Hoosier State of Mind
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Indiana Basketball: Hoosiers in the middle of a muddled Big Ten

By Adam Childs

COLUMBUS, OHIO - FEBRUARY 01: Trayce Jackson-Davis #4 of the Indiana Hoosiers catches the ball while being guarded by Kyle Young #25 of the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first half of their game at Value City Arena on February 01, 2020 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - FEBRUARY 01: Trayce Jackson-Davis #4 of the Indiana Hoosiers catches the ball while being guarded by Kyle Young #25 of the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first half of their game at Value City Arena on February 01, 2020 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /
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ANN ARBOR, MI – JANUARY 25: Ayo Dosunmu #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini drives the ball to the basket as Zavier Simpson #3 of the Michigan Wolverines defends during the second half of the game at Crisler Center on January 25, 2020 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Illinois defeated Michigan 64-62. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI – JANUARY 25: Ayo Dosunmu #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini drives the ball to the basket as Zavier Simpson #3 of the Michigan Wolverines defends during the second half of the game at Crisler Center on January 25, 2020 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Illinois defeated Michigan 64-62. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

Contenders

1. Illinois Fighting Illini

2. Maryland Terrapins

3. Penn State Nittany Lions

4. Michigan State Spartans

Illinois just recently lost at Iowa, but before that had run off seven straight wins, including on the road at Wisconsin, Purdue, and Michigan. They have three dynamic scorers in Ayo Dosunmu, Trent Frazier, and possible freshman of the year Kofi Cockburn. They play the best defense in the conference and are a real threat to make a run in the tournament. They were a popular pick to make a jump but nobody expected them to be sitting in the top spot right now.

Maryland just keeps winning. They showed a lot of heart in the comeback win at Indiana and held of Rutgers Tuesday night. Jalen Smith and Anthony Cowan Jr are their go-to guys and they are getting it done. Maryland is proving they belong near the top.

Penn State is staying tough and just pulled off one of the biggest wins of the year by knocking off the Spartans in East Lansing on Tuesday night. Lamar Stevens is probably the best player nobody is talking about. This year he is getting some help in the name of Myreon Jones who is averaging 14.1 points per game while shooting 41.3 percent  from deep.

The Spartans are still a very good basketball team but are proving to be vulnerable at times. But as long as they have Cassius Winston leading the way, they have a chance in any game.

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