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Andy Katz reveals his five most-anticipated matchups remaining in B1G basketball season

Spenser Davis

By Spenser Davis

Published:

The Big Ten’s men’s basketball season has about five weeks remaining, but there are still plenty of great games left to be played.

Big Ten Network analyst Andy Katz ranked his five most-anticipated remaining matchups in a segment for the network on Monday afternoon.

Here’s his breakdown:

Here are his picks, ranked:

  1. Illinois at Michigan on Feb. 11
  2. Iowa at Michigan on March 4
  3. Michigan at Ohio State on Feb. 21
  4. Illinois at Ohio State on March 6
  5. Iowa at Ohio State on Feb. 28

You may have noticed a pattern emerging — all five games include one of Ohio State or Michigan (and in one instance, both teams). Illinois and Iowa are also both mentioned twice.

It’s probably safe to assume Katz believes these are the four best teams in the Big Ten. And polls like KenPom and the AP agree — those four teams are in the top-12 nationally in both rankings.

Katz did address the lack of Wisconsin on this list.

“It doesn’t mean I’m not looking forward to some Badger games, but I don’t think they are in the same category right now, in this moment of time, as the five games I’m looking forward to the most.”

Katz also talked up the No. 1 game on his list: Illinois at Michigan on Feb. 11. It’s worth noting the Wolverines are on a department-wide pause right now, so this would be their first game since Jan. 22.

“Illinois is starting to play some of its best basketball of the season,” Katz said. “The Wolverines, before the pause, were the best team in the Big Ten. Now they come off the pause and face the Illini. It certainly would be one of the most intriguing games of the Big Ten’s regular season and maybe the entire Big Ten, including the Big Ten Tournament.”

The Big Ten is off on Monday night but will be back in action with four games on Tuesday.

Spenser Davis

Spenser is the news manager at Saturday Road and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.