Sports

If Stars Align Michigan Could Be No. 1

January 18, 2019 / 11:58 AM EST / CBS Detroit

This week in the Big Ten Conference:

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 06: Head coach John Beilein of the Michigan Wolverines looks on while playing the Indiana Hoosiers at Crisler Arena on January 06, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 74-63. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

GAME OF THE WEEKEND: No. 2 Michigan at Wisconsin. The Wolverines (17-0, 6-0) go into Madison on Saturday off six straight wins by at least 10 points. The Badgers (11-6, 3-3), who erased a 21-point deficit before losing in overtime to Maryland on Monday, have lost four of five and are trying to avoid a three-game losing streak. Wisconsin's offense runs through big man Ethan Happ. His work will be cut out for him going against 7-foot-1 Jon Teske. Win this one, and Michigan is in line to take over the top spot in The Associated Press Top 25 following Duke's loss to Syracuse on Monday,

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - DECEMBER 06: Bruno Fernando #23 of the Maryland Terrapins reacts during the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena on December 6, 2018 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

LOOKING AHEAD: Maryland's staying power in the conference race will be severely tested with a yikes-worthy schedule over the next month. The Terrapins (15-3, 6-1) play seven of nine games away from Xfinity Center — visits to Ohio State, No. 6 Michigan State, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Michigan and No. 24 Iowa, and a game against Illinois at Madison Square Garden.

IOWA CITY, IOWA- JANUARY 6: Guard James Palmer #0 of the Nebraska Cornhusker battles for a rebound in the first half against guard Isaiah Moss #4 of the Iowa Hawkeyes on January 6, 2019 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)

PLAYER TO WATCH: Iowa (15-3, 4-3) needs junior forward Tyler Cook to get healthy, and fast. He was held out of Wednesday night's 89-82 win at Penn State with the ankle sprain that forced him out of a home win over Ohio State late in the second half last Saturday. He missed a road game against Northwestern last week with a sore knee. The 6-foot-9, 250-pound Cook is the Hawkeyes' leading scorer and rebounder, and even though they've won four in a row, they need him back for a rigorous three-games-in-eight-days stretch starting next week against Michigan State, Minnesota and Michigan.

LINCOLN, NE - JANUARY 17: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans attempts a shot over Isaac Copeland Jr. #14 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Pinnacle Bank Arena on January 17, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Eight Big Ten teams are among the top 50 defenses in the nation. Michigan, giving up 56.6 points per game, is third behind Virginia and Texas Tech. Only one conference team is among the top 50 in offense. That's Michigan State, 11th at 85.5 ppg. ... Michigan has won 31 of its last 32 games, and its 17-0 start is best in the league since Ohio State opened 24-0 in 2010-11. ... Of the first 38 conference games, 58 percent (22 games) have been decided by 10 points or fewer, including eight games separated by one possession.

PISCATAWAY, NJ - FEBRUARY 26: Betnijah Laney #44 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights drives to the basket as Akila McDonald #32 of the South Florida Bulls defends during the first half in a game at the Louis Brown Athletic Center on February 26, 2013 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Rutgers defeated South Florida 68-56 for Rutgers head coach C. Vivian Stringer 900th career win. (Photo by Rich Schultz /Getty Images)

ON THE WOMEN'S SIDE: Rutgers (14-3, 6-0), which beat Purdue 65-63 in overtime Wednesday, has used a balanced offense, tough defense and a veteran lineup to continue its two-year rise under longtime coach C. Vivian Stringer. The Scarlet Knights this week made their first appearance in the AP rankings, at No. 20, and have won nine in a row. They've knocked off ninth-ranked Maryland on their way to first place in the conference. Remember, this was a program that went 6-24 two years ago. The Knights were 20-12 last season, tying for most improved team in the nation, and now they're on track for their first NCAA Tournament bid since 2015.

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