G Burke heads to Nebraska as transfer
Robert Morris guard Dachon Burke is transferring to Nebraska, where he will have two seasons of eligibility after sitting out the 2018-19 season.
Nebraska coach Miles gets 1-year extension
Nebraska basketball coach Tim Miles is receiving a one-year contract extension, the school announced.
AD: Miles earned right to keep building Huskers
Coach Tim Miles will be back for a seventh season at Nebraska and talks about a contract extension will begin after NCAA basketball's Final Four, athletic director Bill Moos said Tuesday.
After improving eight spots in Big Ten, Nebraska in position to break through
The surprising Cornhuskers, who took a major step forward, will bring back their top four scorers and top four rebounders next winter.
Peters' 14 assists help Mississippi St. top Nebraska in NIT
Aric Holman had 16 points and 10 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the season, Lamar Peters was four assists shy of a NIT record with a career-high 14 and Mississippi State won its first post-season game since 2010 with a 66-59 victory over...
Carter hits buzzer-beater (0:20)
Paul Sabin ESPN Analytics
Nebraska had a SOR rank of 35, the second best not to make the tournament since 2008. Overall the perception of the Big Ten was worse than reality. Only Purdue's seed matched its deserving seed per SOR.
Giant Killers: If these teams get in, they could be trouble
Conference tournaments can be the beginning of March's mayhem. If these teams, namely Syracuse, get in, things could really get crazy.
Nebraska faces long wait to find out NCAA tournament fate
Nebraska has an impressive overall and Big Ten record, but the Cornhuskers have only one win over a surefire NCAA tournament team. Will it be enough?
Jeff Borzello ESPN Staff Writer
Tim Miles was asked if he would change anything about the way he scheduled this season. "I might've switched the screen against Kansas."
No. 15 Michigan deals blow to Nebraska's NCAA hopes, 77-58
Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman scored 21 points and Moe Wagner had 20 as No. 15 Michigan dealt a significant blow to Nebraska's NCAA hopes, beating the Cornhuskers 77-58 in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament on Friday.
Jeff Borzello ESPN Staff Writer
And now a nine-day wait for Nebraska to find out whether it has done enough for an at-large bid. At this point, it seems unlikely.
Seth Walder ESPN Analytics
Nebraska becomes a virtual lock to reach the NCAA tournament with a win over Michigan today. BPI gives the Cornhuskers a 22% chance to beat the Wolverines at Madison Square Garden.
Mitch Sherman ESPN Staff Writer
Coming up, the Bench Mob takes Manhattan. Nebraska, set to tip at Madison Square Garden in the Big Ten tournament against Michigan, has enjoyed a banner season on the hardwood -- with its 22 wins (and counting) matching the second-highest total in program history. But it's been a remarkable finish to the regular season on the bench, too, with a six-man crew led by Jack McVeigh, Malcolm Laws and Johnny Trueblood gaining acclaim for their antics. In the regular-season finale at home on Sunday against Penn State, they pulled off a fan-pleasing Leap Frog display, plus skits inspired by the U.S. Olympic curling team and Star Wars. And now, they're mere steps from Broadway. "I think the Bench Mob has been training for this moment for a long time," coach Tim Miles said this week. Said Trueblood: "It's the biggest stage. We've just got to bring our A game." The mobsters received the advice shown in this picture from one of their many female fans last week at Pinnacle Bank Arena. "Two months ago, we were doing it as a laugh," McVeigh said in his thick Aussie accent. "Now it's blown up. There's definitely a little bit of pressure."
Jeff Borzello ESPN Staff Writer
Regardless of what else happens today at the Big Ten tournament, the biggest winner is undoubtedly Nebraska. Cornhuskers now get a huge bubble chance against Michigan in the quarterfinals tomorrow.
Copeland, Nebraska hold off Penn State for 76-64 win
Isaac Copeland had 17 points and Nebraska opened a 21-point lead midway through the second half, then held off Penn State for a 76-64 win Sunday.
Mitch Sherman ESPN Staff Writer
The metrics do not love Nebraska, even after a 76-64 win over Penn State to close the regular season — with Bruce Rasmussen, chairman of the Division I Men's Basketball Committee, in attendance. But the Cornhuskers head to New York as fourth seed in the Big Ten tournament, completing their first unbeaten home season in league play since 1965-66. Nebraska's 13 conference wins set a school record. Its 22 overall wins match the second-highest figure in program history. The Huskers look like a tourney team, but has Tim Miles' group done enough? They'll aim to erase remaining doubts at Madison Square Garden.
Palmer leads Nebraska to 66-57 win over Indiana
James Palmer scored 15 points Tuesday night as Nebraska beat Indiana 66-57, allowing the Huskers the resume their NCAA Tournament pursuit.
Black's career-high 28 pushes Illinois past Nebraska 72-66
Leron Black scored a career-high 28 points and snagged seven rebounds, to help Illinois outlast Nebraska for a 72-66 victory on Sunday afternoon.
Palmer's big 2nd half lifts Huskers past Maryland 70-66
James Palmer Jr. scored 24 of his 26 points in the second half, Isaiah Roby had all 11 of his after half, and Nebraska held off Maryland 70-66 on Tuesday night.
Joe Lunardi Senior Writer, ESPN.com
TONIGHT HEADLINES: Virginia wouldn't lose a No. 1 seed with a loss at Miami, but would certainly drop from No, 1 overall. Kansas, which shouldn't be a No. 2 seed ahead of Texas Tech, would have to drop with a loss at Iowa State. Michigan State could make the Committee look smart with a loss at Minnesota, however unlikely. Maryland must win at Nebraska to get back in the hunt; Huskers must win to stay there. And don't get me started on Oklahoma as a No. 4. Will cover it all tonight from the debut of the #InfinityBracketBunker.
2017-18 Big Ten Standings
| TEAM | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan St | 16-2 | - | 30-5 |
| Purdue | 15-3 | 1 | 30-7 |
| Ohio State | 15-3 | 1 | 25-9 |
| Michigan | 13-5 | 3 | 33-8 |
| Nebraska | 13-5 | 3 | 22-11 |
| Penn State | 9-9 | 7 | 26-13 |
| Indiana | 9-9 | 7 | 16-15 |
| Maryland | 8-10 | 8 | 19-13 |
| Wisconsin | 7-11 | 9 | 15-18 |
| Northwestern | 6-12 | 10 | 15-17 |
| Minnesota | 4-14 | 12 | 15-17 |
| Illinois | 4-14 | 12 | 14-18 |
| Iowa | 4-14 | 12 | 14-19 |
| Rutgers | 3-15 | 13 | 15-19 |
Team Stats
Points Per Game72.3Tied-217th
Rebounds Per Game36.1130th
Assists Per Game13.5180th
Points Allowed68.676th
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Tournament History
| Final Fours | 0 |
| Tournament Record | 0-7 |
| Championship Seasons | None |
| Tournament Appearances | 7 |