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Jalen Rose Reflects on His Father

Michael David Smith — Fri, 15 May 2009 09:45:00 EST

Filed under: Michigan

Jimmy Walker, who played at Providence in the 1960s, and Jalen Rose, who played at Michigan in the 1990s, were two of the best college basketball players of their respective generations. They were also father and son, though Walker never supported Rose and died in 2007 having never met his son.

College basketball fans have known that story for years, and the lack of a father-son relationship was a major theme of the Rose life story told in Mitch Albom's book Fab Five. But if you'd expect Rose to feel bitterness toward the father he never knew, you'd be wrong.

Rose was a guest host on ESPN's Mike and Mike in the Morning Friday, and when Peter Gammons mentioned, out of the blue, that he saw Walker play at Madison Square Garden, Rose grinned and said, "Tell me about it. I'd love to hear it."

Rose looked fascinated as Gammons told him, "Jimmy Walker made the greatest pass I ever saw in my life." And later in the show, Rose explained how he spoke to Walker on the phone before his death, and how he put aside any bitterness and instead looked at the gift of basketball skill that his father gave him.

"A lot of times, you grow up in a single parent home, you grow up without your parents, you become so bitter, you become so hard when you're young," Rose said. "But then you get older and more mature and you realize, 'My life is awesome. I'm not living underneath a freeway. I'm playing in the NBA. And the last time I checked, that's a direct seed, a direct deposit from him.' ... I'm just happy I had the chance to say 'Thank you' and let him know I had no hard feelings."

It would be easy and understandable for Rose to cling to anger and resentment toward his father. He's a big man for letting all that go.

Jalen Rose Reflects on His Father originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Fri, 15 May 2009 09:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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.

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Michigan Finally Gets Its Big Road Win

Chris Burke — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 15:10:00 EST

Filed under: Michigan, Minnesota, Big Ten

Heading into Saturday, Michigan's NCAA Tournament resume looked pretty decent, save for two key spots: the Wolverines were under .500 in the Big Ten, and had no big road victories.

Consider both problems taken care of. Claiming what was arguably its most clutch win in more than a decade, Michigan stormed back from a 12-point deficit at Minnesota and stunned the Gophers 67-64. The two teams basically swap spots in the Big Dance picture -- Michigan now looks like a pretty safe bet to get in, while Minnesota finds itself right on the border.

Michigan 67, Minnesota 64: Recap | Box Score | RPI | Scores

Michigan, 9-9 in the conference, will need at least one win at the Big Ten Tournament to feel totally secure -- especially given that the Wolverines could open with Iowa or Indiana, either one capable of delivering a "bad loss" to their case. Minnesota, also 9-9 but with two losses to Michigan, likely needs to find a way to get to the conference semifinals to make a strong case.

There's no use tap dancing around the fact that this was just a gigantic victory for Michigan, not only in the scheme of things this season, but for the program as a whole. Since last making the tournament in 1998 (a trip later vacated due to internal sanctions), Michigan has traversed just about every possible landmine in an attempt to revive itself. Time and time again, the Wolverines came up shy when they most needed a victory, but they finally broke through in Minneapolis.

It wasn't easy. Minnesota led 35-32 at halftime, and given that Tubby Smith had been 33-1 with the Gophers when leading at the break, the deck looked stacked in their favor. An early second-half run pushed the edge out to 51-39, and Minnesota looked on the verge of blowing Michigan out.

The Wolverines settled down, though, paced by huge performances from Lavel Lucas-Perry and DeShawn Sims, who scored 19 and 24 points, respectively. Michigan clawed back within 56-52, then took over the game when Minnesota's Damian Johnson headed to the bench with four fouls at the 8:14 mark.

Michigan took the lead at 59-58 with 5:02 left, then extended it to 67-62 in the game's final minute. Minnesota actually came within a split-second of tying things back up at 67 -- with Minnesota down 67-64, guard Lawrence Westbrook hit a three with four seconds left, but the make came right after Smith called for a timeout.

The Wolverines finished the regular season 19-12; Minnesota closed out at 21-9.

Michigan Finally Gets Its Big Road Win originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sat, 07 Mar 2009 15:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bubble Wrap: The Crowded Big Ten

Matt Snyder — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Big Ten, March Madness

First of all, allow us a moment to give Penn State some credit. They had never won 10 Big Ten games in one season until they garnered their tenth of 2009 Thursday night. They apparently have a flair for the dramatic, as they trailed by six with under two minutes left. A Stanley Pringle three, a huge offensive board -- followed by two free throws -- from David Jackson, some good defense, and a clutch runner from Talor Battle propelled them to an unbelievable victory over a very solid Illinois team for the second time this season.

So, after Thursday night's showing, did Penn State punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since '01? What about the other Big Ten bubble teams?

Penn State (21-9, 10-7)
Big Wins: Illinois home/away, at Michigan State, vs. Purdue. vs Minnesota, vs. Michigan
Bad Losses: none
Last 10: 6-4
RPI: 66
Remaining Game(s): at Iowa, conference tourney
What they need to do: Win at Iowa. If they do that, they'll get a three-seed in the Big Ten tourney. Um, hold on. Actually, if they win in Iowa and Purdue loses in Michigan State (obviously, that's entirely plausible), Penn State will be the number two seed in the Big Ten Tournament. Can you even fathom that? With a conference this good and this deep, the second-worst program -- pedigree-wise -- is behind only the mighty Spartans? Anyway, I digress. It's tough to tell who they'll face in the conference tourney in this scenario, because of a muddled middle in the standings, but after the bye I don't think they really have to win a game. Thursday night's victory along with a road win in Iowa Saturday should do it (as long as Purdue loses to MSU). You can't keep the technical second-place team of the number two RPI conference in the nation out of the Big Dance. You just can't. (Just in case, though, don't lose to Iowa should they happen to pull an upset in the first round)

Michigan (18-12, 8-9)
Big Wins: vs. Duke, vs. Illinois, UCLA (neutral), vs. Minnesota, vs. Purdue, vs. Penn State
Bad Losses: at Iowa
Last 10: 4-6
RPI: 47
Remaining Game(s): at Minnesota, conference tourney
What they need to do: They absolutely have to win at Minnesota Saturday, and that's not an easy task. If they do that, they'll probably get either Northwestern, Indiana, or Iowa in the first round of the Big Ten tourney. That would be another must-win game. If they get those two, they will be squarely on the bubble. A second Big Ten tourney win would go a long way in solidifying their spot, but they need to win two straight before we discuss that.

Minnesota (21-8, 9-8)
Big Wins: Louisville (neutral), vs. Illinois, Wisconsin home/away, vs. Ohio State, vs. Penn State
Bad Losses: none
Last 10: 5-5
RPI: 32
Remaining Game(s): vs. Michigan
What they need to do: A win at home against Michigan should pretty much do it. They have a solid enough resume that a 10-8 record in this conference should do, especially considering their win over the Wolverines would eliminate another bubble team from the conference in one fell swoop. Winning their first Big Ten Tournament game would likely be gravy, but there's no reason to leave anything to chance. The mantra in Tubby Smith's locker room would be: Just get that dubya.

Ohio State (19-9, 9-8)
Big Wins: vs. Butler, vs. Purdue, vs. Minnesota, Michigan home/away, at Miami (FL), vs. Penn State
Bad Losses: none
Last 10: 6-4
RPI: 40
Remaining Game(s): vs. Northwestern
What they need to do: If they take care of business against a tenacious Wildcat team at home Sunday, they should be pretty firmly in. Just as I said with the Gophers, though, it couldn't hurt to nail down that spot with one Big Ten tourney win as well.

Wisconsin(18-11, 9-8)
Big Wins: vs. Illinois, vs. Ohio State, Michigan home/away, at Virginia Tech
Bad Losses: at Iowa
Last 10: 6-4
RPI: 31
Remaining Game(s): vs. Indiana, conference tourney
What they need to do: Don't screw it up. Winning over Indiana at home -- which should be an absolute given -- seals their birth. If they lose, they'd likely to have to win at least two conference tourney games to make up for losing to IU at home this late in the season.

Northwestern (17-11, 8-9)
Big Wins: at Michigan State, vs. Florida State, vs. Wisconsin, vs. Minnesota, at Purdue, vs. Ohio State
Bad Losses: at Stanford, at Iowa
Last 10: 6-4
RPI: 70
Remaining Game(s): at Ohio State, conference tourney
What they need to do: Man, if only they could flip those bad losses into wins. They'd be sitting at 19-9 with a 9-8 conference record, plus, a better resume than Michigan and Penn State. Instead, they need to do some work. First of all, they'll have to win at Ohio State. This team isn't getting in with an 8-10 conference season record. If they win that game, they'll need at least two wins in the Big Ten tourney to get on the bubble. At that point, they'd really have a legitimate shot. You'd be talking about a 20 win team with a serious list of quality victories from a deep conference.

All told, I really think the Big Ten is getting seven teams in. That means there are two on this list not making it, but four that will. If you like "on the bubble" action, pay attention to the Big Ten for the next week and a half. It's going to be exciting as everything sorts itself out.

My personal prediction is that it's Northwestern and Michigan left out in the cold.

Note: This is assuming Michigan State, Illinois, and Purdue are in. It's also assuming Iowa and Indiana are out (I know, a huge leap of faith there).

Bubble Wrap: The Crowded Big Ten originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boom Goes the Bubble

Ray Holloman — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 07:00:00 EST

Filed under: Boston College, Florida, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi State, NC State, Virginia Tech, March Madness, University of Miami, Georgia

March started days ago. The Madness started Wednesday night.

On an evening where bubble teams could've punched their ticket to the NCAA tournament and boosters could've started humming bars of "One Shining Moment," teams turned down invitations like they were to a wedding without an open bar or the People's Choice Awards.

A memo, fellows. This isn't an invitation to a candlelight dinner with Randy Johnson. "Big Dance" doesn't mean you're cutting a rug with Mark Madsen or waltzing cheek-to-cheek with Mike Tyson.

You actually want to go to this thing.

Yet any team with bubble aspirations did its best impersonation of your 401k.

Virginia Tech had the equivalent of a print-at-home ticket to the Big Dance, but had no more luck finding their way into the tournament than coach Seth Greenberg would have recommending a good barber. But at least they lost to North Carolina. What's your excuse, Boston College?

The Eagles, who have already cleared a whole carton of egg of their face by losing to Harvard in a something that doesn't involve fractals, lost to N.C. State, a team that could only generously be described as a bubble team if, in fact the NIT has a bubble.

The formerly storied Kentucky Wildcats lost to a Georgia team that's 11th in what might be a three-bid conference and long ago fired its coach. Then again, that's what playing with the passion of a man waiting on a bus will do to you.

Miami, which made Duke and North Carolina sweat like Gary Williams in back-to-back games in early February, and looked like a possible Sweet 16 team a month ago, ensured its postseason wouldn't get in the way of Spring Break, falling to Georgia Tech.

Minnesota, a borderline-out bubble team beat Wisconsin, a borderline-in bubble team in the Big Ten, officially giving the league more possibly qualifiers than the total of points some of its teams have scored in a half this season.

And then there was the Gators, a team that just two years ago was flirting with Tom Emanski territory as back-to-back national champions.

Florida lost to Mississippi State in a game that wasn't even as close as its 80-71 score indicates. The Bulldogs took a nine-point lead in at the half, led by 16 in the second and never once so much as had the Gators in drafting distance in the final frame. The Bulldogs, we're fairly certain, could tell you where the CBI will be held without looking it up.

And Florida's loss could be magnified for all the teams that counted the Gators among their top-50 RPI wins, like Syracuse and South Carolina. The Gators were 49th in the RPI before falling to the Bulldogs. And that number will certainly gain a few pounds after getting dumped by Mississippi State. In fact, should the Gamecocks lose tonight against Tennessee, they could conceivably enter Selection Sunday with double-digit SEC wins and zero victories over the RPI top 50.

Of course, this is America. There's always a reward for kicking back and laughing at the misery of others (This, we suppose, is why Detroit Lion games make it on television). So who benefits from the bubble burst?

Maryland, who has four wins in four tries over N.C. State, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech, and whose two top wins over North Carolina and Michigan State match up with anyone on the bubble, should get a bump out of all the wreckage, provided the Terps beat ACC doormat Virginia this weekend. Providence might find its way in now with a solid league record and, like Maryland, a recent marquee win, over Pittsburgh. Michigan can play the big-win card too, with victories over Duke and UCLA, but the Wolverines' most notable victory in the past two months, Purdue, perhaps predictably for last night, lost to Northwestern, a team whose good old days involve Evan Eschmeyer.

And Penn State, who has no great wins to speak of, must look a lot more attractive this morning because the Nittany Lions have nothing that's even in the same Congressional district as a bad loss. If last night proved anything, it's that avoiding embarrassment might be the toughest thing to do in college basketball.

That, or get Wojciechowksi spelled correctly in caligraphy.

But each of those teams are written in pencil, and lightly at that.

So who was the real winner? The conference tournaments. These weekend events were usually three and four-day practices for the NCAA Tournament, an exercise in seeding and souvenir programs. Now they'll be stage for nearly every team to play their way onto, or off, the bubble.

And, of course, the college basketball fan. Beacuse the Madness is finally here.

Boom Goes the Bubble originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Thu, 05 Mar 2009 07:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Badgers Dancing on Michigan's Grave?

Matt Snyder — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 16:15:00 EST

Filed under: Michigan, Wisconsin, Big Ten

For one half, the Michigan Wolverines were all but trying on their dancing shoes. One half later, they were all but watching Wisconsin waltz into the NCAA tournament.

Michigan's DeShawn Sims-Manny Harris combo did all it could to build on the Wolverines' win over Purdue Thursday, but Wisconsin turned the Wolverines away with their trademark physical defense in the second half. The pressure went up, and the Wolverines' offense went down, managing just 21 points in the second half.

So, can Wisconsin sleepwalk into March Madness and are the Wolverines done, just days after they were all but called a shoo-in?

Wisconsin 60, Michigan 55 : AP Recap | Box Score | RPI | Scores

The two teams are part of an amoeba in the middle of the conference standings -- most of whom reside on the NCAA Tournament bubble. Penn State, Minnesota, Ohio State, and Northwestern join these two teams in a group of six teams separated by a measily two games in the conference standings. Outside winning the conference tourney, Northwestern is too far behind at this point, but of the other five teams, the Big Ten is probably going to get four in.

Wisconsin has now won six of seven, virtually erasing that potentially devastating six-game losing streak. They travel to Minnesota before getting Indiana at home. A 10-8 conference record is their worst-case scenario at this point -- since they aren't losing at home to IU -- and if they take down the Gophers it will be 11-7. With their solid RPI, you can bet their now annual spot in the NCAA Tourney is secure. I guess we should have never written off a Bo Ryan team in early February.

While Michigan still has a really good shot at making the dance, gathering a quality road win in Madison Sunday would have likely cemented their spot. They have a few really good wins, but have left people scratching their heads with some inconsistent play. Personally, I don't see how a team with two absolute studs like Harris and Sims can't fill out enough of a supporting cast to win more than eight of 17 conference games. In fact, with only a trip to Minnesota remaining, they are in serious danger of finishing 8-10 in conference play -- which might mean a decent run in the Big Ten Tournament would be necessary to go dancing. It appeared, after a victory over Purdue this past week, that things were falling into place for the Wolverines. As everything currently stands, though, you'd have to assume either Penn State or Michigan will be the proverbial odd man out.

Michigan could have really used a victory at Wisconsin. Instead, they were given a taste of their own medicine.

Sunday, the Badgers worked much more efficient one-two punch of their own, as Trevon Hughes and Marcus Landry beautifully played an inside-outside duo. Hughes and Landry combined for the same 32 points Harris and Sims did, but they took 10 less shots from the floor (and, actually, two less free throws as well).

Despite the futile second-half offense, Michigan was right in this game to the end. They could not, however, muster a tie in the final minutes when only trailing by one possession quite a few times. Their late possessions were heavily defended by the tenacious Badgers, and ended in reckless three-point attempts several times, including two from Sims, who shoots less than 30 percent from behind the arc. They found success a few times with Harris slashing into the lane, but even that approach came up short against the stingy Badger defense when it mattered most.

Badgers Dancing on Michigan's Grave? originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sun, 01 Mar 2009 16:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michigan Down to Last Strike

Chas Rich — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 19:47:00 EST

Filed under: Iowa, Michigan, Big Ten

Michigan's NCAA tournament hopes took a big blow in Iowa City.

The Wolverines made a gutty comeback on the Hawkeyes, before letting Iowa tie the game in the final seconds and send it to overtime. But in the extra frame, Michigan's fight, and its leading scorer were nowhere to be found. Manny Harris, the Wolverines leading scorer was stuck on the bench in overtime, apparently for something that upset Coach John Beilein, as Michigan fell 70-60.

And they might have lost more than just the game.
The loss drops Michigan to 7-8 in the Big Ten with three games to play in the regular season. The Wolverines' RPI was 50 before tip-off, and that number is certain to worsen after losing to the Big Ten's second-worst team. So despite wins against UCLA and Duke, the Wolverines probably need to finish at least 9-9 in the conference and pick up a win in the Big Ten tournament to sit comfortably on Selection Sunday.

Getting to 9-9, however, could be a problem. The Wolverines' last three games are against Purdue, at Wisconsin and at Minnesota. Michigan probably needs to win two of those three. The good news, though, is that two wins will make the Wolverines' argument quite convincingly, so if ever there were an instance of holding destiny in your own hands, this is it.

Michigan Down to Last Strike originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sun, 22 Feb 2009 19:47:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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.

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Michigan State Rocks Ann Arbor to Sleep, Puts Michigan on the NIT Brink

Chris Burke — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 21:55:00 EST

Filed under: Michigan, Michigan State, Big Ten

Something about this whole situation feels pretty familiar: Michigan, on the brink of an NCAA Tournament berth, and in need of one last signature win to all-but-lock a dance invitation, falling on its face.

It happened in 2004, when Michigan lost in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals to Illinois; it happened in 2006 when Michigan closed the season with disappointing losses against Indiana and Minnesota; it happened in 2007 when Ohio State beat Michigan twice in the season's final week.

And now it's happening again after the Wolverines coughed away a nationally-televised chance at a statement victory, and dropped a 54-42 decision to No. 9 Michigan State on Wednesday night.

That's not to say that Michigan was in a win-and-you're-in situation against the Spartans. On the other hand, that would have been the Wolverines' third win against a top-10 team. So that number, combined with a very strong strength-of-schedule and decent RPI, could have made Michigan's resume look pretty sweet to the tournament committee.

Instead, the Wolverines once again find their backs against the wall with some challenging games (Minnesota, Purdue, at Wisconsin, at Minnesota) still on the schedule, not to mention testers at Northwestern and Iowa. Suffice it to say, Michigan is in trouble.

Michigan State, meanwhile, has a complete stranglehold on the Big Ten conference. The Spartans improved to 10-2 in the league -- giving them a two-game cushion on their nearest competitors -- and the schedule shapes up well for a strong close. Yes, Michigan State has to travel to Purdue and Illinois, but MSU is a freakin' steamroller on the road. The Spartans are 9-0 away from home, not counting a neutral-site victory over Oakland. They've now won at Michigan, Iowa, Ohio State, Penn State, Northwestern and Minnesota.

That is how you win conference titles.

You do not win them by scoring 42 points on your home floor, as the Wolverines did. You also do not get to the field of 65 by flopping in key games down the stretch. Once again, Michigan looks like it has to learn that lesson.

Michigan State Rocks Ann Arbor to Sleep, Puts Michigan on the NIT Brink originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 21:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michigan Should Only Play Top-5 Teams

Chris Burke — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 21:10:00 EST

Filed under: Connecticut, Michigan, March Madness

There are some teams that notoriously play down to the level of their competition. Michigan's taken it in the exact opposite direction this season. The Wolverines have played incredibly well when pitted against teams ranked in the top five -- splitting with Duke, beating UCLA and now taking No. 1 Connecticut to the brink of a major, major upset on Saturday in Storrs.

Depending on where you check your lines, Michigan was around a 17-point underdog heading into this one. But the Wolverines actually led by eight in the first half and still had a four-point cushion with 14 minutes left. UConn, thanks mainly to the efforts of the monstrous Hasheem Thabeet, whose father has to be a redwood tree or something, finally stole the lead and held on for a 69-61 win.

Still, the outcome has to do more for Michigan than the Huskies.

Playing in Storrs against a team that looked to have huge advantages all over the court, it was the absolute classic nothing-to-lose scenario for John Beilein's bunch. Barring a 40-point loss, or an injury to Manny Harris or DeShawn Sims, Michigan could simply watch its RPI bump up and get some national TV exposure against a sensational team. And the seemingly overmatched Wolverines played like the looser, more focused bunch for much of the game. Michigan kept things at its tempo, let Stu Douglass heat up outside to the tune of 20 points and kept Connecticut from getting out in transition.

Eventually Thabeet's size and UConn's athleticism got the best of Michigan. You can chalk up the lackluster effort to an odd mid-February game in the midst of the Big East gauntlet -- and that's probably a decent argument -- but the Huskies looked somewhat flustered against Michigan's zone, and bogged down in the half-court.

Michigan, meanwhile, suddenly looks like the group that climbed into the top 25 a few weeks back. That's good news because the Wolverines' season may come down to how they fair on Tuesday against arch-rival Michigan State and next Saturday at Northwestern.

UConn is back in Big East action on Wednesday when Syracuse's comes a-callin'. The Huskies survived on Saturday, and that's all they needed to do in the race for a No. 1 seed.

Michigan Should Only Play Top-5 Teams originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sat, 07 Feb 2009 21:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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.

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Purdue's Chris Kramer Told to Keep Playing After Getting Knocked Out

Michael David Smith — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 12:50:00 EST

Filed under: Michigan, Purdue, Video

The above video shows Purdue guard Chris Kramer getting knocked out by an elbow from Michigan guard Manny Harris on Saturday. Harris was ejected, but I don't think he was trying to hurt Kramer, and the Big Ten has decided, correctly, that he shouldn't face any discipline.

But this story shouldn't end there. Not until Purdue coach Matt Painter has taken a refresher course on the seriousness of concussions.

Here's a video in which Kramer and Painter discuss what happened:

Kramer says, "I blacked out, fell down, and then I woke up in a pool of blood on the floor. I'm pretty sure my nose is broken. ... That is the hardest I've ever been hit, and I played football."

If Kramer "blacked out" as a result of being struck on the head, he absolutely should not have been permitted to return to the game. When you get knocked out, you've suffered a brain injury. Brain injuries need time to heal. And yet Kramer was back on the floor after a few minutes in the locker room to get fitted for a mask to protect his nose.

There is no excuse for Painter to allow Kramer to play after suffering a brain injury, but Kramer suggested after the game that Painter didn't just allow him to play, he pressured him to play. Kramer says he was told by an assistant coach, "Coach says you've got to come on. ... Coach just wants us out there. Give everything you can. If you can't go you can't go, but if you can, just give everything you can."

Said Painter, "I knew there was a chance that they wouldn't let him come back. But I knew if it was up to him he would come back."

It shouldn't be up to the player to decide if he can go. It should be up to the doctor. And no player who has been knocked unconscious should ever hear the words, "Coach says you've got to come on." Concussions are too serious to be treated with such a cavalier attitude.

Purdue's Chris Kramer Told to Keep Playing After Getting Knocked Out originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 12:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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.

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Michigan Storms Back From 20 to Beat Indiana: The Fallout

Matt Snyder — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 10:40:00 EST

Filed under: Indiana, Michigan, Big Ten

If you want a game recap, you can check one out. Here, we focus on more than that. The one thing I will say that is left out of the recap is the six missed free throws in overtime by the Hoosiers. Those all came before a few tack-on free throws by the Wolverines. Simply put, IU still should have won, if they could just hit their damn charity shots.

What is the fallout for each team?

Indiana

This game showed that the Hoosiers, no matter how hard they play, are simply not in the same league as the rest of the Big Ten this season in terms of talent. When you have a 20 point lead at home with only 18:46 left in the game, it should be in the bag.

The problem is that Indiana doesn't have the type of player who can take over and ensure the lead doesn't get blown -- like D.J. White could have. The leadership is lacking because no one who played significant minutes last year is back -- with all due respect to my boy, Kyle Taber. The talent is lacking because Tom Crean has basically had to start over.

Devan Dumes would be the closest thing at this point, but he was playing at Vincennes JuCo last year. Nick Williams and Verdell Jones could get there, but they are only freshman. Some freshman can learn to take on the load early in their careers, but those are dynamic NBA-type talents playing on teams who know how to win. Indiana's just not there yet.

This isn't like the last blown 20 point lead at home -- yes, it just happened in the last home game to Lipscomb. The young Hoosiers should take confidence away from this game in the fact that they were able to build a 20-point lead against a team as talented as Michigan.

As I've said before, hopefully the team can keep themselves into things mentally as the season progresses -- and the beat-downs add up -- because next year's recruiting class is an elite one. By this time next year the worm will have started to turn and by the 2010-2011 season, this will be a distant memory. Williams, Jones, Tom Pritchard, and others need to keep this in mind and keep chugging along.

Michigan

Simply put, you can't get down 20 points to Indiana if you want to remain in the thick of the Big Ten race. That would have been a devastating loss. That being said, they showed a will to win and battled back through the adversity of an awful first half. Now they'll get what should be a sure win at home against Iowa, and take a 3-1 league record into Illinois next week.

This is actually quite a significant movement for the young Wolverines. They are in year two of the John Beilein regime, and still growing. This game should be a stepping stone for them. Anytime they find themselves down on the road in the upcoming weeks, they'll remember this comeback and think they have a shot to comeback. Don't discount the mentality of a team, especially one still finding its way. With the talented DeShawn Sims and Manny Harris leading the way, a swagger could make this team very intriguing in late February and March.

Overall

As long as both teams focus on the positive, while trying to learn from the negative, this is one of those games where both teams should come away feeling better about themselves. They can look to build upon the effort. That means something different for both teams, obviously, but the message is the same.

Michigan Storms Back From 20 to Beat Indiana: The Fallout originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 10:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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.

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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.

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Big Ten Conference Season Set to Begin: A Quick Once-Over

Matt Snyder — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 16:25:00 EST

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

Just when I was ready to start tooting the Big Ten's horn, again, for being on their way back to a powerhouse conference, Ohio State gets embarrassed by West Virginia and Iowa gets trounced at Drake. Those were quality opponents, sure, but it was a good time to capitalize on the impressive Michigan State and Purdue wins during the weekend prior to Christmas.

Regardless, I have to root for the conference as a whole this year to maintain some level of sanity, as my alma mater has now lost consecutive games to Northeastern and Lipscomb. What a way to build momentum heading into January, huh?

Conference season for the Big Ten kicks off Tuesday night in Mackey Arena, as Purdue hosts Illinois in what is shaping up to be quite the contest. On paper, the Boilers are easily the favorite and should handle Illinois. They very well could. The Fighting Illini, however, have only lost one game all season -- a two-pointer to undefeated and 16th ranked Clemson. Sophomore seven-footer Mike Tisdale has really come into his own in the past four games, and he'll pose a major problem for the Boilers down low. I like Purdue here, but it's gonna be a doozy.

The second game this week is also a stellar contest, as the Michigan State Spartans will travel to Minnesota and get a taste of The Barn. It's really difficult to win in that place when the Gophers are mediocre. This year they are better than mediocre, as they bring a 12-0 record in with a neutral court victory over the hype machine from Louisville. If Michigan State shows up, they'll be a much tougher test, but ultimately I'm taking Minnesota to continue their early season confidence-building roll.

Other big games this week: Wisconsin at Michigan (Wednesday afternoon), Ohio State at Minnesota (Saturday mid-day), and Illinois at Michigan (Sunday mid-day).

Player to watch: Other than the aforementioned blossoming Tisdale, let's keep an eye on how DeShawn Sims fares against two quality opponents at home. He's a dark horse for the Big Ten player of the year, but the Wolverines will have to win home games like these for him to be considered. His leadership and development will be tested greatly.

Pre-Conference Power Rankings

1. Purdue -- The losses to Oklahoma and Duke were a blessing in disguise. This team is now grounded and even more motivated.

2. Ohio State -- They'll have to prove that game against WVU was a fluke, but I believe they will.

3. Michigan State -- Hey, no more ACC teams on the schedule, so it should be smooth sailing.

4. Illinois -- Yes, I'm buying into them. They're young, but balanced and unselfish.

5. Michigan -- As I said above, big week.

6. Minnesota -- I wanna see them beat someone other than an overrated Louisville team. According to my earlier prediction, they will this week. We'll see how it goes.

7. Wisconsin -- They won't get any lower than this, but have they really done anything to inspire confidence against any of the top six at this point? They've lost to the only good teams they've played and barely squeaked by the likes of Iona, Idaho State, and Long Beach State.

8. Penn State -- They haven't been relevant in a long time, but this team is showing signs of the life. The only problem is they haven't played anybody. At least they get to start with Northwestern at home.

9. Northwestern -- They'll take down a few of the titans at home this year with their stellar outside shooting, but there's still just not enough talent here to stay in contention for the league title.

10. Iowa -- It's gonna take Todd Lickliter more time to turn things around completely.

11. Indiana -- Sigh. There's a ton of separation between 10 and 11 here. It really is the Big Ten this year. I have to keep my eyes on the future.

Big Ten Conference Season Set to Begin: A Quick Once-Over originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Mon, 29 Dec 2008 16:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maybe the 'Average 11' Doesn't Suck After All

Matt Snyder — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:30:00 EST

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

It's becoming an annual tradition to hate on the Big Ten these days, and in recent years it's been hard to argue. The results haven't been great for the once mighty conference as a whole, even if there was a standout team -- Ohio State as national runner-up, for example.

As we inch closer to the conference season this year, however, it may be a bit lazy -- and even arrogant -- to start slapping the moniker "Average 11," or titles far more disrespectful, on these teams. In this non-conference season, they have proven their worth on several different occasions. This past weekend presented a coming out party for two teams.

We've already covered Michigan's resurgence, as they've now taken down both UCLA and Duke. I was actually surprised to not see them get more love in the rankings, but that loss at Maryland kept them out.

Ohio State should be quickly climbing the polls as well, after taking down two ranked opponents in the past week, neither of which was a home game (they played at Miami and against Notre Dame in Indianapolis). Gary Parrish has them ninth, but they didn't see any action in the official polls.

Adding these two to the expected upper-echelon trio of Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Purdue; the Big Ten appears to have a very strong top five.

As was on display in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge, where a two-point swing in one of a few games would have meant the Big Ten's first victory, the lower group of teams is quite strong. Other than my beloved Hoosiers, who are in for a long season, the conference is very strong top-to-bottom. Let's take a quick swing through the teams.

Minnesota - Tubby Smith's got his boys out to an 8-0 start, though they haven't really faced tough competition. That will change on December 20th when Rick Pitino's Louisville Cardinals ~~visit the barn. That is a really tough place to play, especially if you've never been there before~~. (EDIT: They play in Glendale, Ariz. Thanks for the correction in the comments section). I still predict a Gophers upset victory. Why not?

Ohio State - Luke Harangody actually did play for the Irish, and it wasn't enough to beat Ohio State. Evan Turner was a monster, and highly-touted seven-foot freshman B.J. Mullens will only get better as the season progresses. It's smooth sailing for the Bucks until a December 27th home bout against Bob Huggins' West Virginia squad. I like Ohio State in this one, and they'll head into conference play undefeated.

Illinois - Only slipped against undefeated Clemson by two. They've won at Vandy and embarrassed Georgia. They face one more test before heading into conference play, a likely doozy in the Busch Bragging Rights game against Missouri in St. Louis.

Northwestern - They lost at Butler, but manhandled Florida State -- who just beat Florida -- and DePaul. They aren't going to be a good team, but for the 10th best team in the league they are no pushover.

Iowa - They were blown out by a very solid West Virginia team and lost a heartbreaker at Boston College. It does appear, however, that Todd Lickliter is making the Hawkeye faithful forget about the Steve Alford administration -- which has moved on to, ahem, greener pastures.

Michigan - Already covered their body of work and rise to the upper half of the conference. They won't be stumbling again out of conference (other than that oddly placed trip to UConn in February), so that means they get Wisconsin on New Year's Eve at home with a 10-2 record. The Wolverines are back.

Penn State - Winning at Georgia Tech was summarily wiped out with a home loss to Temple. Ever since the Crispen brothers departed, the Nittany Lions basketball program has been a laughingstock. This team has the potential to change that, but they can't go on losing to Rhode Island and Temple at home.

Purdue - They've lost to two really solid teams, but been exposed in those two losses. They likely aren't an elite team yet, and expectations were just a little out of control to start the season. Still, they are very solid and will remain towards the top of the heap.

Wisconsin - Once again, they are going to be good, but not great. You can expect them to trample the next three opponents before losing handily to Texas.

Michigan State - They've easily been the most disappointing team in the league thus far, but I'm confident Tom Izzo gets them on the right track before February. The brutal non-conference schedule (Maryland, Oklahoma State, North Carolina, Texas, Kansas) will prepare them for March.

Indiana - I have to say, losing to Gonzaga by only 16 was encouraging. I have high hopes for the 2010-2011 campaign, and think that next year they can be a fringe NCAA tourney team. This year, however, is a learning process. Learning how to accept blowout defeats is a major part of the curve.

Look, the bottom line is that this is a solid conference once again. While it's certainly never gonna be confused with the Big East, it's right with the Big 12 and the SEC. I'll stand by that this year and allow the upper-tier Big Ten teams prove my point in March.

Maybe the 'Average 11' Doesn't Suck After All originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Second Time's a Charm: Up-and-Coming Michigan Upsets Duke

Matt Snyder — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 17:55:00 EST

Filed under: Duke, Michigan, ACC, Big Ten

A few weeks ago, coming off an impressive upset of UCLA, Michigan was handed a reminder by the Duke Blue Devils that their basketball program wasn't quite all the way back just yet. A second chance -- this time at home -- was all the Wolverines needed.

On the strength of DeShawn Sims' 28-point and 12-rebound effort and Duke's abysmal long-range shooting, Michigan basketball took another huge step in their rebuilding process with an 81-73 victory today.

Duke was too reliant on the outside shot. They were a terrible 7-of-33 from three-point territory, and this reliance also contributed to their only visiting the free throw line six times (they made four). The Blue Devils, however, will be just fine. It was their second straight road game, and we all know they don't play on the road outside their conference often. They'll rarely shoot so poorly from three, and you can count on Coach Krzyzewski stressing the importance of offensive variety after this loss.

The real story in this game was Michigan. I had already written their program was on its way back.

Now, everyone has to take note. Their only two losses this season came to Duke -- which they obviously just avenged -- and on the road in Maryland. They've now beaten two highly touted programs in UCLA and Duke, and the young roster will only get better as they gather confidence. After this game, you can bet they'll have a swagger at home. This is the kind of game that makes a young team think, "no one comes in here and wins."

As long as they don't take a step backwards at home against Eastern Michigan next week, Michigan is a sleeper team in the Big Ten. It would behoove Michigan State, Purdue, and Wisconsin to keep their eyes on the young ones from Ann Arbor. They are here to stay.

A final note: Jay Bilas was working the game for ESPN. He was very critical of Michigan for finally showing Tommy Amaker the door before last season. You know, because they are friends and both went to Duke, I'm guessing. John Beilein's got this program headed towards the top of the Big Ten in just over a year. I wonder if he still thinks it was a bad move? If so, he's certainly in the minority.

Second Time's a Charm: Up-and-Coming Michigan Upsets Duke originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sat, 06 Dec 2008 17:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Greivis Vasquez Leads Maryland to 75-70 Victory Over Michigan

Shiloh Carder — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:41:00 EST

Filed under: Maryland, Michigan, ACC, Big Ten

One of the most slept on players in the ACC is Greivis Vasquez. Ever since he set foot in College Park two years ago, he has asserted himself as the leader of the Maryland Terrapins on and off the court.

His star shined again during the Terps 75-70 win over Michigan in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

Vasquez lead Maryland with 23 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and three steals. He offset tough shooting nights from Eric Hayes and Adrian Bowie.

This was a back-and-forth game with both teams, at times, looking as if they had control of it. Maryland broke through with their rebounding (43 to 26) and ability to get to the line (20 free throws to Michigan's six).

Michigan gets to come home to face a Duke team that beat them by 15 points two weeks ago. Maryland has a bit of a breezy schedule and could be 12-2 when they start ACC play next month.

Greivis Vasquez Leads Maryland to 75-70 Victory Over Michigan originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:41:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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