NCAA Basketball FanHouse

A New Chapter in Classic Magic-Bird Tale

David Steele — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:15:00 EST

Filed under: Michigan State, FanHouse Exclusive

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame inducted eight new members Sunday night, and nearly half of the two-hour ceremony was devoted to two of them. Not that it wasn't deserved: from the moment the list of enshrinees for the Hall's fourth class was announced, it was universally known that it would be a Magic-Bird celebration.

Earvin "Magic'' Johnson and Larry Bird did not disappoint, as they served up memories of the moment they shared 30 years ago in the NCAA championship game, spoke of the legacies they carved out in basketball at every level -- and remained in their easily-recognizable characters almost as if they were scripted for the event.

The perfect illustration: at one point in the informal setting of the induction, they sat on the stage in the historic Midland Theater in downtown Kansas City in conversation with broadcasters and masters of ceremony Clark Kellogg and Steve Lavin. Johnson did a spot-on imitation of his Michigan State coach and fellow inductee Jud Heathcote, who had instructed him to impersonate Bird for the scout team the day before the 1979 final against Indiana State. Stomping, smacking his forehead and screeching, "E, you have to be Larry Bird!'' Johnson had the crowd roaring.

It was all in answer to a question about how each player would have scouted the other's game. When it was Bird's turn, he nodded at Johnson and said, "Ah, he's pretty good.'' It evoked laughter as well.

Thus, Johnson played the flamboyant, gregarious one and Bird the low-key introvert. They comfortably played up the differences that made their face-off that much more compelling, as well as the friendship that famously but slowly evolved out of their rivalry, all of which culminated not only in a best-selling book they've co-authored, When the Game Was Ours, but a long-awaited joint induction into a basketball shrine.

The Magic-Bird presence did eclipse a sterling class: players Wayman Tisdale and Travis Grant, coaches Heathcote and Gene Bartow and contributors Walter Byers and Bill Wall. It also dominated a ceremony that ran the gamut from bittersweet (Tisdale, the three-time all-American at Oklahoma and 12-year NBA player, died of cancer last May, and his widow, Regina, accepted the award) to comic (of all people, Bob Knight, there ostensibly to present for Byers, the NCAA's first executive director, and Wall, longtime head of USA Basketball, did a good 20 minutes of stand-up about both men and the state of the game past and present).

But Bird and Johnson were the stars, so much so that, in much the way the Naismith Hall of Fame moved its induction to a larger venue in deference to the drawing power of Michael Jordan, this induction was moved to the newly-renovated, 82-year-old Midland Theater from the Sprint Center and the adjoining College Basketball Experience because of the magnetism of the two marquee players. They drew the longest, and most, standing ovations of the night. (Next on that list was Tisdale, whose smooth jazz from his successful post-basketball recording career was played for the incoming crowd beforehand.) During the ceremony and earlier at a press conference and reception, Bird and Johnson were the center of attention from the moment they entered the room.

If it seems that the two -- who both have admitted that the competition against each other was too fierce early on for any friendship to develop -- grow more inseparable every day, it's because they have been recently, with the book's release last month and the induction Sunday. Even doing the book seemed natural, Johnson said earlier in the evening: "We both were probably going to write a book by ourselves, then I called him and told him, 'We might as well do the book together.' And it worked. Every time I talk to someone, they say, 'I'm so glad you decided to do the book together, and tell your stories about yourselves.' "

He also said that, even in doing the book with longtime NBA writer Jackie MacMullan, he didn't find out more about Bird in the process: "We've spent so much time already together, we pretty much knew each other,'' he said. "Nothing surprises each other by now.''

Johnson, of course, had to be pulled away from reporters, photographers and fans before heading to the induction. Bird accommodated well-wishers, but he didn't need to be asked twice when it was time to go, either.

"I was a shy kid. I don't like big crowds, I don't like a lot of focus on me, so this is very uncomfortable
for me."
-- Larry Bird on his fame and popularity "I'd always thought that once I'd retired [as a player], it would be over with,'' Bird said of the enduring fame and popularity he's attained. "I was a shy kid. I don't like big crowds, I don't like a lot of focus on me, so this is very uncomfortable for me.'' He chuckled, then added, "That's why I like to do things with him, because he does all the talking.''

When he was introduced at the press conference, Bird noted that Tisdale's wife, Regina, had spoken very briefly, and cracked, "I'll get an extra two minutes, but we'll give Magic an extra 15.'' Sure enough, when Magic got to the microphone, he entertained with stories about sneaking into Michigan State practices as a kid, how overdue it was for Heathcote to be honored somewhere, about how he met his wife, Cookie, as an undergrad, and how he almost left school after his freshman year when the then-Kansas City Kings made him an in-person pitch in town, then changed his mind because he thought he could win a championship by staying in school. "I took the barbecue, though,'' he added.

Johnson also thanked Bird with praise he has repeated often, and repeated later that night at the induction: "He made me a better basketball player, and not only that, he made me a better man.''

Both were in awe of the improbability of their entering the college shrine together. When Magic Johnson first left the NBA in 1991, it was because of his contracting the AIDS virus, and Hall of Fame induction was the furthest thought from most minds. Bird retired a year later, then Johnson made a brief comeback in 1995, and they ended up entering Springfield four years apart. The Collegiate Hall of Fame didn't even come into existence until 2006, four years after Johnson was inducted in the Naismith shrine.

"It's better than if we had gone in separate,'' Johnson said. "This is powerful.''

Asked if he was amazed at how they were entering together three decades after taking the national stage together, Bird said, "My whole life's been amazing. It's been a ride.''

A New Chapter in Classic Magic-Bird Tale originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:15:00 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.

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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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Year of the Spartan Still to Come

Matt Snyder — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:30:00 EST

Filed under: Michigan State, Big Ten, March Madness

The Michigan State Spartans concluded a very successful season just over a week ago. They rode a two-seed past the defending champions, the top overall seed, and a supremely talented Connecticut squad before falling to the obvious best team in the nation, the NCAA champion Tar Heels.

After a brief rest, the Spartans will eventually get back to work in East Lansing, and it won't be a rebuilding project. It will be a reloading one. They did lose Goran Suton, Travis Walton and Marquise Gray to graduation, but there's plenty left for Tom Izzo to make another Final Four run -- one that would be his sixth in the past 12 years.

A stellar cast returns to the Spartans, along with two highly-rated recruits.

- Kalin Lucas, the reigning Big Ten player of the year, grew by leaps and bounds as an on-floor leader during this past season. He showed flashes of being one of the top point guards in the country during the tourney run, including the ability to lead the Spartans to a victory by assuming any offensive role. He can let others take the shots while he plays distributor, or take the initiative and score himself. With Walton's departure, Lucas will be needed more on the defensive end next season, but he has the ability and tenacity to at least partially fill Walton's shoes.

- The silver lining of Raymar Morgan's health-ravaged season is two-fold. First of all, many more players were able to develop while he was either absent or struggling. Secondly, if he continued to flourish as he had his freshman and sophomore seasons, he was headed to the NBA. Instead, he pretty much has to stay, and he'll be hungry for a huge senior year. He showed in the Final Four against UConn -- where he had 18 points, 9 rebounds and 5 steals -- that he still has crazy talent, and that was with a protective mask over his broken nose.

- Durrell Summers has shown flashes of being a spectacular player, and it wasn't just the defining dunk of the Final Four, either. He scored over 20 points three times and in double-digits 16 times during the course of his sophomore campaign. And his defense will only continue to improve.

- Delvon Roe grew into a really solid rebounding and defensive presence during his freshman season, and with the departure of Suton, his offense will blossom as well.

- Chris Allen, Korie Lucious, Draymond Green have all shown the capability to play more than a few meaningful minutes in pressure situations.

Latest College Basketball Images

In this photo taken Jan. 8, 2009, Xavier coach Sean Miller, left, and assistant Chris Mack, right, watch an NCAA basketball game in Cincinnati,. Mack is to be introduced at a news conference Wednesday, April 16, 2009 in Cincinnati. Xavier has promoted assistant Chris Mack to succeed Sean Miller as basketball coach. Miller left Xavier to take the head coaching position at Arizona. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

South Carolina's tailback Jarvis Giles picks up yardage during the annual garnet and black spring game at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina. (Kim Kim Foster-Tobin/The State/MCT)

MCT

This photo, supplied by the Michigan Governor's Office, shows Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm paying off her NCAA basketball tournament debt in a photo released Friday, April 10, 2009. Granholm poses in a Tar Heel jersey and hat to settle her wager with North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue on the tournament's championship game. North Carolina toppled Michigan State 89-72 on Monday.(AP Photo/courtesy of Nicole Haley)

UCLA basketball coach Ben Howland, left, speaks at a news conference in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 9, 2009, where freshman guard Jrue Holiday, center, with his father Shawn Holiday, right, announces he will make himself available for the NBA basketball draft, but will not hire an agent so as to maintain his NCAA eligibility. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

With head coach Ben Howland in the background, UCLA freshman guard Jrue Holiday announces he will make himself available for the NBA basketball draft, but will not hire an agent so as to maintain his NCAA eligibility, at a news conference in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 9, 2009. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

UCLA freshman guard Jrue Holiday announces he will make himself available for the NBA basketball draft, but will not hire an agent so as to maintain his NCAA eligibility, at a news conference in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 9, 2009. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

Pittsburgh's Shavonte Zellous, right, holds up a Detroit Shock jersey as she poses with WNBA president Donna Orender after Zellous was chosen as the 11th overall pick iick in the WNBA basketball draft Thursday, April 9, 2009 in Secaucus, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

Connecticut head women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma, left, and player Renee Montgmery listen to the applause of the crowd at Gampel Pavilion at Storrs, Conn., Wednesday, April 8, 2009 during a homecoming celebration for the team. Montgomery holds the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball trophy. Connecticut beat Louisville 76-54 in an NCAA college basketball game on Tuesday in St. Louis to win the title for the first time since 2004. (AP Photo/Bob Child)

Connecticut's Maya Moore high fives the fans at Gampel Pavilion at Storrs, Conn., Wednesday, April 8, 2009 at the end of a homecoming celebration for the UConn women's basketball team. Connecticut beat Louisville 76-54 in an NCAA college basketball game on Tuesday in St. Louis to win the title for the first time since 2004. (AP Photo/Bob Child)

- Of the players mentioned above, only Roe is really at home in the post. That's okay, though, because the Spartans have two highly rated centers coming in as recruits who bring different elements to the team. Derrick Nix (6-foot-9, 285 pounds from Pershing, Mich.) brings power and bulk to the post and Garrick Sherman (6'10" 225 from Kenton, Ohio) brings a lanky shot-blocking presence who can shoot from both the inside and out. The two, along with Roe, give Izzo a variety of post options. Seven-footer Tom Herzog also adds depth -- he'll be a junior in 2009-2010.

The talent is there, the pedigree is there, and now they have Final Four experience. It's entirely possible that 2010 will be the year of the Spartan, adding yet another entry to the already impressive Izzo resume.

Year of the Spartan Still to Come originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Saban Can't Help 'Bama Land Izzo

Matt Snyder — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Michigan State, Big Ten, SEC, Coaches, Alabama

For some godforesaken reason, some Alabama fans and media think they have a shot at landing Michigan State's Tom Izzo as the replacement for Mark Gottfried. Apparently, just because their football coach, Nick Saban, is a former Michigan State coach, he can just extend a phone call and land Izzo at the drop of a hat.

There are two problems here. First of all, Izzo has already built a situation superior to one he could build at Alabama. He's worshipped on campus, and his family is settled in the area. You aren't going to uproot your entire life unless bowled over by money. How much more money does Alabama have to spend on a basketball coach than Michigan State? Not near enough, if any at all.

Secondly, Saban himself has nothing to do with hiring basketball coaches. Just ask him.

"I'm not going to be responsible for hiring a basketball coach," Saban said. "There is nothing in my contract that says anything about that. I'm going to be as helpful as I can to whoever it is because we have good people here that are very capable of making a decision about who the good basketball coaches out there are, and who would be the best fit for our program in the future."

Obviously, this isn't to say he won't give Izzo a phone call and do a little recruiting for the betterment of the athletic department. He probably will do that.

A phone call from an old friend isn't going to pry Izzo away from East Lansing, though. He grew up in Michigan. He went to college in Michigan. He's not poorly compensated or disrespected in his current gig, and he's manning a program that is about to make the Sweet 16 for the eighth time in the past 12 years. There is no worldly reason to leave, especially not to play second fiddle to the Alabama football program

Tom Izzo is not leaving Michigan State. Nick Saban can't do anything about that. Just turn the page and start searching for a legitimately realistic coach, Alabama.

Saban Can't Help 'Bama Land Izzo originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 14:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michigan State in Class of Its Own

Matt Snyder — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Michigan State, Purdue, Big Ten

When it comes to the Big Ten, there are a few tiers of similar teams. Illinois and Purdue are similar. Iowa and Indiana are similarly bad. There's a big amoeba in the middle where every team is on the bubble. Then, you are left with Michigan State. They are in a class all by themselves.

Sunday we received another reminder, as they turned Purdue away despite a sub-par shooting performance.The pressure defense and the quick-paced offense were just too much for the Boilers.

No. 8 Michigan State 62, No. 19 Purdue 51: Box Score | RPI | Scores

Kalin Lucas -- who will be named Big Ten Player of the Year very soon -- paced the conference champs with 19 points. Goran Suton, on his senior day, recorded his fifth double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 boards.

As for Purdue, they shot even worse than the Spartans. You can't expect to win in the Breslin Center when you shoot less than 30 percent from the floor. Robbie Hummel couldn't hit the broad-side of a barn, while Chris Kramer, Lewis Jackson and several others did their part in the mason's convention.

The main story of this game, though, is just how much better Michigan State is than everyone else in the conference. Their main competition in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament would likely be Illinois or Purdue -- both of whom enter the conference tourney on two-game losing streaks -- but Michigan State is just a much better basketball team than both of them.

Should the Spartans not win the conference tourney, it will have been a huge upset. They should be plenty motivated, as they still have an outside shot at a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. I believe the Big Ten Tournament will be one of the most exciting conference tournaments in the nation, as long as you are only looking at the first two or three rounds. In the championship, I just can't see anyone hanging with the Spartans.

Michigan State in Class of Its Own originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sun, 08 Mar 2009 14:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tom Izzo to Shave Head for Big Ten Title

Chas Rich — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 12:06:00 EST

Filed under: Michigan State, Big Ten, Coaches

Michigan State has one of the most active student sections in its "Izzone." The students have to camp out to get tickets for the section, and regularly receive visits from coach Tom Izzo while they camp. That interaction with the students led Izzo to make an interesting promise to the students.

Specifically, he promised that if the Spartans won the Big Ten, Izzo would shave his head.

"I think I did say that," Izzo said. "I'll have to check with my people."

There were apparently enough witnesses including the media to confirm.

All it takes is winning against Indiana in Bloomington Tuesday to give the Spartans the Big Ten title outright. Perhaps Izzo really thought that Purdue was going to win the Big Ten this year.

According to Michigan State center Goran Suton, the Spartan players probably will not try to enforce the promise until the Big Ten tournament in a week.

Tom Izzo to Shave Head for Big Ten Title originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 12:06:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Seth Davis' 'When March Went Mad'

Will Brinson — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:45:00 EST

Filed under: Michigan State, Mid-Majors, March Madness, Media Watch

Even the casual basketball fan knows about the Magic Johnson-Larry Bird rivalry, and its beginnings in the 1979 NCAA National Championship Game. Seth Davis' book, "When March Went Mad: The Game That Transformed College Basketball," chronicles the beginning of that rivalry in '79, and the long-lasting effect that the game has had on the way we all watch college basketball. The book drops Tuesday, just in time for the 30-year anniversary of the game (you can purchase it here). Read FanHouse's review of the book after the jump.

Because of the media coverage -- and the general proliferation of technology -- in today's world, countless "bloggable" stories emerge from every major sporting event. When we look back at particular sporting events in a very generic historical sense, it's easy to miss the trees for the metaphorical forest that is the overall theme. This is especially true with the 1979 national championship game between Indiana State and Michigan State, which is looked at today as "Magic vs. Bird."

But Seth Davis, in "When March Went Mad," does an outstanding job of recapturing that season in a narrative-styled, insider's look at the perfect storm that formed to lift college basketball into the national spotlight.

The subject matter, on its face, is simple enough: Magic and Bird meet in Salt Lake City for a game that, despite its underwhelming nature (the game itself was actually pretty lopsided in favor of Michigan State), jump-started a longstanding rivalry between the two players. But as Davis' narrative weaves back and forth between each program's season, it manages to lift an incredible number of story lines to the forefront.

There is the stark comparison -- on any number of levels -- between Magic and Bird. There are the vast differences between Michigan State and Indiana State. Michigan State coach Jud Heathcote and Indiana State's Bill Hodges maintain many similarities but their coaching styles juxtapose fascinatingly in Davis' narrative.

And that's what this factual retelling of events actually becomes a narrative. You can tell, while reading the book, that Davis spent countless hours re-watching old game film, listening to radio broadcasts of games and interviewing the various subjects of the book.

There are innumerable quotes from everyone ranging from Bird himself, to both schools' team managers, on up to the bigwigs at NBC (as well as this little fledgling-at-the-time network named ESPN). What makes all the interviews so compelling, though, is that Davis took media, player and coach reactions throughout the season and combined them with his own interviews from modern day.

It's a blend that works especially well in this setting, because while it's one thing to hear Heathcote's immediate reactions to his team's mid-season troubles, it's especially fascinating to listen to an elderly legend removed from coaching as he ruminates on his possible failures at the time (and they called Bird a perfectionist).

Taken as a whole, the book is actually a history lesson. That might be considered a bit of a turnoff for someone under 40 years old, even if they're a basketball fan. But the truth of the matter is that Davis' method of transitioning back and forth across figurative state lines while also building a foundation for understanding the Bird-Magic rivalry is enough to intrigue any fan of college basketball, regardless of age.

Seth Davis' 'When March Went Mad' originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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.

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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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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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Penn State Upsets Michigan State

Matt Snyder — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 14:24:00 EST

Filed under: Michigan State, Penn State, Big Ten

For the first time in school history, Penn State has emerged from East Lansing, Mich., victorious. The game looked to be a formality when the Nittany Lions had a 12-point lead with seven minutes remaining. That's when pathetic free throw shooting doomed Penn State, and the Spartans found a way to crawl back into the game.

In the end, Michigan State just couldn't hit the needed clutch shot, and Penn State won the battle of attrition, 72-68. Talor Battle spear-headed the Nittany Lions attack, with 29 points and six three-pointers.

An interesting sequence opened the second half. After Jamelle Cornley scored inside to push the Penn State lead to five, he was called for a marginal -- at best -- technical foul by Ed Hightower. This was the second consecutive week Cornley has been slapped for a technical by Hightower, and both times it seemed to spark the big man. He finished with 16 points.

For Michigan State, there is certainly reason for concern. The Spartans recently lost to Northwestern in the Breslin Center. Not to say that Penn State and Northwestern are bad teams, because they certainly aren't, but the ninth-best team in the nation (MSU's current ranking) doesn't lose to both at home. It's just that simple. Now, the Spartans find themselves tied with Purdue in the loss column atop the Big Ten.

In fairness, Michigan State was missing Raymar Morgan, though he hasn't been a huge factor for a few weeks.

For Penn State, they are most certainly bound for the Big Dance should they continue on this path. They are now 6-3 in league play, with wins over the two first-place teams, and 17-5 overall. With the inside-outside scoring balance, and Battle's ability to score, they could very well be a scary matchup for an elite seed in the second round, come mid-March. They'll visit Michigan and host Wisconsin this coming week. They way those two teams are currently playing, in addition to how PSU is playing (4 straight wins), you have to like their chances of pushing the conference record to 8-3.

Who woulda thought that heading into the season?

Penn State Upsets Michigan State originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sun, 01 Feb 2009 14:24:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michigan State Incurs First Home Loss to Northwestern Since 1984

Chas Rich — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 21:36:00 EST

Filed under: Michigan State, Northwestern, Big Ten

It's not Clemson's losing streak in Chapel Hill, but it had been a while since Northwestern has won a game in East Lansing. This did not seem like the year it would happen. Michigan State had risen to number seven in both polls. The Spartans had not lost a game since getting pounded by North Carolina in the beginning of December. They had won eleven straight games, and had won 85 straight home games against unranked opponents.

Michigan State had already beaten Northwestern earlier in the month. Northwestern had lost five of their last seven and appeared to be well on their way to their usual spot at the bottom of the Big Ten. Naturally, the Wildcats won 70-63.
Michigan State was sloppy with the ball the entire game. Despite a noticeable size and speed advantage over the Wildcats, the Spartans turned the ball over 18 times. They struggled with a 1-3-1 zone that Northwestern threw at them, and failed to convert second-chance opportunities on rebounds.

Even with all of those struggles, Michigan State only trailed by five with three minutes left in the game. Northwestern struggled down the stretch making free throws -- twice missing the front-end of a one-and-one -- and only shooting 3-for-7 before making the final three in the final seconds. Michigan State, though, failed to convert. They could not make the shots and were unable to generate any pressure on Northwestern to force a turnover.

The second conference win doubles Northwestern's total in the Big Ten from last year. This is the biggest win in Coach Bill Carmody's nine years coaching in Evanston.

It was also vital for the team considering the way they had blown a big lead, late against Purdue at home a week earlier. Another near miss, and the best that would have been said about this Wildcat team would be that they were "competitive."

Michigan State Incurs First Home Loss to Northwestern Since 1984 originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 21:36:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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At Least Tom Izzo Remembered He Was Miked

Chas Rich — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 23:25:00 EST

Filed under: Michigan State, Big Ten, Video

CBS had a live microphone on Michigan State coach Tom Izzo for the Michigan State-Kansas game on Saturday. You know, to get the insights into what a top coach at a major college basketball program says on the sidelines. Generally, what it means is that a coach is not able to speak complete sentences, because he is acutely aware of the fact that he has a microphone that records or could be live at any time. So the fan gets to witness the bizarre ritual of emotional outbursts to the game existing in constant battle with the need for self-censorship.

CBS went live to the mike on Izzo to find out what the officials were telling him. Someone forgot to tell the officials about the mike (H/T to The World of Isaac).

The official was Steve Welmer, somewhat colorfully explaining that he had something pop in his leg. Love the sympathetic Michigan State assistant who suggested it meant sitting Welmer and his "posterior" in a chair at halfcourt.

No shock that Verne Lundquist tossed it to a commercial after that.

At Least Tom Izzo Remembered He Was Miked originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 23:25:00 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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Michigan State Gets The Big Non-Con Win

Chas Rich — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 17:31:00 EST

Filed under: Michigan State, Texas, Big 12, Big Ten

Thank goodness CBS finally gave up the national coverage of the disappointing (unless you are a Duke fan) Duke-Xavier game. It gave most of the country a chance to see the final ten minutes or so of Michigan State-Texas. Michigan State came away with a 67-63 win with Durrell Summers hitting the go-ahead 3 with 18.6 seconds left.

Two teams with coaches that love to put challenging games in the non-conference schedule. This was the Spartans' fourth game from major conference foes in addition to a couple games from MVC teams. Texas has scheduled even tougher with this being the fifth of seven major conference challenges, plus St. Joe's from the A-10. Texas, however, had wins over Villanova and UCLA. Michigan State was blown out by UNC (like everyone else to date) and Maryland.

Michigan State has struggled without a healthy Goran Suton in the middle. In his second game back, he went 7-8 for 18 points and was able to check Texas' big men. His presence also helped keep A.J. Abrams from attacking the basket as easily.

Abrams and the other Texas guards struggled with miserable jump shooting. A combined 10-27, and only 3-11 on threes. Forward Gary Johnson had a big game, but there was not enough help on offense.

Michigan State Gets The Big Non-Con Win originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 17:31:00 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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What Did We Learn From the 2008 ACC/Big Ten Challenge?

Shiloh Carder — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 02:00:00 EST

Filed under: Duke, Michigan State, Purdue, UNC, ACC, Big Ten, North Carolina

The 10th annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge has now ended with the ACC winning the series for the tenth straight year. Despite a few of the scores, there were some close matchups and the Big Ten had a pretty good showing. They've closed the gap a bit by only losing six games to five.

But what did we learn from the 2008 version of the Challenge?

ACC's Best Is Better: Well, we did learn that the ACC's best is a great deal better than the Big Ten's best. North Carolina went up to Michigan State (well, Ford Field in Detroit) and destroyed the Spartans by 35 points. That came a night after Duke went to Purdue and beat the Boilermakers by 16. These are the two best teams in their respective conferences and all have Final Four aspirations. Yet the ACC went into Big Ten country and flexed their muscle.

Add into the fact that Wake Forest predictably hammered Indiana and the ACC's top three teams came up roses.

Big Ten's Bottom Half Is Better: One of the reasons the ACC has dominated the Challenge is because their bottom teams are better that the cellar dwellers of the Big Ten. That wasn't true this year. Northwestern handled Florida State pretty well; Penn State went to Atlanta and beat Georgia Tech; Minnesota did in Virginia. I'm not sure if it is because the Big Ten is deeper this year or the ACC has some stinkers. I'm thinking the latter.

Middle Is a Mixed Bag: We didn't learn much from those teams stuck in the middle but it looks like the ACC is a bit better. Clemson went into Illinois and beat the Illini ... just as Maryland topped Michigan. Both showed that they could be teams to reckon with in ACC play and could have NCAA tournament dreams. The Big Ten did get a big win with Wisconsin's buzzer beater at Virginia Tech.

Miami Needs Jack McClinton: If there was one scary sign for any one team during the Challenge, it was the fact that the Miami Hurricanes cannot win without McClinton. McClinton scored 12 of the Canes 19 points when he was ejected for swiping his hand at an Ohio State player. They gave up their big lead and looked raggedy down the stretch. When stuff like this happens, opponents know they can get under McClinton's skin. He now has all eyes on what he does and may not get the benefit of the doubt if anything like that happens again.

Road Is Where the Heart Is: Usually home court advantage is key in the Challenge. Not this year. Michigan State, Purdue, Virginia Tech, Miami-FL, Illinois and Georgia Tech all lost at home. Coming into the season, the ACC had won 33 of 37 at home.

North Carolina Is That Good: Just because they look good on paper doesn't mean that they will bring home the hardware. Their showing in the Maui Invitational and that 35-point beatdown of Michigan State just showed everyone that they are committed and serious about winning the whole thing. Aside from a New Year's Eve game at Nevada, there isn't any one standing in Carolina's path before conference play starts in January.

Duke May Be That Good, Too: How Duke played on the road in a lively building goes a long way into believing the Blue Devils will be here for the long haul. Kyle Singler has emerged as their best player, Jon Scheyer showed his flexibility and their defense and rebounding have been outstanding. Who is looking forward to Duke-UNC this year?

What Did We Learn From the 2008 ACC/Big Ten Challenge? originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 02:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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