Bob Brooks has covered University of Iowa athletics for over 50 years. He's seen its highs and lows. For my final project blog component, I spoke with Brooks as he recanted his Top 10 moments of Iowa football.
10. 2008 -- Murray Last-Second FG Lifts Iowa
Placekicker Daniel Murray knocked in a last-second field goal to give Iowa a win over then-No. 3 Penn State at Kinnick Stadium last November.
Brooks: "I got knocked down in the melee down there [on the field]. I had no doubt that he would make it."
9. 1981 -- Iowa Smells Roses In Win Over Michigan State
After 20 seasons of losing, third-year head coach Hayden Fry took the Hawkeyes to the Rose Bowl, thanks to their win over Michigan State and an Ohio State loss to underdog Michigan. It was Iowa's first Rose Bowl trip since 1958.
8. 2002 -- Clark Catch Seals Iowa's Big Ten Title
Tight end Dallas Clark was on the receiving end of a 94-yard pass from quarterback Brad Banks, as Iowa came from behind to beat Purdue and win the Big Ten title. Just watch the first 30 seconds.
7. 1985 -- Long's Bootleg "Something Else"
Quarterback Chuck Long called his own number, running a bootleg with 31 seconds left to cap a 12-play, 78-yard drive to give Iowa a win over Michigan State. He fooled the defense so badly,. he held the ball high over his head from the five-yard line in. Long, the Heisman Trophy runner-up to Auburn's Bo Jackson, went completed 30-of-39 passes in that game.
6. 1958 -- Fleming's Second Half Stuns Wolverines
Freshman running back Willie Fleming torched Michigan's defense in the second half to give Iowa the win and cement him as a legend.
Brooks: "The Michigan folks didn't know much about him, but neither did Iowa because he didn't play a whole lot. We heard these stories coming out of scrimmage that this guy was something else. Willie didn't play in the first half and Michigan had a one touchdown lead over Iowa going into halftime. [Iowa head coach Ray] Eddie put him in at the start of the second half and he ran all over them. Went on to be an all-star in Canadian football."
5. 1985 -- Houghtlin's FG Pushes #1 Iowa past #2 Michigan
Placekicker Rob Houghtlin's 29-yard field goal from the right hash went through the uprights as time expired, giving #1 Iowa a 12-10 victory over #2 Michigan and Bo Schembechler.
Brooks: "I remember the officials taking away Scott Helverson's diving touchdown grab at the end of the first half which would have given Iowa the lead. With Michigan winning and time winding down, linebacker Larry Station would stuff two Jamie Morris runs to force a punt. Chuck Long would nickle-and-dime the defense to set up a perfect storybook ending for Houghtlin. It was probably Hayden's signature win.
4. 1956 -- Eddie, Iowa Smell Roses For The First Time
#7 Iowa beats #6 Ohio State, 6-0, to earn their first-ever Rose Bowl trip. Jim Gibbons caught a touchdown in the corner of the end zone to win the game.
3. 1952 -- Evashevski's First Win Comes At OSU's Hayes' Expense
In Forest Evashevki's first year, the Hawkeyes beat Ohio State and Woody Hayes, 8-0, in the middle of the season after previously being blanked in the win column.
2. 2004 -- Tate-To-Holloway
Every Hawkeye fan remembers this moment as one of the best in Iowa history. Drew Tate threw a hail mary touchdown pass to Warren Holloway as time expired to give Iowa a dramatic win over LSU. Get to the 4:52 mark to witness greatness.
Brooks: "I was shocked. I ran to the middle of the field and did a dance with the President on the 50-yard line. The fans were more shocked than the players. I remember Gallery going down to the end zone after it was over and waving that Hawkeye flag like it was a toothpick."
1. 1939 -- Kinnick Magic
In the 1939 season, Brooks saw every one of Nile Kinnick's games and even got to meet the man. Kinnick went on to win the Heisman Trophy. To date, he is the only Iowa player to win the award and the current stadium is named in his behalf.
Brooks: "I knew then, for better or worse, this [broadcasting] was what I wanted to do. I wanted to be around Iowa. It shaped the whole deal."
Brooks is still running strong. At 82 years old, he rarely misses an Iowa football game, home or away. He bleeds black and gold. You can catch Brooks on the radio daily at 4:30 p.m. on KMRY 1450 (AM) out of Cedar Rapids.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
2010 Preview: Purdue
The semester is coming to a close. It's been a good run since late January when this started. Hope it's been real. I'm not done quite yet, though.
Ten teams have already been previewed, which leaves one left: the Purdue Boilermakers, my
2009-10 Big Ten champion.
Key Returnees: F Robbie Hummel, G E'Twaun Moore, C JaJuan Johnson, G Chris Kramer
Key Departures: F Nemanja Calasan, G Marcus Green
2010 Recruits: F Patrick Bade (Indianapolis, IN), F Jeff Robinson (Indianapois, IN), F Kelsey Barlow (Indianapolis, IN), G D.J. Byrd (Crawfordsville, IN), C Sandi Marcius (LaPorte, IN)
Biggest Need: Bench depth
2010 Outlook: Out of all eleven teams, Purdue is the only team with all five starters returning (Moore, Hummel, Johnson, Kramer, guard Lewis Jackson). They've also got the conference's best weapon off the bench in sharpshooter Keaton Grant. They got hot at the right time, winning the Big Ten Tournament and advancing to the Sweet 16. This is a cohesive unit and they have great chemistry together. They are very knowledgable about their roles on the team and this is a group that is going to continue to grow.
Robbie Hummel, the preseason pick for Player of the Year, was never truly 100 percent healthy, essentially playing with a broken back the last half of the conference season. Yet, even crippled, he showed tremendous grit, having a sensational month of March. If he can fully recover from the back injury, which is expected, he should be a contender for the honor once again. JaJuan Johnson caught the eyes of many NBA scouts with his long, athletic frame, but decided to return to school after a sensational sophomore season. He'll add some more muscle to his frame and be one of the conference's best post players on both sides of the basketball.
Despite his run-in with the law earlier this offseason, speedy guard Lewis Jackson will likely be the guy to run things again next year. He's not likely to scortch you with his shooting touch, but he can distribute the ball and pester defenders. His off-the-court troubles likely nets him a multiple game suspension, but the Boilermakers should be fine in his absence.
Outside of the top six, there isn't anybody else that has proven themselves, which makes coach Matt Painter's recruiting class important. Purdue has got to find some depth on the bench to spell their starters. They've loaded up on frontcourt players (four of the five incoming freshmen are forwards/centers) but none of them really spell "superstar. Patrick Bade has the potential to garner the most playing time of them all and has a Big Ten-ready body (6'8", 225 lbs.). D.J. Byrd has got game, but with so many other guards ahead of him, it might be difficult to earn playing time.
Interestingly, each of them are from the state of Indiana. For those of you at home keeping tabs on the recruiting battle between Purdue and Indiana, the Boilermakers are clearly winning that one. They've haven't had to stray outside their state borders to grab the talent they need. IU's Tom Crean is still building relationships with high school coaches throughout the state, but it's very obvious Painter has a leg up on his counterpart to the south, at least for now.
Purdue's lineup, complete with their coach and playing experience, make them my choice to win the Big Ten. Here's a rundown of how I think the conference will play out:
1. Purdue
2. Michigan State
3. Ohio State
4. Minnesota
5. Illinois
6. Michigan
7. Wisconsin
8. Penn State
9. Indiana
10. Northwestern
11. Iowa
What are your thoughts?
Photo: Indianapolis Star
Ten teams have already been previewed, which leaves one left: the Purdue Boilermakers, my
2009-10 Big Ten champion.
Key Returnees: F Robbie Hummel, G E'Twaun Moore, C JaJuan Johnson, G Chris Kramer
Key Departures: F Nemanja Calasan, G Marcus Green
2010 Recruits: F Patrick Bade (Indianapolis, IN), F Jeff Robinson (Indianapois, IN), F Kelsey Barlow (Indianapolis, IN), G D.J. Byrd (Crawfordsville, IN), C Sandi Marcius (LaPorte, IN)
Biggest Need: Bench depth
2010 Outlook: Out of all eleven teams, Purdue is the only team with all five starters returning (Moore, Hummel, Johnson, Kramer, guard Lewis Jackson). They've also got the conference's best weapon off the bench in sharpshooter Keaton Grant. They got hot at the right time, winning the Big Ten Tournament and advancing to the Sweet 16. This is a cohesive unit and they have great chemistry together. They are very knowledgable about their roles on the team and this is a group that is going to continue to grow.
Robbie Hummel, the preseason pick for Player of the Year, was never truly 100 percent healthy, essentially playing with a broken back the last half of the conference season. Yet, even crippled, he showed tremendous grit, having a sensational month of March. If he can fully recover from the back injury, which is expected, he should be a contender for the honor once again. JaJuan Johnson caught the eyes of many NBA scouts with his long, athletic frame, but decided to return to school after a sensational sophomore season. He'll add some more muscle to his frame and be one of the conference's best post players on both sides of the basketball.
Despite his run-in with the law earlier this offseason, speedy guard Lewis Jackson will likely be the guy to run things again next year. He's not likely to scortch you with his shooting touch, but he can distribute the ball and pester defenders. His off-the-court troubles likely nets him a multiple game suspension, but the Boilermakers should be fine in his absence.
Outside of the top six, there isn't anybody else that has proven themselves, which makes coach Matt Painter's recruiting class important. Purdue has got to find some depth on the bench to spell their starters. They've loaded up on frontcourt players (four of the five incoming freshmen are forwards/centers) but none of them really spell "superstar. Patrick Bade has the potential to garner the most playing time of them all and has a Big Ten-ready body (6'8", 225 lbs.). D.J. Byrd has got game, but with so many other guards ahead of him, it might be difficult to earn playing time.
Interestingly, each of them are from the state of Indiana. For those of you at home keeping tabs on the recruiting battle between Purdue and Indiana, the Boilermakers are clearly winning that one. They've haven't had to stray outside their state borders to grab the talent they need. IU's Tom Crean is still building relationships with high school coaches throughout the state, but it's very obvious Painter has a leg up on his counterpart to the south, at least for now.
Purdue's lineup, complete with their coach and playing experience, make them my choice to win the Big Ten. Here's a rundown of how I think the conference will play out:
1. Purdue
2. Michigan State
3. Ohio State
4. Minnesota
5. Illinois
6. Michigan
7. Wisconsin
8. Penn State
9. Indiana
10. Northwestern
11. Iowa
What are your thoughts?
Photo: Indianapolis Star
Monday, May 4, 2009
2010 Preview: Michigan State
No other team in the nation has done what Michigan State has this decade. They've made five Final Four trips in the past ten years, including winning the 'ship in 2000 with Mateen Cleaves and the "Flintstones". They play their best basketball of the year when it matters most (March) and they've proven to be the most feared team in the conference. Expect them to contend for a conference championship, but they aren't my 2010 Big Ten champion...
Key Returnees: G Kalin Lucas (2009 Big Ten Player of the Year), F Raymar Morgan, F Delvon Roe
Key Departures: G Travis Walton (2009 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year), F/C Goran Suton, F Marquise Gray
Recruits: C Garrick Sherman (Kenton, OH), C Derrick Nix (Detroit, MI), F Dion Sims (Orchard Lake, MI)
Biggest Need: Off-guard
2010 Outlook: The Spartans got as far as any team could without taking home any championship hardware, getting pummeled by North Carolina in the national championship game last month. Yet, the majority of their key pieces return next season and a trip to the Final Four in Indianapolis, another site in close proximity for Spartan fans, isn't out of the question.
Kalin Lucas was somewhat of a surprise pick for the conference's Player of the Year, but he proved he deserved that award after the NCAA Tournament he had. He's crazy good with the basketball and extremely quick, both traits coaches look for in a purebred point guard. He has complete command of his team at all times, and make no mistake, it is HIS team. He's a sure-fire lock for preseason all-Big Ten. Lucas could improve his shooting touch but there aren't too many areas of his game that need work.
Delvon Roe battled a knee injury during the early parts of the season and never looked to be fully healed from it. When 100%, Roe is a beast on the glass and a perfect low-post compliment for the barrage of shooters Michigan State will have on the wings. Expect him to be much more involved in the offensive and really blossom in his second year under Tom Izzo.
Raymar Morgan had a similar bout with pnemonia during the midway stages of the season and that seemed to slow him down. He's a much better player than he shows on the court and has got to improve consistency in order to be the second scoring option that the Spartans need him to be. He's got the athletic ability and basketball talent, but he has yet to put it all together. Could this be the year for him?
Travis Walton was the leader last year, but with his defensive grit gone, a gaping hole is left next to Lucas in the backcourt. Izzo has a few options to fill his spot, including Chris Allen, Durrell Summers and Korie Lucious. Allen is as streaky of a shooter as there is in the Big Ten, but he has unbelieveable range and a sweet-looking stroke from the arc. Summers is an athletic freak who loves to play above the rim. And Lucious is another speedy guard who grasped Michigan State's run-and-gun offense well in his freshman season. One of those three is likely to start with the other two being valuable backcourt weapons off the bench. My money is on Allen to start.
Michigan State is one of the nation's best rebounding teams and they'll need to find some bigger bodies down low to help maintain that edge. Suton and fellow big man Marquise Gray are gone, but they bring in two vastly different centers to help replace them. Garrick Sherman (6'10", 225) is longer and leaner while Derrick Nix (6'9", 275) is stronger and bulkier. They probably won't go exclusively with the 6'8" Roe, though it would allow them to get out and run even more with a three-guard offense.
Izzo has some options to tweak his starting lineup, but expect the Spartans to turn their basketball games into a sprinting contest. They are most fluid when they are on the run with their frantic style and most teams, especially in the Big Ten, simply cannot keep up with their athletes. They'll be the favorites to win the Big Ten come October; whether they do is a different story. But make no mistake, Michigan State will be dancing once again in March and if this past season was any indication, they are likely to go far once again.
Next Up: Purdue
Photo: StilletoSetSports.com
Key Returnees: G Kalin Lucas (2009 Big Ten Player of the Year), F Raymar Morgan, F Delvon Roe
Key Departures: G Travis Walton (2009 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year), F/C Goran Suton, F Marquise Gray
Recruits: C Garrick Sherman (Kenton, OH), C Derrick Nix (Detroit, MI), F Dion Sims (Orchard Lake, MI)
Biggest Need: Off-guard
2010 Outlook: The Spartans got as far as any team could without taking home any championship hardware, getting pummeled by North Carolina in the national championship game last month. Yet, the majority of their key pieces return next season and a trip to the Final Four in Indianapolis, another site in close proximity for Spartan fans, isn't out of the question.
Kalin Lucas was somewhat of a surprise pick for the conference's Player of the Year, but he proved he deserved that award after the NCAA Tournament he had. He's crazy good with the basketball and extremely quick, both traits coaches look for in a purebred point guard. He has complete command of his team at all times, and make no mistake, it is HIS team. He's a sure-fire lock for preseason all-Big Ten. Lucas could improve his shooting touch but there aren't too many areas of his game that need work.
Delvon Roe battled a knee injury during the early parts of the season and never looked to be fully healed from it. When 100%, Roe is a beast on the glass and a perfect low-post compliment for the barrage of shooters Michigan State will have on the wings. Expect him to be much more involved in the offensive and really blossom in his second year under Tom Izzo.
Raymar Morgan had a similar bout with pnemonia during the midway stages of the season and that seemed to slow him down. He's a much better player than he shows on the court and has got to improve consistency in order to be the second scoring option that the Spartans need him to be. He's got the athletic ability and basketball talent, but he has yet to put it all together. Could this be the year for him?
Travis Walton was the leader last year, but with his defensive grit gone, a gaping hole is left next to Lucas in the backcourt. Izzo has a few options to fill his spot, including Chris Allen, Durrell Summers and Korie Lucious. Allen is as streaky of a shooter as there is in the Big Ten, but he has unbelieveable range and a sweet-looking stroke from the arc. Summers is an athletic freak who loves to play above the rim. And Lucious is another speedy guard who grasped Michigan State's run-and-gun offense well in his freshman season. One of those three is likely to start with the other two being valuable backcourt weapons off the bench. My money is on Allen to start.
Michigan State is one of the nation's best rebounding teams and they'll need to find some bigger bodies down low to help maintain that edge. Suton and fellow big man Marquise Gray are gone, but they bring in two vastly different centers to help replace them. Garrick Sherman (6'10", 225) is longer and leaner while Derrick Nix (6'9", 275) is stronger and bulkier. They probably won't go exclusively with the 6'8" Roe, though it would allow them to get out and run even more with a three-guard offense.
Izzo has some options to tweak his starting lineup, but expect the Spartans to turn their basketball games into a sprinting contest. They are most fluid when they are on the run with their frantic style and most teams, especially in the Big Ten, simply cannot keep up with their athletes. They'll be the favorites to win the Big Ten come October; whether they do is a different story. But make no mistake, Michigan State will be dancing once again in March and if this past season was any indication, they are likely to go far once again.
Next Up: Purdue
Photo: StilletoSetSports.com
Saturday, May 2, 2009
2010 Preview: Ohio State
Looking back, the 2008-09 season has to be a successful one for Thad Matta. He won 20 games (again), made the NCAA Tournament (again), and was finally able to keep a superstar on campus (Evan Turner).
Key Returnees: G/F Evan Turner, G William Buford, G David Lighty, G/F Jon Diebler
Key Departures: C B.J. Mullens
Recruits: None
Biggest Need: Center
2010 Outlook: With the exception of Mullens, Ohio State returns everybody next year. Seriously. Look over their roster and you'll find there are no seniors. If you're looking for a team with complete chemistry and continuity, you've found it in Ohio State.
As mentioned above, the Buckeyes got a huge boost when Evan Turner decided to stay in Columbus for at least another season. Turner used this past season as a springboard to the national spotlight and was one of the nation's breakout players. He should be one of the frontrunners for the conferece's Most Valuable Player award if he's able to stay healthy. Through two years, he's been very durable, but Ohio State's season likely rides on Turner's continued improvement.
Mullens' defection to the pros certainly hurts the Buckeyes, as he is the third-straight center to bolt early for the NBA, joining past Buckeyes Greg Oden and Kosta Koufos. The good news is that Dallas Lauderdale proved himself to be a solid defensive replacement. He's not much for offense and he doesn't have ideal height (6'8"), but Lauderdale is one of the Big Ten's craftier post defenders. He's got a seven-foot wingspan and can turn a game into his own personal block party.
While Laurderdale likely gets the nod to start come November, that doesn't mean Matta isn't looking for more frontcourt depth. Kyle Madsen provided some quality minutes last year, but he isn't a complete player by any means. Other options on the bench are forward Nikola Kecman and UAB transfer Zisis Sarikopoulous. I'm not going to even try to pronounce that, but Big Z has got size in spades, standing at 7-feet and weighing close to 270 lbs. Could he be the next best center in Ohio State's history?
Ohio State has no recruits coming in next season, but they get better and deeper with the return of David Lighty. He missed most of last season after breaking his foot in the nonconference slate and has gained a medical redshirt, giving him two more years of eligibility. He is the Buckeyes' X-Factor and most experienced player. Remember, he was a freshman when Oden and Co. went to the national championship game in 2007. If he can return to form, that's a major shot in the arm for this team.
With essentially their whole roster back and armed with one of the conference's best players, Ohio State is going to be dangerous team next season. They should contend for a conference title and be a lock for yet another NCAA Tournament berth.
Next Up: Michigan State
Photo: chantrant.com
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
2010 Preview: Minnesota
Glory days have returned to Minnesota basketball, at least from where I'm sitting. Gone are the Dan Monson days of mediocrity. After luring Tubby Smith to the Twin Cities two years ago, Minnesota has a decent crop of talent and the biggest bench in the conference.
Key Returnees: F Damian Johnson, G Lawrence Westbrook, G Al Nolen
Key Departures: None
Recruits: F Royce White (Hopkins, MN), G/F Rodney Williams (New Hope, MN), G Justin Cobbs (Torrance, CA), G Bryant Allen (Maplewood, MO), F Trevor Mbakwe (Miami, FL)
Need: Star Player
2010 Outlook: With Minnesota, what you see is what you get, at least in Smith's first two seasons. Looking at their roster, there isn't one guy that can change a game on the offensive end. Each player is complimentary to the next. Some shoot threes, some distribute, some rebound, but there isn't one guy that can do all of those things consistently. At least not yet. Defensively, though, Minnesota was one of the best teams in the nation. Damian Johnson didn't get enough credit for his defense, dispite the fact he was shot-altering machine. And anybody who follows Big Ten basetkball knows what Al Nolen can do on the defensive end. Don't expect that defensive tenacity to go away.
Incoming freshman Royce White can do those things offensively for the Golden Gophers. He's got about as much hype as any freshmen in Minnesota history and he hasn't even played a minute in the Maroon & Gold. The 6'7", 210 lb. small forward is ranked as No. 19 on Rivals.Com's Top 150 for 2009 (second-best small forward) and was a McDonald's All-American. Expect him to log major minutes next season and be the pre-season front runner for Big Ten Freshman of the Year. The kid's got game.
His fellow incoming freshmen aren't too shabby, either. Rodney Williams is a good complimentary swingman who has good size for the off-guard position (6'5", 185). They've got two good point guards in Justin Cobbs and Bryant Allen, and power forward Trevor Mbakwe has been drawing rave reviews for his physical low-post style. Don't forget this Minnesota team really didn't even lose much. Backup center Jonathan Williams was the only departing senior, while both Travis Busch and Kevin Payton decided to get forgo their senior seasons and graduate. A sure-fire Top 25 recruiting class for Smith. The rich get richer, as they say.
Minnesota's emergence as a contender likely depends on the development of big men Ralph Sampson III and Colton Iverson. They looked lost at times as freshmen, but Gopher fans are hoping they can improve as much from year one to year two as Illinois' similar tandem of Mike Davis and Mike Tisdale. They've got the size, and that's something you need in the Big Ten.
I think of any team in the Big Ten, Minnesota has all the right pieces. They've got the coach who has been to the promise land before (Smith), a good mix of youth (White, Williams) and experience (Johnson, Westbrook), a deep bench (Blake Hoffarber, Devoe Joseph, Paul Carter, Devron Bostick) a tenacious defense and an unselfish offense. They have the versatility to go big or small, fast or slow. I said this earlier this month, but do not be surprised to see Minnesota in the Sweet 16 come March. If everything falls together, the 2010 season can be a special one.
Photo: ESPN.Com
Next: Ohio State
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
2010 Preview: Illinois
Like Michigan, Illinois surprised many people with their quick rebound this year, proving that the utter disappointment called the 2007 season was just a fluke. Loaded with a trio of talented juniors-to-be and solid back-to-back recruiting classes this year and next, Illinois looks to stay at the top half of the Big Ten, a place they've grown accustomed to this decade.
Key Returnees: C Mike Tisdale, F Mike Davis, G Demetri McCamey
Key Departures: G Chester Frazier, G Trent Meacham, G/F Calvin Brock
Recruits: G D.J. Richardson (Henderson, NV), G Brandon Paul (Gurnee, IL), F Tyler Griffey (Ballwin, MO), G Joseph Bertrand (Sterling, IL)
Need: Point guard
2010 Outlook: From the looks of things, Illinois has the most balanced starting lineup in the league and that's just based on the guys they have coming back. There is no more talented frontcourt duo than Tisdale an Davis and the scary fact is these kids were only sophomores last year. If you're another Big Ten team, who do you guard? Do you double Tisdale and leave Davis open? They both can extend out to the three-point line and knock down shots but it's really a pick your poison situation. They'll both find ways to beat you. Granted they hit a bit of a wall in March, but that should pay them dividends next year.
Illinois will go as far as those three take them. McCamey has shown on more than one occasion that he is capable of taking a game over on the offensive end, but he needs to be more consistent on the defensive side. He's got the ability to play both guard positions, and with Illinois in need of a true point guard after Chester Frazier's graduation, head coach Bruce Weber might hand the reins over Jeff Jordan (right). I really liked what I saw of this guy last year. He's a tenacious, ball-hawking defender with speed and good passing ability. You won't get much offense out of him, but if you're looking for a smart player who can disseminate the ball and run an offense, which I
believe Weber wants, it's Jordan's job to lose.
Of course, some incoming freshmen will push him for playing time. Weber is bringing in three shooting-guard prospects, with Paul probably being the most capable of playing the point. It's interesting; both Paul, Richardson and Bertrand committed to Illinois in October 2007 as juniors, hinting to me that the three of them have great chemistry together. Richardson was in Peoria, IL, at the time of his committment and getting three of the top in-state players for 2009 is huge for Weber, perhaps finally putting to rest questions of his inability to keep top talent inside the state of Illinois (see: John Scheyer, Julian Wright, Jerel McNeal, Sherron Collins, Bobby Frasor, Evan Turner, Shaun Livingston). And if you think this recruiting class is good, head over to Rivals.Com and check out Illinois' class for 2010.
The wildcard here is Alex Legion. The former four-star prospect and Kentucky transfer has the athletic gifts to play in the Big Ten and the game to go with it. However, the general consensus among Illinois fans last year is that Legion seemed disinterested in playing, saying that he didn't have a lot of heart. Maybe that explains why Legion was exlusively a bench player last year, getting minimal minutes on a team that he should probably be starting for. If he can jump into the starting lineup at the small forward position next year, it's just another weapon for the Fighting Illini.
Next Up: Minnesota
(photo from SI.com)
Key Returnees: C Mike Tisdale, F Mike Davis, G Demetri McCamey
Key Departures: G Chester Frazier, G Trent Meacham, G/F Calvin Brock
Recruits: G D.J. Richardson (Henderson, NV), G Brandon Paul (Gurnee, IL), F Tyler Griffey (Ballwin, MO), G Joseph Bertrand (Sterling, IL)
Need: Point guard
2010 Outlook: From the looks of things, Illinois has the most balanced starting lineup in the league and that's just based on the guys they have coming back. There is no more talented frontcourt duo than Tisdale an Davis and the scary fact is these kids were only sophomores last year. If you're another Big Ten team, who do you guard? Do you double Tisdale and leave Davis open? They both can extend out to the three-point line and knock down shots but it's really a pick your poison situation. They'll both find ways to beat you. Granted they hit a bit of a wall in March, but that should pay them dividends next year.
Illinois will go as far as those three take them. McCamey has shown on more than one occasion that he is capable of taking a game over on the offensive end, but he needs to be more consistent on the defensive side. He's got the ability to play both guard positions, and with Illinois in need of a true point guard after Chester Frazier's graduation, head coach Bruce Weber might hand the reins over Jeff Jordan (right). I really liked what I saw of this guy last year. He's a tenacious, ball-hawking defender with speed and good passing ability. You won't get much offense out of him, but if you're looking for a smart player who can disseminate the ball and run an offense, which I
believe Weber wants, it's Jordan's job to lose.Of course, some incoming freshmen will push him for playing time. Weber is bringing in three shooting-guard prospects, with Paul probably being the most capable of playing the point. It's interesting; both Paul, Richardson and Bertrand committed to Illinois in October 2007 as juniors, hinting to me that the three of them have great chemistry together. Richardson was in Peoria, IL, at the time of his committment and getting three of the top in-state players for 2009 is huge for Weber, perhaps finally putting to rest questions of his inability to keep top talent inside the state of Illinois (see: John Scheyer, Julian Wright, Jerel McNeal, Sherron Collins, Bobby Frasor, Evan Turner, Shaun Livingston). And if you think this recruiting class is good, head over to Rivals.Com and check out Illinois' class for 2010.
The wildcard here is Alex Legion. The former four-star prospect and Kentucky transfer has the athletic gifts to play in the Big Ten and the game to go with it. However, the general consensus among Illinois fans last year is that Legion seemed disinterested in playing, saying that he didn't have a lot of heart. Maybe that explains why Legion was exlusively a bench player last year, getting minimal minutes on a team that he should probably be starting for. If he can jump into the starting lineup at the small forward position next year, it's just another weapon for the Fighting Illini.
Next Up: Minnesota
(photo from SI.com)
Sunday, April 26, 2009
2010 Preview: Michigan
No team improved more in one year than Michigan did in John Beilein's second year. After winning only 10 games in 2007, the Wolverines won 22 this year, making the NCAA Tournament for the first time in over a decade. Now, with stars Manny Harris and DeShawn Sims returning to Ann Arbor next year, the Wolverines will only get stronger.
Key Returnees: G Manny Harris, F DeShawn Sims, G Stu Douglass, G/F Zack Novak
Key Departures: G C.J. Lee
Recruits: G Darius Morris (Los Angeles, CA), F Blake McLimans (Worcester, MA), F Jordan Morgan (Detroit, MI), G Matt Vogrich (Lake Forest, IL)
Biggest Need: Point guard
2010 Outlook: Michigan will go as high in 2010 as Sims and Harris take them. They were the most dangerous offensive tandem in the Big Ten and flirted with the possibility of going to the NBA. Harris was a do-it-all kind of player for Beilein; statistically, he was top ten in points-per-game, rebounds-per-game and assists-per game. And Sims was as durable as a power forward as there was in the league.
This Michigan team is guard-oriented and guard-heavy. Zack Novak, Stu Douglass, Laval Lucas-Perry, Jevohn Shepherd and Anthony Wright were capable role-players last year, with somebody different every night becoming the third offensive option. Novak and Douglass were fixtures in the starting lineup last year as freshmen and big things are expected from them next season. Incoming freshman Matt Vogrich was one of the best shooters in the state of Illinois last season and should be next in line for playing time after Novak and Douglass.
But Michigan is lacking a true point guard to run things. Harris and Douglass occassionally ran the show last year, but they are more suited in the off-guard position. C.J. Lee started at point guard down the stretch, but with his graduation and the departures of David Merrit and Kelvin Grady leave Michigan without a point guard. Perhaps Beilein is banking on incoming freshman Darius Morris (#77 on Rivals.com's Top 150 for 2009) to come in and assume that role. He's an explosive guard, averaging 26 ppg at the high school level and can create for himself and his teammates.
Michigan virtually has all the pieces coming back next year to make another run at the NCAA Tournament. If Sims and Harris can stay healthy, expect to see Michigan in contention for an at-large spot next March. This is still a young team, but Beilein has them on the right track.
Next Up: Illinois
Key Returnees: G Manny Harris, F DeShawn Sims, G Stu Douglass, G/F Zack Novak
Key Departures: G C.J. Lee
Recruits: G Darius Morris (Los Angeles, CA), F Blake McLimans (Worcester, MA), F Jordan Morgan (Detroit, MI), G Matt Vogrich (Lake Forest, IL)
Biggest Need: Point guard
2010 Outlook: Michigan will go as high in 2010 as Sims and Harris take them. They were the most dangerous offensive tandem in the Big Ten and flirted with the possibility of going to the NBA. Harris was a do-it-all kind of player for Beilein; statistically, he was top ten in points-per-game, rebounds-per-game and assists-per game. And Sims was as durable as a power forward as there was in the league.
This Michigan team is guard-oriented and guard-heavy. Zack Novak, Stu Douglass, Laval Lucas-Perry, Jevohn Shepherd and Anthony Wright were capable role-players last year, with somebody different every night becoming the third offensive option. Novak and Douglass were fixtures in the starting lineup last year as freshmen and big things are expected from them next season. Incoming freshman Matt Vogrich was one of the best shooters in the state of Illinois last season and should be next in line for playing time after Novak and Douglass.
But Michigan is lacking a true point guard to run things. Harris and Douglass occassionally ran the show last year, but they are more suited in the off-guard position. C.J. Lee started at point guard down the stretch, but with his graduation and the departures of David Merrit and Kelvin Grady leave Michigan without a point guard. Perhaps Beilein is banking on incoming freshman Darius Morris (#77 on Rivals.com's Top 150 for 2009) to come in and assume that role. He's an explosive guard, averaging 26 ppg at the high school level and can create for himself and his teammates.
Michigan virtually has all the pieces coming back next year to make another run at the NCAA Tournament. If Sims and Harris can stay healthy, expect to see Michigan in contention for an at-large spot next March. This is still a young team, but Beilein has them on the right track.
Next Up: Illinois
Friday, April 24, 2009
Michigan's Sims, Harris To Return
Michigan head coach John Beilein has announced that stars Manny Harris and DeShawn Sims will return to Ann Arbor next season. Losing them would have been a big loss to the Wolverines, but with their return, Michigan shouldn't skip a beat.
"In order to address the speculation around DeShawn and Manny's future we are announcing that both these young men have decided to continue their respective educational paths here at the University of Michigan," said Beilein. "Since the completion of our season we have gathered enough information for everyone to feel good about this decision. I am anxious to see their continued growth and I am excited to coach these two, as well as the rest of the team next season."
Link
"In order to address the speculation around DeShawn and Manny's future we are announcing that both these young men have decided to continue their respective educational paths here at the University of Michigan," said Beilein. "Since the completion of our season we have gathered enough information for everyone to feel good about this decision. I am anxious to see their continued growth and I am excited to coach these two, as well as the rest of the team next season."
Link
Thursday, April 23, 2009
2010 Preview: Wisconsin
Wisconsin continues to amaze. Their slow pace and rugged defense earned them another trip to the NCAA Tournament this year, despite a mid-season six-game losing streak. They managed to pull off an upset of the fifth-seeded Florida State Seminoles thanks to a game-winning layup overtime layup by Trevon Hughes (In case you were asleep or missed it, thank God for YouTube).
Key Returnees: G Trevon Hughes, G Jason Bohannon, F Jon Leuer
Key Departures: F Joe Krabbenhoft, F Marcus Landry
Recruits: F Mike Bruesewitz (Mendota Heights, MN), G Diamond Taylor (Bolingbrook, IL)
Need: Small Forward
2010 Outlook: There's good news and bad news for Wisconsin fans. The bad news is that you have to replace pieces in the frontcourt. The good news is two-fold: a.) Bo Ryan has stockpiled size, and b) the backcourt returns. We'll get to that in a minute.
Replacing Krabbenhoft's toughness and Landry's leadership will be difficult. For his four-year career, Krabbenhoft was the glue that kept the Badgers together, always diving for loose balls and doing the little things to help his team win. Landry was arguably their most polished offensive player and could go outside or in. Couple their departures with the losses of Brian Butch and Greg Stiemsma from a year ago and you'll find that Wisconsin has to replace the starting power forward and center in consecutive seasons. But as I mentioned earlier, there are replacements in the wings.
Jon Leuer is a good place to start. While maybe not capable to be a true low-post presence, Leuer's size at 6'10" and unusual quickness makes him a defensive mismatch for any team. His stats may not have shown in this past year, but he has a breakout year and will very much be a part of the mix next year. Keaton Nankivil (6'8", 240) got some experience last year and should also be in the mix for some playing time. And don't forget massive centers Ian Markolf (7'0", 270) and Jered Berggren (6'10", 235) who didn't even play this past season. In terms of replacing Krabbenhoft, junior-to-be Tim Jarmusz looks capable of assuming that do-everything role, as does incoming freshman Mike Bruesewitz.
Wisconsin should be strong in the backcourt, with starting guards Trevon Hughes and Jason Bohannon both returning for their senior seasons. A forgotten name amidst the guards is Jordan Taylor, who is prime for a breakout season next year as a sophomore. Taylor has got a Big Ten-ready body and the game to go with it. He may not start next year, but you best believe he'll play often. He won't be the only "Taylor" on the team next year, as incoming freshman Diamond Taylor (no relation) will push for playing time.
Wisconsin has the necessary pieces to make it back to another NCAA Tournament, but the emergence and development of their bigs will play a big factor in that. The steadiness and continuity of the guards are a good place to start for any team looking to dance into March and if we know Bo Ryan, that's where Wisconsin will be.
Next Up: Michigan
Key Returnees: G Trevon Hughes, G Jason Bohannon, F Jon Leuer
Key Departures: F Joe Krabbenhoft, F Marcus Landry
Recruits: F Mike Bruesewitz (Mendota Heights, MN), G Diamond Taylor (Bolingbrook, IL)
Need: Small Forward
2010 Outlook: There's good news and bad news for Wisconsin fans. The bad news is that you have to replace pieces in the frontcourt. The good news is two-fold: a.) Bo Ryan has stockpiled size, and b) the backcourt returns. We'll get to that in a minute.
Replacing Krabbenhoft's toughness and Landry's leadership will be difficult. For his four-year career, Krabbenhoft was the glue that kept the Badgers together, always diving for loose balls and doing the little things to help his team win. Landry was arguably their most polished offensive player and could go outside or in. Couple their departures with the losses of Brian Butch and Greg Stiemsma from a year ago and you'll find that Wisconsin has to replace the starting power forward and center in consecutive seasons. But as I mentioned earlier, there are replacements in the wings.
Jon Leuer is a good place to start. While maybe not capable to be a true low-post presence, Leuer's size at 6'10" and unusual quickness makes him a defensive mismatch for any team. His stats may not have shown in this past year, but he has a breakout year and will very much be a part of the mix next year. Keaton Nankivil (6'8", 240) got some experience last year and should also be in the mix for some playing time. And don't forget massive centers Ian Markolf (7'0", 270) and Jered Berggren (6'10", 235) who didn't even play this past season. In terms of replacing Krabbenhoft, junior-to-be Tim Jarmusz looks capable of assuming that do-everything role, as does incoming freshman Mike Bruesewitz.
Wisconsin should be strong in the backcourt, with starting guards Trevon Hughes and Jason Bohannon both returning for their senior seasons. A forgotten name amidst the guards is Jordan Taylor, who is prime for a breakout season next year as a sophomore. Taylor has got a Big Ten-ready body and the game to go with it. He may not start next year, but you best believe he'll play often. He won't be the only "Taylor" on the team next year, as incoming freshman Diamond Taylor (no relation) will push for playing time.
Wisconsin has the necessary pieces to make it back to another NCAA Tournament, but the emergence and development of their bigs will play a big factor in that. The steadiness and continuity of the guards are a good place to start for any team looking to dance into March and if we know Bo Ryan, that's where Wisconsin will be.
Next Up: Michigan
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
2009/10 Big Ten-ACC Challenge Announced
The slate of games for next year's Big Ten/ACC Challenge was announced Wednesday. All games will be televised on the ESPN family of networks.
Monday, Nov. 30
Penn State at Virginia
Tuesday, Dec. 1
Maryland at Indiana
Michigan State at North Carolina
Northwestern at North Carolina State
Virginia Tech at Iowa
Wake Forest at Purdue
Wednesday, Dec. 2
Boston College at Michigan
Duke at Wisconsin
Florida State at Ohio State
Illinois at Clemson
Minnesota at Miami (FL)
My thoughts: The Big Ten has never won this challenge, but I think their draws are favorable. A Michigan State/North Carolina re-match will be the Challenge's marquee match-up and will be a chance for Michigan State to extract a little revenge after losing to the Tar Heels in the national championship game earlier this month.
Monday, Nov. 30
Penn State at Virginia
Tuesday, Dec. 1
Maryland at Indiana
Michigan State at North Carolina
Northwestern at North Carolina State
Virginia Tech at Iowa
Wake Forest at Purdue
Wednesday, Dec. 2
Boston College at Michigan
Duke at Wisconsin
Florida State at Ohio State
Illinois at Clemson
Minnesota at Miami (FL)
My thoughts: The Big Ten has never won this challenge, but I think their draws are favorable. A Michigan State/North Carolina re-match will be the Challenge's marquee match-up and will be a chance for Michigan State to extract a little revenge after losing to the Tar Heels in the national championship game earlier this month.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
2010 Preview: Penn State
Penn State surprised many by finishing as high as they did in the Big Ten last year. Thanks to inspired play by Jamelle Cornley and Talor Battle, the Nittany Lions just barely missed out on an NCAA Tournament berth. Despite being one of the last couple teams left out, Penn State used their passion and fire to sweep through the NIT, defeating George Mason, Rhode Island, Florida, Notre Dame and Baylor to give the conference two NIT championships in the last two years (Ohio State won it last year).
Coach Ed DeChellis came into this last season on the hot seat. The majority of his seasons in Happy Valley were underachieveing, but it will be interesting to see how he responds after having a successful season. It's uncharted territory for him and his team, but it's a place he'll gladly take. All signs point to Penn State not regressing. While they may not be as talented as last year's team, they certaintly are going to be a team that "Battles" with everybody.
What should we expect from Penn State next year?
Key Returnees: G Talor Battle, F Andrew Jones, F Jeff Brooks
Key Departures: F Jamelle Cornley, G Stanley Pringle, G Danny Morrissey
Recruits: G Tim Frazier (Houston, TX), G Jermaine Marshall (Lewsiberry, PA), F Sasa Borovnjak (Fletcher, NC)
Biggest Need: Off-guard
2010 Outlook: Of all the conference's teams, you could argue Penn State loses the most. Jamelle Cornley was the heart and soul of that team and putting Battle's ridiculous late-game heroics aside, Cornley would simply let passion and put the Nittany Lions on his back, refusing to lose. Penn State needs to find a way to replace that because it made them so successful last year. The losses of Battle's backcourt mates also hurts, as Penn State needs to replace Morrissey's three-point shooting and Pringle's all-around solid play.
Battle proved to be one of the conference's best players last year and was a first team all-Big Ten selection. Love him or hate him, Battle wanted the ball in his hands with the game on the line and delivered on more than one occassion. He's got everything you like in a point guard: he's aggressive, he can create his own shot or distribute to others, he can handle the ball and he's a pesky defender. He'll be one of the conference's elite players next year and even has a cadre of his own fans.
The one thing Penn State has an abundance in is power forwards. Brooks, Jones and David "D.J." Jackson are all in the same mold, though none is really better than the other. If anything, they were complimentary role players last year, taking a back seat to Cornely, Battle and Pringle on the offensive side. Next year, Penn State's chances likely lie on their shoulders. Look for them to take much bigger roles.
Coach Ed DeChellis came into this last season on the hot seat. The majority of his seasons in Happy Valley were underachieveing, but it will be interesting to see how he responds after having a successful season. It's uncharted territory for him and his team, but it's a place he'll gladly take. All signs point to Penn State not regressing. While they may not be as talented as last year's team, they certaintly are going to be a team that "Battles" with everybody.
Monday, April 20, 2009
What Could Have Been? Ohio State
For the sake of argumentation, let's have a little bit of fun real quick.
Take this year's Ohio State team. They made the NCAA Tournament as a nine seed before losing to Siena in overtime in Dayton last month. They already had a pretty young team, but if not for five early defections to the NBA in the past three seasons (including big man B.J. Mullens, who has already declared), the Buckeyes could have had a loaded team this year. Take a look:
PG -- Mike Conley Jr. (now with the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies)
SG -- Daequan Cook (now with the NBA's Miami Heat)
SF -- Evan Turner (first team all-Big Ten selection this year)
PF -- Kosta Koufos (now with the the NBA's Utah Jazz)
C -- Greg Oden (now with the NBA's Portland Trailblazers)
The bench? Not too shabby, either. Think of Mullens, David Lighty, Jon Diebler, William Buford and Dallas Lauderdale. That's a team that can go ten-deep. Is there any doubter out there that thinks that team would not have been a legit Final Four contender?
In wake of their departures, Matta continues to reload and win. He has turned Ohio State into a launching board towards the pros, which is attracting top recruits to Columbus. Now, all he has to do is convince them to stay. If he can do that, Ohio State has a shot at winning a national championship.
To further illustrate my point, take a look at the list below. Matta has always been a fantastic recruiter, but take a quick look at his 2010 recruiting class list. NOTE: Due to no graduating scholarship seniors, Ohio State has no signees for 2009, though Mullens' departure opens one spot up.
-- Jordan Sibert, a 6'4" shooting guard from Cincinnati, OH (five-star; ranked #18 on Rivals.com's 2010 Top 150)
-- Lenzelle Smith, Jr., a 6'3" shooting guard from Zion, IL (four-star; ranked #97 on Rivals.com's 2010 Top 150)
-- Jared Sullinger, a 6'8" power forward from Columbus, OH (five-star; ranked #3 on Rivals.com's 2010 Top 150)
-- DeShaun Thomas, a 6'6" power forward from Fort Wayne, IN (five-star; ranked #8 on Rivals.com's 2010 Top 150)
-- Cameron Wright, a 6'5" shooting guard from Cleveland, OH
They're also in the running for five-star prospects Adreian Payne (Dayton, OH) and Dominique Ferguson (Indianapolis, IN). Matta is going for it all and succeeding.
Think their future is in good hands?
Take this year's Ohio State team. They made the NCAA Tournament as a nine seed before losing to Siena in overtime in Dayton last month. They already had a pretty young team, but if not for five early defections to the NBA in the past three seasons (including big man B.J. Mullens, who has already declared), the Buckeyes could have had a loaded team this year. Take a look:
PG -- Mike Conley Jr. (now with the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies)
SG -- Daequan Cook (now with the NBA's Miami Heat)
SF -- Evan Turner (first team all-Big Ten selection this year)
PF -- Kosta Koufos (now with the the NBA's Utah Jazz)
C -- Greg Oden (now with the NBA's Portland Trailblazers)
The bench? Not too shabby, either. Think of Mullens, David Lighty, Jon Diebler, William Buford and Dallas Lauderdale. That's a team that can go ten-deep. Is there any doubter out there that thinks that team would not have been a legit Final Four contender?
In wake of their departures, Matta continues to reload and win. He has turned Ohio State into a launching board towards the pros, which is attracting top recruits to Columbus. Now, all he has to do is convince them to stay. If he can do that, Ohio State has a shot at winning a national championship.
To further illustrate my point, take a look at the list below. Matta has always been a fantastic recruiter, but take a quick look at his 2010 recruiting class list. NOTE: Due to no graduating scholarship seniors, Ohio State has no signees for 2009, though Mullens' departure opens one spot up.
-- Jordan Sibert, a 6'4" shooting guard from Cincinnati, OH (five-star; ranked #18 on Rivals.com's 2010 Top 150)
-- Lenzelle Smith, Jr., a 6'3" shooting guard from Zion, IL (four-star; ranked #97 on Rivals.com's 2010 Top 150)
-- Jared Sullinger, a 6'8" power forward from Columbus, OH (five-star; ranked #3 on Rivals.com's 2010 Top 150)
-- DeShaun Thomas, a 6'6" power forward from Fort Wayne, IN (five-star; ranked #8 on Rivals.com's 2010 Top 150)
-- Cameron Wright, a 6'5" shooting guard from Cleveland, OH
They're also in the running for five-star prospects Adreian Payne (Dayton, OH) and Dominique Ferguson (Indianapolis, IN). Matta is going for it all and succeeding.
Think their future is in good hands?
Sunday, April 19, 2009
2010 Preview: Indiana
Year one under Tom Crean was about as everyone expected. With virtually nobody returning from the Kelvin Sampson era, Crean was left with a bare cupboard and won just six games in his first year. What's to expect in his second year? 
Key Returnees: F Tom Pritchard, G Devan Dumes, G Verdell Jones III
Key Departures: None
Recruits: F Christian Watford (Birmingham, AL), F Bobby Capobianco (Loveland, OH), G Maurice Creek (Chatham, VA), F Derek Elston (Tipton, IN), G Jordan Hulls (Bloomington, IN), C Bawa Muniru (Durham, NC)
Biggest Need: Balance, depth, athleticism
2010 Outlook: Next year's prognosis might not be that much better, though Hoosier fans can certainly anticipate more than six wins at the end of the season. The team will still be very young, but with an athletic, star-studded recruiting class coming in, Crean will finally have some pieces to work with.
How the six incoming freshmen play is going to be a major storyline for Indiana. Bloomington native Jordan Hulls (#107 on Rivals.Com's 2009 Top 150) was named Indiana's Mr. Basketball this past season and is a smart point guard that can run a team. Crean also has two great wing players coming in, with 6'8" small forward Christian Watford (#41) and 6'5" shooting guard Maurice Creek (#56). With their offensive ability and athleticism, Watford and Creek should be Crean's go-to-guys for the next four years. Forwards Derek Elston (#103) and Bobby Capobianco provide good depth in the front court, while Bawa Muniru (#112) is a physically-imposing center that is still developing.
Aside from those coming in, Indiana has some decent pieces returning. Devan Dumes, a senior next year, will likely return to his spot in the starting lineup. Verdell Jones III is a strong, tall point guard who can do a little bit of everything and Matt Roth, the sharpshooting guard who can fill it up from beyond the arc. Don't forget guard Jeremiah Rivers, who sat out last year after transferring from Georgetown. Expect him to get some minutes, but don't be surprised to see him start.
It won't take Indiana long to return to the top of the conference. While Indiana might not make the NCAA Tournament, a trip to the NIT wouldn't be impossible. They're going to have more depth next year, which should pay them immediate dividends. Those players returning who were coached by Crean last year know what is expected of them, and when that is combined with the influx of youth coming in, Indiana could be a scary team that nobody in the Big Ten wants to face.
Next Up: Penn State
UPDATE: Well, you can scratch Nick Williams off the Hoosiers' roster next year. The freshman has decided to transfer at the end of the semester, according to the Big Ten Network.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
2010 Preview: Northwestern
After taking a look at the Iowa yesterday, let's go to the Chicago area to preview next year's Northwestern Wildcats.
Key Returnees: F Kevin Coble, F John Shurna, G Michael Thompson
Key Departures: G Craig Moore
Recruits: G Drew Crawford (Naperville, IL), G Alex Marcotullio (Warren, MI)
Biggest Need: Center
2010 Outlook: To many, Northwestern probably exceeded expectations last year, going 17-14 and making the NIT. Remember, this same group went 1-17 in the Big Ten the previous year. But this year, they were very competitive in nearly every conference game and even managed to go to East Lansing and beat Michigan State on their home floor.
The question for Northwestern next year will be if they can maintain their success. They've got necessary pieces back to do it, including second team all-Big Ten selection Kevin Coble (left). He was the Wildcats' leading scorer at 15.5 ppg and expect that number to stay the same or even rise next year. Coble's versatility at the forward spot causes mismatch problems for many teams, due to his ability to play inside and out. Also returning are sophomore point guard Michael "Juice" Thompson and Coble-like forward John Shurna. Thompson was a spark for the Wildcat offense and proved himself capable of running Bill Carmody's team.
The knock on Northwestern has always been their lack of a big man; however, they seem to have found one in massive freshman Kyle Rowley (7'0", 280 lbs.). Though still very new to basketball, Rowley is a project-type center that not many teams in the Big Ten can match up with. He only averaged 13 minutes per game this year, but with one full season under his belt, expect him to make huge strides next season and be the immovable object in the paint.
The departure of sharpshooter Craig Moore certainly hurts Northwestern. When the Wildcats needed a big three, Moore was the go-to guy. However, Northwestern fans feel they have a capable replacement in the wings in freshman guard Drew Crawford of Naperville, who is drawing early comparisons to Moore. Don't be surprised to see him in the starting lineup next year.
Next Up: Indiana Hoosiers
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
2010 Preview: Iowa
After this week's bold predictions, let's delve a little deeper into what the conference could look like next year. The next couple of weeks, I'll count down how I think the conference will turn out in 2010, and we'll start with the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Key Returnees: G/F Matt Gatens, G Devan Bawinkel, G Anthony Tucker, F Jarryd Cole
Key Departures: G Jake Kelly, G Jeff Peterson, F Cyrus Tate
Recruits: G/F Eric May (Dubuque, IA), F/C Brennan Cougill (Sioux City, IA), G Cully Payne (Schaumburg, IL), JUCO F Devon Archie (Vincennes, IN)
Biggest Need: Point guard
2010 Outlook: The Hawkeyes have had a roller coaster-like ride in Todd Lickliter's two seasons at the helm, in which they've gone 28-36. They've shown flashes of improvement (and even brilliance) at times, but it's obvious that his system is still being implemented.
Despite the offseason departures of four players, including starters Jake Kelly and Jeff Peterson, Iowa has a pretty good core intact. Matt Gatens had a phenomenal freshman season and will likely be the go-to guy next year. Devan Bawinkel proved to be one of the conference's best three-point threats, as did his teammate, freshman Anthony Tucker, when he was on the floor.
However, Iowa needs to find a point guard to disseminate the offense. Kelly was annoited the point guard of the future after filling in for Peterson late this season, but with both of them gone, a gaping hole was left with no virtual replacement. Hawkeye fans think they've found the answer in Cully Payne, a one-time DePaul and Alabama commitment, but more depth is needed. The only true point guard on the team is walk-on John Lickliter, and he has no collegiate experience after redshirting last year. Every team needs a heady point guard to be successful, but for this system, it's essential. Right now, point guard is a big question mark heading into the offseason.
Iowa will also need to develop some size. The Hawkeyes were out-rebounded and out-muscled too many times last season, especially in Big Ten games because they simply did not have enough size. Jarryd Cole is a tank down low, but his size (6'6") limits his effectiveness. One player to watch here is sophomore-to-be Aaron Fuller (right), who many believe is poised to have a breakout season. He's a tweener-type forward at 6'6", but he can step out and shoot or take it in off the dribble. With one season to work with under his belt, expect Fuller to have a much bigger role in 2010.
Key Returnees: G/F Matt Gatens, G Devan Bawinkel, G Anthony Tucker, F Jarryd Cole
Key Departures: G Jake Kelly, G Jeff Peterson, F Cyrus Tate
Recruits: G/F Eric May (Dubuque, IA), F/C Brennan Cougill (Sioux City, IA), G Cully Payne (Schaumburg, IL), JUCO F Devon Archie (Vincennes, IN)
Biggest Need: Point guard
2010 Outlook: The Hawkeyes have had a roller coaster-like ride in Todd Lickliter's two seasons at the helm, in which they've gone 28-36. They've shown flashes of improvement (and even brilliance) at times, but it's obvious that his system is still being implemented.
Despite the offseason departures of four players, including starters Jake Kelly and Jeff Peterson, Iowa has a pretty good core intact. Matt Gatens had a phenomenal freshman season and will likely be the go-to guy next year. Devan Bawinkel proved to be one of the conference's best three-point threats, as did his teammate, freshman Anthony Tucker, when he was on the floor.
However, Iowa needs to find a point guard to disseminate the offense. Kelly was annoited the point guard of the future after filling in for Peterson late this season, but with both of them gone, a gaping hole was left with no virtual replacement. Hawkeye fans think they've found the answer in Cully Payne, a one-time DePaul and Alabama commitment, but more depth is needed. The only true point guard on the team is walk-on John Lickliter, and he has no collegiate experience after redshirting last year. Every team needs a heady point guard to be successful, but for this system, it's essential. Right now, point guard is a big question mark heading into the offseason.
Iowa will also need to develop some size. The Hawkeyes were out-rebounded and out-muscled too many times last season, especially in Big Ten games because they simply did not have enough size. Jarryd Cole is a tank down low, but his size (6'6") limits his effectiveness. One player to watch here is sophomore-to-be Aaron Fuller (right), who many believe is poised to have a breakout season. He's a tweener-type forward at 6'6", but he can step out and shoot or take it in off the dribble. With one season to work with under his belt, expect Fuller to have a much bigger role in 2010.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
A Few Notes
Few notes from around the league today...
-- As expected, the Michigan duo of Manny Harris and DeShawn Sims will meet with head coach John Beilein this week to discuss their potential draft status, writes Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press. They have until April 26 to declare. Sims said that he are Harris will make the decision together, meaning they will both return or both leave early.
-- A quick update on Illinois commitment Tyler Griffey.
-- A nice AP story on former Ohio State center Greg Oden, as he prepares for his first run in the playoffs with the Portland Trailblazers.
-- Well, not everyone is returning to Minnesota next year. With a big recruiting haul coming in, Kevin Payton and Travis Busch will not return to the team next season. Elsewhere, Myron Medcalf gives an update on Golden Gopher basketball, including his thoughts on recruits Rodney Williams and Trevor Mbakwe.
-- And finally, Wisconsin head man Bo Ryan was named Head Coach for the United States at the World University games this summer in Belgrade, Serbia. He was an assistant twice before, in 1993 and 1995.
-- As expected, the Michigan duo of Manny Harris and DeShawn Sims will meet with head coach John Beilein this week to discuss their potential draft status, writes Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press. They have until April 26 to declare. Sims said that he are Harris will make the decision together, meaning they will both return or both leave early.
-- A quick update on Illinois commitment Tyler Griffey.
-- A nice AP story on former Ohio State center Greg Oden, as he prepares for his first run in the playoffs with the Portland Trailblazers.
-- Well, not everyone is returning to Minnesota next year. With a big recruiting haul coming in, Kevin Payton and Travis Busch will not return to the team next season. Elsewhere, Myron Medcalf gives an update on Golden Gopher basketball, including his thoughts on recruits Rodney Williams and Trevor Mbakwe.
-- And finally, Wisconsin head man Bo Ryan was named Head Coach for the United States at the World University games this summer in Belgrade, Serbia. He was an assistant twice before, in 1993 and 1995.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Big Ten (Eleven) Bold Predictions
It's never too early for predictions. But if there's one thing Big Ten fans know is that the Big Ten is extremely difficult to predict. As I posted last week, you don't know who is going to stay or go, schedules aren't released and injuries are (for the most part) unpredictable.
Yet, here's my lame attempt to try and predict what Big Ten fans will be talking about in just a short 11 months, sorted out by team.
Illinois: Jeff Jordan will start at point guard next year. He may be limited offensively, but he's a tenacious defender and can run the team. If he's anything like his father, Illinois has found a real steal here.
Indiana: The Hoosiers will make the NIT. Asking them to make the NCAA Tournament in just Crean's second year may be a stretch, but an NIT is feasible. Indiana will be clearly upgraded next year with a talented recruiting class. A bump in the road is still possible, but seeing Indiana on the schedule next year won't automatically mean a "W".
Iowa: Anthony Tucker will return to the starting lineup. This isn't a given, of course, considering Tucker's string of off-the-court incidents this past season, but with four players leaving this off-season, Tucker looks in good shape to regain his starting spot.
Michigan: Manny Harris will be the Big Ten's Player of the Year next year, if he stays. Of course, that's the big question. Harris has proven that he's one of the Big Ten's most dynamic players, finishing in top-five in points, rebounds and assists per game.
Michigan State: Delvon Roe will be a monster. He was battling knee injuries and a case of the freshman wall. He definitely showed signs of progress and he's got a permanent spot in the lineup with Goran Suton gone due to graduation. He'll grow into the perfect low-post supplement to Kalin Lucas in the frontcourt.
Minnesota: Tubby Smith will lead the Golden Gophers to the Sweet 16; Royce White will be the Big Ten's Freshman of the Year. Probably the gutsiest prediction of them all, but there's no reason to think they can't do it. They've got all the main pieces back and when you add that Top 25 recruiting class, complete with five-star forward Royce White, the Golden Gophers have some star power and even more depth than last year.
Northwestern: Drew Crawford will be the second coming of Craig Moore. With Moore gone, freshman Drew Crawford (Naperville, Ill.) will have some big shoes to fill at the two spot. He's more than capable, though. While he may not have Moore's unbelievable range, he's got size (6'5", 185). Look for him to make a splash in the Princeton 'O.
Ohio State: Thad Matta will win 20 games... again. He's done it every year in his three head coaching stops (Butler, Xavier, Ohio State) and there's no reason to think he won't do it again. Ohio State's backcourt is loaded and should be their primary strength. They can throw P.J. Hill, William Buford, Jon Diebler, Evan Turner and the healthy David Lighty at any team.
Penn State: Penn State will fall back down to Earth. They'll get Talor Battle back, but they simply lose too much. Replacing Jamelle Cornley, the heart and soul, as well as Battle's backcourt mates Stanley Pringle and Danny Morrissey, will prove to be too much.
Purdue: Purdue will win the Big Ten next year. All the major pieces are slated to come back, and they'll only get better. The bench might be a problem, but they'll have the best starting five in the conference.
Wisconsin: Jon Leuer will have a breakout season. He was juggled between the starting lineup and the bench last year, but expect big things from Leuer next season. His size alone (6'10") presents mismatch problems for every team in the conference and he's not even a center. In a permanent starting role, look for Leuer to wreak havoc on defenses.
What are your bold predictions?
Yet, here's my lame attempt to try and predict what Big Ten fans will be talking about in just a short 11 months, sorted out by team.
Illinois: Jeff Jordan will start at point guard next year. He may be limited offensively, but he's a tenacious defender and can run the team. If he's anything like his father, Illinois has found a real steal here.
Indiana: The Hoosiers will make the NIT. Asking them to make the NCAA Tournament in just Crean's second year may be a stretch, but an NIT is feasible. Indiana will be clearly upgraded next year with a talented recruiting class. A bump in the road is still possible, but seeing Indiana on the schedule next year won't automatically mean a "W".
Iowa: Anthony Tucker will return to the starting lineup. This isn't a given, of course, considering Tucker's string of off-the-court incidents this past season, but with four players leaving this off-season, Tucker looks in good shape to regain his starting spot.
Michigan: Manny Harris will be the Big Ten's Player of the Year next year, if he stays. Of course, that's the big question. Harris has proven that he's one of the Big Ten's most dynamic players, finishing in top-five in points, rebounds and assists per game.
Michigan State: Delvon Roe will be a monster. He was battling knee injuries and a case of the freshman wall. He definitely showed signs of progress and he's got a permanent spot in the lineup with Goran Suton gone due to graduation. He'll grow into the perfect low-post supplement to Kalin Lucas in the frontcourt.
Minnesota: Tubby Smith will lead the Golden Gophers to the Sweet 16; Royce White will be the Big Ten's Freshman of the Year. Probably the gutsiest prediction of them all, but there's no reason to think they can't do it. They've got all the main pieces back and when you add that Top 25 recruiting class, complete with five-star forward Royce White, the Golden Gophers have some star power and even more depth than last year.
Northwestern: Drew Crawford will be the second coming of Craig Moore. With Moore gone, freshman Drew Crawford (Naperville, Ill.) will have some big shoes to fill at the two spot. He's more than capable, though. While he may not have Moore's unbelievable range, he's got size (6'5", 185). Look for him to make a splash in the Princeton 'O.
Ohio State: Thad Matta will win 20 games... again. He's done it every year in his three head coaching stops (Butler, Xavier, Ohio State) and there's no reason to think he won't do it again. Ohio State's backcourt is loaded and should be their primary strength. They can throw P.J. Hill, William Buford, Jon Diebler, Evan Turner and the healthy David Lighty at any team.
Penn State: Penn State will fall back down to Earth. They'll get Talor Battle back, but they simply lose too much. Replacing Jamelle Cornley, the heart and soul, as well as Battle's backcourt mates Stanley Pringle and Danny Morrissey, will prove to be too much.
Purdue: Purdue will win the Big Ten next year. All the major pieces are slated to come back, and they'll only get better. The bench might be a problem, but they'll have the best starting five in the conference.
Wisconsin: Jon Leuer will have a breakout season. He was juggled between the starting lineup and the bench last year, but expect big things from Leuer next season. His size alone (6'10") presents mismatch problems for every team in the conference and he's not even a center. In a permanent starting role, look for Leuer to wreak havoc on defenses.
What are your bold predictions?
Thursday, April 9, 2009
A Quick Diversion: The Strike of '94
As this blog is for a sports writing class, I've been instructed to write about a topic from baseball's dark ages: the lockout of 1994. We'll get back to basketball later.
It's rare when owners, general managers, players and agents are all on the same page. Such is the case during the 1994 MLB lockout. Little could have been done to prevent this.
Everybody was in the market for something different. The owners were divided between big-market teams (New York, Chicago, Boston) who were against a salary cap and small-market (Kansas City, Minneapolis, San Diego) who wanted one. "Even out the odds," the little guys said. "Give us a chance to land a big fish." The players wanted financial security and freedom.
The big fish, at the time, were the Cecil Fielders, the Barry Bondses, and the Nolan Ryans. But the strike ended up being a part of the owners' own greed. As John Helyar, author of Lords of the Realm, writes: "Still, in some large part, it was the owners' own damned fault... Baseball owners, obsessed with denouncing the overpaid players, never did that. As agent Scott Boras once put it, 'If the players were a can of Campbell's soup, the owners would roll it down the aisle, step on it, kick it, call it overrated and overpriced, and then stick it on a shelf and try to sell it.'"
It also didn't help that baseball didn't have a strong leader. Commissioner Fay Vincent was widely unpopular with owners and his three-year reign did little to solve baseball's vast array of problems: revenue-sharing, salary cap, expansion. With Vincent gone and no suitable replacement in tow (though Bug Selig would eventually take over), those charged with running baseball became those with the most power: the owners.
Nobody wanted a work stoppage; not the owners, not the players and certainly not the fans. Some viewed it as just another bump in the road. Others turned the game off entirely. The strike was especially heartbreaking for fans of the former Montreal Expos, who had the best record in baseball at the time of the strike and seemed poised to be legitimate World Series contenders.
Boy, what bad luck for them. The only other time the Expos made the postseason? 1981, the last time a major strike struck baseball. They haven't really been close since.
15 years later, even in a weakend economy, teams still spend with more aggression than before. Take this year's New York Yankees, who spent over $300 million on three players (pitchers C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett and first baseman Mark Teixiera). Imagine, for a moment, if that money was being shelled out back then? Baseball would be in an uproar. If the work stoppage hadn't occured in '94, it most certainly would have happened by now.
For some, the strike of '94 ruined baseball, but in retrospect, it changed the game forever. Denver (Colorado Rockies) and Miami (Florida Marlins) were awarded with franchises shortly before the strike became official and Phoenix (Arizona Diamondbacks) and Tampa Bay (Devil Rays) got theirs in 1998, just three years after the strike ended. Some teams were reassigned (Milwaukee from AL Central to NL Central; Detroit from AL East to AL Central) and a new collective bargaining agreement gave the players and owners both financial flexibility and options.
In the end, the strike came down to one thing: money. Neither the owners nor the players could adequately agree on finances, thus resulting in the the '94 season to be shortened. Did the owners get too greedy? Maybe. Were they wrong? Maybe.
The strike-shortened season of '94 meant there would be no October baseball. There would be no World Series. Essentially, it was one giant arm-wrestling contest between the owners and the players.
Neither side won. Baseball, as a whole, lost.
It's rare when owners, general managers, players and agents are all on the same page. Such is the case during the 1994 MLB lockout. Little could have been done to prevent this.
Everybody was in the market for something different. The owners were divided between big-market teams (New York, Chicago, Boston) who were against a salary cap and small-market (Kansas City, Minneapolis, San Diego) who wanted one. "Even out the odds," the little guys said. "Give us a chance to land a big fish." The players wanted financial security and freedom.
The big fish, at the time, were the Cecil Fielders, the Barry Bondses, and the Nolan Ryans. But the strike ended up being a part of the owners' own greed. As John Helyar, author of Lords of the Realm, writes: "Still, in some large part, it was the owners' own damned fault... Baseball owners, obsessed with denouncing the overpaid players, never did that. As agent Scott Boras once put it, 'If the players were a can of Campbell's soup, the owners would roll it down the aisle, step on it, kick it, call it overrated and overpriced, and then stick it on a shelf and try to sell it.'"
It also didn't help that baseball didn't have a strong leader. Commissioner Fay Vincent was widely unpopular with owners and his three-year reign did little to solve baseball's vast array of problems: revenue-sharing, salary cap, expansion. With Vincent gone and no suitable replacement in tow (though Bug Selig would eventually take over), those charged with running baseball became those with the most power: the owners.
Nobody wanted a work stoppage; not the owners, not the players and certainly not the fans. Some viewed it as just another bump in the road. Others turned the game off entirely. The strike was especially heartbreaking for fans of the former Montreal Expos, who had the best record in baseball at the time of the strike and seemed poised to be legitimate World Series contenders.
Boy, what bad luck for them. The only other time the Expos made the postseason? 1981, the last time a major strike struck baseball. They haven't really been close since.
15 years later, even in a weakend economy, teams still spend with more aggression than before. Take this year's New York Yankees, who spent over $300 million on three players (pitchers C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett and first baseman Mark Teixiera). Imagine, for a moment, if that money was being shelled out back then? Baseball would be in an uproar. If the work stoppage hadn't occured in '94, it most certainly would have happened by now.
For some, the strike of '94 ruined baseball, but in retrospect, it changed the game forever. Denver (Colorado Rockies) and Miami (Florida Marlins) were awarded with franchises shortly before the strike became official and Phoenix (Arizona Diamondbacks) and Tampa Bay (Devil Rays) got theirs in 1998, just three years after the strike ended. Some teams were reassigned (Milwaukee from AL Central to NL Central; Detroit from AL East to AL Central) and a new collective bargaining agreement gave the players and owners both financial flexibility and options.
In the end, the strike came down to one thing: money. Neither the owners nor the players could adequately agree on finances, thus resulting in the the '94 season to be shortened. Did the owners get too greedy? Maybe. Were they wrong? Maybe.
The strike-shortened season of '94 meant there would be no October baseball. There would be no World Series. Essentially, it was one giant arm-wrestling contest between the owners and the players.
Neither side won. Baseball, as a whole, lost.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Should I Stay Or Should I Go?
That's what some of the Big Ten's best players are asking themselves right now. They have until April 26 to declare for the draft, but can withdraw until they officially hire an agent. So what are the chances some of these guys go?
B.J. Mullens (Ohio State)
ESPN's Chad Ford says Mullens is going to declare for the draft because of financial hardships. He came off the bench this year and won the Big Ten's Sixth Man of the Year award. He's got tremendous size and potential.
Chances: 100%.
Evan Turner (Ohio State)
Turner had a breakout season this year for the Buckeyes and looks to be a tweener guard/forward in the NBA with his 6'6", 225 lb. frame. He's got to develop a jump shot, but he said he will return for his junior season next year. He's got the potential to be an All-American candidate. There's still potential for Turner to participate in pre-draft workouts that could change his mind.
Chances: 10%.
DeShawn Sims (Michigan)
After Michigan's loss to Oklahoma two weeks ago, Sims told reporters he would return for his senior season. But head coach John Beilein isn't so sure anymore and didn't give a definitive answer on the radio last week. Sims had a breakout season as well and looks like a good all-around player, but he could use one more season to really solidify himself in the eyes of draft scouts. Ford says he's 50-50 right now, but after Beilein's comments were published, it might be smart to increase those odds.
Chances: 55-60%.
Manny Harris (Michigan)
Harris probably has a better draft status than Sims and has filled up the stat sheet in each of his first two seasons as a Wolverine. He's a complete player but could bulk up a little bit.
Chances: 33%.
JaJuan Johnson (Purdue)
Johnson said he's coming back for his junior season after having a breakout season as a sophomore. He was named first team all-Big Ten this year.
Chances: 0%.
E'Twaun Moore (Purdue)
As I mentioned earlier this week, there's been rumors floating around that Moore is going to pull a European vacation (a la Brandon Jennings) to play professionally overseas. Personally, I think that would be a mistake for Moore and I see him coming back next year.
Chances: 5%.
Kalin Lucas (Michigan State)
The Big Ten Player of the Year earned his award this NCAA Tournament with a brilliant tournament. He's got great speed and court savvy, which are probably his biggest strengths, but he needs to further develop his jumpshot. There hasn't been much talk around Lucas, so all signs point to him coming back to East Lansing next year.
Chances: 5%.
Talor Battle (Penn State)
Battle proved that he can take a game over all by his lonesome this year, putting the Nittany Lions on his back multiple times this year. Pro scouts are still undecided about his potential in the NBA, but his stock can only go up if he stays and progresses another season in Happy Valley.
Chances: 5%.
B.J. Mullens (Ohio State)
ESPN's Chad Ford says Mullens is going to declare for the draft because of financial hardships. He came off the bench this year and won the Big Ten's Sixth Man of the Year award. He's got tremendous size and potential.
Chances: 100%.
Evan Turner (Ohio State)
Turner had a breakout season this year for the Buckeyes and looks to be a tweener guard/forward in the NBA with his 6'6", 225 lb. frame. He's got to develop a jump shot, but he said he will return for his junior season next year. He's got the potential to be an All-American candidate. There's still potential for Turner to participate in pre-draft workouts that could change his mind.
Chances: 10%.
DeShawn Sims (Michigan)
After Michigan's loss to Oklahoma two weeks ago, Sims told reporters he would return for his senior season. But head coach John Beilein isn't so sure anymore and didn't give a definitive answer on the radio last week. Sims had a breakout season as well and looks like a good all-around player, but he could use one more season to really solidify himself in the eyes of draft scouts. Ford says he's 50-50 right now, but after Beilein's comments were published, it might be smart to increase those odds.
Chances: 55-60%.
Manny Harris (Michigan)
Harris probably has a better draft status than Sims and has filled up the stat sheet in each of his first two seasons as a Wolverine. He's a complete player but could bulk up a little bit.
Chances: 33%.
JaJuan Johnson (Purdue)
Johnson said he's coming back for his junior season after having a breakout season as a sophomore. He was named first team all-Big Ten this year.
Chances: 0%.
E'Twaun Moore (Purdue)
As I mentioned earlier this week, there's been rumors floating around that Moore is going to pull a European vacation (a la Brandon Jennings) to play professionally overseas. Personally, I think that would be a mistake for Moore and I see him coming back next year.
Chances: 5%.
Kalin Lucas (Michigan State)
The Big Ten Player of the Year earned his award this NCAA Tournament with a brilliant tournament. He's got great speed and court savvy, which are probably his biggest strengths, but he needs to further develop his jumpshot. There hasn't been much talk around Lucas, so all signs point to him coming back to East Lansing next year.
Chances: 5%.
Talor Battle (Penn State)
Battle proved that he can take a game over all by his lonesome this year, putting the Nittany Lions on his back multiple times this year. Pro scouts are still undecided about his potential in the NBA, but his stock can only go up if he stays and progresses another season in Happy Valley.
Chances: 5%.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
An Illustration Of Improvement
As I mentioned last night, no confernece has done more for their national reputation than the Big Ten. People will look at their struggles in football and slow pace in basketball as a measuring stick for how well they do, but it isn't very fair in my mind. Check this out:
This is a list of every team with their record last year compared to this year. It shows how much the conference has improved, from top to bottom:
Illinois
2008 Record: 16-19
2009 Record: 24-10
Synopsis: After a horrible 2008 season, the Fighting Illini bounced back in a big way this season, returning to the NCAA Tournament where they were a permanent fixture the few years prior. Bruce Weber reorganized things with tremendous sophomore seasons from Mike Tisdale, Mike Davis and Demetri McCamey.
2010 Outlook: Good.
Indiana
2008 Record: 25-8
2009 Record: 6-25
Synopsis: Polar opposites for the Hoosiers this season compared to 2008, but it wasn't anything that wasn't expected. Everybody expected Indiana to undergo a total facelift and that's what happened. Nearly every player left off that 2008 season and first-year head coach Tom Crean was essentially dealing with very little talent. And I don't think there's any doubt that Indiana will be back before long.
2010 Outlook: Promising.
Iowa
2008 Record: 13-19
2009 Record: 15-17
Synopsis: The Hawkeyes continue to take little steps towards improving under second year head coach Todd Lickliter. Though the departure of four players stings a bit, Lickliter will finally have a roster full of "his players" in 2010, and expectations should be higher.
2010 Outlook: Slow but steady.
Michigan
2008 Record: 10-22
2009 Record: 21-14
Synopsis: Michigan rode the Manny Harris-DeShawn Sims connection to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1998 and won their first game before eventually falling in the second round to Oklahoma. They don't really lose much, but if Harris and Sims stick around, a repeat in 2010 is very possible.
2010 Outlook: Good.
Michigan State
2008 Record: 27-9
2009 Record: 31-7
Synopsis: Michigan State made it all the way to March's biggest stage despite losing in the title game to North Carolina. They've established themselves as the cream of the crop in the Big Ten and that doesn't figure to change as long as Tom Izzo is at the helm.
2010 Outlook: Great.
Minnesota
2008 Record: 20-14
2009 Record: 22-11
Synopsis: Tubby Smith has things rolling in Minneapolis. In his first two years, he's won at least 20 games but is still finding players to fit his system. He may have some answers coming in next fall with McDonald's All American forward Royce White of Hopkins, MN, coming in. Very high ceiling for the Golden Gophers in 2010.
2010 Outlook: Great.
Northwestern
2008 Record: 8-22
2009 Record: 17-14
Synopsis: Like the other state school in the Big Ten (Illinois), Northwestern bounced back in 2009 to have a pretty solid season. They beat Michigan State on the road (remember that?) and showed that they've got some decent talent waiting in the wings. Northwestern has never been to an NCAA Tournament and has been just average in the Bill Carmody era. Don't expect that to change.
2010 Outlook: Average.
Ohio State
2008 Record: 24-13
2009 Record: 22-11
Synopsis: You know Thad Matta has won more than 20 games in every season as a head coach? That's a dominating statistic and throw in his tireless recruiting habits, Ohio State has it made for the next couple of years. Evan Turner exploded onto the national scene this year and will toss and turn about going pro, as will guard William Buford and big B.J. Mullens. The Buckeyes don't have any major losses, but if those three return, Ohio State can be a special team. Don't forget guard David Lighty, who got a medical redshirt this year after breaking his foot early.
2010 Outlook: Excellent.
Penn State
2008 Record: 15-16
2009 Record: 27-11
Synopsis: No team improved more in a span of one season than Penn State did and they topped it off with an NIT Championship last week in Madison Square Garden. Whether Penn State keeps this form next year is another question after losses of Jamelle Cornley, Stanley Pringle and Danny Morrisey to graduation.
2010 Outlook: Unknown.
Purdue
2008 Record: 25-9
2009 Record: 27-10
Synopsis: Purdue is another one of those teams that is proving that they belong at the top. They've made three straight NCAA Tournaments and won the Big Ten Tournament last month. They essentially don't lose anyone either, as their top six scorers are slated to return. There have been whispers around West Lafayette, though, that E'Twaun Moore is thinking of playing overseas, but JaJaun Johnson has assured Boilermaker fans he will return after a breakout season this year.
2010 Outlook: Great.
Wisconsin
2008 Record: 31-5
2009 Record: 20-13
Synopsis: Nobody does more with less than Bo Ryan. Every year, you think Wisconsin might regress and fall into mediocrity, but every year they surprise. He gets exactly what he wants out of his players and they execute better than any team in the conference. I'm done doubting his coaching. However, they lose Joe Krabbenhoft and Marcus Landry, but they've got capable bigs waiting in the wings.
2010 Outlook: Average.
NOTES
- The Big Ten, as a conference, won 18 more games this year than last. They also had the second-best RPI in the country.
- Seven teams qualified for the NCAA Tournament, tied for most in college basketball from one conference.
- Penn State won the NIT, marking the second year in a row a Big Ten team as won the event (Ohio State won last year).
- The first team all-Big Ten were all sophomores (Talor Battle, Evan Turner, Manny Harris, Kalin Lucas, JaJuan Johnson).
- Michigan State made the Final Four for the fifth time this decade and beat the Big East's two best teams (Connecticut, Louisville).
- The Big Ten went 9-7 in the NCAA Tournament.
- Four of the conference's coaches are either in their first (Tom Crean) or second year (John Beilein, Todd Lickliter, Tubby Smith) with their respective programs.
Still not convinced?
This is a list of every team with their record last year compared to this year. It shows how much the conference has improved, from top to bottom:
Illinois
2008 Record: 16-19
2009 Record: 24-10
Synopsis: After a horrible 2008 season, the Fighting Illini bounced back in a big way this season, returning to the NCAA Tournament where they were a permanent fixture the few years prior. Bruce Weber reorganized things with tremendous sophomore seasons from Mike Tisdale, Mike Davis and Demetri McCamey.
2010 Outlook: Good.
Indiana
2008 Record: 25-8
2009 Record: 6-25
Synopsis: Polar opposites for the Hoosiers this season compared to 2008, but it wasn't anything that wasn't expected. Everybody expected Indiana to undergo a total facelift and that's what happened. Nearly every player left off that 2008 season and first-year head coach Tom Crean was essentially dealing with very little talent. And I don't think there's any doubt that Indiana will be back before long.
2010 Outlook: Promising.
Iowa
2008 Record: 13-19
2009 Record: 15-17
Synopsis: The Hawkeyes continue to take little steps towards improving under second year head coach Todd Lickliter. Though the departure of four players stings a bit, Lickliter will finally have a roster full of "his players" in 2010, and expectations should be higher.
2010 Outlook: Slow but steady.
Michigan
2008 Record: 10-22
2009 Record: 21-14
Synopsis: Michigan rode the Manny Harris-DeShawn Sims connection to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1998 and won their first game before eventually falling in the second round to Oklahoma. They don't really lose much, but if Harris and Sims stick around, a repeat in 2010 is very possible.
2010 Outlook: Good.
Michigan State
2008 Record: 27-9
2009 Record: 31-7
Synopsis: Michigan State made it all the way to March's biggest stage despite losing in the title game to North Carolina. They've established themselves as the cream of the crop in the Big Ten and that doesn't figure to change as long as Tom Izzo is at the helm.
2010 Outlook: Great.
Minnesota
2008 Record: 20-14
2009 Record: 22-11
Synopsis: Tubby Smith has things rolling in Minneapolis. In his first two years, he's won at least 20 games but is still finding players to fit his system. He may have some answers coming in next fall with McDonald's All American forward Royce White of Hopkins, MN, coming in. Very high ceiling for the Golden Gophers in 2010.
2010 Outlook: Great.
Northwestern
2008 Record: 8-22
2009 Record: 17-14
Synopsis: Like the other state school in the Big Ten (Illinois), Northwestern bounced back in 2009 to have a pretty solid season. They beat Michigan State on the road (remember that?) and showed that they've got some decent talent waiting in the wings. Northwestern has never been to an NCAA Tournament and has been just average in the Bill Carmody era. Don't expect that to change.
2010 Outlook: Average.
Ohio State
2008 Record: 24-13
2009 Record: 22-11
Synopsis: You know Thad Matta has won more than 20 games in every season as a head coach? That's a dominating statistic and throw in his tireless recruiting habits, Ohio State has it made for the next couple of years. Evan Turner exploded onto the national scene this year and will toss and turn about going pro, as will guard William Buford and big B.J. Mullens. The Buckeyes don't have any major losses, but if those three return, Ohio State can be a special team. Don't forget guard David Lighty, who got a medical redshirt this year after breaking his foot early.
2010 Outlook: Excellent.
Penn State
2008 Record: 15-16
2009 Record: 27-11
Synopsis: No team improved more in a span of one season than Penn State did and they topped it off with an NIT Championship last week in Madison Square Garden. Whether Penn State keeps this form next year is another question after losses of Jamelle Cornley, Stanley Pringle and Danny Morrisey to graduation.
2010 Outlook: Unknown.
Purdue
2008 Record: 25-9
2009 Record: 27-10
Synopsis: Purdue is another one of those teams that is proving that they belong at the top. They've made three straight NCAA Tournaments and won the Big Ten Tournament last month. They essentially don't lose anyone either, as their top six scorers are slated to return. There have been whispers around West Lafayette, though, that E'Twaun Moore is thinking of playing overseas, but JaJaun Johnson has assured Boilermaker fans he will return after a breakout season this year.
2010 Outlook: Great.
Wisconsin
2008 Record: 31-5
2009 Record: 20-13
Synopsis: Nobody does more with less than Bo Ryan. Every year, you think Wisconsin might regress and fall into mediocrity, but every year they surprise. He gets exactly what he wants out of his players and they execute better than any team in the conference. I'm done doubting his coaching. However, they lose Joe Krabbenhoft and Marcus Landry, but they've got capable bigs waiting in the wings.
2010 Outlook: Average.
NOTES
- The Big Ten, as a conference, won 18 more games this year than last. They also had the second-best RPI in the country.
- Seven teams qualified for the NCAA Tournament, tied for most in college basketball from one conference.
- Penn State won the NIT, marking the second year in a row a Big Ten team as won the event (Ohio State won last year).
- The first team all-Big Ten were all sophomores (Talor Battle, Evan Turner, Manny Harris, Kalin Lucas, JaJuan Johnson).
- Michigan State made the Final Four for the fifth time this decade and beat the Big East's two best teams (Connecticut, Louisville).
- The Big Ten went 9-7 in the NCAA Tournament.
- Four of the conference's coaches are either in their first (Tom Crean) or second year (John Beilein, Todd Lickliter, Tubby Smith) with their respective programs.
Still not convinced?
Sour Note Despite Strong Season
That's it, college basketball fans. Another March Madness is in the books. And for the fourth time this decade, a Big Ten team has fallen short of a national championship. Not a stat you'd like to hang your hat on, but as a conference, the Big Ten did more for its national image this year than any other, proving that it is one of the deepest and most competitive conferences in America.
It's flagship program, Michigan State, rode March momentum all the way tonight's championship, and while they did not play up to par, they proved they still the conference's cash crop. Along the way, they defeated 2009 Pac-10 Tournament champion USC, defeated defending national champion Kansas twice (once during the regular season) and quieted the Big East's two best teams in Louisville and Connecticut.
If my count is correct, the Big Ten went 9-7 (5-1 from Michigan State) this March, which I bet nobody expected them to do at the beginning of the year. They got seven teams into the Big Dance, as many as the Big East and more than the ACC. And Penn State gave the conference some hardware, winning the NIT last Thursday after defeating Baylor.
Despite what media experts think, the Big Ten reinvented itself this season with an influx of young players and new coaches. I don't think anybody expected them to be this good so quickly and nobody gave them credit. Yet, even tonight, even after being beaten up early by the Tar Heels, Michigan State didn't back down, a sign of what is to come next year and beyond for this conference.
In the next couple of days, I'll generate a more thorough conference wrap-up and gaze into the crystal ball for next year's Big Ten season. It was a great season, Big Ten, college hoops fans and the best is yet to come.
It's flagship program, Michigan State, rode March momentum all the way tonight's championship, and while they did not play up to par, they proved they still the conference's cash crop. Along the way, they defeated 2009 Pac-10 Tournament champion USC, defeated defending national champion Kansas twice (once during the regular season) and quieted the Big East's two best teams in Louisville and Connecticut.
If my count is correct, the Big Ten went 9-7 (5-1 from Michigan State) this March, which I bet nobody expected them to do at the beginning of the year. They got seven teams into the Big Dance, as many as the Big East and more than the ACC. And Penn State gave the conference some hardware, winning the NIT last Thursday after defeating Baylor.
Despite what media experts think, the Big Ten reinvented itself this season with an influx of young players and new coaches. I don't think anybody expected them to be this good so quickly and nobody gave them credit. Yet, even tonight, even after being beaten up early by the Tar Heels, Michigan State didn't back down, a sign of what is to come next year and beyond for this conference.
In the next couple of days, I'll generate a more thorough conference wrap-up and gaze into the crystal ball for next year's Big Ten season. It was a great season, Big Ten, college hoops fans and the best is yet to come.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
MSU Gets Second Shot At Tar Heels
Tomorrow night, Michigan State gets their second chance at North Carolina with everything on the line. Earlier this season, as you may remember, the Tar Heels embarrassed Michigan State on the same floor by 35 points.The Spartans haven't forgotten.
Both teams are clicking on all cylinders. Both teams are deep. Both are experienced. And both have head coaches who have been in this situation before. All that should make for a very compelling national championship game.
Raymar Morgan finally busted through his seemingly year-long slump with a terrific game in their Final Four win versus Connecticut. Korie Lucious hit some big shots in the first half and Mr. Dependable, Kalin Lucas was able to do what he does best -- create, either for himself or for his teammates. It was a complete game by Michigan State, but what do they need to do this time around to avenge their early season loss? Here are three keys:
1. Push the ball. North Carolina will run up-tempo at times, too, but this is Michigan State's style. Lots of possessions, quicken the game and tire your opponent.
2. Go after Hansbrough...early. He didn't have the luxory of having to defend Suton in their first match-up, but I would take the ball out of his hands, double him and force someone else to beat you. UNC has a lot of weapons, but attempting to neutralize their best may go along way. Attack him on the offensive end, too. Getting him in foul trouble early would be huge.
3. Use the crowd. 3/4ths of that arena tomorrow will be wearing green. The whole state is at your backs. Use the momentum to rattle the Tar Heels.
Other news:
-- ESPN's Mark Schlabach spoke with Big Ten commisioner Jim Delaney, who defended the conference with some decent arguing points. Notice the words: "east-coast bias".
-- Nothing helps recruit better than winning. Case in point? Penn State's recent commitment of Taran Buie, a Top 100 player for the 2010 recruiting class. Oh yeah, he's Talor Battle's younger brother.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Note
Sorry for lack of updates this week, guys. I've been bombarded with school work and work-related events. We're hosting the NCAA North Central regional for women's gymnastics tomorrow (Saturday) and I'm coordinating the media side of it.
It's been a long week but I'll get back to it Monday with Final Four reactions and a brief glimpse into the crystal ball for next year's basketball season.
It's been a long week but I'll get back to it Monday with Final Four reactions and a brief glimpse into the crystal ball for next year's basketball season.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Penn State Dancing To A Different Tune
Michigan State isn't the last Big Ten team standing. No, Penn State plays pre-season Top 10 team Notre Dame tonight in the semifinals of the NIT inside Madison Square Garden.
The winner gets the winner of the San Diego State/Baylor game Thursday in the final. Ohio State won last year's NIT. Penn State will try to make it two NIT Championships in two years. If they can get past Notre Dame, I like their chances in the championship.
The Jamelle Cornley/Luke Harangody matchup should be a fun one to watch. Cornley is smaller, but probably possesses more quickness. Needless to say, watching them go at it on the block will be fun to watch. A Talor Battle/Kyle McAlarney backcourt matchup will also be good.
Root for the Nittany Lions tonight!
The winner gets the winner of the San Diego State/Baylor game Thursday in the final. Ohio State won last year's NIT. Penn State will try to make it two NIT Championships in two years. If they can get past Notre Dame, I like their chances in the championship.
The Jamelle Cornley/Luke Harangody matchup should be a fun one to watch. Cornley is smaller, but probably possesses more quickness. Needless to say, watching them go at it on the block will be fun to watch. A Talor Battle/Kyle McAlarney backcourt matchup will also be good.
Root for the Nittany Lions tonight!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Michigan State Has Motown Feel
Michigan State knocked out overall No. 1 seed Louisville earlier this afternoon in Indianapolis, officially punching their ticket to Detroit's Final Four next weekend.
This is Michigan State's fifth Final Four trip in the last ten years (2009, 2005, 2001, 2000, 1999), the most by any team in that span. If dominance is based on how many Final Fours you make, Michigan State is the best. They've been there more in that stretch than North Carolina, Duke, UCLA, Louisville... you name it. If you look at my earlier post from the week, the Big Ten now has had ten teams make Final Fours in the last ten years, and if North Carolina wins, they will give the ACC ten as well.
What's amazing about this Michigan State team is how they don't have one star like their other Final Four participants. The Spartans go deep into their bench and are extremely versatile, with every one of their players oozing with athleticism. Kalin Lucas has put himself on the map as one of the nation's best point guards.
There is no question that Michigan State will have a home court advantage next weekend, playing just 90 miles from East Lansing, but they've got a big challenge on their hands with Hasheem Thabeet and Connecticut. If they can make it to the championship, though, a rematch with North Carolina seems probable. Remember, on that same floor back in November, North Carolina wiped the floor with Michigan State. You don't think that will be on their minds?
In any case, congratulations are in order for Michigan State. They've earned their Final Four trip and hopefully should quiet some of the doubters around the country about the Big Ten.
This is Michigan State's fifth Final Four trip in the last ten years (2009, 2005, 2001, 2000, 1999), the most by any team in that span. If dominance is based on how many Final Fours you make, Michigan State is the best. They've been there more in that stretch than North Carolina, Duke, UCLA, Louisville... you name it. If you look at my earlier post from the week, the Big Ten now has had ten teams make Final Fours in the last ten years, and if North Carolina wins, they will give the ACC ten as well.
What's amazing about this Michigan State team is how they don't have one star like their other Final Four participants. The Spartans go deep into their bench and are extremely versatile, with every one of their players oozing with athleticism. Kalin Lucas has put himself on the map as one of the nation's best point guards.
There is no question that Michigan State will have a home court advantage next weekend, playing just 90 miles from East Lansing, but they've got a big challenge on their hands with Hasheem Thabeet and Connecticut. If they can make it to the championship, though, a rematch with North Carolina seems probable. Remember, on that same floor back in November, North Carolina wiped the floor with Michigan State. You don't think that will be on their minds?
In any case, congratulations are in order for Michigan State. They've earned their Final Four trip and hopefully should quiet some of the doubters around the country about the Big Ten.
Friday, March 27, 2009
What Could Have Been...
It's been a rough stretch for Iowa, as four players, Jermain Davis, David Palmer, Jeff Peterson and Jake Kelly have decided to leave the program. Davis plans to go to D-II Minnesota State-Mankato. Neither Peterson, Kelly nor Palmer's intentions have been official.
The biggest blow is arguably Kelly. He came on real strong during the last month of the season at point guard, being named Big Ten Player of the Week twice and an honorable mention all-Big Ten. He looked like he was finally coming into his own. His mother died in a small plane crash last summer and reference his desire to be closer to home as his main reason for leaving the program. He's from Carmel, IN, and has been rumored to be looking at Indiana State.
I cannot sit here and bash Kelly for making his decision. As he alluded to in his last interview with the media, there are more important things than basketball and family is one of them. It would be selfish for me to sit here in front on my laptop and criticize Kelly for giving up because the truth is, he isn't like that. This one stings for many Hawkeye fans, but I don't think anybody in Hawkeye nation can badmouth Kelly's decision.
However, I don't understand Jeff Peterson's decision to transfer. It's not a playing time issue; he played the majority of minutes at point in his first two seasons, but cited his unhappiness with the coaches and not knowing his role on the team as his main points for leaving. He was playing 40 minutes/game this season and was all but cemented to be Iowa's point guard next year and in '10.
But with the subtraction of Palmer, Peterson and Kelly, the last remnants of the Steve Alford regime are all but gone. Jarryd Cole is the lone exception, as is technically Matt Gatens, who was an Alford recruit. But Gatens would have played at Iowa if Bozo the Clown were the head coach. For the third season in a row, and this will pain Iowa fans to hear this, but the Hawkeyes have lost arguably their best player due to transfer for the third year in a row, making it painfully obvious just how different coaching schemes can be. Two years ago, Tyler Smith bolted for Tennessee. Last year, Tony Freeman went to Southern Illinois. And today, Jake Kelly left.
Here's what Iowa's lineup could have looked like this season:
G -- Tony Freeman, Sr.
G -- Jake Kelly, So.
G -- Matt Gatens, Fr.
F -- Tyler Smith, Jr.
F -- Cyrus Tate, Sr.
Off the bench: Jeff Peterson, Jarryd Cole, Anthony Tucker, Devan Bawinkel
How far do you think Iowa could have gone this year with that lineup?
The biggest blow is arguably Kelly. He came on real strong during the last month of the season at point guard, being named Big Ten Player of the Week twice and an honorable mention all-Big Ten. He looked like he was finally coming into his own. His mother died in a small plane crash last summer and reference his desire to be closer to home as his main reason for leaving the program. He's from Carmel, IN, and has been rumored to be looking at Indiana State.
I cannot sit here and bash Kelly for making his decision. As he alluded to in his last interview with the media, there are more important things than basketball and family is one of them. It would be selfish for me to sit here in front on my laptop and criticize Kelly for giving up because the truth is, he isn't like that. This one stings for many Hawkeye fans, but I don't think anybody in Hawkeye nation can badmouth Kelly's decision.
However, I don't understand Jeff Peterson's decision to transfer. It's not a playing time issue; he played the majority of minutes at point in his first two seasons, but cited his unhappiness with the coaches and not knowing his role on the team as his main points for leaving. He was playing 40 minutes/game this season and was all but cemented to be Iowa's point guard next year and in '10.
But with the subtraction of Palmer, Peterson and Kelly, the last remnants of the Steve Alford regime are all but gone. Jarryd Cole is the lone exception, as is technically Matt Gatens, who was an Alford recruit. But Gatens would have played at Iowa if Bozo the Clown were the head coach. For the third season in a row, and this will pain Iowa fans to hear this, but the Hawkeyes have lost arguably their best player due to transfer for the third year in a row, making it painfully obvious just how different coaching schemes can be. Two years ago, Tyler Smith bolted for Tennessee. Last year, Tony Freeman went to Southern Illinois. And today, Jake Kelly left.
Here's what Iowa's lineup could have looked like this season:
G -- Tony Freeman, Sr.
G -- Jake Kelly, So.
G -- Matt Gatens, Fr.
F -- Tyler Smith, Jr.
F -- Cyrus Tate, Sr.
Off the bench: Jeff Peterson, Jarryd Cole, Anthony Tucker, Devan Bawinkel
How far do you think Iowa could have gone this year with that lineup?
Congrats To Purdue
Purdue got knocked off last night by UConn in the Sweet 16, but kudos need to be handed out to Matt Painter's bunch for a fantastic season. Entering the tournament, they were one of the hottest teams, including a win of the Big Ten Tournament and for a while there, gave UConn a run for its money. In the end, Connecticut center Hasheem Thabeet was simply too much for Purdue.
Still, consider the circumstances. Robbie Hummel played nearly the entire second half of the season with a broken back and still didn't miss much of a beat (in March, anyway). He's Purdue's best player, but imagine what he could be doing if he were 100%. Is he a game-changer? Sure looked like it in the first half.
But this Purdue team has all major weapons coming back. Their six best players should come back next year and all they lose are bench contributors Marcus Green, Nemanja Calasan and Bobby Riddell. Replenishing the bench will need to be important for Matt Painter, but Hummel returns, as does E'Twaun Moore, Keaton Grant, Lewis Jackson, Chris Kramer and JaJuan Johnson. Should have the making for another serious contender next year.
Also, congrats are in order for Penn State for making the NIT Semifinals. They could have easily packed it in and not tried after being shut out of the NCAA Tournament but they came to play against George Mason, Rhode Island and Florida. They play Notre Dame Tuesday in the Garden.
Still, consider the circumstances. Robbie Hummel played nearly the entire second half of the season with a broken back and still didn't miss much of a beat (in March, anyway). He's Purdue's best player, but imagine what he could be doing if he were 100%. Is he a game-changer? Sure looked like it in the first half.
But this Purdue team has all major weapons coming back. Their six best players should come back next year and all they lose are bench contributors Marcus Green, Nemanja Calasan and Bobby Riddell. Replenishing the bench will need to be important for Matt Painter, but Hummel returns, as does E'Twaun Moore, Keaton Grant, Lewis Jackson, Chris Kramer and JaJuan Johnson. Should have the making for another serious contender next year.
Also, congrats are in order for Penn State for making the NIT Semifinals. They could have easily packed it in and not tried after being shut out of the NCAA Tournament but they came to play against George Mason, Rhode Island and Florida. They play Notre Dame Tuesday in the Garden.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Another Big Ten Bashing...
Mike Imrem of the Daily Herald wrote a piece yesterday essentially bashing the Big Ten's basketball teams. As if the football bashing wasn't enough, apparently the Purdue and Michigan State don't deserve to be in. If you want to check out the article, click here.
I'm not surprised with Imrem's comments ("The Big Ten shocks me everytime it wins an NCAA Tournament game. It's like the stock market going up. You don't understand but you are grateful."). Geez, Mike, give us some credit. The Big Ten did get seven teams into the Big Dance this year, more than the alleged "ACC Powerhouse" and just as many as the "Big East Powerhouse". Oh yeah, did I mention the Big Ten is 2-0 against ACC opponents in the tournament this year (both upsets -- Michigan over Clemson, Wisconsin over Florida State).
I'd like to take this blog post to respond to some of Imrem's comments about the weakness of the Big Ten:
1. Imrem got his Wooden Award ballot and only Michigan State's Kalin Lucas, the conference's Player of the Year, was on the docket from the Big Ten.
Rebuttal: If Mr. Imrem is assuming that the Big Ten has few good players, he is gravely mistaken. Has he seen Evan Turner these last three weeks? What about what Manny Harris has done for Michigan? Or Talor Battle for Penn State? Same goes for Robbie Hummel, DeShawn Sims, Kevin Coble and Marcus Landry. Are you going to sit there and tell me that those seven guys aren't good? With the exception of Landry, all of those guys are underclassmen. The Big Ten's sophomore class is better than any conference in the country and if they stick around, they can be among the nation's elite players.
2. He remarks about Sam Smith's blog on the World's 30 best players not in the NBA. Two Big Ten players, Turner and his freshman teammate B.J. Mullens were on the list at Nos. 28 and 29. Rebuttal: Smith knows his stuff, so I'm not going to sit here and bash that, but this goes back to the previous point of the conference's perception of having no good players. Not true.
Imrem: "You probably get the idea by now. The Big Ten doesn't have as much talent as the rest of college basketball."
Really? Says who? You? Digger Phelps? Doug Gottlieb? Hubert Davis?
The Big Ten may not have an elite team like the Big East or ACC, I'll contend that. But do not, DO NOT, sit there and spew this anti-Big Ten garbage like ESPN tends to put out by basically saying this conference sucks. It doesn't. Perhaps you don't take into account the nine Final Fours Big Ten teams have been to in the last decade. Perhaps you missed seeing two of the best teams of all time in college basketball, 2005's Illinois Fighting Illini (37-2) and 2007's Ohio State Buckeyes (34-5), play for National Championships. Perhaps you are overlooking the best group of coaches in the country, right here, in America's heartland. I dare you, DARE YOU, to find a conference that has better coaches from top to bottom. Also, find me a program that you believe is truly not improving.
Write what you want. Just don't kiss our ass in two years when the conference is elite.
I'm not surprised with Imrem's comments ("The Big Ten shocks me everytime it wins an NCAA Tournament game. It's like the stock market going up. You don't understand but you are grateful."). Geez, Mike, give us some credit. The Big Ten did get seven teams into the Big Dance this year, more than the alleged "ACC Powerhouse" and just as many as the "Big East Powerhouse". Oh yeah, did I mention the Big Ten is 2-0 against ACC opponents in the tournament this year (both upsets -- Michigan over Clemson, Wisconsin over Florida State).
I'd like to take this blog post to respond to some of Imrem's comments about the weakness of the Big Ten:
1. Imrem got his Wooden Award ballot and only Michigan State's Kalin Lucas, the conference's Player of the Year, was on the docket from the Big Ten.
Rebuttal: If Mr. Imrem is assuming that the Big Ten has few good players, he is gravely mistaken. Has he seen Evan Turner these last three weeks? What about what Manny Harris has done for Michigan? Or Talor Battle for Penn State? Same goes for Robbie Hummel, DeShawn Sims, Kevin Coble and Marcus Landry. Are you going to sit there and tell me that those seven guys aren't good? With the exception of Landry, all of those guys are underclassmen. The Big Ten's sophomore class is better than any conference in the country and if they stick around, they can be among the nation's elite players.
2. He remarks about Sam Smith's blog on the World's 30 best players not in the NBA. Two Big Ten players, Turner and his freshman teammate B.J. Mullens were on the list at Nos. 28 and 29. Rebuttal: Smith knows his stuff, so I'm not going to sit here and bash that, but this goes back to the previous point of the conference's perception of having no good players. Not true.
Imrem: "You probably get the idea by now. The Big Ten doesn't have as much talent as the rest of college basketball."
Really? Says who? You? Digger Phelps? Doug Gottlieb? Hubert Davis?
The Big Ten may not have an elite team like the Big East or ACC, I'll contend that. But do not, DO NOT, sit there and spew this anti-Big Ten garbage like ESPN tends to put out by basically saying this conference sucks. It doesn't. Perhaps you don't take into account the nine Final Fours Big Ten teams have been to in the last decade. Perhaps you missed seeing two of the best teams of all time in college basketball, 2005's Illinois Fighting Illini (37-2) and 2007's Ohio State Buckeyes (34-5), play for National Championships. Perhaps you are overlooking the best group of coaches in the country, right here, in America's heartland. I dare you, DARE YOU, to find a conference that has better coaches from top to bottom. Also, find me a program that you believe is truly not improving.
Write what you want. Just don't kiss our ass in two years when the conference is elite.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Two Teams Still Alive
Congratulations to Purdue and Michigan State for making the Sweet 16. They have represented the Big Ten with class and truly are the cream of the crop. Had Chester Frazier been healthy, Illinois might have joined them, but as we all saw Thursday, the Fighting Illini aren't much without him. Wisconsin also proved their mettle, showcasing what we already knew of them: rugged defense, poor offense. With that said, Purdue and Michigan State are "sweet" right now but both have monumental tasks ahead of them.
Purdue, the fifth seed in the West, is slated to grapple with top seed Connecticut. Now, the Boilermakers are no stranger to playing great teams this year (Davidson, Oklahoma, Duke, Michigan State twice) and are fortunate to be playing their best basketball right now, courtesy of a five game winning streak. Purdue could have real problems matching up with UConn, specifically in the paint, trying to guard behemoth center Hasheem Thabeet and bruising forwards Jeff Adrien and Stanley Robinson. I think E'Twaun Moore, Lewis Jackson, Keaton Grant and Chris Kramer can handle UConn's backcourt play, specifically A.J. Price (calling Chris Kramer), but the key to Purdue's victory is whether or not they can contain Thabeet. Robbie Hummel looked fatigued in Saturday's game against Washington and took some shots, but I find it hard to believe he will NOT play in this game. The Boilermakers can stay in this game if they are able to knock down their early three-point attempts and if they decide to run a more up-tempo style of play. UConn doesn't play the fastest and Purdue should really utilize the speed of Jackson and Moore to establish the tempo. If they can make UConn play at their pace, they've got a shot.
Keys To Victory: Contain Thabeet, make three-pointers and run.
Michigan State looked very sloppy in their second round victory over USC, but they found a way to win, which is what good teams need to do. Their biggest problem is that they need to find someone who can knock down shots. Travis Walton (18 points) came through for the Spartans, but he is not a consistent provider of offense. Chris Allen, Durrell Summers and Korie Lucious are primarily bench players but when they get into the game, they have to knock down shots if Michigan State is to advance. They play Kansas Friday night, a team they beat in East Lansing earlier this season. Now I'm not wild about re-matches in the Big Dance because they traditionally favor the losing team, but Michigan State has the tools to defeat Kansas again. They're playing in a very familiar spot (Indianapolis) and should bring a ton of fans. This is the time of year the Spartans need to play their best and if they can jump out on Kansas early, they've got a good chance at advancing to the Elite Eight.
Keys To Victory: Find a shot maker(s), run Kansas out of the gym, suffocate Aldrich.
Purdue, the fifth seed in the West, is slated to grapple with top seed Connecticut. Now, the Boilermakers are no stranger to playing great teams this year (Davidson, Oklahoma, Duke, Michigan State twice) and are fortunate to be playing their best basketball right now, courtesy of a five game winning streak. Purdue could have real problems matching up with UConn, specifically in the paint, trying to guard behemoth center Hasheem Thabeet and bruising forwards Jeff Adrien and Stanley Robinson. I think E'Twaun Moore, Lewis Jackson, Keaton Grant and Chris Kramer can handle UConn's backcourt play, specifically A.J. Price (calling Chris Kramer), but the key to Purdue's victory is whether or not they can contain Thabeet. Robbie Hummel looked fatigued in Saturday's game against Washington and took some shots, but I find it hard to believe he will NOT play in this game. The Boilermakers can stay in this game if they are able to knock down their early three-point attempts and if they decide to run a more up-tempo style of play. UConn doesn't play the fastest and Purdue should really utilize the speed of Jackson and Moore to establish the tempo. If they can make UConn play at their pace, they've got a shot.
Keys To Victory: Contain Thabeet, make three-pointers and run.
Michigan State looked very sloppy in their second round victory over USC, but they found a way to win, which is what good teams need to do. Their biggest problem is that they need to find someone who can knock down shots. Travis Walton (18 points) came through for the Spartans, but he is not a consistent provider of offense. Chris Allen, Durrell Summers and Korie Lucious are primarily bench players but when they get into the game, they have to knock down shots if Michigan State is to advance. They play Kansas Friday night, a team they beat in East Lansing earlier this season. Now I'm not wild about re-matches in the Big Dance because they traditionally favor the losing team, but Michigan State has the tools to defeat Kansas again. They're playing in a very familiar spot (Indianapolis) and should bring a ton of fans. This is the time of year the Spartans need to play their best and if they can jump out on Kansas early, they've got a good chance at advancing to the Elite Eight.
Keys To Victory: Find a shot maker(s), run Kansas out of the gym, suffocate Aldrich.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
NCAA Day Two Thoughts
-- What a gutsy performance from Wisconsin tonight. You may not like their style of play, you may get bored with what they do on the floor, but boy, do they execute when it gets to crunch time. Bo knows, as in Bo Ryan, and Wisconsin showed that experience in the NCAA goes a long way, opposing a Florida State team that hadn't been to the Dance in 11 years. Junior guard Trevon Hughes put up a prayer layup with 2.5 seconds left to give Wisconsin an overtime upset over another ACC opponent. Essentially, that's what it was -- a prayer. With the clock winding down, Hughes penetrated into the lane, spun and unorthodoxly banked the ball in off the glass with his left hand... AND got fouled. Jason Bohannon made some huge shots and relative unknown Keaton Nankivil was very impressive off the bench.
Next Up: No. 4 Xavier. This is a winnable game for Wisconsin. They've got to be riding high after this win and if they can make Xavier play at their pace, they've got a shot to make it to the round of 16.
-- Unfortunately for Ohio State, they were on the losing end of a gutsy performance, dropping a double-overtime heartbreaker to Siena. This was essentially a home game for Ohio State, playing just a short drive away in Dayton, but the Buckeyes had no answer for Siena's clutch shooting down the stretch. In the waining seconds of the first overtime, Siena's Ronald Moore hit a game-tying three to force a second overtime and five minutes later, hit an uncontested triple with 3.9 seconds left from nearly the same spot. Ohio State's Evan Turner, who turned in another fabulous performance (25 pts, 9 rebs, 8 asst) had a chance to tie the game, but his off-balance jumper hit iron.
-- As expected, Michigan State rolled to a first-round victory over Robert Morris. Raymar Morgan finally looked like the player of old, leading the Spartans with 16 points. Goran Suton added 17 rebounds and utilityman Draymond Green also added 16 points. From what little of this game that I saw, Michigan State looked in sync in every aspect and more importantly, looked healthy. This team is dangerous when Tom Izzo has his full compliment of players.
Next Up: No. 10 USC. The Trojans could provide Michigan State with some match-up problems and are playing well of late. This should be a classic case of athleticism vs. athleticism.
In other news, Florida beat Miami (FL), 74-60. Penn State, with the availabilities of Talor Battle and Jamelle Cornley seriously in doubt, will travel to Gainesville Tuesday to take on the Gators in the NIT Quarterfinals. Winner goes to Madison Square Garden.
Next Up: No. 4 Xavier. This is a winnable game for Wisconsin. They've got to be riding high after this win and if they can make Xavier play at their pace, they've got a shot to make it to the round of 16.
-- Unfortunately for Ohio State, they were on the losing end of a gutsy performance, dropping a double-overtime heartbreaker to Siena. This was essentially a home game for Ohio State, playing just a short drive away in Dayton, but the Buckeyes had no answer for Siena's clutch shooting down the stretch. In the waining seconds of the first overtime, Siena's Ronald Moore hit a game-tying three to force a second overtime and five minutes later, hit an uncontested triple with 3.9 seconds left from nearly the same spot. Ohio State's Evan Turner, who turned in another fabulous performance (25 pts, 9 rebs, 8 asst) had a chance to tie the game, but his off-balance jumper hit iron.
-- As expected, Michigan State rolled to a first-round victory over Robert Morris. Raymar Morgan finally looked like the player of old, leading the Spartans with 16 points. Goran Suton added 17 rebounds and utilityman Draymond Green also added 16 points. From what little of this game that I saw, Michigan State looked in sync in every aspect and more importantly, looked healthy. This team is dangerous when Tom Izzo has his full compliment of players.
Next Up: No. 10 USC. The Trojans could provide Michigan State with some match-up problems and are playing well of late. This should be a classic case of athleticism vs. athleticism.
In other news, Florida beat Miami (FL), 74-60. Penn State, with the availabilities of Talor Battle and Jamelle Cornley seriously in doubt, will travel to Gainesville Tuesday to take on the Gators in the NIT Quarterfinals. Winner goes to Madison Square Garden.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Day One Thoughts: Two Out, Two Still Alive
Hope you all had a great day of hoops action aside from watching the same commercials over and over again. To be honest, I thought play was pretty dull. The only real big upset of the night came with one of the Big Ten's own (I'll get to that in a little bit), but most of the games weren't even close or weren't that engaging. Despite that, let's take a look into the four games today by the Big Ten teams:
-- In their first NCAA Tournament since 1998, the Michigan Wolverines showed no signs of timidness and were never really rattled in their 62-59 victory over Clemson. Don't let the score surprise you, though. This game wasn't as close as the three-point margin of victory indicates. Like most games this season, Michigan got manhandled on the glass but when they needed a basket, who better to turn to than #3, super sophomore Manny Harris. He led Michigan in points (23), rebounds (7) and assists (6), while going a perfect 6-6 from the foul line. He made a converted a huge three-point play with less than 30 seconds left to seal the deal.
Next Up: A bout with No. 2 Oklahoma Saturday. Michigan is no stranger to big games this season and should give the Sooners a run for their money.
-- Despite being shipped way out west, fifth-seeded Purdue got all it could handle from an upstart Northern Iowa team, but fended off a late UNI rally to move on to the second round, 61-56. The match-up resembled that of a Big Ten regular season game, two Midwestern schools duking it out in a physical, "grind-it-out" kind of way. Sophomore guard E'Twaun Moore made a couple of big shots down the stretch and Robbie Hummel grabbed 12 rebounds despite scoring only nine points.
Next Up: Purdue has been a one-and-done team the past two seasons, winning their first round game before being bounced by a superior seed in the second (No. 1 Florida in 2007, No. 3 Xavier in 2008). They're hoping third time's the charm Saturday, when they face fourth-seeded Washington. The Boilermakers will be the underdog again and will face a pro-Washington crowd in Portland, just a few hours south of Seattle.
-- Minnesota showed flashes of promise of what could be and what could have been, but lost a hard-fought battle to seventh-seeded Texas, 76-62. Rising star Lawrence Westbrook led Minnesota with 19 points, but Texas guard A.J. Abrams hit eight three-pointers, including a stretch of six straight to help the Longhorns pull away from the Golden Gophers. Minnesota ended the season losing 10 of their last 16, finishing with a record of 22-11.
-- And as I alluded to earlier, the biggest upset of the day came on the wrong end for one Big Ten team, as fifth-seeded Illinois was upended by 12th-seeded Western Kentucky, 76-72. The Fighting Illini were down by as many as 17 points late in the game, but a 17-3 run propelled them to within two with under a minute to play. Watching this game, Illinois never really looked interested. Without their senior leader, guard Chester Frazier (hand), Illinois starters really struggled. Look no further than center Mike Tisdale (0-4 FG, 1 REB, 4 PF in 19 minutes), who barely even sniffed the floor in the second half. Their other seniors on the floor, Calvin Brock and Trent Meacham led the Illini back into the game, but in the end, the defecit was too much to overcome. Had Frazier played, I think Illinois wins this game, but give Western Kentucky credit. They made some tough shots in the first half and made plays when they needed to in the second.
So two teams advance to the second round and three more will get their shot tomorrow (Friday). Here's the slate:
No. 9 Siena vs. No. 8 Ohio State (Dayton, OH) -- 8:40 p.m. (CT)
No. 12 Wisconsin vs. No. 5 Florida State (Boise, ID) -- 8:40 p.m.
No. 15 Robert Morris vs. No. 2 Michigan State (Minneapolis, MN) -- 8:50 p.m.
For those that are interested, Penn State moved onto the NIT Quarterfinals with a victory over Rhode Island tonight. Guard Talor Battle left the game with three minutes left with an apparent ankle injury and played the game without forward Jamelle Cornley, who injured his shoulder against George Mason Tuesday. Penn State will play the winner of (1) Florida and (4) Miami (FL), with the winner going to the NIT Semifinals in Madison Square Garden. The other Big Ten team in the NIT, Northwestern, lost to Tulsa Wednesday night, ending their season.
-- In their first NCAA Tournament since 1998, the Michigan Wolverines showed no signs of timidness and were never really rattled in their 62-59 victory over Clemson. Don't let the score surprise you, though. This game wasn't as close as the three-point margin of victory indicates. Like most games this season, Michigan got manhandled on the glass but when they needed a basket, who better to turn to than #3, super sophomore Manny Harris. He led Michigan in points (23), rebounds (7) and assists (6), while going a perfect 6-6 from the foul line. He made a converted a huge three-point play with less than 30 seconds left to seal the deal.
Next Up: A bout with No. 2 Oklahoma Saturday. Michigan is no stranger to big games this season and should give the Sooners a run for their money.
-- Despite being shipped way out west, fifth-seeded Purdue got all it could handle from an upstart Northern Iowa team, but fended off a late UNI rally to move on to the second round, 61-56. The match-up resembled that of a Big Ten regular season game, two Midwestern schools duking it out in a physical, "grind-it-out" kind of way. Sophomore guard E'Twaun Moore made a couple of big shots down the stretch and Robbie Hummel grabbed 12 rebounds despite scoring only nine points.
Next Up: Purdue has been a one-and-done team the past two seasons, winning their first round game before being bounced by a superior seed in the second (No. 1 Florida in 2007, No. 3 Xavier in 2008). They're hoping third time's the charm Saturday, when they face fourth-seeded Washington. The Boilermakers will be the underdog again and will face a pro-Washington crowd in Portland, just a few hours south of Seattle.
-- Minnesota showed flashes of promise of what could be and what could have been, but lost a hard-fought battle to seventh-seeded Texas, 76-62. Rising star Lawrence Westbrook led Minnesota with 19 points, but Texas guard A.J. Abrams hit eight three-pointers, including a stretch of six straight to help the Longhorns pull away from the Golden Gophers. Minnesota ended the season losing 10 of their last 16, finishing with a record of 22-11.
-- And as I alluded to earlier, the biggest upset of the day came on the wrong end for one Big Ten team, as fifth-seeded Illinois was upended by 12th-seeded Western Kentucky, 76-72. The Fighting Illini were down by as many as 17 points late in the game, but a 17-3 run propelled them to within two with under a minute to play. Watching this game, Illinois never really looked interested. Without their senior leader, guard Chester Frazier (hand), Illinois starters really struggled. Look no further than center Mike Tisdale (0-4 FG, 1 REB, 4 PF in 19 minutes), who barely even sniffed the floor in the second half. Their other seniors on the floor, Calvin Brock and Trent Meacham led the Illini back into the game, but in the end, the defecit was too much to overcome. Had Frazier played, I think Illinois wins this game, but give Western Kentucky credit. They made some tough shots in the first half and made plays when they needed to in the second.
So two teams advance to the second round and three more will get their shot tomorrow (Friday). Here's the slate:
No. 9 Siena vs. No. 8 Ohio State (Dayton, OH) -- 8:40 p.m. (CT)
No. 12 Wisconsin vs. No. 5 Florida State (Boise, ID) -- 8:40 p.m.
No. 15 Robert Morris vs. No. 2 Michigan State (Minneapolis, MN) -- 8:50 p.m.
For those that are interested, Penn State moved onto the NIT Quarterfinals with a victory over Rhode Island tonight. Guard Talor Battle left the game with three minutes left with an apparent ankle injury and played the game without forward Jamelle Cornley, who injured his shoulder against George Mason Tuesday. Penn State will play the winner of (1) Florida and (4) Miami (FL), with the winner going to the NIT Semifinals in Madison Square Garden. The other Big Ten team in the NIT, Northwestern, lost to Tulsa Wednesday night, ending their season.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
NCAA Tidbits on Big Ten Teams
Hope everyone is getting "mad" for the right reasons as you are filling out your brackets. I've had a few days to digest everything that happened at this year's Big Ten Tournament and for those of you who need help picking your bracket, I've got some advice for you, specifically aimed at games featuring Big Ten teams...
-- Purdue is back. I think that is the most obvious point we can make after watching the Boilermakers basically breeze through three games in Indianapolis last weekend. They are a different team with Robbie Hummel healthy and they've got a lot of pieces to make a dangerous out for any team in the tournament.
-- Michigan's tournament fate will be decided behind the three-point line. When Manny Harris, Stu Douglass, Zack Novak and Laval Lucas-Perry hit their threes, Michigan usually wins. But if they are off, Michigan doesn't win.
-- Ohio State doesn't have to travel far to play in their first-round games (Dayton, OH). And after watching him in person this past weekend, forward Evan Turner earned my vote as the conference's best overall player. That kid can do everything.
-- Depth is Minnesota's greatest tournament weapon. Their roster is 11 players deep and depending on the match-up, they can go big, small, fast, slow, inside or outside. Tubby Smith has a great compliment of players at his disposal but his guards, Al Nolen and Lawrence Westbrook, need to play well if the Golden Gophers want to advance past the first round.
-- The loss of Chester Frazier (broken hand) has crippled Illinois' chemistry. After their semifinal game Saturday, Matt Painter called Frazier "the glue" for Illinois, the guy that keeps the team together through thick and thin. He is their defensive specialist, their point guard and leader on the floor. They struggled without him and his absence on the court will likely lead to their downfall.
-- Like Illinois, Wisconsin's tournament fate will fall on the shoulders of their senior forwards, Marcus Landry and Joe Krabbenhoft. This team may not be as talented as in years past, but they've got experience of playing in multiple NCAA Tournaments in their corner, something first-round opponent Florida State doesn't have.
-- And Michigan State is the conference's best hope for a Final Four team. They've had injuries, sicknesses, inconsistencies this season, but they are still the most talented, most athletic team the conference has to offer. They don't even have to travel outside the midwest (Minneapolis in the first round, Indianapolis in the Sweet 16, Detroit in the Final Four), which should help their fan base travel a little easier. They have all the makings to make a deep run. They defend with tenacity, they are one of the best rebounding teams in the country and their up-tempo style will give opponents in the later rounds fits, assuming they make it that far. Because while some teams get tired, Michigan State will continue to push the ball and run their opponent out of the gym. DO NOT be surprised to see them playing for the championship in Detroit in a few weeks.
Last impressions: Overall, I thought the selection committee got the right teams in. Penn State's double-OT loss at Iowa all but doomed their fate, but I was surprised Minnesota got a higher seed than Wisconsin. I think the Big Ten got great first round draws, though the location of the games were very puzzling (Wisconsin in Boise, ID; Illinois, Purdue in Portland, OR). All-in-all, I've got Michigan State in my Elite Eight (losing to Louisville) and Purdue in my Sweet 16.
I would love to see the Big Ten get multiple teams into the Sweet 16 to shut the critics up, but this is March. Anything can happen.
-- Purdue is back. I think that is the most obvious point we can make after watching the Boilermakers basically breeze through three games in Indianapolis last weekend. They are a different team with Robbie Hummel healthy and they've got a lot of pieces to make a dangerous out for any team in the tournament.
-- Michigan's tournament fate will be decided behind the three-point line. When Manny Harris, Stu Douglass, Zack Novak and Laval Lucas-Perry hit their threes, Michigan usually wins. But if they are off, Michigan doesn't win.
-- Ohio State doesn't have to travel far to play in their first-round games (Dayton, OH). And after watching him in person this past weekend, forward Evan Turner earned my vote as the conference's best overall player. That kid can do everything.
-- Depth is Minnesota's greatest tournament weapon. Their roster is 11 players deep and depending on the match-up, they can go big, small, fast, slow, inside or outside. Tubby Smith has a great compliment of players at his disposal but his guards, Al Nolen and Lawrence Westbrook, need to play well if the Golden Gophers want to advance past the first round.
-- The loss of Chester Frazier (broken hand) has crippled Illinois' chemistry. After their semifinal game Saturday, Matt Painter called Frazier "the glue" for Illinois, the guy that keeps the team together through thick and thin. He is their defensive specialist, their point guard and leader on the floor. They struggled without him and his absence on the court will likely lead to their downfall.
-- Like Illinois, Wisconsin's tournament fate will fall on the shoulders of their senior forwards, Marcus Landry and Joe Krabbenhoft. This team may not be as talented as in years past, but they've got experience of playing in multiple NCAA Tournaments in their corner, something first-round opponent Florida State doesn't have.
-- And Michigan State is the conference's best hope for a Final Four team. They've had injuries, sicknesses, inconsistencies this season, but they are still the most talented, most athletic team the conference has to offer. They don't even have to travel outside the midwest (Minneapolis in the first round, Indianapolis in the Sweet 16, Detroit in the Final Four), which should help their fan base travel a little easier. They have all the makings to make a deep run. They defend with tenacity, they are one of the best rebounding teams in the country and their up-tempo style will give opponents in the later rounds fits, assuming they make it that far. Because while some teams get tired, Michigan State will continue to push the ball and run their opponent out of the gym. DO NOT be surprised to see them playing for the championship in Detroit in a few weeks.
Last impressions: Overall, I thought the selection committee got the right teams in. Penn State's double-OT loss at Iowa all but doomed their fate, but I was surprised Minnesota got a higher seed than Wisconsin. I think the Big Ten got great first round draws, though the location of the games were very puzzling (Wisconsin in Boise, ID; Illinois, Purdue in Portland, OR). All-in-all, I've got Michigan State in my Elite Eight (losing to Louisville) and Purdue in my Sweet 16.
I would love to see the Big Ten get multiple teams into the Sweet 16 to shut the critics up, but this is March. Anything can happen.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
I Need Your Feedback
Apologies if I said I will try to provide some insight into the Big Dance. This is my favorite time of year and I want to enjoy it as a much as you all, so with that said, I'm going to take some time off to watch the greatest sports spectacle today.
Before I leave for hiatus, though, I am asking for your help. This blog, though written for a class, is written out of interest. Our assignment is to find a topic and see how many comments you can get. I've tried to think of an idea to toss out to all of you and think I may have found one.
I want to hear from you who the athlete is you hate the most. Everybody undoubtedly has one person they strongly dislike, whether that person is jealous of accomplishments or is just an ass by nature. For example, you might hate Terrell Owens because he's selfish and loves himself. You might hate Tony Stewart because he is a "different kind" of race car driver. Or you might hate John Starks simply because he was a member of the New York Knicks.
I want to hear from you. Who is the athlete you dislike the most? Why? PLEASE comment...
Before I leave for hiatus, though, I am asking for your help. This blog, though written for a class, is written out of interest. Our assignment is to find a topic and see how many comments you can get. I've tried to think of an idea to toss out to all of you and think I may have found one.
I want to hear from you who the athlete is you hate the most. Everybody undoubtedly has one person they strongly dislike, whether that person is jealous of accomplishments or is just an ass by nature. For example, you might hate Terrell Owens because he's selfish and loves himself. You might hate Tony Stewart because he is a "different kind" of race car driver. Or you might hate John Starks simply because he was a member of the New York Knicks.
I want to hear from you. Who is the athlete you dislike the most? Why? PLEASE comment...
Monday, March 9, 2009
The Big Ten Media Is On Crack
When the Big Ten Postseason Awards show aired tonight on the Big Ten Network, I was perplexed with some of these awards handed out. It's clear that the media decided to hand out the hardware to the winners, not necessarily the best players. Let's get right into it:
Sixth Player of the Year
My Pick: Chris Allen, MSU
Actual Pick: B.J. Mullens, Ohio State (Coaches)
Why? At the beginning of the year, Mullens looked lost, but after conference play started, the 7-footer really started asserting himself despite not starting many games. There is talk about him bolting to the NBA, but it's clear Mullens could use some more years in Columbus to refine his game.
Freshman of the Year
My Pick: Matt Gatens, Iowa
Actual Pick: William Buford, Ohio State (Coaches and Media)
Why? I acknowledged that Buford could get this award, and sure enough, that is what happened. He's had a stellar year as Ohio State's point guard and is only going to get better. Both of these guys deserved this award, but Buford may have cemented his award after beating Gatens head-to-head last week in Iowa City.
Coach of the Year
My Pick: Bruce Weber, Illinois
Actual Pick: Tom Izzo, MSU (Coaches); Ed DeChellis, PSU (Media)
Why? I really felt Bruce Weber had a legitimate shot at winning this after the turnaround they've had. But perhaps no team has had changed in one year than Penn State, so I can understand why the media picked him. And Izzo is the coach of the Big Ten's best team. Bill Carmody also had a shot after leading Northwestern to one of their best seasons in years.
Player of the Year
My Pick: Manny Harris, Michigan
Actual Pick: Kalin Lucas, MSU (Coaches and Media)
Why? This pick angered me and completely threw me by surprise. There's no question Kalin Lucas is a great player and there's no doubt he is the best player on the best team, but he is NOT the conferece's best player in my opinion. I still contend that Manny Harris, Talor Battle or Evan Turner deserve this honor more than Lucas because if you take those three guys out of their respective teams, they are nowhere near as good.
All Big Ten Teams
First Team
My Picks: Harris, Battle, Turner, Lucas and Kevin Coble
Actual Picks: Harris, Battle, Turner, Lucas and JaJuan Johnson
Why? I got four of these right, but interesting that all five guys are sophomores. That should tell you where the strength of this conference lies and how good they can be if they all stick around. I had Johnson on my second team, but he certainly is deserving of the honor.
Second Team (Media)
My Picks: Johnson, Chester Frazier, DeShawn Sims, Jamelle Cornley, Robbie Hummel
Actual Picks: E'Twaun Moore, Sims, Cornely, Coble, Goran Suton.
Why? Goran Suton? Are you kidding me? The media must have seen something that I didn't in this guy. I can't argue with the other four, but I do take issue with Suton.
Third Team
My Picks: Moore, Lawrence Westbrook, Mike Davis, Mike Tisdale, Marcus Landry
Actual Picks: Davis, Demetri McCamey, Craig Moore, Robbie Hummel, Landry
Why? Davis definitely deserved some recognition, as did McCamey and Landry. I'm not so sure about Craig Moore. I felt Chester Frazier, with his defense and assists-per-game ratio felt on one of these teams, but he was merely an honorable mention.
Travis Walton was the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Year as selected by the coaches.
Complete list of awards can be found here.
Sixth Player of the Year
My Pick: Chris Allen, MSU
Actual Pick: B.J. Mullens, Ohio State (Coaches)
Why? At the beginning of the year, Mullens looked lost, but after conference play started, the 7-footer really started asserting himself despite not starting many games. There is talk about him bolting to the NBA, but it's clear Mullens could use some more years in Columbus to refine his game.
Freshman of the Year
My Pick: Matt Gatens, Iowa
Actual Pick: William Buford, Ohio State (Coaches and Media)
Why? I acknowledged that Buford could get this award, and sure enough, that is what happened. He's had a stellar year as Ohio State's point guard and is only going to get better. Both of these guys deserved this award, but Buford may have cemented his award after beating Gatens head-to-head last week in Iowa City.
Coach of the Year
My Pick: Bruce Weber, Illinois
Actual Pick: Tom Izzo, MSU (Coaches); Ed DeChellis, PSU (Media)
Why? I really felt Bruce Weber had a legitimate shot at winning this after the turnaround they've had. But perhaps no team has had changed in one year than Penn State, so I can understand why the media picked him. And Izzo is the coach of the Big Ten's best team. Bill Carmody also had a shot after leading Northwestern to one of their best seasons in years.
Player of the Year
My Pick: Manny Harris, Michigan
Actual Pick: Kalin Lucas, MSU (Coaches and Media)
Why? This pick angered me and completely threw me by surprise. There's no question Kalin Lucas is a great player and there's no doubt he is the best player on the best team, but he is NOT the conferece's best player in my opinion. I still contend that Manny Harris, Talor Battle or Evan Turner deserve this honor more than Lucas because if you take those three guys out of their respective teams, they are nowhere near as good.
All Big Ten Teams
First Team
My Picks: Harris, Battle, Turner, Lucas and Kevin Coble
Actual Picks: Harris, Battle, Turner, Lucas and JaJuan Johnson
Why? I got four of these right, but interesting that all five guys are sophomores. That should tell you where the strength of this conference lies and how good they can be if they all stick around. I had Johnson on my second team, but he certainly is deserving of the honor.
Second Team (Media)
My Picks: Johnson, Chester Frazier, DeShawn Sims, Jamelle Cornley, Robbie Hummel
Actual Picks: E'Twaun Moore, Sims, Cornely, Coble, Goran Suton.
Why? Goran Suton? Are you kidding me? The media must have seen something that I didn't in this guy. I can't argue with the other four, but I do take issue with Suton.
Third Team
My Picks: Moore, Lawrence Westbrook, Mike Davis, Mike Tisdale, Marcus Landry
Actual Picks: Davis, Demetri McCamey, Craig Moore, Robbie Hummel, Landry
Why? Davis definitely deserved some recognition, as did McCamey and Landry. I'm not so sure about Craig Moore. I felt Chester Frazier, with his defense and assists-per-game ratio felt on one of these teams, but he was merely an honorable mention.
Travis Walton was the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Year as selected by the coaches.
Complete list of awards can be found here.
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