With week five on the way, and much more ball to play, lets take a look at the most exciting games coming up this week.

Yale at Butler

Yale is coming into the matchup hot, upholding first place in the Ivy League with a record of 8-1 and continuing a two game winning streak. Though Butler trails in the Big East with a record of 6-3, they also hold a two game winning streak. Though their record is worse, Butler has had the tougher schedule this season thus far.

The Bulldogs win against Stony Brook last weekend gives the team their best start since the 1945-1946 season. On the other hand, Butler secured their last win against the undefeated Kansas State.

Yale has to bring their best game as Butler is in the top - 100 for efficiency on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court. On the flip side, Yale averages upwards of 80 points per game while Butler manages 75 points per game, so offensively, this game can fall either way.

Illinois at Texas

At Madison Square Garden in New York City, two of the best teams in the nation will faceoff in the Jimmy V Classic. Though Texas is coming in ranked at number two, they have been undefeated for the 2022 season thus far. While Illinois secured their second loss of the season last week with a five point loss to Maryland.

Illinois has powerhouse Terrence Shannon Junior, who is already in the favorites to win Big Ten player of the year. It is this, backed by their effective defense that allows them to hold their opponents to 71 points or lower. But Texas is also efficient on defense as they are ranked third in Division I for their defense. Texas is a force to be reckon with as they held their last three contestants to no lower than 36.2% feild goal perscentage.

Will Illinois offense be able to step up and out play this Texas defense?

Nebraska at Indiana

Indiana looks to take the the victory against Nebraska in their home opener of the season. Both Indiana and Nebraska are coming into the matchup with different circumstances.

After beating teams like UNC and Xavier, the Hoosiers took their first loss of the season last weekend when their offense was stopped by Rutgers. The cornhuskers are coming into the game off of a win verses Creighton which added a game to their three game winning streak.

As long as Indiana can bring their game offensively, this should be an exciting Big Ten matchup!

Rutgers at Ohio State

Rutgers travels to Ohio State for their first Big Ten Conference game on the road. Rutgers, coming in fourth place in the Big Ten rankings, is two spots above number six Ohio State. Though they are separated by such a margin, both teams go into the matchup with a record of 6-2. In the initial rankings Rutgers was projected to be at number 30 while Ohio State was a head of them at number 28.

Looking at the team, Rutgers has four different scoring leaders including Cam Spencer, Clifford Omoruyi, Andre Hyatt, and Caleb McConnell. In addition, their most recent win against the Hoosiers is not to be ignored. Playing against a team that entered the game in the top ten scoring nationally, Rutgers managed to take the win with a fifteen point defeat.

The last time these two teams faced off, Rutgers took the win over Ohio State by two. But this season Ohio State is ranked eighth nationally in rebounding and tenth in the county for free throw percentage.

Both teams have their own advantages and disadvantages in separate ways. It is up to the game that they bring to the court that will determine who will come out strong in the end.

Michigan at Minnesota

Both teams come into the game with not so much of an impressive record. The Wolverines starting with a record of 5-3 for the season and the Goldy Gophers with a record of 4-4 thus far. Michigan also comes into the game off of two losses while Minnesota is coming off of a three game loosing streak. No matter who takes the win, it will be working in their favor to break either of these loosing streaks.

Both teams are close in the average points they score per game. Michigan comes in with an average of 63 scored points while Minnesota scores an average of 67 points when looking at the pervious ten games they have faced one another.

The matchup is tight with the odds being in either teams favor. The winner of this Big Ten matchup can move their way up in the league.