ILLINOIS
Illinois guard Trent Frazier is averaging 16.5 points this season while converting 44.2 percent of his 3-pointers on 7.0 attempts a game.
Record: 4-8, 0-2 Big Ten
Remaining non-conference game: vs. Florida Atlantic on Saturday.
All-Big Ten candidate: Sophomore guard Trent Frazier (16.5 ppg).
The good: The Illini force 17.9 turnovers per game, the most in the Big Ten. Opponents are giving the ball away on 24.7 percent of their possessions, according to KenPom.
The bad: Opponents have attempted 107 more free throws than Illinois.
INDIANA
Indiana senior Juwan Morgan is averaging 16.2 points and 7.6 rebounds, but he’s shooting only 56.8 percent from the free throw line this season.
Record: 11-2, 2-0 Big Ten
All-Big Ten candidates: Freshman guard Romeo Langford (17.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg); and senior forward Juwan Morgan (16.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg).
The good: The Hoosiers are 4-1 in games decided by three or fewer points.
The bad: Indiana is shooting 63.5 percent from the free throw line. Morgan is at 56.8 percent.
IOWA
Iowa forward Luka Garza celebrates after making a basket during the second half of the Wisconsin Badgers’ 72-66 win over the Hawkeyes on Nov. 30 in Iowa City, Iowa. Garza scored 11 points in the loss, despite missing all three of his 3-point attempts.
Record: 10-2, 0-2 Big Ten
Remaining non-conference game: vs. Bryant on Saturday.
All-Big Ten candidates: Junior forward Tyler Cook (16.7 ppg, 8.3 rpg); and sophomore center Luka Garza (12.7 ppg).
The good: The Hawkeyes average 29.6 free throw attempts per game, which ranks third nationally. Cook averages 6.8 attempts per game.
The Bad: Iowa’s defense is improved from last season – there was really nowhere to go but up – but it’s still not great. The Hawkeyes rank 89th in adjusted defensive efficiency, according to KenPom.
MARYLAND
Maryland forward Bruno Fernando, of Angola, is averaging 14.2 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.6 blocks for the Terrapins this season.
Record: 9-3, 1-1 Big Ten
Remaining non-conference game: vs. Radford on Saturday.
All-Big Ten candidates: Junior guard Anthony Cowan Jr. (17.0 ppg), sophomore forward Bruno Fernando (14.2 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 2.6 bpg) and freshman forward Jalen Smith (11.9 ppg, 7.2 rpg).
The good: The Terrapins rank 12th nationally in offensive rebounding percentage, an effort led by Fernando and Smith.
The bad: Maryland is 0-2 vs. teams in the top 40 of KenPom. The Terrapins’ best win was against Penn State (No. 46) at home.
MICHIGAN
Michigan forward Ignas Brazdeikis is averaging 16.1 points and 4.8 rebounds a game as a freshman.
Record: 12-0, 2-0 Big Ten
Remaining non-conference game: vs. Binghamton on Sunday.
All-Big Ten candidates: Freshman forward Ignas Brazdeikis (16.1 ppg), junior guard Charles Matthews (14.5 ppg), sophomore guard Jordan Poole (13.2 ppg) and junior guard Zavier Simpson (7.1 ppg, 5.9 apg).
The good: The Wolverines are No. 4 nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency, according to KenPom. Opponents are shooting 38.3 percent from the field against Michigan.
The bad: Not much, really. Michigan is shooting 65.5 percent from the line, which ranks No. 12 in the Big Ten, and players such as Matthews (62.3 percent) and Simpson (41.2) will be targets in late-game fouling situations.
MICHIGAN STATE
Michigan State guard Cassius Winston is averaging 16.9 points and 7.5 assists as a game as a junior.
Record: 10-2, 2-0 Big Ten
Remaining non-conference game: vs. Northern Illinois on Saturday.
All-Big Ten candidates: Junior point guard Cassius Winston (16.9 ppg, 7.5 apg), junior forward Nick Ward (16.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg) and junior guard Joshua Langford (16.0 ppg).
The good: Michigan State is ranked No. 3 in adjusted offensive efficiency, per KenPom. The Spartans shoot well from 3-point range and are ranked in the top 25 nationally in offensive rebounding percentage.
The bad: The Spartans turn the ball over on 17.4 percent of their possessions, which ranks 84th nationally. That’s not exactly a new issue for Michigan State – which has only ranked in the top 100 in that category once in the KenPom era – but it’s an area that could be cleaned up.
MINNESOTA
Minnesota forward Jordan Murphy is averaging 16.2 points and 12.9 rebounds a game as a senior.
Record: 10-2, 1-1 Big Ten
Remaining non-conference game: vs. Mount St. Mary’s on Sunday.
All-Big Ten candidates: Senior forward Jordan Murphy (16.2 ppg, 12.9 rpg) and junior guard Amir Coffey (15.3 ppg).
The good: The Gophers, especially Murphy and freshman center Daniel Oturu, are relentless on the offensive glass. Minnesota also spends a lot of time at the foul line.
The bad: Freshman guard Gabe Kalscheur is shooting 40.3 percent from 3-point range, but he’s the Gophers’ only consistent perimeter threat. The rest of the team is a combined 39 of 143 (27.3 percent) from beyond the arc.
NEBRASKA
Nebraska guard James Palmer Jr. is averaging 19.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists as a senior.
Record: 10-2, 1-1 Big Ten
Remaining non-conference game: vs. Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday.
All-Big Ten candidates: Senior guard James Palmer Jr. (19.9 ppg), senior forward Isaac Copeland Jr. (14.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg) and senior guard Glynn Watson Jr. (13.4 ppg).
The good: Opponents are shooting 37.9 percent overall and 26.6 percent from 3-point range against the Cornhuskers.
The bad: Nebraska lacks depth beyond its senior-laden starting five. Bench players account for 22.8 percent of the team’s minutes, which ranks No. 332 nationally and 13th in the Big Ten.
NORTHWESTERN
Northwestern forward Vic Law, center, is averaging 18.8 points and 6.6 rebounds in his final season with the Wildcats.
Record: 8-4, 0-2 Big Ten
Remaining non-conference game: vs. Columbia on Sunday.
All-Big Ten candidates: Senior forward Vic Law (18.8 ppg, 6.6 rpg) and senior center Dererk Pardon (14.0 ppg, 8.7 rpg).
The good: After playing third fiddle to Bryant McIntosh and Scottie Lindsey, Law has emerged as a go-to player in his final seasons with the Wildcats. His scoring average has increased by almost seven points and he’s also gone up in rebounds, assists and steals.
The bad: The Wildcats’ non-conference body of work isn’t very impressive. They’re 0-4 vs. teams in the top 65 of the KenPom ratings and their best win came at home against Georgia Tech (No. 102 in KenPom).
OHIO STATE
Ohio State forward Kaleb Wesson has emerged as a star in his sophomore season, averaging 16.4 points and 7.1 rebounds through the Buckeyes’ first 12 games.
Record: 11-1, 2-0 Big Ten.
Remaining non-conference game: vs. High Point on Saturday.
All-Big Ten candidates: Sophomore center Kaleb Wesson (16.4 ppg, 7.1 rpg) and senior guard C.J. Jackson (13.1 ppg).
The good: While Wesson has emerged as a star, the Buckeyes have plenty of complementary scoring options. Seven players average at least 7.0 points per game.
The bad: Can Ohio State’s depleted frontcourt hold up in the Big Ten? The departure of Micah Potter before the start of the season – the junior center announced earlier this month he’s transferring to UW – left Ohio State with three players who are 6-foot-8 and taller: Wesson, freshman backup Jaedon Lee and sophomore forward Kyle Young.
PENN STATE
Penn State freshman guard Rasir Bolton is averaging 13.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists in his first 12 games for the Nittany Lions this season.
Record: 6-6, 0-2 Big Ten.
Remaining non-conference schedule: vs. Maryland-Baltimore County on Saturday.
All-Big Ten candidates: Junior forward Lamar Stevens (19.1 ppg, 8.3 rpg) and freshman guard Rasir Bolton (13.8 ppg).
The good: The Nittany Lions are No. 13 nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency, per KenPom. They’ve done it despite the fact their primary rim protector, junior center Mike Watkins, has been limited to seven games.
The bad: Penn State is No. 127 in adjusted offensive efficiency and shoots poorly from all over. While Stevens is the team’s top scorer, he’s also part of the problem. The junior is 7 of 39 from 3-point range (17.9 percent) and has averaged 15.0 points over the past seven games after averaging 24.8 in the first five games. More bad news for Penn State: Its first five games in January are against opponents who are currently ranked.
PURDUE
Purdue guard Carsen Edwards is averaging 26.0 points a game while shooting 39.8 percent from 3-point range and 89.4 percent from the free throw line this season.
Record: 7-5, 1-1 Big Ten.
Remaining non-conference opponent: vs. Belmont on Saturday.
All-Big Ten candidates: Junior guard Carsen Edwards (26.0 ppg) and senior guard Ryan Cline (13.9 ppg).
The good: The Boilermakers have a top 10 offense, thanks, in large part, to Edwards. The Big Ten Player of the Year candidate is shooting 39.8 percent from 3-point range and 89.4 percent from the free throw line.
The bad: Opponents are shooting 43.5 percent overall and 38.0 percent from 3-point range against Purdue, which ranks No. 74 in adjusted defensive efficiency. On the other end, how does Purdue score if Edwards, who has the sixth-highest usage rate in the nation, has an off night?
RUTGERS
Wisconsin forward Nate Reuvers and Rutgers forward Eugene Omoruyi attempt to control the ball in the first half of the Badgers’ 69-64 win over the Scarlet Knights on Dec. 3 at the Kohl Center in Madison. Omoruyi, who’s averaging 15.9 points and 8.8 rebounds, is looking much improved from his freshman campaign when he put up 7.9 points and 5.0 rebounds a game.
Record: 6-5, 0-2 Big Ten.
Remaining non-conference game: vs. Maine on Saturday.
All-Big Ten candidates: Junior forward Eugene Omoruyi (15.9 ppg, 8.8 rpg) and sophomore guard Geo Baker (14.4 ppg, 4.6 apg).
The good: Omoruyi has made a huge jump from his sophomore season, when he averaged 7.9 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.
The bad: A lot, especially on the offensive end. The Scarlet Knights rank last in the Big Ten in scoring offense, field goal percentage and free throw percentage.
WISCONSIN
Wisconsin center Ethan Happ is averaging 19.2 points, 10.6 rebounds and 5.0 assists through the first 12 games of his senior season.
Record: 10-2, 2-0 Big Ten.
Remaining non-conference game: at Western Kentucky on Saturday.
All-Big Ten candidates: Senior center Ethan Happ (19.2 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 5.0 apg) and sophomore point guard D’Mitrik Trice (15.9 ppg).
The good: Happ is playing at an All-American level and Trice has improved dramatically after missing much of last season with a foot injury. They form a dynamic 1-2 punch on a team ranked in the top 20 nationally in both adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency, per KenPom.
The bad: Happ’s free throw shooting (51.0 percent) is still a concern, though he’s made 11 of his last 15 attempts over two games. And it would take some of the pressure off Happ and Trice if Brad Davison – or perhaps sophomore forward Nate Reuvers – emerges as a consistent No. 3 scorer.
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