Big Ten Basketball

[gflore34]

I think Iowa has real good chance to win today, let's see if Brunner and/or Hansen can get Dials in early foul trouble. I really don't like the way OSU plays perhaps, it was fatigue but, yesterday I saw Dials in the paint and four other players standing around the perimeter. No movement, they were just waiting to take another 3. This is not Big Ten's best team, if they do get a #1, it'll be weakest of the #1's and real good candidate to be the first #1 to go down.

[NCCubFan]

If Iowa wins we will hear that same exact question.

I'm sure that will be true even if Iowa loses. At least it probably won't be talked about as much during the game as it would have been if it were Iowa vs. Indiana (of course, since I'm an IU fan, I would have preferred avoiding that matchup by having Indiana vs. Michigan State for the championship :D ).

[cubweiser03]

Guys, im really pissed of at Michigan basketall right now. This team should be in tournament but they played awful the last nine games. They had some really good wins but some really bad losses. I dont think they are going to get in and if they do i will be really thankful. If they dont make the tourney this year it will be by far the most disappointed ive been in this program ever. I liked it when Amaker came but he hasnt done anything to really impress me. If they dont make it, he should be fired.

[UMFan83]

Guys, im really pissed of at Michigan basketall right now. This team should be in tournament but they played awful the last nine games. They had some really good wins but some really bad losses. I dont think they are going to get in and if they do i will be really thankful. If they dont make the tourney this year it will be by far the most disappointed ive been in this program ever. I liked it when Amaker came but he hasnt done anything to really impress me. If they dont make it, he should be fired.

 

You and me both. I'm not watching the selection show. I am cheering for them if they get in of course (looks to be about a 30% chance, Florida State, Hofstra, George Mason, Michigan and Seton Hall seem to be fighting for 2-3 spots), but I don't think they deserve it.

 

Oh well 8 years without a rooting interest in the NCAA tourney, might as well wait more years.

[illiniguy]

Am I ever glad IU didn't beat OSU. You would be hearing 24 hours of Steve Alfords present team vs. His possible future team.

That's exactly what happened a few years ago. During Davis' first year (when he was interim coach) Alford was considered the next likely IU coach, and IU played Iowa in the championship game of the Big Ten tournament (Iowa won). It almost turned out to be deja vu all over again, as Yogi would say.

 

 

Yep with 5 minutes left, Packer said it was "the most important 5 minutes in the history of these two programs" for what it would mean with the coaching situation.

Then during the trophy presentation he asked Alford if he was planning on taking the IU job. Nice tact Billy.

 

If Iowa wins we will hear that same exact question. CBS just needs to fire this guy. He picks the team he wants to win and researches them but finds out nothing about the other team.

What he did to Frank Williams was laughable.

[hawkeyecub]

Am I ever glad IU didn't beat OSU. You would be hearing 24 hours of Steve Alfords present team vs. His possible future team.

That's exactly what happened a few years ago. During Davis' first year (when he was interim coach) Alford was considered the next likely IU coach, and IU played Iowa in the championship game of the Big Ten tournament (Iowa won). It almost turned out to be deja vu all over again, as Yogi would say.

 

 

Yep with 5 minutes left, Packer said it was "the most important 5 minutes in the history of these two programs" for what it would mean with the coaching situation.

Then during the trophy presentation he asked Alford if he was planning on taking the IU job. Nice tact Billy.

 

If Iowa wins we will hear that same exact question. CBS just needs to fire this guy. He picks the team he wants to win and researches them but finds out nothing about the other team.

What he did to Frank Williams was laughable.

 

What did he do to Frank Williams?

 

No discussion of the Big Ten championship game? Great game, OSU looked like the fresh team early on but then seemed to wear down as Iowa got stronger. Iowa's defensive strategy of taking away the lane and allowing teams to chuck 3's paid off again. Doug and Hansen did a number on Dials and it didn't hurt that he was in foul trouble.

Iowa and OSU both ended up 14-5 in Big Ten games and Iowa beat OSU twice. Still not enough to claim a Big Ten championship, but I think it's safe to say that the two teams were very even.

[NCCubFan]

What did he do to Frank Williams?

I'm guessing he meant Roy Williams. A couple of years ago he asked Williams if he was leaving for North Carolina immediately after Kansas was beat in the tournament.

[snoodmonger]

That wasn't Packer; that was one of the female reporters. I'm guessing he did mean Frank Williams, and I'm curious what he did, too. Can't remember.

[CuseCubFan69]

Guys, im really pissed of at Michigan basketall right now. This team should be in tournament but they played awful the last nine games. They had some really good wins but some really bad losses. I dont think they are going to get in and if they do i will be really thankful. If they dont make the tourney this year it will be by far the most disappointed ive been in this program ever. I liked it when Amaker came but he hasnt done anything to really impress me. If they dont make it, he should be fired.

 

You and me both. I'm not watching the selection show. I am cheering for them if they get in of course (looks to be about a 30% chance, Florida State, Hofstra, George Mason, Michigan and Seton Hall seem to be fighting for 2-3 spots), but I don't think they deserve it.

 

Oh well 8 years without a rooting interest in the NCAA tourney, might as well wait more years.

 

Amaker did nothing with the very good talent he recruited at S Hall and left the school in a mess that Orr had to pick up. I think you guys could get a way better coach than this guy.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

No, you can't fire Radio!

[CuseCubFan69]

Was Jim Nance cut off from the head committee guy or was he being rude? He seemed to ignore the guy at the end.

[NCCubFan]

I hadn't thought about it being a case of him just being cut off. That could have been the case if they were out of time.

[illiniguy]

Am I ever glad IU didn't beat OSU. You would be hearing 24 hours of Steve Alfords present team vs. His possible future team.

That's exactly what happened a few years ago. During Davis' first year (when he was interim coach) Alford was considered the next likely IU coach, and IU played Iowa in the championship game of the Big Ten tournament (Iowa won). It almost turned out to be deja vu all over again, as Yogi would say.

 

 

Yep with 5 minutes left, Packer said it was "the most important 5 minutes in the history of these two programs" for what it would mean with the coaching situation.

Then during the trophy presentation he asked Alford if he was planning on taking the IU job. Nice tact Billy.

 

If Iowa wins we will hear that same exact question. CBS just needs to fire this guy. He picks the team he wants to win and researches them but finds out nothing about the other team.

What he did to Frank Williams was laughable.

 

What did he do to Frank Williams?

 

No discussion of the Big Ten championship game? Great game, OSU looked like the fresh team early on but then seemed to wear down as Iowa got stronger. Iowa's defensive strategy of taking away the lane and allowing teams to chuck 3's paid off again. Doug and Hansen did a number on Dials and it didn't hurt that he was in foul trouble.

Iowa and OSU both ended up 14-5 in Big Ten games and Iowa beat OSU twice. Still not enough to claim a Big Ten championship, but I think it's safe to say that the two teams were very even.

no he repeatedly called frank williams out for playing "like a dog" in a game in which he had 19 and 11. So many people should play like dogs. Just because he played smooth doesn't mean he wasn't trying you pompus old ass.

[cubweiser03]

Ok Big Ten fans...one of the first thing i look at in the brackets are what are the Big Ten teams going to do? Im not as high on these guys as last year. I liked illini and i thought both MSU and Wiscy were underappreciated last year. Heres what i got for this year right now...

 

Atlanta:

Iowa=Sweet 16 losing to Texas. Iowa could be the surpise B10 team this year. They be playing well.

 

Oakland:

Indiana=loses to Gonzaga.

 

DC:

Illini: loses to Uconn in Sweet 16

MSU: The Big Ten wildcard. I got them losing to Carolina in the second round. If they win they will go to the 8 because that bottom bracket aint nuthin, thats what scares me about picking them to lose to UNC.

 

Minneapolis:

Wisc: Loses to Nova. Can they beat Nova? Doesnt Nova like to run with those 4 guards and go open style? You cant run on the badgers or go open. This could be another classic Badger tournament upset special.

OSU: I got them in the final 4. Nothing in that bottom bracket scares me.

 

What you guys thinking about the B10?

[Derwood]

I had the same as you, but I had IU getting upset first round and OSU losing to Florida (don't ask me why, I never research my brackets...just go on hunches)

[Transmogrified Tiger]

MSU: The Big Ten wildcard. I got them losing to Carolina in the second round. If they win they will go to the 8 because that bottom bracket aint nuthin, thats what scares me about picking them to lose to UNC.

 

This was even more painful to me making my picks as a MSU fan. If you pick them to beat UNC, it's not hard to envision them knocking of UT or someone worse than them. Combining analysis, optimism, homerism, and my own opinions on teams is vera difficult when it comes to that bracket.

[illiniguy]

Ok Big Ten fans...one of the first thing i look at in the brackets are what are the Big Ten teams going to do? Im not as high on these guys as last year. I liked illini and i thought both MSU and Wiscy were underappreciated last year. Heres what i got for this year right now...

 

Atlanta:

Iowa=Sweet 16 losing to Texas. Iowa could be the surpise B10 team this year. They be playing well.

 

Oakland:

Indiana=loses to Gonzaga.

 

DC:

Illini: loses to Uconn in Sweet 16

MSU: The Big Ten wildcard. I got them losing to Carolina in the second round. If they win they will go to the 8 because that bottom bracket aint nuthin, thats what scares me about picking them to lose to UNC.

 

Minneapolis:

Wisc: Loses to Nova. Can they beat Nova? Doesnt Nova like to run with those 4 guards and go open style? You cant run on the badgers or go open. This could be another classic Badger tournament upset special.

OSU: I got them in the final 4. Nothing in that bottom bracket scares me.

 

What you guys thinking about the B10?

I like Iowa as a final four sleeper after seeing their bracket. They are as good as Texas.

[hawkeyecub]

Ok Big Ten fans...one of the first thing i look at in the brackets are what are the Big Ten teams going to do? Im not as high on these guys as last year. I liked illini and i thought both MSU and Wiscy were underappreciated last year. Heres what i got for this year right now...

 

Atlanta:

Iowa=Sweet 16 losing to Texas. Iowa could be the surpise B10 team this year. They be playing well.

 

Oakland:

Indiana=loses to Gonzaga.

 

DC:

Illini: loses to Uconn in Sweet 16

MSU: The Big Ten wildcard. I got them losing to Carolina in the second round. If they win they will go to the 8 because that bottom bracket aint nuthin, thats what scares me about picking them to lose to UNC.

 

Minneapolis:

Wisc: Loses to Nova. Can they beat Nova? Doesnt Nova like to run with those 4 guards and go open style? You cant run on the badgers or go open. This could be another classic Badger tournament upset special.

OSU: I got them in the final 4. Nothing in that bottom bracket scares me.

 

What you guys thinking about the B10?

I like Iowa as a final four sleeper after seeing their bracket. They are as good as Texas.

 

We've got to get past this weekend first though. Friday we play a team that presses the hell out of you and runs in 5 new bodies at every timeout. Then Sunday we would have to get past either West Virginia (who is very similar to Northwestern's style that has always killed us) or win a slowdown defensive game against Southern Illinois.

 

I feel pretty good about our bracket if we get to the Sweet 16 though. We almost beat Texas on a neutral court in November despite shooting horribly and I think we're pretty equal to them as a team. Duke just doesn't scare me and I'm not sure that they'll get to the Elite 8 anyways. But if they do I think we match up very well with them.

[illiniguy]

Ok Big Ten fans...one of the first thing i look at in the brackets are what are the Big Ten teams going to do? Im not as high on these guys as last year. I liked illini and i thought both MSU and Wiscy were underappreciated last year. Heres what i got for this year right now...

 

Atlanta:

Iowa=Sweet 16 losing to Texas. Iowa could be the surpise B10 team this year. They be playing well.

 

Oakland:

Indiana=loses to Gonzaga.

 

DC:

Illini: loses to Uconn in Sweet 16

MSU: The Big Ten wildcard. I got them losing to Carolina in the second round. If they win they will go to the 8 because that bottom bracket aint nuthin, thats what scares me about picking them to lose to UNC.

 

Minneapolis:

Wisc: Loses to Nova. Can they beat Nova? Doesnt Nova like to run with those 4 guards and go open style? You cant run on the badgers or go open. This could be another classic Badger tournament upset special.

OSU: I got them in the final 4. Nothing in that bottom bracket scares me.

 

What you guys thinking about the B10?

I like Iowa as a final four sleeper after seeing their bracket. They are as good as Texas.

 

We've got to get past this weekend first though. Friday we play a team that presses the hell out of you and runs in 5 new bodies at every timeout. Then Sunday we would have to get past either West Virginia (who is very similar to Northwestern's style that has always killed us) or win a slowdown defensive game against Southern Illinois.

 

I feel pretty good about our bracket if we get to the Sweet 16 though. We almost beat Texas on a neutral court in November despite shooting horribly and I think we're pretty equal to them as a team. Duke just doesn't scare me and I'm not sure that they'll get to the Elite 8 anyways. But if they do I think we match up very well with them.

I was at the game against texas. You guys looked like the best team at the classic. WVU I think is the hardest draw for you because they are a talented Northwestern.

[hawkeyecub]

Exactly. I really hope Southern Illinois can knock them off.

 

I think all of the top three teams in the Big Ten are more than capable of getting to the Final Four this year. It's about matchups and I think OSU, Illinois and Iowa all matchup fairly well if they get to the Sweet 16.

Illinois matches up with UCONN much better than Iowa would simply because of athleticism, but they still play the kind of defense that will keep you in every game. Then they really can get any of the teams from that bottom region.

Ohio State should handle Florida if they're hitting their shots at an even decent rate. Villanova is good, but OSU has the kind of perimeter oriented team that can get them, especially if they're shooting well.

I actually expect MSU to get to the Elite 8. Davis can handle Hansborough and their guards can win their matchups. Tennessee just really isn't a better team than MSU. They'll turn it up in the tournament again and make a run.

 

I really hope the Big Ten does well as a whole and can prove how tough the league was this year. The more I watch of other conferences, the more I see that no other conference plays defense the way the Big Ten does, especially Iowa, Illinois and Ohio State. You could see some of these Big Ten offenses explode against weaker defenses.

[illiniguy]

I could see all three making the final four. If we get past Uconn either us or MSU could make it. You guys have a good draw and could beat Duke assuming the referees allow anyone to attempt to guard Redick :roll: Although I get the feeling they might get the same treatment they did for Battier's senior year. Ohio State could also easily make the final four. How sweet would that be? I would gladly play the winner of you to for the national championship game.

[gflore34]

I could see all three making the final four. If we get past Uconn either us or MSU could make it. You guys have a good draw and could beat Duke assuming the referees allow anyone to attempt to guard Redick :roll: Although I get the feeling they might get the same treatment they did for Battier's senior year. Ohio State could also easily make the final four. How sweet would that be? I would gladly play the winner of you to for the national championship game.

 

At some point Reddick going to run out of gas, he's working on fumes as it is, IMO Duke' the first 1 seed to bite the dust.