Tell me about the NEW Big Ten

[Stagnant]

I think the wheels are going to fall off for
Minnesota now. Just like last year. My prediction is 5-6 or 4-7 finish to the season for them.

 

[WBBTakeover]

Former Wisconsin women's basketball player alleges abuse under Marisa Moseley

Who wants to touch on this? Abuse allegations and racially-insensitive comments--whoo boy!

—The 6-foot-5 forward alleges a pattern of abuse, including being forced to sign a release granting Moseley access to her therapy sessions under the threat of being removed from the basketball team. "My coach made me sign a release form for her to access my therapy sessions, or I'd be kicked off the team," Towers posted. She also claimed the staff pressured her into mental health decisions, stating, "My coach gave me a choice between admitting myself to a mental hospital or getting kicked off the team!" Towers also shared another alarming claim, stating, "My coach and staff said if I were to say anything remotely close to thoughts of su!c!de or de@+h to my therapist, I would be kicked off the team."

—Towers detailed other incidents, including being excluded from team trips, forced to undergo testing for autism against her will, and being subjected to a three-strikes policy that was unique to her. One strike reportedly stemmed from forgetting to turn in a goal sheet on time.

“If you look at my team, we’re pretty much the United Nations. I have the first Indian woman to ever play at the Power 5. I have kids who are Nigerian and kids who are Dominican and kids who are Mexican and kids who are run of the mill white because they’re still there too,” Moseley said.

Moseley quickly added, “My mom is white, just so nobody is offended. My mom is a white woman from the Berkshires.

“Very white.”

Also, considering that Scott Merritt has coached for Marisa Moseley AND Carolyn Kieger (who is also the subject of extreme abuse), I wouldn't touch that dude with a 50-foot pole.

 

[BigTenGuy]

Oh dear....just tripped across this during my lunch break. There could be more going on than we realize at Wisconsin than we thought with respect to Coach Moseley. Mind you, these are allegations primarily from one player however the article does note others are saying they experienced the same issues.

Former Wisconsin women's basketball player alleges abuse under Marisa Moseley

A former Wisconsin women's basketball player has accused coach Marisa Moseley of threats, manipulation, and mishandling of mental health.

www.badgernotes.com

The Wisconsin message board, Buckyville, has had lots of anti-Moseley innuendo for a couple of years, since at least the Wilke transfer. Her contract was extended last Spring through the 2028-29 season. Suspect it would take more than the current allegations to prevent Moseley from getting at least 1 more year. OTOH, if Williams were to enter the portal after the season, the writing on the wall for the ultimate outcome would be clear.

 

[cancontent]

The Wisconsin message board, Buckyville, has had lots of anti-Moseley innuendo for a couple of years, since at least the Wilke transfer. Her contract was extended last Spring through the 2028-29 season. Suspect it would take more than the current allegations to prevent Moseley from getting at least 1 more year. OTOH, if Williams were to enter the portal after the season, the writing on the wall for the ultimate outcome would be clear.

Yikes regarding the inneudo. To your new point about it taking more, I agree. We've seen many examples of similar claims by players only to see the coach remain. The fact it's coming to light from more sources than a team message board though is concerning.

 

[BigTenGuy]

Last night’s BIG games mark the half-way point of the BIG conference season. Every team has played at least 9 conference games, except UCLA and USC, who have played 8 games, and Northwestern, who has played 7 games. Northwestern canceled its LA trip due to the fires, otherwise all teams would have played at least 9 conference games as of January 27 (PSU and Rutgers have played 10).

Through games of January 27, advanced conference-game stats show a dramatically different league with the arrival of the PAC-12 4, and the departure of Caitlin Clark and Mackenzie Holmes. The league is much less offensively efficient and (obviously) much more defensive.

Through 8 games, UCLA is the best offensive team in league play, but on a Points Per Play (PPP) basis (points scored per play finished with a shot, free-throw trip or turnover), UCLA is a material step down from the best offensive BIG teams of the advanced WBB stats era:

BIG OFFENSIVE PPP (since 2009-10)

2023-24	Iowa	1.06
2022-23	Iowa	1.03
2021-22	Iowa	1.03
2020-21	Iowa	1.03
2020-21	Maryland	1.02
2023-24	Indiana	1.00
2018-19	Iowa	0.98
2015-16	Ohio St.	0.98
2016-17	Maryland	0.97
2022-23	Indiana	0.97
2024-25	UCLA	0.97

USC this season checks in at .90 Offensive PPP, tied with Minnesota and Indiana for 4th in the league.

On a defensive basis, through 8 games, USC is the best defensive team in BIG play in the advanced stats era. USC’s Opponents’ PPP are the lowest in BIG league play since at least 2009-10, and Oregon is close behind with the 5th lowest in BIG league play since 2009-10:

BIG DEFENSIVE PPP (since 2009-10)

2024-25	Southern California	0.66
2009-10	Michigan St.	0.70
2019-20	Maryland	0.71
2012-13	Nebraska	0.73
2024-25	Oregon	0.73

USC’s Opponents’ Effective Field Goal Percentage (efg%) in league play is 38.2%, the lowest in BIG league play since at least 2009-10. Iowa led the BIG last year in league play with Opponents’ efg% of 47.3%. Quite the change in one season. UCLA and Oregon are 2nd and 3rd in BIG play this season with Opponents’ efg% of 43.4% and 44.8%.

USC has the highest Block Percentage in BIG league play since at least 2009-10, and UCLA has the 10th highest Block Percentage in BIG history over the same time period. Guess they knew how to play defense in the PAC-12 (but not Washington).

The BIG also features some historically bad defenses this season in conference play, but perhaps unbalanced schedules and small first-half sample size are to blame. Washington’s Opponents’ efg% is 55.5%, the highest in BIG league play since at least 2009-10. Purdue’s and Northwestern’s Opponents’ PPP is .98, the highest in BIG league play since at least 2009-10.

It will be interesting to see if the first-half statistical changes hold up for the entire conference season, including the conference tournament.

All stats are conference-game only stats per HerHoopStats, inclusive of conference tournament play.

 

[JellyBean]

I think the wheels are going to fall off for
Minnesota now. Just like last year. My prediction is 5-6 or 4-7 finish to the season for them.

Minnesota is 18-3 (6-3). What wheels are falling off?

 

[JellyBean]

Wisconsin stuns Michigan!

 

[Stagnant]

Minnesota is 18-3 (6-3). What wheels are falling off?

18-3 sounds a lot better than 22-10; doesn’t it? That’s what I just predicted. At 22-10 though; they should make the tournament. And that is a big step in the right direction for them.

 

[BigTenGuy]

Wisconsin stuns Michigan!

Wisconsin now leads the all-time series with Michigan 42-36. It’s crazy how bad Michigan was in the first decades of BIG WBB.

 

[cancontent]

Wisconsin now leads the all-time series with Michigan 42-36. It’s crazy how bad Michigan was in the first decades of BIG WBB.

Yeah, the history of the WBB side prior to Arico is a head scratcher considering how fans are about the men's program.