Hoopism: Wrapping up the year on a close game note

Upset:

Penn State toppled #14 Northwestern, 79-72.

And several close games:

#9 Ohio State held off #24 Michigan State, 85-80.

Purdue slipped by Michigan, 65-63.

Iowa clipped Nebraska, 74-58.

Seton Hall outlasted Creighton, 86-82.

Wisconsin edged Indiana, 73-69.

BYU bested St. Mary’s, 65-59.

North Carolina slipped past Maine, 59-58.

Rutgers defeated Minnesota, 66-55.

Gonzaga routed San Francisco, 68-47.

All scores.

Pac-12:

The Pac-12 is loaded with top teams.

Big Ten:

Big Ten team-by-team breakdown.

Big Ten players to watch.

Team news:

Ohio State is ready for the intensity of Big Ten play.

Wisconsin coach Bobbie Kelsey hopes a tough non-conference schedule pays off in the Big Ten.

Player news:

Rachel Banham is back for Minnesota, and the NCAA Tournament is the goal.