NCAA Basketball FanHouse

Illini's Jordan Out for Two Games

Ray Holloman — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Illinois

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.

Jordan, a reserve guard, averaged one point and one assist per game last season for the Illini. He earned a scholarship before his sophomore season after originally enrolling as a preferred walk-on as a freshman.

He handed out four assists in 19 minutes of action in Illinois' exhibition victory over Quincy Sunday.

Jordan is at least in good company. Jordan will join Duke's Nolan Smith, Kentucky's John Wall, and Indiana State's Dwayne Lathan on the pine to start the season. Each of the four players have been ruled out for two games. Smith and Lathan, like Jordan, were both found to have participated in non-sanctioned summer tournaments.

The 23rd-ranked Illiini aren't likely to need his services during his suspension. Illinois opens with SIU-Edwardsville Friday, followed by Northern Illinois Tuesday.

Illini's Jordan Out for Two Games originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Jeff Jordan Done With Basketball, Ready To Focus on Academics

Matt Snyder — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:35:00 EST

Filed under: Illinois, Big Ten

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.

"Jeff was an invaluable member of our team the past two seasons and I thank him for his contribution to our program," Weber said. "He brought great work ethic to the gym and pushed himself as well as his teammates. We will miss him, but we fully support the decision he has made."

Even though Jordan was set to get some solid minutes, he was never going to be a star in college and certainly would not have had a shot at the NBA. He is to be commended for following his heart and choosing to step out of the immense shadow and pressure created by the fact that he is offspring of the greatest player in the history of basketball.

Jeff Jordan has decided that his current academics and professional life after college are more important than basketball. There is no doubt he's done, and will continue to do, both of his parents proud -- even without that little, orange sphere.

Jeff Jordan Done With Basketball, Ready To Focus on Academics originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Nation's Best Coaching in Big Ten

Matt Snyder — Mon, 04 May 2009 18:58:00 EST

Filed under: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Wisconsin, Big Ten, Coaches

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.

Don't dismiss it as a one-year outlier. The conference is on a major upswing, and you needn't look further than the coaches in the Big Ten to see why.

With the additions of Tubby Smith, Thad Matta and John Beilein in the past few years -- not to mention Indiana snagging Tom Crean after the catastrophic mess left behind by Kelvin Sampson -- the collective pedigree of the Big Ten coaches is off the charts. You have the recruiting acumen of Matta, the zeal of Crean, the grind-it-out defense of Bo Ryan, the back-door-cutting of Bill Carmody, the national championship credibility of Smith, the nearly unparalleled resume of Tom Izzo, and Gene Keady's protoge (Matt Painter). Top to bottom, this is the strongest coaching conference in the nation.

The other big-time leagues are all too top-heavy to compete with the Big Ten in terms of collective coaching strength. The ACC has Roy Williams and Mike Krzyzewski, a handful just a small step down, and then some dubious talents. The Big East has five or six really strong coaches, but a bunch of nobodies in the teens of their standings. John Calipari gives the SEC a boost, but they still aren't in the same discussion. The Big 12 has Bill Self -- had Illinois kept him I'd have an even better case -- and I love Jeff Capel, but the bottom of the conference leaves a lot to be desired. Seriously, as an Indiana alum, I'm very thankful we didn't get saddled with Pat Knight.

Additionally, the Big Ten coaches all had strong underclass rosters this season, most losing few players to graduation. They are also convincing players to stay in school longer, because only B.J. Mullens of Ohio State entered the draft early. That's right, there is only one Big Ten player who left school early in 2009.

As the 2009 Spring semesters across the midwest come to conclusion, let's take a look at each of the Big Ten schools and their respective coaches.

Bruce Weber, Illinois -- I've been critical of Weber in the past, saying that his early run was only due to the recruits left behind by Self. I'll stand behind a part of the argument, that Self is a better coach. That being said, the job done this past season by Weber was beautiful. Most of their high-minute guys were sophomores, so many thought they were a year away. Instead, they hung around the top of the conference all season. Weber developed young big men and had his team playing the most unselfish basketball in the conference. The offensive balance will be a big key moving forward as well.

Tom Crean, Indiana -- Going into the season, everyone knew the Hoosiers were going to be historically bad, and they were. The last month and a half, though, showed great promise. The Hoosiers nearly eliminated the blowout loss by the end, and even stayed competitive with the likes of Michigan State and Minnesota. The only loss to graduation is the incredibly hard-working albeit untalented Kyle Taber. Coming back are the more than a handful of freshmen who were thrown in the fire and a top-5 recruiting class, along with last year's top scorer Devan Dumes. The eyes are on 2010-2011, but don't be surprised if they arrive in the NCAA Tournament a year early.

Latest College Basketball Images

In this photo taken on Wednesday, April 29, 2009, Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo and dancers rehearse in East Lansing, Mich. Izzo will participate in a Broadway-style show, "Izzo Goes to Broadway" as a fund raiser for the American Cancer Society's Coaches vs. Cancer initiative. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)

In this photo taken on Wednesday, April 29, 2009, Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo rehearses in East Lansing, Mich. Izzo will participate in a Broadway-style show, "Izzo Goes to Broadway" as a fund raiser for the American Cancer Society's Coaches vs. Cancer initiative. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)

In this photo taken on Wednesday, April 29, 2009, Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo reacts as he rehearses a dance routine with his players in East Lansing, Mich. Izzo will participate in a Broadway-style show, "Izzo Goes to Broadway" as a fund raiser for the American Cancer Society's Coaches vs. Cancer initiative. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)

In this photo taken on Wednesday, April 29, 2009, Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo, left, rehearses with director Greg Ganakas, as Izzo's son, Steven, 8, twirls a cane in East Lansing, Mich. Izzo will participate in a Broadway-style show, "Izzo Goes to Broadway" as a fund raiser for the American Cancer Society's Coaches vs. Cancer initiative. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)

In this photo taken on Wednesday, April 29, 2009, Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo, center, plays the accordion as he rehearses with dancers Brittane Rowe, left, Kellyn Uhl, and Stephanie Koenig, right, in East Lansing, Mich. Izzo will participate in a Broadway-style show, "Izzo Goes to Broadway" as a fund raiser for the American Cancer Society's Coaches vs. Cancer initiative. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)

In this photo taken on Wednesday, April 29, 2009, Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo, right, and his and wife Lupe rehearse in East Lansing, Mich. Izzo will participate in a Broadway-style show, "Izzo Goes to Broadway" as a fund raiser for the American Cancer Society's Coaches vs. Cancer initiative. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)

In this photo taken on Wednesday, April 29, 2009, Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo is surrounded by Michigan State dance team members as they rehearse in East Lansing, Mich. Izzo will participate in a Broadway-style show, "Izzo Goes to Broadway" as a fund raiser for the American Cancer Society's Coaches vs. Cancer initiative. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)

In this photo taken on Wednesday, April 29, 2009, Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo, center, rehearses with wife Lupe, right, and choreographer Kellyn Uhl, left, along with Michigan State basketball players and dance team members in East Lansing, Mich. Izzo will participate in a Broadway-style show, "Izzo Goes to Broadway" as a fund raiser for the American Cancer Society's Coaches vs. Cancer initiative. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)

Denver Nuggets' Carmelo Anthony hugs New Orleans Hornets' Rasual Butler after Anthony and his team won Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference basketball playoffs in Denver April 29, 2009. Anthony led all scorers with 34 points in the win. REUTERS/Marc Piscotty (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)

Reuters

Denver Nuggets' Kenyon Martin dunks over the New Orleans Hornets' Peja Stojakovic (back) during Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference basketball playoffs in Denver April 29, 2009. REUTERS/Marc Piscotty (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)

Reuters

Todd Lickliter, Iowa -- Actually, he's getting his teeth kicked in pretty well by the conference thus far, but it's a testament to the strength of his competing coaches. Remember, he took tiny Butler to the Sweet 16 twice and helped lay the foundation for the Bulldogs as a legitimate NCAA threat.

John Beilein, Michigan -- After a couple Sweet 16 runs (including one Elite Eight) at West Virginia, Beilein has quickly erased the Tommy Amaker era. The Wolverines made the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1998 this past season, and it wasn't just a token entry. They took down seventh-seeded Clemson (from the vaunted ACC!) in the first round. With Manny Harris and DeShawn Sims returning, look for them to take a few more steps forward next season.

Tom Izzo, Michigan State -- I think I have sufficiently covered them: Here and here.

Tubby Smith, Minnesota -- Winning 22 games and getting an NCAA tournament berth in just his second season was merely a sign of things to come for Smith. The Golden Gophers haven't lost a single rotation player from the 2009 roster, and they have a very solid recruiting class coming in yet again. As long as he doesn't take another job -- and he's being mentioned for many in the rumor mill -- the Gophers have a legitimate shot eventually to head to the Final Four for the first time in school history, excluding the scandal-tainted 1997 appearance that has been officially expunged from the record books.

Bill Carmody, Northwestern -- Before coming to Evanston, Ill., Carmody compiled a 92-25 record at Princeton -- including a ridiculous 50-6 record in conference play. He's had a tough go-round at Northwestern, but that's nothing new. The Wildcats have never been to the NCAA Tournament. The fact that Carmody had them on the bubble for much of the season is saying something.

Thad Matta, Ohio State -- The Buckeyes had zero seniors last season. Sure, they lose Mullens, but Matta is getting used to losing seven-footers after one season. It's the third straight time it's happened. He just brings another off the assembly line. This time it's Zisis Sarikopoulos, who will be eligible following his transfer season. The rest of the roster looks very solid, especially with David Lighty coming off injury. Throw in an extra year of growth for Evan Turner, Jon Diebler and Dallas Lauderdale, and the Buckeyes look especially strong for 2009-2010. The program isn't going anywhere, either, because Matta recruits as well as anyone in the nation.

Ed DeChellis, Penn State -- They did lose Stanley Pringle and Jamelle Cornley from the NIT championship squad, but at least Talor Battle -- an all-Big Ten first-teamer as a sophomore -- will be coming back to University Park. The valuable experience of playing deep into the postseason will help with the rest of the youth on the roster moving forward much more than a one-and-done in the NCAA would have. With that in mind, you could call their falling short of the NCAA Tourney a blessing in disguise for the good of the program.

Matt Painter, Purdue -- After learning under Keady, it's apparent Painter has tailored himself into a legitimate star coach. People who don't follow the Big Ten may be under the belief that 2008-2009 was a disappointment in West Lafayette. All along, though, most locals knew the real big year for the Boilermakers is destined to come next season. Only Nemanja Calasan is lost from lose who logged regular minutes this past season. With Keaton Grant getting a full offseason of rest and Robbie Hummel coming back healthy, the Boilers will be legitimate Final Four contenders.

Bo Ryan, Wisconsin -- If it wasn't for the presence of Izzo, Ryan would easily have the best background, on paper, in Big Ten play. He's been to the NCAA tournament all eight years he's coached the Badgers. They never lose at home. He has a 94-39 record in conference play, and has been to the Sweet 16 three times. Plus, he can crank that Soulja Boy. As long as he's at the helm, Wisconsin will always be relevant.

So, for almost the entire conference, the foundation is in place. Now it's time to enjoy the summer before getting down to business in the fall. That business is going to be having a prominent place in the national spotlight next March. I'm expecting eight Big Ten teams in the dance.

Nation's Best Coaching in Big Ten originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Mon, 04 May 2009 18:58:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Battle Sparks Penn State Pandemonium

Matt Snyder — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 01:20:00 EST

Filed under: Illinois, Penn State, Big Ten, Fans

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.

You have to love the dramatic effect of the ball bouncing around the rim ever-so-slightly before going home for the Nittany Lions victory, no?

Talor Battle has been in the conversation for Big Ten player of the year for a while, and this is just another addition to his resume, despite the overall poor shooting performance. He illustrates why every basketball team should have a set-in-stone go-to guy. He can be 4-16 from the floor (which Battle was), but you still know who needs to take the big shot. Kudos to Penn State for recognizing this.

Also, there are many who would say the students and fans should not have stormed the court, but I'm all about it here. Penn State has never won 10 Big Ten games in a season until now. They haven't been to the NCAA tournament since their current seniors were in eighth grade -- and it's not exactly like the Penn State basketball program is storied.

Have your fun, PSU students, you deserve it. You are about to go dancing.

Battle Sparks Penn State Pandemonium originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 01:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Michigan State Clinches Share of Big Ten

Matt Snyder — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 18:25:00 EST

Filed under: Illinois, Michigan State, Big Ten

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.

No. 9 Michigan St. 74, No. 20 Illinois 66 : AP Recap | Box Score | RPI | Scores

With this victory, Michigan State virtually sewed up the regular season Big Ten championship, along with the top seed in the conference tournament. While it's possible for them to lose their two remaining conference games -- which would give Purdue a shot to force a tie, should the Boilermakers win both -- it's not really plausible. They have a road tilt with Indiana before squaring off against Purdue in East Lansing, Mich. The real motivation in these last two games is playing for a favorable NCAA tournament seeding. If they manage to win out -- including the conference tournament -- they have an outside chance at a number one seed.

For Illinois, they'll look to bounce-back at Penn State Thursday. A win in that game would give the Illini a 12-6 conference record, which far exceeds preseason expectations for Bruce Weber's troops. They'll either be the two or three seed in the Big Ten tournament, and head back to the NCAA tournament. A very strong showing from here on out would give them a shot at a four seed, but they're likely to end up around the six seed line.

Sunday could have been a significant boost in terms of seeding for Illinois, but they never held a lead. They battled all the way back to tie the game at 58 with 7:21 left, but just couldn't get over the hump. Lucas showed his mettle on offense, and the Spartans defense buckled down, forcing Illinois to continually settle for outside jumpers.

Michigan State outrebounded Illinois 34-27, and had 11 steals compared to only three from the home team.

Michigan State Clinches Share of Big Ten originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sun, 01 Mar 2009 18:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Penn State and Illinois Conspire to Avoid Playing Any Offense

Chas Rich — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 23:16:00 EST

Filed under: Illinois, Penn State, Big Ten

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.
There is probably no way to truly explain how awful this game was, short of some Clockwork Orange torture session to make you watch. So, just the lowlights.

Penn State had the same number of made shots (13) as they did turnovers.

Illinois also had the same number of made shots (15) as turnovers.

The two teams combined to shoot 28-for-96 (29.17 percent).

Illinois shot zero free throws for the entire game.

The halftime score was 17-15 Penn State.

With Penn State taking a 17-13 lead with 3:14 left in the first half, the Lions did not score until 2:54 into the second half (6:08 scoreless minutes). In that span, Illinois only managed to take a two-point lead.

Illinois built what seemed like -- for this game -- an insurmountable 29-20 lead with 10:21 left in the game. The Illini could only manage four points the rest of the game.

In that final 10:21, Illinois turned the ball over six times and shot 2-for-9 -- at home.

Until that final 10:21, Penn State shot 8-for-35 (22.9 percent). Their hot streak of 5-for-11 raised their shooting to 28.3 percent.

This was Illinois' lowest scoring total since 33-31 loss to Minnesota. In 1947.

It was the lowest-scoring Division I basketball game since Monmouth beat Princeton, 41-21 in 2005.

Just an epic game of badness.

Penn State and Illinois Conspire to Avoid Playing Any Offense originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 23:16:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Onion Peels: Duke, Carolina Have Similar Sunday Games, Different Endings

Will Brinson — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arizona State, Boston College, Butler, Davidson, Duke, Illinois, Indiana, UNC, USC, Virginia, University of Miami, North Carolina

Onion Peels is a recap of last night's action and an unofficial Bill Raftery blog.

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.

Another problem, the ability to close teams out, was acknowledged by Gerald Henderson after the game:

"You can't mess around. If you have a team down you have to step on their throats," Henderson said. "That's been a problem with us this year - we haven't approached leads like that, so we need to change that."

Of course, the bigger problem again is at the point position. Greg Paulus played a whopping 25 minutes but only registered two points, two assists and dealing with four fouls. Additionally, Tyrese Rice was nearly unstoppable, hitting big shot after big shot down the stretch en route to 21 points, six boards and six assists. Joe Trapani, held to just five points in a loss to Clemson, posted 20 in 37 minutes while adding five blocks and seven boards.

North Carolina 69, Miami 65: The fact that Miami was 14-0 this season when holding opponents under 70 points didn't seem to bother the Tar Heels, even though Jack McClinton, with 35 points last night, was a pretty big thorn. In the end though, it was Ty Lawson who again looked like Carolina's MVP and -- despite being sick -- managed to score 21 points while dropping what amounted to the game winning three pointer with just over 10 seconds remaining. Miami's a dangerous team, obviously, but the Tar Heels holding on gave them a two game ACC lead and seemingly, based on their remaining schedule, locked sights on this year's conference title.

Elsewhere: Arizona State, behind Jeff Pendergraph's double-double, helped kick Southern Cal a little further off the bubble. Virginia managed to really honor Sean Singletary, upsetting No. 12 Clemson at home. Nationally ranked Butler stumbled for the second time in two weeks, despite Matt Howard's 30 points, as they head into a February 21 matchup with Davidson, this time to Loyola-Chicago and Jordan Hicks, who poured in 23 for Loyola. Illinois took care of Indiana by double figures in a game that should really be more important.

Onion Peels: Duke, Carolina Have Similar Sunday Games, Different Endings originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Illinois Completes Shocking Comeback

Matt Snyder — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 23:35:00 EST

Filed under: Illinois, Northwestern, Big Ten

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.

Trailing 59-53, Illinois' Davis goes up for a what basically amounts to a layup. He misses, and emphatically claims he was fouled. Replays conclusively showed that he simply blew the shot without any significant defensive contact. Thus, a huge opportunity to Illinois to make the game interesting had flown by the wayside. But ...

- Illinois puts on the full-court press and forces a jump ball just past midcourt with 1:10 left. The possession arrow points toward Illinois.

- Illinois guard Trent Meacham throws up an absolute rainmaker from the baseline corner -- and nails it for three points. Northwestern is now desperately clutching a 59-56 lead with 59.4 seconds left.

- Off an Illinois timeout, in the midst of Illinois' press, Northwestern guard Craig Moore travels with the basketball. Illinois now has the ball with 57 seconds left.

- Sprung by a crushing screen at the three-point line, Meacham drives all the way for a lay-in to cut the Wildcat lead to one with 42.6 seconds left.

- Northwestern is unable to stop the bleeding because they are out of timeouts, but they do make it all the way to the front-court and run an offensive set, with about seven seconds between the shot-clock and game-clock. Northwestern guard Michael Thompson drives down the right side of the lane to attempt a lay-up, but has his shot blocked by Meacham. Unbelievably, on the way to the floor, the ball ricochets off Thompson and out of bounds. It's Illinois basketball with 14 seconds left.

- Illinois takes the ball down court and Demetri McCamey hits a 14-footer in traffic for the game-winner. They should also be thanking Meacham for his 12 points and key defensive play in the final five minutes to help propel them.

Illinois emerges victorious, and squeezes tightly to their claim as the Big Ten's second best team. Northwestern blows a golden opportunity to pick up another quality victory for their tournament resume. That resume is being built more and more for the NIT at this point.

Illinois Completes Shocking Comeback originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Thu, 12 Feb 2009 23:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Big Ten Update: Penn State Is Cooked, But Badgers Are Back

Matt Snyder — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Wisconsin, Big Ten

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.

The biggest problem? My halfway point pick for conference player of the year has been dreadful since. In fact, if I was ego-centric enough, I'd think I cursed him. Talor Battle has gone 7-38 from the floor in the past three games for 19 total points -- including an 0-7 for zero point stink-bomb at Purdue Wednesday night. The Boilers didn't even need to waste Chris Kramer on him, as 5'9" freshman Lewis Jackson did the bottling up. Battle still leads the conference in scoring, which shows how big he had been before these past three disasters.

Anyway, sayonara NCAA hopes for PSU. They are NIT bound, once again.

Wisconsin, on the other hand, is right in the thick of things for an NCAA tournament birth. They've won three straight to right the ship from a near disastrous six-game losing streak. They should be able to handle Ohio State at home -- considering they beat Illinois easily at home last week -- and then win in Indiana. This would make them 8-6 in the conference and 17-9 overall. Their RPI has them in the top 30 due mostly to their herculean scheduling (third toughest schedule in the nation).

In other words, there isn't much reason to believe they'll miss the tourney. What a difference three games can make.

Who?
Purdue's struggled mightily without Robbie Hummel, but Wednesday they were given a scoring jolt from unknown reserve Bobby Riddell, a 5'9" senior who initially walked-on. He received extended minutes due to E'Twaun Moore's foul trouble and Hummel's injury, and made the best of it. The diminutive guard scored 13 points on 5-7 shooting -- including 3-4 from behind the arc -- to help get the Boilers back on track.

Close, But ...
Our own UM alum Chris Burke discusses that familiar feeling emenating from Ann Arbor. It's a shame, considering how well they've fared against top-flight talent from other conferences.

What Could Have Been
Had Michigan State not faltered at home to clearly inferior Northwestern and Penn State teams, they'd be looking at a number one seed in the Big Dance. Instead, with an RPI hovering around 7 and upcoming road dates with Purdue and Illinois, they'll be fighting for a 2.

How Refreshing
Tom Crean didn't appreciate the dirty play of his own Devan Dumes last week in Michigan State, so he promptly suspended him indefinitely. Last season, Kelvin Sampson suspended select players one game at a time without announcing why. We came to later find out about rampant drug use on the team. Do the math. Crean is taking a hard line stance against something much more excusable, despite the fact that Dumes is his primary offensive option. Hoosier fans haven't seen a coach discipline his players with such vigor since you-know-who, and this guy doesn't even get violent (unless it's with the band leader).

Power Rankings/Tourney Watch
As we did last time around, we'll list the teams probability of heading into the NCAA Tourney like they are an NFL player on the injury report (playing, probable, questionable, doubtful, out). Currently, the Big Ten sits second in conference RPI, with many teams toward the top in NCAA strength of schedule, so you can expect six teams to make the dance.

1. Michigan State (playing) - No question.
2. Illinois (playing) - Won't lose more than six conference games.
3. Purdue (playing) - Adjusting to life without Hummel, though it won't be easy.
4. Ohio State (probable) - Not much can ruin them now.
5. Minnesota (probable) - Not playing well of late ...
6. Wisconsin (probable) - We'll see if they can keep it going.
7. Michigan (questionable) - They still have a shot.
8. Penn State (doubtful) - I guess they just belong down here, huh?
9. Northwestern (doubtful) - Hanging from a very thin thread.
10. Iowa (out) - Played role of spoiler against Northwestern.
11. Indiana (out) - Got their conference win. Anything else is gravy.

Big Ten Update: Penn State Is Cooked, But Badgers Are Back originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Illinois Schools Hummel-less Purdue

Matt Snyder — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 15:45:00 EST

Filed under: Illinois, Purdue, Big Ten

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.

While Hummel's not a necessarily a dominant player, he's a key cog to help the offense run smoothly. E'Twaun Moore and Keaton Grant were terrible Sunday, facing extra defensive pressure without Hummel on the floor. Defensive stopper Chris Kramer was forced to take a season-high seven shots -- he only hit two, so there's good reason he rarely shoots. The Boilers assisted on just seven of their 19 field goals, and turned the ball over 11 times.

On the flip-side, you have to give Illinois credit; they played really well. The effort was pretty par for the course when they win games. The offensive balance was the story, as six players scored at least eight points, while no one scored more than 14. Of the 25 field goals, 21 of them were assisted. Ball movement has been the key all season when the Illini are firing on all cylinders, and today was just another example. The one standout today was Mike Davis, as he scored 14 and pulled down 16 rebounds.

With Illinois' season sweep of Purdue complete, along with Hummel's questionable health, Sunday's victory represented a seismic shift in the Big Ten. I would now feel pretty comfortable declaring Illinois as easily the second-best team in the league, while Purdue is going to be sparring with Penn State, Ohio State, and Minnesota in the middle of the pack.

Illinois Schools Hummel-less Purdue originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sun, 08 Feb 2009 15:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Wisconsin Breaks Six-Game Losing Skid

Matt Snyder — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 23:20:00 EST

Filed under: Illinois, Wisconsin, Big Ten

A losing streak which was unheard of in Wisconsin during the past decade has now ended. Six losses ago, the Badgers were 3-0 in Big Ten play. Thursday night they moved to 4-6, with a quality win over a very strong Illinois team.

Marcus Landry and Jason Bohannon worked the inside-outside game, to the tune of 36 combined points, to lead the Badgers. Bohannon was money from outside, hitting six of his seven three-point attempts, while Landry worked the paint for most of his 16 points.

I really could have done without the "overrated" chant from the hometown student section in Madison during the last two minutes. First of all, Illinois is definitely not overrated. They are a solid young basketball team who recently took down Wisconsin in Champaign. Secondly, you just snapped a six-game losing streak, and you can't simply be happy about the victory without trying to rag on the opponent? C'mon kids, enjoy your team.

Anyway, the biggest piece of fallout from this game could be the second-half (of league play) resurgence from an obviously talented Wisconsin team. A losing streak can take on a life of its own, and that's what seemed to happen to Wisconsin. Now that the proverbial monkey is off their back, likely so too is the pressure. They face a tough assignment visiting Penn State Sunday, but after that the Badgers get Iowa and Ohio State at home before heading to Indiana. Realistically, they could go 3-1 during that stretch, if not winning all four. This is, of course, assuming they play as they did Thursday night. If they don't, well, they'll lose at least two of those games.

The bottom line, though, is that you can't count out the Badgers just yet -- even though I pretty much did earlier today.

As for Illinois, this is their fourth straight road loss since announcing their presence with authority against Purdue. They do get to play their next game at home, but that's against those same Boilermakers, who are a solid squad in their own right.

In fact, the schedule isn't pretty for Illinois from here on out. Their home games are against Purdue, Penn State, Minnesota, and Michigan State. It's possible to get all those games, considering they play so well in Assembly Hall, but they better start learning how to win on the road if they wish to maintain their standing as a surefire NCAA tourney team.

Wisconsin Breaks Six-Game Losing Skid originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 23:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

The Big Ten: Halfway Point Roundup

Matt Snyder — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Wisconsin, Big Ten

With just over a month in the books and most teams having played about half their conference schedule, let's check out the big boys of the Midwest. We're seeing a slight upheaval when it comes to traditional powers, as Indiana and Wisconsin sit in the bottom third of the standings, Northwestern is respectable, and Penn State is in the mix toward the top.

At this point, the conference is very balanced, and much stronger than it has been in recent years. They have a shot at seven bids for the Big Dance, but six is the more likely number.

Most Surprising Team
It's gotta be Penn State, even though there have been quite a few surprises. The Nittany Lions have been one of the league's doormats for the past half decade, but now they are a team to be reckoned with. They still have a bit of work to do on their tourney resume, as their non-conference strength of schedule was awful, but I like their chances. They need to get these next two games against Michigan and Wisconsin before a rough patch in the schedule (at Purdue, vs. Minnesota, at Illinois, at Ohio State). Runner-up: Northwestern.

Most Disappointing Team
It's not even close. Wisconsin has always been a tourney team under Bo Ryan, and they always win consistently. The Badgers hadn't even lost four straight conference games since 1998, but they currently sit with a six-game skid -- after beginning conference play 3-0. Sure, they've played a tough schedule, but do they have any really impressive wins? Beating Penn State at home or winning at Virginia Tech were the best wins, and they both went right down the wire. Runner-up: Michigan.

Player of the Year
Talor Battle of Penn State leads the conference in scoring, assists (he's tied), 3-pointers (he's tied), is third in assist-to-turnover ratio, and is tied for eighth in steals. He carried them for stretches in their big win -- at Michigan State -- and has proven he can hit the clutch shot when needed. Runner-up: Kalin Lucas.

Coach of the Year
I may have given this to Tubby Smith, but the Gophers were just summarily dismantled due to the wrath of the Spartans Wednesday night. I may have given this to Ed DeChellis, but he's been failing at Penn State for quite a while to all of a sudden become a genius. Instead, I'm going with Bruce Weber. Illinois was awful last season, to the point that many believed he may have survived only on the talent left by Bill Self in his first few years. This year he's doing it with youth and balanced scoring. This is easily a better coaching job than his national runner-up, as they were obscenely talented then. Runner-up: Smith.

Defensive Player of the Year
It's Chris Kramer again. There's no one else really close to this pest. You saw what he helped do to Stephen Curry, right? Runner-up: Evan Turner.

Power Rankings
We'll do this in the form of an NCAA Tournament watch. I'll use the NFL injury report scale to illustrate the team's likelihood of playing in the Dance (playing, probable, questionable, doubtful, and out).

1. Michigan State (playing) - They are playing for seeding.
2. Purdue (playing) - When Robbie Hummel comes back, you'll see the loss at Ohio State was an aberration.
3. Illinois (playing) - Not many weaknesses here.
4. Minnesota (playing) - Strong RPI, and they'll win at least 11 conference games.
5. Ohio State (probable) - They are finding their way without David Lighty.
6. Penn State (questionable) - That RPI is still scary for an at-large bid.
7. Michigan (questionable) - Above Northwestern based upon early victories over Duke and UCLA.
8. Northwestern (questionable) - They still have work to do, but they have the potential to sneak into their first bid ever.
9. Wisconsin (doubtful) - It's possible for them to right the ship, but I'm not seeing it.
10. Iowa (out) - Still a year or two away.
11. Indiana (out) - We knew this was a throw-away year, but there is hope.

The Big Ten: Halfway Point Roundup originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 18:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Minnesota Defense Frustrates Illinois

Matt Snyder — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:21:00 EST

Filed under: Illinois, Minnesota, Big Ten

Heading into Thursday's game, Illinois was one of the best offensive teams in the Big Ten. The Illini averaged 70 points a game, and shot a conference-best 47.9 percent from the field. The best part about them, though, was that they had such a balanced attack. Four players averaged between 10.9 and 12.5 points per game. The next four all averaged between 5.5 and 5.9 points a game. Simply put, they can shoot the ball, and they can beat you with any number of weapons.

Thursday night, however, belonged to the defense of the Minnesota Golden Gophers in their 59-36 win.

All night long, the Illini settled for jumpers ... and missed them. This was, bar none, the worst game of the season for this surprising Illinois bunch. They only hit 15 of 51 field goal attempts (an embarrassing 29 percent), including an atrocious 2-for-16 from three-point range. Of those 36 missed shots, Illinois only recovered six offensive rebounds. Generally, when an offense is going this bad, you need to penetrate and get to the foul line, but the Illini only made it there seven times. Everything added up to only 36 measly points.

On the flip-side, Minnesota survived on 40 percent shooting by getting to the foul line and outrebounding Illinois by 13. The Gophers solid interior defense forced Illinois to rely on the aforementioned jumpers all night.

The major storyline developing from this game, however, is Minnesota's move in the Big Ten standings. They now trail only Michigan State and Purdue, and are sitting pretty for a favorable NCAA tourney seed. Of course, Thursday's win was quite necessary in the grand scheme of things, as they now get to travel to Michigan State and Ohio State for the next two games. We'll get to see how much this team has grown under Tubby Smith in that time -- a young and inexperienced team loses both. The team I believe they are gets the win at OSU. Do they have it in them to take one in East Lansing, though? I don't think they are ready yet.

For Illinois, everyone's entitled to a bad game. This was a horrible game, but they do have to give some credit to Minnesota, and it's not easy to play in The Barn when the Gophers have a good squad. I fully expect a big-time bounce-back at home against Iowa Sunday afternoon. I'm talking blowout. In a few weeks, Bruce Weber and his boys will look back at this game as an aberration.

Minnesota Defense Frustrates Illinois originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:21:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Wisconsin Loses Fourth Straight Big Ten Game For the First Time Since 1998

Matt Snyder — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 18:35:00 EST

Filed under: Illinois, Wisconsin, Big Ten

Remember 1998? Mark McGwire was a national inspiration instead of a pariah. No one had ever heard of American Idol. Bobby Knight was still the coach at Indiana. Bill Clinton was our President. Oh, and Wisconsin's basketball team lost four straight games in Big Ten play.

Today, for the first time since then, it happened again. No, not McGwire inspiring the masses. Illinois took down Wisconsin, 64-57, meaning the Badgers have now lost four straight Big Ten games. Obviously, this has never happened during the Bo Ryan administration, one chock full of triumphs and a presence toward the top of the Big Ten standings.

Perhaps much more disconcerting to Badgers fans is that they are in serious danger of missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time since that same 1998 season. I realize they've had a really tough schedule -- at least non-conference -- but they have to start winning more games. They currently sit 12-7 and have recently lost to a very sub-par Iowa team. With the Big Ten becoming quite crowded towards the top, the league doesn't figure to send eight teams to the Big Dance -- probably no more than six. It's too early to tell how things will shake out, but Illinois, Michigan State, Purdue, and Minnesota will most certainly end with better tourney resumes than the Badgers. The next level includes Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, and Wisconsin. For now, it's tough to like the Badgers chances of making it into the top half of that group.

As for Illinois, this was a game they needed to get in order to maintain their standing toward the top of the league. This is because there is a somewhat rough upcoming stretch for the Illini. They'll visit Minnesota this week before a home freebie against Iowa. After that, they'll head to Wisconsin -- the Badgers are still very tough in the Kohl Center -- and host Purdue. If they can emerge from those four games without a loss, they have a very legitimate chance at the regular season Big Ten championship. There aren't many who would have predicted that before this season -- including the Illini faithful.

Wisconsin Loses Fourth Straight Big Ten Game For the First Time Since 1998 originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sat, 24 Jan 2009 18:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Michael Jordan's Son Earns Basketball Scholarship at Illinois

Will Brinson — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 13:45:00 EST

Filed under: Illinois, Big Ten, Coaches, Fans, Media Watch

Life can't be that easy for Jeff Jordan. I mean, yes, he's Michael Jordan's son, so he never actually has to work if he doesn't want to, and he's had a pretty sweet life. (He probably has Charles Barkley ~~drive~~ walk to his birthday parties and stuff.) But there's also an almost certain chance he won't ever eclipse his father's accomplishments, which is a fairly heavy burden to bear.

That's why it's so nice to hear that he has officially earned a scholarship for the Illinois Illini, after walking on to the team last year.

Illinois coach Bruce Weber told reporters Thursday that the sophomore guard has proven he belongs.

Jordan is averaging almost 10 minutes a game off the bench for Illinois, which is enjoying a 16-3 turnaround season after last year's 16-19 disaster.

Jordan is averaging just over a point a game, but his specialty is defense.

Yeah, the minutes and the scoring (or lack thereof) kind of give the whole thing a "why is he getting this again, oh right because his dad was decent at basketball" vibe, but remember: Jordan has a little bit of money, so it's not like he has to worry about those out of in-state tuition costs.

On the other hand, wouldn't it make more sense for him to actually decline the scholarship offer? It would, logically, be the smartest move in terms of helping the team -- again, no money worries for his family, and Weber would have another scholly to toss around.

Michael Jordan's Son Earns Basketball Scholarship at Illinois originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 13:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Illinois Whips Ohio State in Champaign

Matt Snyder — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:05:00 EST

Filed under: Illinois, Ohio State, Big Ten

This week, the Illinois Fighting Illini made their first appearance in the polls since the end of the 2005-2006 season, and, apparently, they are planning on an extended stay. Tuesday night they summarily disposed of a very respectable Ohio State team, 67-49. Though OSU is still missing a key cog in swingman David Lighty, this was a quality victory for the Illini.

The inside duo of Dominique Keller and Mike Tisdale proved too much inside for the Buckeyes, as the two combined for 27 points on 11-17 shooting.

While Tisdale's been proving his worth for quite some time, Keller hasn't been playing much and made the biggest impact he has all season. Not only was Keller solid offensively, but he was able to lock down Ohio State's Dallas Lauderdale after entering the game about mid-way through the first half.

For the Buckeyes, freshman seven-footer B.J. Mullens scored in double-figures for the fifth straight time. Of course, he also turned the ball over four times and was only 2-9 from the free throw line. He also gave the Illini crowd the "shush" hand gesture during the first half, when Ohio State was trailing by double-digits. I'm not sure Thad Matta would be pleased with that lack of game awareness.

What it Means for OSU

Ohio State was reeling in early January, but had come around recently. Still, their only real solid win since narrowly holding off Butler at home (December 13) was at Michigan last week. Tuesday night, the Buckeyes were controlled pretty much from start to finish, and turned the ball over 19 times. It doesn't get any easier, as they'll get to face off against Michigan State at home Sunday. If they lose that one -- which I believe they will -- they will end the week sporting a losing conference record.

On the flip-side, all conference losses thus far have come to good teams on the road, and they don't have another tough road game until Valentine's Day (at Wisconsin). That's right, four home games and a trip to Indiana come before that one, so there is still hope to keep the ship afloat without Lighty.

What it Means for UI

They really needed to get this one for morale purposes after losing a tough one in Michigan State just a few days ago. Bruce Weber's troops have easily outperformed Michigan and are playing right with Minnesota when it comes to naming the surprise team in the Big Ten this season.

Tonight with Keller's production was a perfect example of how this team can beat you in a number of ways, even unexpected ones. They are balanced, and play hard as a team. Facing Wisconsin at home Saturday will be a decent test, but one they should easily handle without a huge letdown. This is definitely an upper-tier Big Ten team and most certainly an NCAA tourney squad at this point.

Illinois Whips Ohio State in Champaign originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Michigan Heads to Illinois Tonight With a Chip on Their Shoulder

Matt Snyder — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:41:00 EST

Filed under: Illinois, Michigan, Big Ten

This is easily the best Michigan basketball team in recent memory. They are going into Illinois tonight with a 13-3 record, and have defeated two top-10 teams. They are young, yes, and coming off a 22-loss season, so, obviously, they have their detractors. Second-year coach John Beilein would just like the team to stay hungry, but the players, instead, have developed quite the nice chip on their shoulder.

What's driving the young Wolverines? You know, the ever-popular and creative, disrespect card, naturally.

"The chip is always going to be there," sophomore Kelvin Grady said. "There is always going to be the continual doubt about this team whether it's from our fans or other people's fans. People are going to wonder: 'Is Michigan really this good?' Is it a fluke, or is it just luck?' But we want to stick together and prove that we can be the best."

Manny Harris, an emerging star in the Big Ten, shared similar sentiments.

Us against the world! Everyone else thinks we suck! Even our own fans!

I understand having a chip on your shoulder because of losing 22 games last season, but can't we just, for once, come across a team who just goes out and plays the game motivated because they want to win? Why does everyone in sports need extra fuel? Quit paying attention to how "everyone" views you and just play the game.

Either way, Michigan heads into Champaign tonight to face Bruce Weber's Fighting Illini, in what is sure to be a great contest. Illinois should be motivated by their recent loss to Michigan, while Michigan is using the cliched everyone hates us stance.

So, I guess they'll be equally motivated.

Michigan Heads to Illinois Tonight With a Chip on Their Shoulder originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:41:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Coaches Think There Could Be 7 or 8 Big Ten Teams in NCAA Tourney

Matt Snyder — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:45:00 EST

Filed under: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Wisconsin, Big Ten, March Madness, Coaches

I've been trying to impress upon the FanHouse readers for a little while that the Big Ten is back to being a strong conference this year, but it seems to me the coaches are getting a bit ahead of -- or maybe too proud of -- themselves for it being early January.

Illinois coach Bruce Weber said as many as seven teams will play in the tournament. Michigan State coach Tom Izzo predicted as many as eight.

Alright, guys, step away from the microphone.

In order for a conference to get eight bids, there's going to have to be a ton of unusual circumstances. First of all, the top eight teams are going to have to basically win every single game over the bottom three. With Indiana and possibly Iowa, I could see that. Northwestern, though, has enough potential to win four or five conference games. Second of all, the teams must all have built stellar non-conference resumes, and Penn State, to name one, did not.

I agree that there's a strong top eight and a bit of a fall-off after that. Michigan State, Purdue, and Wisconsin will most certainly be getting in. You'd think Michigan, Illinois, and Minnesota will continue on their early season success and be serious contenders. Ohio State needs to right the ship without David Lighty, and Penn State is going to need to win a few of those close games -- instead of just playing Wisconsin close.

I'm a huge supporter of the Big Ten, but it's more realistic to believe six teams are getting in while two good ones -- one of them being Penn State -- are headed to the NIT.

Coaches Think There Could Be 7 or 8 Big Ten Teams in NCAA Tourney originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Big Ten Roundup: Penn State on the Rise, Ohio State Falling, and Michigan State Up Top

Matt Snyder — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:34:00 EST

Filed under: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Wisconsin, Big Ten

We learned a few things in just one week of Big Ten play. All of them point back to one conclusion: This is a strong league, nearly from top to bottom.

Michigan beat Duke at home. Wisconsin went into Michigan and won this past week, yet had trouble at home against Penn State. Purdue made Davidson look horrible, yet they lost at home to Illinois. Illinois proceeded to go into Michigan and lose. The one thing we could definitively say is that Michigan State looks like the best team in the conference after winning in Minnesota. Of course, Northwestern hung with the Spartans in East Lansing yesterday.

Dan Shanoff is one of those taking note of the Big Ten resurgence, as he referred to the conference as "Big East Lite" today.

Team to Watch: Penn State
Wisconsin, coming off the aforementioned triumph in Ann Arbor, had trouble with the feisty Nittany Lions in the Kohl Center -- a place in which they have only lost twice in Big Ten play under Bo Ryan. The upset would have been quite a feat for Ed DeChellis' program. They have an outstanding inside-outside duo in Jamelle Cornley -- who plays like a very poor man's Charles Barkley -- and Stanley Pringle. While eventually they'll need much more balance -- the two combined for 46 of Penn State's 61 points in Madison -- they provide an impressive foundation.

Team in Trouble: Ohio State
As I wrote in the wake of the Minnesota loss, they really seem to need David Lighty. He's not the most dynamic player in the Midwest or anything, but he is a leader and high-energy guy. This situation is a good illustration of what losing a "glue-guy" can do to a team. He won't be back for about another month, either. This could seriously handcuff their NCAA Tournament chances.

Game of the upcoming week: We would be looking at Michigan State's battle Saturday, but I'm keeping this strictly to conference games. We'll have to wait all the way until Sunday, but it will be worth the wait when Wisconsin visits Purdue (1:30 EST, CBS). You can rattle Purdue down-low with post scoring, so Marcus Landry is going to be a huge key for the Badgers.

Other good ones: Michigan State hosts Ohio State, immediately followed by Purdue's visit of Penn State tomorrow night. The Spartans and Boilers should both prevail, but you never know.

Clunker of the week: I hate it when teams play non-conference games during conference season, but usually they are at least worthwhile -- see Kansas at Michigan State this coming Saturday in East Lansing. Friday night in Columbus, however, Ohio State is hosting Houston Baptist. Huh?

Conference Power Rankings After Week 1
1. Michigan State
2. Wisconsin
3. Purdue
4. Michigan
5. Illinois
6. Minnesota
7. Penn State
8. Ohio State
9. Northwestern
10. Iowa
11. Indiana

The tough decisions were numbers three through five, and deciding between Penn State and Ohio State for seven. I believe Michigan State is head and shoulders above everyone else at this point, but the season is young. It was really easy to slot Wisconsin second, and Minnesota slides in nicely at six, due to only handling a crumbling Ohio State team at home. Iowa is not a good team at all, and I now think my Hoosiers can win a game in conference play when they host the Hawkeyes February 4.

Big Ten Roundup: Penn State on the Rise, Ohio State Falling, and Michigan State Up Top originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:34:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Purdue Coach Matt Painter on Illinois: 'They Came Back and Really Zapped Us'

Michael David Smith — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 14:06:00 EST

Filed under: Illinois, Purdue, Big Ten

Purdue was expected to be one of the top teams in the Big Ten this year. Illinois was not.

But after the two teams played 45 minutes of hard-fought basketball Tuesday night, with the Illini finally pulling out a 71-67 overtime win, it's clear that Illinois coach Bruce Weber has the kind of team that is going to be tough for everyone in the Big Ten to beat.

The Illini, who led most of the way at Purdue, looked like they were going to fade when they fell behind by four points early in the overtime period. But Purdue coach Matt Painter had a good description of what the Illini did in the final minutes.

From the Sun-Times:

''Illinois' ball control was the key to the game,'' said Purdue coach Matt Painter, whose Boilermakers (11-3, 0-1) lost for only the fourth time in their last 43 games at Mackey Arena. ''When we opened the overtime with that 4-0 run and they came back and really zapped us, that also took a lot out of us.''

The Illini really did zap the Boilermakers down the stretch. This Illinois team is nowhere near as talented as the one that was in the Final Four a few years ago, but it's also miles ahead of where the Illini were last year. I think they're going to zap a lot of Big Ten opponents this season.

Purdue Coach Matt Painter on Illinois: 'They Came Back and Really Zapped Us' originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 14:06:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments