College Basketball 2011-2012

[Smack]

My pre-B1G tipoff picks (spaces indicate tiers).

 

1. Ohio St.

 

2. Wisconsin

3. IU (this pains me)

4. Michigan St.

 

5. Purdue

6. Michigan

7. Illinois

8. Northwestern

 

9. Minnesota

10. Nebraska

11. Iowa

12. Penn St.

Edited December 27, 2011 by Smack

[SouthSideRyan]

Well looks like my prediction that Crandall would be this years malcontent was spot on. Let's wait for all the facts to come out before we rush to judgment. I think there must be more than just playing time at play here.

 

Official per Klee's twitter.

[illiniguy]

Now a legacy recruit is transferring out. Come on Thomas, someone else needs to be transferring out.

[SouthSideRyan]

Ohio St.

Michigan St

Wisconsin

Illinois

Michigan

Purdue

Indiana

Northwestern

Nebraska

Minnesota

Iowa

Penn State

[Smack]

Ohio St.

Michigan St

Wisconsin

Illinois

Michigan

Purdue

Indiana

Northwestern

Nebraska

Minnesota

Iowa

Penn State

 

I really wanted to put Wisconsin lower. Also, you're not sold on IU at all? Unless Zeller goes down I think they'll be closer to the top. I hope I'm wrong.

[Bruno7481]

IU has a rough stretch, even more so now with Jones and Sheehey being out. Both are definitely out for tomorrow night's game at MSU. Sounds like Sheehey might be out for a while.

 

I'd be content with a 1-2 start with @MSU, Ohio St, and Michigan.

[SouthSideRyan]

I think Indiana is a tourney team. That's sold enough.

 

Cody Zeller is going to have to play 35 minutes a game. That just doesn't work for freshmen.

[illiniguy]

You really think Illinois finishes that high Ryan?

[Bruno7481]

I think Indiana is a tourney team. That's sold enough.

 

Cody Zeller is going to have to play 35 minutes a game. That just doesn't work for freshmen.

 

Agreed.

 

IU is way ahead of where I thought they would be. I'm just going to sit back and enjoy watching a competent team again. I could see them going any where from 9-9 to 11-7 in the Big 10.

[SouthSideRyan]

You really think Illinois finishes that high Ryan?

 

I say that without looking at schedules, so that may shift. The Big Ten seems to have a hell of a lot of 6-11 seed teams this year, with everyone beyond OSU and MSU having obvious flaws. Indiana is the only one to be really impressive in noncon, and I think they wear down. (Not to mention they have a brutal start, and it will be interesting to see how they bounce back should they start 0-3)

Edited December 27, 2011 by SouthSideRyan

[Exile on Waveland]

Ohio State

Michigan State

Wisconsin

Illinois

Indiana

Michigan

Purdue

Northwestern

Minnesota

Nebraska

Iowa

Penn State

 

I'm pretty concerned about Sheehey. IU is still not a very athletic team overall, and Sheehey is a very good athlete. If he misses (or is hobbled for) a decent portion of the conference season, it will be difficult for IU over eighteen games.

[illiniguy]

I don't think we finish as high as you guys do. I see us around 7th.

[bukie]

The thing that really works against Illinois in conference is that they catch PSU and Iowa just once each.

[Exile on Waveland]

I don't think we finish as high as you guys do. I see us around 7th.

 

I would have picked IU ahead of Illinois if Sheehey had not just been injured (and my cynicism says he won't be very healthy for a number of weeks). Illinois has a lot more athleticism and should be able to withstand some bumps and bruises -- not to mention the physical grind of the conference -- better. I think SSR is right that IU could get worn down during conference play; though I think seventh is very, very unlikely for IU.

[SouthSideRyan]

The thing that really works against Illinois in conference is that they catch PSU and Iowa just once each.

 

At least we avoid a trip to Breslin. Literally the only good thing about the schedule.

[Exile on Waveland]

The thing that really works against Illinois in conference is that they catch PSU and Iowa just once each.

 

Ah, didn't realize that. I, admittedly, did not look at or take schedules into consideration at all.

[illiniguy]

The thing that really works against Illinois in conference is that they catch PSU and Iowa just once each.

 

Ah, didn't realize that. I, admittedly, did not look at or take schedules into consideration at all.

Also consider how awesome our coach is at Big Ten games since Dee Brown and James Augustine left campus over 7 years ago.

[SouthSideRyan]

The thing that really works against Illinois in conference is that they catch PSU and Iowa just once each.

 

Ah, didn't realize that. I, admittedly, did not look at or take schedules into consideration at all.

Also consider how awesome our coach is at Big Ten games since Dee Brown and James Augustine left campus over 7 years ago.

 

I think he's only finished below 5th once. That shouldn't be the standard, but a 7th place finish isn't exactly the norm for him.

 

ETA: The NonCon has really been the problem for Weber, far more than the B10 season.

[illiniguy]

The thing that really works against Illinois in conference is that they catch PSU and Iowa just once each.

 

Ah, didn't realize that. I, admittedly, did not look at or take schedules into consideration at all.

Also consider how awesome our coach is at Big Ten games since Dee Brown and James Augustine left campus over 7 years ago.

 

I think he's only finished below 5th once. That shouldn't be the standard, but a 7th place finish isn't exactly the norm for him.

 

ETA: The NonCon has really been the problem for Weber, far more than the B10 season.

He's .500 since 06, I'd say that's a problem at Illinois.

[CP_414]

Ohio State

 

Wisconsin

Michigan State

 

Indiana

Michigan

Illinois

Purdue

 

Northwestern

Minnesota

Nebraska

 

Iowa

Penn State

 

 

I think the top 7 are all tournament teams, but 4-7 could really finish in any order, and really any of those teams could finish as high as 3rd.

[SouthSideRyan]

The thing that really works against Illinois in conference is that they catch PSU and Iowa just once each.

 

Ah, didn't realize that. I, admittedly, did not look at or take schedules into consideration at all.

Also consider how awesome our coach is at Big Ten games since Dee Brown and James Augustine left campus over 7 years ago.

 

I think he's only finished below 5th once. That shouldn't be the standard, but a 7th place finish isn't exactly the norm for him.

 

ETA: The NonCon has really been the problem for Weber, far more than the B10 season.

He's .500 since 06, I'd say that's a problem at Illinois.

 

Who said it wasn't? I even put "That shouldn't be the standard" for the sole purpose of avoiding this response from you.

[SouthSideRyan]

The program clearly bottomed out with the season that shall not be named.

 

Since then, recruiting has been where it should be (or better) for Illinois, on the court they've been a 5 seed(24-10, 11-7, 24 KenPom), a tournament snub(21-15, 10-8, 53 KenPom), and a 9 seed (20-14, 9-9, 18 KenPom). '08-'09 was a success, '09-'10 was a disappointment, '10-'11 was a failure. Considering where the program was at that time, that's still bad, but not horrific. The problem is whether the program has plateaued on the court. This team will be back in the tourney this year, but if we're looking at an 8 seed on Selection Sunday, and see no better on the horizion for '12-'13, nothing short of a Parker or Okafor(or choose your recruit du jour) commit should be enough to save Weber's job.

Edited December 27, 2011 by SouthSideRyan

[pitchcs]

Ok, let's see here. Also without looking at schedules:

 

1) Wisconsin

2) Ohio St.

3) Michigan St.

4) Indiana

5) Purdue

6) Illinois

7) Michigan

8) Northwestern

9) Minnesota

10) Nebraska

11) Iowa

12) Penn St.

 

The key to winning the Big Ten is winning on the road and experience. I'm going with Wisconsin because they are almost automatic at home and would need only 1-2 good road wins to take the conference and if Sullinger goes down Ohio St. could be looking at 4th.

 

Also heard that MSU could be only 2 point favorites at home tomorrow vs. Indiana. Is that possible??

[TruffleShuffle]

The thing that really works against Illinois in conference is that they catch PSU and Iowa just once each.

 

given illinois' bizarre ability to lose horrendous 36-33 games to psu, maybe only having psu on the schedule once is a good thing.

[NeifiIsMyHomeBoy]

The thing that really works against Illinois in conference is that they catch PSU and Iowa just once each.

 

given illinois' bizarre ability to lose horrendous 36-33 games to psu, maybe only having psu on the schedule once is a good thing.

 

I agree. Penn State is the thorn in Illinois' side.