We can thank Jim Delaney for our title defense beginning so early. Since the Big Ten is insisting that the conference tournament be played in the wildly, hilariously overrated Madison Square Garden it has moved the entire conference schedule back. That means two early December conference games this weekend for everyone. These games feel like afterthoughts crammed onto the schedule, but they could end up deciding the league title.
Purdue goes to Maryland and hosts Northwestern for a pair of tricky games. Michigan State gets the gift of a home game against Nebraska and a trip to Rutgers.