By Marc ZarefskyThe Daily Northwestern
Sunday’s match-up between Big Ten powerhouses Wisconsin and Ohio State now has an even greater sense of intrigue, thanks to previously No. 1 Florida’s 83-70 loss to Vanderbilt on Saturday.
For the first official time since the Associated Press began weekly polls in 1948, the Big Ten owns the top two national rankings in the current AP Poll, with Wisconsin ranked first and Ohio State close behind at No. 2.
This is the first time the Badgers have been ranked number one in the AP poll in the school’s history, although their stay might be short-lived, with a loss to Michigan State on Tuesday. The Buckeyes hold the top spot in the ESPN/USA TODAY coaches poll, with the Badgers locked in at No. 2.
“When you’re a part of a league like the Big Ten, and the top-two ranked teams in the entire country are from your league, I think that speaks volumes of what your league is about,” Minnesota coach Jim Molinari said.
The two teams faced off Jan. 9 at Wisconsin’s Kohl Center, where the Badgers squeaked out a 72-69 win. Sunday’s meeting will be in Columbus, Ohio, where the Buckeyes have a 24-game winning streak, the fourth longest in the country.
In 1992 Michigan was ranked No. 1 in the country, with Indiana ranked No. 2. That Wolverines’ season, however, since has been negated by the NCAA as part of sanctions passed down upon the men’s basketball program after investigations found several players from that team were given a total of $616,000 by a university booster.
Coming Home
Purdue’s upcoming game Saturday against NU will be a road game for the Boilermakers, but for junior forward Gordon Watt, Welsh-Ryan Arena will feel like home.
Watt graduated from Evanston Township High School in 2004, and played several marquee games in the Wildcats’ home arena.
After seeing little playing time his freshman year at Boston College, Watt transferred to Purdue, where he has been a key contributor for the resurgent Boilermakers this season.
“Gordon’s done a good job for us of hustling and doing a lot of little things,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said. “I think as time progresses [with] him developing his own game, he could be a very good player.”
Watt is averaging 7.8 points and 5.1 rebounds in just more than 24 minutes per game this season.
Illinois Player Charged
Illinois sophomore Jamar Smith was charged Tuesday with driving under the influence of alcohol after a car driven by Smith ran into a tree last Monday during a snow storm.
Smith also is charged with leaving the scene of an accident, authorities said.
Smith and teammate Brian Carlwell, who was in the car with Smith at the time of the accident, were both sent to the hospital for head injuries. Carlwell spent four days at Carle Foundation Hospital Urbana after suffering a severe concussion. Smith suffered a minor concussion, and was released from the same hospital the following morning.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Reach Marc Zarefsky at [email protected].
