Big Ten Basketball

[illiniguy]

We suck. The refs really hurt us on Randle's last foul. Horton played awesome.

[SouthSideRyan]

Im starting to get the feeling the B10 is going to suck in the tourney this year. I have a lot less confidence in these teams than last year.

Michigan needs to win this game tonight. They are pissing away their tourney birth.

 

Yes, they do and yes they are. I am a bit worried, but what will likely happen is Michigan losing to Illinois and at OSU, beat Indiana at home and beat a team like Purdue in the first round of the Big 10 tourney. That would put them at 19-10 (9-9) including the tourney, and I just don't see a way with all the hype the Big 10 has gotten this year, that they send less then 6 teams into the dance unless Michigan completely collapses and loses out (leaving them 17-11 (7-10))

 

That leaves in no particular order:

1. Illinois

2. Michigan State

3. Ohio State

4. Wisconsin

5. Iowa

6. Michigan

 

The problem is of course 3 of Michigan's starting 5 being out with injuries (Abram, Harris and Hunter). Hunter will be out 3-6 weeks (a huuuuge blow), Harris should be playing tonight and Abram - who the hell knows.

 

I waffle back and forth pretty much every other day on whether I think the Big 10 is gonna clean up in the tourney or have a losing record in the tourney.

 

The Michigan loss probably sunk them, but if Minnesota can steal one of their games at Wisconsin or at home against UI(they could really use the road win-only 2 on the season), anyone else think they belong? They'd obviously need the first round win, (probably against the 10 seed) but that'd put them at 17-12(7-9) in the best conference in the country in a real down year for bubble teams. That should put their RPI in the 40s-50s I would guess, along with a 7-3 record in the last 10, all losses to tournament teams along with 3 wins over tourney teams. I don't think it's likely they'd beat Wisconsin or UI(though I do fear this game), but it's certainly possible and it seems Minnesota isn't getting any attention despite having a similar profile to IU(who's sliding the other way.)

 

If Michigan finished around 18-10 (7-9) and Minnesota 17-12 (7-9), I think the Big 10's 6th spot would be up to those two, and with Michigan beating Minnesota twice by 15+ points, Michigan would get the nod. The only thing that would put that in doubt would be the fact that Minnesota would be lik 8-2 in their last 10, with Michigan like 3-7

 

Shoulda clarified, I meant Minnesota as the 7th team, I counted Michigan as already in.

 

And Illinois is frustrating with the 5 minutes per game that they sit around and wait for Dee to do something.

[hawkeyecub]

Michigan is in with that win if there was every any doubt.

 

I really don't like the idea of facing Illinois with their backs against the wall on senior's day. Fortunately we match up well with them and have played them very well in the last four meetings, including the last two at Assembly Hall.

 

Illinois is really on the outside looking in for the Big Ten championship now and pretty much have to win out to get a share. Wisconsin is right there, but still have to go to MSU and Iowa. That's a big game between OSU and MSU tomorrow night. If OSU can pull it out they're definitely in the driver's seat.

If the Hawks can win Saturday it would almost clinch a share, assuming they can win one of the two home games next week.

 

I can't wait til Saturday. I just hope our defense actually shows up on the road this time.

[snoodmonger]

I Thought UI got screwed a bit on that Randle call (though I'd be lying if I said it didn't make me happy). Regardless, UM deserved to win. Heck of a game by Augustine, though.

[hawkeyecub]

I Thought UI got screwed a bit on that Randle call (though I'd be lying if I said it didn't make me happy). Regardless, UM deserved to win. Heck of a game by Augustine, though.

 

I thought so too. It wasn't the best angle, but it certainly looked like a jump ball to me.

 

I thought the reach in they called on Brown in the last minute was also pretty questionable though.

[illiniguy]

I Thought UI got screwed a bit on that Randle call (though I'd be lying if I said it didn't make me happy). Regardless, UM deserved to win. Heck of a game by Augustine, though.

 

I thought so too. It wasn't the best angle, but it certainly looked like a jump ball to me.

 

I thought the reach in they called on Brown in the last minute was also pretty questionable though.

If we guarded the tree at all in the second half it wouldn;t have mattered. You cannot let a good shooting team shoot uncontested threes on the road and expect to win. We are gonna get knocked out early in the tourny if we don't pick up the defensive intensity.

[dalgreen]

Illinois will win Saturday at home, and it's got nothing to do with their backs being up against the wall because they are and have been a team without a lot of heart. Their backs were against the wall tonight and you saw what happened. They'll win at home for the same reasons every other Big Ten team wins at home. Plus, Iowa just isn't that good on the road (just like every other Big Ten team). Anyone who thought the Penn State loss wasn't going to hurt us in the end was just being a homer. Illinois realistically could lose next Tuesday at Minnesota and will lose at E. Lansing.

 

Why is Warren Carter even on the floor? Rich McBride has gone back to being the Rich McBride of old. It's too bad Pruitt and Randle can't consistently play as well as they did against Indiana earlier in the season. Their production is the x factor for Illinois. We need those guys to combine for just 20 pts. I won't even get into the pitiful FT shooting of this team. I'll say it again, I fail to see any kind of senior leadership on this team. I still fail to see why this team kills the shot clock by continually running their offense 20 feet out.

[Derwood]

ESPN.com's latest "bracketology" has:

 

Iowa (3 seed)

Ohio St. (2)

Wiconsin (5)

Michigan St. (4)

Michigan (11)

Illinois (3)

[Derwood]

Penn State had their chance to win it in Bloomington tonight but put up a stupid 3 point shot late when down by 2. Bad decisions cost you on the road.

[hawkeyecub]

Huge win for Ohio State tonight, winning in the Breslin Center. I definitely didn't expect that to happen.

 

They have to be the favorites now. They have Michigan and Purdue at home and travel to Northwestern. Unless they stumble, Iowa will have to win out to tie them at 12-4.

[badgercub]

If the Badgers can pull out a win on the road tonight at Welsh Ryan there will be a three way tie for first in the big ten, things will get very interesting. Badgers have had their problems playing there in the past so tonights game could be very interesting.

[Mark_R]

Hadn't seen this posted anywhere, but from Seth Davis today:

 

D.J. White told me last Friday in Bloomington that he was definitely gone now that Mike Davis is out. It remains to be seen whether White transfers to wherever Davis lands or tries to make a go of it in the pros. I know people in Indiana are hoping/expecting White to change his mind when things cool off. I think he's history.

[Flames24Rulz]

again I'm a huge NU fan tonight :D

[Jon]

I've managed to miss the last 3 games because of 2 separate colds. Go me.

 

At least I can watch this one on ESPN.

[CuseCubFan69]

Hadn't seen this posted anywhere, but from Seth Davis today:

 

D.J. White told me last Friday in Bloomington that he was definitely gone now that Mike Davis is out. It remains to be seen whether White transfers to wherever Davis lands or tries to make a go of it in the pros. I know people in Indiana are hoping/expecting White to change his mind when things cool off. I think he's history.

 

Is his real name Jimmy?

[ConstableRabbit]

again I'm a huge NU fan tonight :D

 

I'll be there waving my huge purple foam shocker. Everyone look for me! :lol: espn2

[dalgreen]

I still don't know why Big Ten coaches aren't advocating for an 18 game conference schedule. Yes, I'm bitter, but then if we (Illinois) had either Ohio State or Wisconsin at home, I'm sure there wouldn't be a three way tie for first.

[dalgreen]

again I'm a huge NU fan tonight :D

 

I'll be there waving my huge purple foam shocker. Everyone look for me! :lol: espn2

 

Is your big man back yet?

[CuseCubFan69]

I still don't know why Big Ten coaches aren't advocating for an 18 game conference schedule. Yes, I'm bitter, but then if we (Illinois) had either Ohio State or Wisconsin at home, I'm sure there wouldn't be a three way tie for first.

 

I know what you mean, I hate playing UConn and Villanova twice and not even playing Marquette.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I still don't know why Big Ten coaches aren't advocating for an 18 game conference schedule. Yes, I'm bitter, but then if we (Illinois) had either Ohio State or Wisconsin at home, I'm sure there wouldn't be a three way tie for first.

 

I'm still bitter about playing @ Kohl while Wisconsin was at full strength. Of course with last night's loss, I'm not going to make any concerted effort to watch MSU until the U of I game and the following tourneys.

[hawkeyecub]

I still don't know why Big Ten coaches aren't advocating for an 18 game conference schedule. Yes, I'm bitter, but then if we (Illinois) had either Ohio State or Wisconsin at home, I'm sure there wouldn't be a three way tie for first.

 

Even with 18 you still would have problems though because it still would be unbalanced.

 

You would have to go to 20 games to get it the way you used to and that's just never going to happen. The addition of Penn State screwed it up, just like they did with football scheduling.

Now with the 12th game in football, it would definitely be easy to have everyone play 9 Big Ten games and play everyone.

 

Either way in both sports if you play more conference games than every other conference, you're pretty much just adding extra losses and hurting yourselves.

[Jon]

The 'Cats are sure trying to blow this one.

 

Ah, the "just like football" chant returns. There's none better.

[Flames24Rulz]

NU wins 62-51!

 

now lets plz beat Iowa on Saturday.

[Jon]

Very solid game by Northwestern. It's real fun watching Hachad when he's on like that.

 

Damn you, cold.

[hawkeyecub]

The 'Cats are sure trying to blow this one.

 

Ah, the "just like football" chant returns. There's none better.

 

It is fairly incredible that they beat both Iowa and Wisconsin in football and basketball this year. I don't see that happening again for a while. It seems like Basanez and Vukusic have each been there for 7 years.

I just hate playing at Northwestern in both sports. Weird atmospheres at both venues with not much fan support (I think Wisconsin had more fans tonight) in small arenas and stadiums. And in both sports they play systems that Big Ten teams don't see much of.

 

That said I'm glad they pulled that one out tonight. Now if they can just beat Ohio State at home next week...