There is always so much going on in the Big Ten, so I thought I would create the thread for it. We always have dozens of MSU-UM threads, but this can be the place for the rest of it.

Let me start us off with yesterday's crazy events. I thought Iowa had a chance, but not a blowout win. I thought PSU could make it close after their games with MSU and UM, but not a win!

This makes the race so crazy right now. From a Spartan perspective, I'm celebrating today! One game out and the team we are chasing is the team we beat by 30!? Too cool.

I see Wisconsin falling apart. Ever since they lost in the big upset game and lost two of the players, they've been average at best. I think Indiana is crumbling too. I'll stick with my prediction that State wins the BT, but I wouldn't be surprised if a number of other teams pulled it out.

Go State!

I agree about Wisconsin. Alondo Tucker kicked our asses and ever since then has been in a slump. regardless this is anyones confrence. I'm starting to like Indy, cant go against Illi. MSU of course. UM got blown out but proved they can play with the Big boys. Hell if Northwestern can catch a 3 game winning streak they could get in the tourney! Wierd ass confrence man.

These teams are beating each other up really bad. There are going to be some teams that go 8-8 in the league, maybe even 7-9 that get into the Big Dance. Figure this out. MSU beats Iowa by 30, Iowa beats Michigan by 30, so MSU should beat Michigan by 60 right? Nope, Michigan beats MSU. [smilie=wtf.gif]

It's anybody's ball game. I don't see Iowa holding up. They are a completely different team at home. On the road, they are Penn St. Wait, they won @ Illinois! AAAAAH! [smilie=shocked.gif] Honestly, I think State has the best chance to win the B10. Maybe I'm eating some major cornbread, but I think Michigan has legitamite shot too. I think we can beat Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio State at Crisler. But [smilie=damn.gif] those road games. I think we'll be OK @Purdue, but @ MSU is going to be really tough along with going to the basketball version of the snakepit in Columbus. Again, Big Ten road wins are like Wizzle posts, very rare, and when they do happen, thank the good lord because it's something special. [smilie=wink.gif] [smilie=coolio.gif]

Moodini, you are officially on a one week ban from using emoticons! I felt like I was in a club with all the activity and strobe going on in that post. haha screw it [smilie=djparty.gif]

I think we'll be OK @Purdue, but @ MSU is going to be really tough along with going to the basketball version of the snakepit in Columbus.

You were singin' a different tune about that game at the Brez a couple of days ago. You said you were pretty confident, plus you'd have Lester. [smilie=juggle.gif]

I think that Purdue game might be a trap. If I remember correctly, doesn't UM only have like a day or two to prepare for Purdue with a bigger game preceding that one? This might be a little trouble. Remember I said it.

The media is obviously impressed with the Big Ten. If they weren't, Michigan would have dropped out of the rankings after a blowout loss, but as it is, they only dropped 1-2 spots depending on which poll you're looking at. That speaks very highly of the conference.

Did everybody see that Wisconsin lost to Purdue?! My Dad called me to tell me about it. I didn't even see this score. Is this true? Did Wisconsin really lose to the Boilermakers?! If it's true, I'm loving it. That asshole Bo Ryan can lose the rest and I'll be a happy man.

An analyst was on the radio yesterday and he said that he came acrossed an interesting Big Ten statistic. Apparantly, home BT teams are shooting 15 more free throws than their opponent. Those numbers are for the entire BT season thus far.

15 more freaking free throws?! What the hell?

I'm not bringing up the MSU/UM game. I'm talking about the ENTIRE BT. Okay, that is an awfully strange statistic and the fact that there is such a huge disparity pisses me off.

Remember when the BT was all about physical tough basketball? Now, they are turning these games into ticky tack puss ball. I"m afraid it might hurt some of our BT teams in the tourney. In the past, I think we've succeeded in the tourney because we are used to physical tough basketball which wins in March.

I hope the Big Ten takes a long look at their crews after this season.

Big Ten strength of schedule rankings as of today.

From hardest to easiest...

1. Michigan State. 11,10,9,8- 38
2. Iowa. 8,11,5,4- 28
3. Minnesota. 6,7,9,4- 26
3. Wisconsin. 11,5,7,3- 26
3. Illinois. 11,9,2,4- 26
6. Indiana. 8,10,2,4- 24
6. Northwestern. 6,10,7,1- 24
6. Penn State. 6,5,3,10- 24
9. Ohio State. 10,3,1,7- 21
10. Michigan. 9,8,1,2- 20
11. Purdue. 6,2,1,3- 12

no offense, but you guys turned this into a MSU-UM thread as well. About 5% of the thread is about other big ten teams playing each other. lol

I could care less BTW, just making an observation.

IMO, the Big Ten should get 5, maybe 6 teams in. Iowa, MSU, Illinois, Ohio State, and Wisconsin for sure. The last possible spot will come down to who finishes stronger, Indiana or Michigan. And I don't like Michigan's schedule at all.

Here are the standings as we speak. Who's in and who's out?

Ohio State 10-4,21-4
Illinois 9-5, 23-5
Iowa 9-5, 20-8
Wisconsin 8-5, 18-8
Michigan 8-7, 18-8
Michigan State 7-7, 19-9
Indiana 7-7, 15-10
Penn State 6-9, 14-12
Minnesota 5-8, 14-10
Northwestern 5-9, 13-13
Purdue 3-11, 9-16

I think OSU, Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin are all in. What about Michigan and Michigan State? I think they both should get in as about #8 or #9 seeds right now. After Michigan's win vs. Illinois, many say they are "in", but are still viewed as a bubble team. Most think MSU is in, but why? If Michigan is a bubble team, then why is MSU "in"? Michigan has a better Big Ten record (1 more win at the moment) a better overall record, and 3 wins vs. top 25 teams. MSU has 4 wins vs. the top 25, but one was vs. Arizona, who has fallen off the face of the Earth. So, I guess I have 2 questions. Who gets in from the Big Ten and why do most people say MSU is in, and Michigan is "on the bubble"?

*Bonus questions-Why is Michigan State still ranked #16? I don't care how much talent they have, they are flat out not getting it done.

Let me just respond to the bonus question. Unless polls have already been released today - and I don't think they generally are this early, usually late afternoon on Monday - State won't still be 16. That ranking is a week old and they're 0-2 since. So don't be troubled by that. They will probably fall to about #20 in the ESPN/USA Today, #21 in the AP. Look for Florida to drop as well. A program people love to hate, they've now lost 3 close ones in a row and they're reeling. I know that's not Big Ten, but everyone is the Big Ten can smile about bad things happening to Billy Donovan, can't they? Between A-Rob and Al Horford, there are sufficient reasons for people in this state to hate him.

As for why State is ranked higher and considered to be in when Michigan is still bubblicious, there are a couple of reasons. Reason 1 - State was on the cover of all sorts of magazines to start the season - SI, Sporting News, etc. - and the media hates to be wrong. So they're getting voted in a safe spot. (I'm going to get some wrath for that) Reason 2 - their non-conference schedule. They played 3 teams that were in the top 10 at the time in non-conference. That's big with the voters. They're 5-5 in games vs top 25 teams (based on rankings at the time) but 3 of the 5 wins were against top 10 teams. Michigan, on the other hand, is 3-6 against top 25 teams with only one win against a top 10. Those numbers are clearly in State's favor.
The number that's killing both teams is their recent record. Michigan has only won 2 of their last 7, while State has only won 1 of their last five. Double ouch, and the reason both will have uphill battles in the tourney. State will be a higher seed than Michigan, and they do deserve it, but neither will be seeded higher than their opponent for more than 1 round, if that, unless there are some upsets (always are which makes the tourney great).

Let me just respond to the bonus question. Unless polls have already been released today - and I don't think they generally are this early, usually late afternoon on Monday - State won't still be 16. That ranking is a week old and they're 0-2 since. So don't be troubled by that. They will probably fall to about #20 in the ESPN/USA Today, #21 in the AP. Look for Florida to drop as well. A program people love to hate, they've now lost 3 close ones in a row and they're reeling. I know that's not Big Ten, but everyone is the Big Ten can smile about bad things happening to Billy Donovan, can't they? Between A-Rob and Al Horford, there are sufficient reasons for people in this state to hate him.

As for why State is ranked higher and considered to be in when Michigan is still bubblicious, there are a couple of reasons. Reason 1 - State was on the cover of all sorts of magazines to start the season - SI, Sporting News, etc. - and the media hates to be wrong. So they're getting voted in a safe spot. (I'm going to get some wrath for that) Reason 2 - their non-conference schedule. They played 3 teams that were in the top 10 at the time in non-conference. That's big with the voters. They're 5-5 in games vs top 25 teams (based on rankings at the time) but 3 of the 5 wins were against top 10 teams. Michigan, on the other hand, is 3-6 against top 25 teams with only one win against a top 10. Those numbers are clearly in State's favor.
The number that's killing both teams is their recent record. Michigan has only won 2 of their last 7, while State has only won 1 of their last five. Double ouch, and the reason both will have uphill battles in the tourney. State will be a higher seed than Michigan, and they do deserve it, but neither will be seeded higher than their opponent for more than 1 round, if that, unless there are some upsets (always are which makes the tourney great).

Wow, now that's analysis. [smilie=applause.gi: I feel better now.

Analysis like that better prove that I'm capable of objectivity and research.
I would say that seperates me from people that throw out homer bullcrap. Not to say that I don't do that every now and then, but a least I do it all in moderation.

Jethro is right. Michigan State is not a bubble team for several reasons.

1) Non-conference schedule. No offense, but while Michigan was putting together an absolute joke of a non-conference schedule in attempt to make the tourney, Michigan State was playing everybody. Gonzaga, Arizona, Boston College, Georgia Tech, etc. Did Arizona fall off? Yes, but teams are much better when they are ranked high and have confidence. That was a big win at the time. For example, MSU-UM in football. MSU was a nonbowl team. But, when UM played them, they were flying high, ranked #9, and the talk of the BT (tons of confidence and playing great). Does their finish diminish the fact that it was a huge win for UM? Certainly not.

2) History. Whether it should be considered or not...it is. Michigan State is known for their success in the tourney. Therefore, the people that put the brackets together want them there. It is one of the benefits of success.

3) Common Sense. Numbers, records, and stats go a long way but basketball knowledge also plays a part. The people that put the bracket together have seen Michigan State. They saw them in the Gonzaga thriller, they saw them go to the Garden and beat Boston College. They know how good MSU either is, or can be. Therefore, they will be there.

Lastly, MSU won't be a bubble team because they are going to beat Wisconsin tomorrow and they are going to follow it up with their 4th Top 10 win against Illinois. This will make them 20-8. That's my prediction.

Lastly, MSU won't be a bubble team because they are going to beat Wisconsin tomorrow and they are going to follow it up with their 4th Top 10 win against Illinois. This will make them 20-8. That's my prediction.

Last time you made a prediction it was that your team would win out to get the Big Ten title. You're 0-2 since the last prediction. If they lose the next game Izzo might call you and ask you to stop predicting!

I'm holding out hope that OSU can hold on for the Big Ten title. Go Bucks, go Jamar Butler.

OSU is pretty sweet. I never thought they would be this good. They are gonna be good with Oden next year.

Last time you made a prediction it was that your team would win out to get the Big Ten title. You're 0-2 since the last prediction. If they lose the next game Izzo might call you and ask you to stop predicting!

Didn't I predict a blowout against your boys? [smilie=applause.gi: