Illinois junior Jeff Jordan announced his return to the Illini basketball team last month, but following an NCAA ruling Tuesday, it will be another two games before he finally suits up for Bruce Weber's team.
Jordan, the oldest son of former NBA great Michael Jordan, quit the team in June, but decided to return in October. During a compliance investigation, the NCAA found that he participated in an non-sanctioned basketball tournament and was ruled ineligible for the first two games. Weber said he believed the event was a 3-on-3 tournament.
Jeff Jordan, most famous for being Michael Jordan's son, has decided to hang up the high-tops -- at least as far as competitive play goes. The 6-foot-1 incoming junior has decided to stop playing basketball and stay at the University of Illinois to concentrate solely on his academics.
Jordan, a player who won over the Illini coaches with his heady play and strong work ethic, was set to be a part of the Illinois rotation this coming season. He, unlike his Dad, was not an offensive threat, concentrating more on being a defensive stopper. Illinois head coach Bruce Weber offered some kind words for their now dearly departed.
In 2008, the Big Ten sent only four teams to the NCAA tournament. None reached the Elite Eight The Big Ten toiled down with mid-majors in conference RPI and were nationally maligned as the "Average 11." This past season, however, the league enjoyed a resurgence. It ranked only behind the ACC in conference RPI. Seven schools earned a berth into the NCAA tournament, and Penn State won the NIT. Michigan State toppled the defending national champions and two number one seeds en route to a national runner-up finish.
With less than two minutes left, the Penn State Nittany Lions trailed Illinois by six points at home. WIth their NCAA tournament hopes likely needing a nice little boost, this seemed like the most important 120 seconds of Penn State's season. So Stanley Pringle stepped up with a 3-pointer. David Jackson had an incredible offensive rebound in traffic, following it with two free throws. Penn State got a defensive stop, but turned it over on offense. They immediately fouled Illinois forward Mike Davis. The rest? Well, just watch.
As Kalin Lucas strengthens his case as the Big Ten player of the year, his Michigan State team continues to distance themselves from the rest of the conference. Sunday was no different, as the Spartans went into Champaign, Ill., and took down arguably the second-best team in the league.
Lucas paced Michigan State with 18 points, as the Spartans knocked the Illini's home record to 15-3. Illinois didn't play especially poorly, it just isn't good enough to hang with Michigan State. No one in the conference is.
As long as the Spartans play to their capability, they won't lose. It's just that simple.
Is there some by-law in the Big Ten charter I am unaware of, that demands at least one incredibly inept offensive game between conference teams each year? Last year Michigan State and Iowa did their part by combining for 79 points. This year, Penn State and Illinois successfully topped that by combining for a dismal 71 points as Penn State came away with a 38-33 win.
The win actually keeps Penn State's chances to make an argument to be in the running for an at-large bid with a record of 8-6 in the conference and 19-8 overall. The problem is that they played a completely pathetic non-con schedule and went 0-2 against the Atlantic 10. So even with excellent wins at Michigan State, at Illinois, Purdue and Minnesota; the Nittany Lions find themselves with an RPI in the high 60s.
Duke and North Carolina were separated by a single game in the ACC standings heading into Sunday; little did Duke know it, but they nearly had a chance to tie the Tar Heels again. However, games against Boston College and Miami, respectively, ended the wrong way for the Devils.
Boston College 80, Duke 74: The same problems that have plagued the Blue Devils all season -- point guard play as well as lack of an inside presence -- came into play again Sunday afternoon.
Thursday night, the Northwestern Wildcats -- looking to crawl back onto the NCAA Tournament bubble -- held a 14-point lead over their intrastate rival, Illinois. Less than six minutes later, the No. 22 Illini were victoriously celebrating on the Welsh-Ryan Arena floor. What made this thing exciting wasn't the comeback itself, but how it happened.
It all started so innocently. A Mike Davis jumper cut the Northwestern deficit to 57-45 with 5:08 left in the game. A few minutes later, and the lead was slowly chipped down to seven. With about 1:30 left in the game, though, is when things started to get crazy.
A few weeks ago I did a halfway point roundup for the Big Ten, in which I buried Wisconsin and hailed Penn State to no end. Boy, do I look like an idiot now. Since then, Penn State crumbled, while Wisconsin has done a 180.
The Nittany Lions were embarrassed by Michigan, lost at home to Wisconsin, and handily lost at Purdue. They now sit just 6-6 in conference play, and their RPI has plunged into the 80s. With road trips to Illinois and Ohio State -- not to mention hosting Illinois and Minnesota -- it would appear they are fading back into obscurity.
Illinois really needed a bounce-back win after that bad loss in Wisconsin Thursday night. Sunday they got it in the form of a 66-48 trouncing of Purdue. The Illini stifled the Boilers' offensive attack, holding them to just 32-percent shooting, including a dismal 2-of-15 from behind the arc.
Of course, Purdue also missed the presence of their best player, Robbie Hummel. This is a bad sign for them moving forward, because they do not play well without the sophomore swingman. Purdue is 16-3 with Hummel in the lineup and 1-3 without him this season.
NCAA Basketball 
Illinois junior Jeff Jordan announced his return to the Illini basketball team last month, but following an NCAA ruling Tuesday, it will be another two games before he finally suits up for Bruce Weber's team.
In 2008, the 
As 
Is there some by-law in the Big Ten charter I am unaware of, that demands at least one incredibly inept offensive game between conference teams each year? Last year Michigan State and Iowa did their part by 
Thursday night, the Northwestern Wildcats -- looking to crawl back onto the NCAA Tournament bubble -- held a 14-point lead over their intrastate rival, Illinois. Less than six minutes later, the No. 22 Illini were victoriously celebrating on the Welsh-Ryan Arena floor. What made this thing exciting wasn't the comeback itself, but how it happened. 
A few weeks ago I did a 
Illinois really needed a bounce-back win after that bad loss in Wisconsin Thursday night. Sunday they got it in the form of a 66-48 trouncing of Purdue. The Illini stifled the Boilers' offensive attack, holding them to just 32-percent shooting, including a dismal 2-of-15 from behind the arc. 
