THIS WEEK'S BUBBLE BLOG

By John Williams

Michigan, now 0-7 versus top 25 teams, is still in the conversation for a potential bubble bid. It’s a team whose ship is sinking and barely keeping themselves afloat and the Wolverines latest loss to Wisconsin stings.

A little over an hour away sits the Spartans in East Lansing, who’ve look rejuvenated and reborn, but they’re 1-7 versus top 25 teams. They’ve played an excruciatingly difficult schedule and their RPI will ultimately catapult them to an NCAA tournament bid.

Next is Minnesota. A team that has underachieved for most of the year and plays below their actual physical ability has won 3 games versus top 25 teams, but without Al Nolen it’ll be hard for them to keep up, especially in the Big Ten tournament.

Here’s a list of the Big Ten teams destined for a tournament appearance:

Ohio State.

Purdue.

Wisconsin.

Illinois.

Michigan State.

Minnesota.

This would be a shame for Penn State because they’re currently 8-8 in the Big Ten and have better conferences records than all three of the above bubble teams. They’ve also been shooting much better as of late, but Andrew Jones (and God-forbid that Billy Oliver even touches the floor) will have his hands full versus Ohio State and Jared Sullinger. But come Selection Sunday, Penn State won’t be noticed.

Michigan is also one of the youngest teams in the country. There are no fourth year starters on the team and they don’t score nearly enough points as they have in the past. They’re 10th in the Big Ten in scoring. The game plan for Michigan is simple – get the ball to Darius Morris.

It’ll be an uphill battle for both Michigan and Penn State, but either is capable of making a run – notching some wins in the Big Ten tournament will help – and punching their ticket to the Big Dance.

Originally published on Friday, Feb. 25 at 12:59 p.m.

Big Ten schedule for Tuesday, Feb. 22

The following games are on the slate for today:

Illinois 70, Ohio State 89. Final.

Michigan State 53, Minnesota 48. Final.

Originally published Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 5:24 p.m.

Big Ten schedule for Sunday, Feb. 20

Two huge games on tap today:

(UPSET ALERT) #2 Ohio State Buckeyes lose to #11 Purdue Boilermakers, 76-63.

Penn State 66, #10 Wisconsin Badgers 76. Final.

The Ohio State/Purdue game can be seen on CBS and the Penn State/Wisconsin clash will be broadcasted on the Big Ten Network.

Big Ten schedule for Feb. 19

Here are the games on tap for Saturday, Feb. 19:

Michigan 75, Iowa 72. Final.

Northwestern 70, Indiana 64. Final.

Illinois 61, Michigan State 57. Final.

Originally published on Saturday, Feb. 19 at 3:46 p.m.

Bracketology predictions are wrong...for the Big Ten

By John Williams

After firing up my computer and taking some sips of my Monster energy drink, I did my usual routine of opening up web pages and analyzing, and maybe criticizing, yesterday’s action in college basketball.

My favorite topic as of late is all of the bubble watch talk.

So, you can imagine how surprised I was when I saw Michigan State and Michigan as the only two Big Ten teams in bubble talk discussion on CBS Sports website.

Yes, Michigan. The team that only has one win inside the top 50. A Wolverine team that has beaten up on “bottom feeders” for most of their season. I don’t mean to make disparaging remarks about a fellow Big Ten squad, but Michigan?

Minnesota is definitely in the bubble watch discussion. Maybe Penn State. Probably not Michigan.

Traditionally, I’ve always considered the bubble watch to be the sports pundits personal favorites list. The general concept is a sports pundit just picking teams almost at random that have a favorable chance of making a tournament run. There’s no science. I feel like RPI and SOS is widely disregarded as it is.

Michigan doesn’t have a choice at this point. They have to win at home against Wisconsin or they’re not tournament caliber and deserve a bid to the always dreaded NIT. Not to mention, the Wolverines are currently sitting in eighth place in the Big Ten. Plus, they’ve struggled with making up deficits on the road. Does that look like a team in the top 68 in the nation?

As for Penn State, they must take 3-out-of-4 to round out their schedule or make up some games in the Big Ten Tournament starting March 10 in Indianapolis. They currently sit at number 5 in the Big Ten with 7-7 record. They have Illinois, Wisconsin, Purdue and Ohio State ahead of them. But Michigan State is sitting anxiously behind the Nittany Lions at 6-7, so there’s no time to get comfortable.

So, other than the usual suspects (Ohio State, Purdue, Wisconsin, Illinois and maybe Minnesota), who is in? Is Penn State, who can look dynamic at times? How about the Spartans, who’ve caught second wind and look rejuvenated? Or is it the Wolverines, who desperately need a win versus quality opponents?

You, the Big Ten Hoops Talk reader, decide.

Originally published Friday, Feb. 18 at 8:18 a.m.

Big Ten schedule for Thursday, Feb. 17

There are two games scheduled in the Big Ten tonight:

Minnesota 63 Penn State 66. Final.

Iowa 70 Northwestern 73. Final.

Penn State/Minnesota game can be seen on ESPN. Iowa/Northwestern will air on the Big Ten Network.

Indiana, We're All For You

By John Williams

It seems like its been so long since the Indiana basketball team joggged out onto the floor at Assembly Hall to the thunderous applause of the Hoosier faithful. The ESPN cameras would be ready to roll and another top ten matchup in the Big Ten would tip off. That still happens of course, but Indiana isn’t that top ten team.

Today, it’s Purdue or Wisconsin or Illinois or Michigan State that takes to the hardwood in Bloomington with the high expectations and the talent to match the record. What happened to the institution that was Indiana basketball?

I remember it like it was yesterday. Tom Coverdale would be warming up in those classic pinstriped red and white pants and Jeff Newton would be a menace inside the paint against inferior opponents. I remember A.J. Moye’s crisp jump shot and spirited play. I yearn for those days.

And Assembly Hall, the Roman Coliseum of Indiana basketball, still mesmorizes the multitude of fans with all of its majesty. This is the arena that hosted the ABA Pacer teams of the 1970s. The same building that has hosted rock legends such as The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Grateful Dead, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and even Bob Dylan, has now faded into the background of NCAA division I basketball.

As an Indiana native, it hurts to see the state of affairs for Hoosier basketball. And for the Indiana faithful, I’m sure it’s agonizing. But, I regress.

The bright side is Tom Crean. What a guy. What a coach. He is unfairly criticized for not returning the program back to glory sooner. But people need to realize the team was left in shambles, crippled by the sanctions caused by Calvin Sampson's regime. Crean will be the person to resurrect Indiana basketball from whatever deep abyss they’re trapped in at this present time. With time and the recruiting base, I believe basketball will return the 67,000-square-foot arena to its rightful place - basketball royalty (well at least until its demolished and replaced with a “state-of-the-art” facility).

Crean is a born recruiter. It’s his innate ability to sell a student-athlete on the notion that they aren’t just joining a basketball program, but a family. He challenges his athletes on and off the court – a rarity these days. In public, he excels at talking to the press and is eloquent in demeanor. Crean is poised to bring greatness back to Bloomington.

Until then, fans will have to live with the mediocre basketball and the mistakes of young, inexperienced athletes.

I just want to rewind to the 2002 championship game, after Indiana beat perennial powerhouse Duke Blue Devils in the Sweet Sixteen and when Fife was still draining three pointers.

Take me back to the years when Indiana was synonymous with basketball greatness.

Bring back Indiana Basketball!

Originally published Thursday, Feb. 17 at 10:33 a.m.

Big Ten schedule for Wednesday, Feb. 16

Two games on the schedule tonight:

#10 Wisconsin Badgers 62 #11 Purdue Boilermakers 70. Final.

Michigan Wolverines 52 Illinois Illini 54. Final.

Both games will be broadcasted live on the Big Ten Network.

Stay tuned for game updates on twitter.com/bigtenhoopstalk

Big Ten reeks of mediocrity

By Conor O’Brien

cmo5041@gmail.com

When the season started the national consensus was the Big Ten would send at least seven capable teams to the NCAA tournament and be one of the best conferences in America.

It is looking more and more like a five or six bid conference, but only three have a prayer to survive the first round. Ohio State is still the best team in the nation and is destined for a trip to Houston in the final four. Purdue and Wisconsin are not extraordinarily talented, but are powered by dynamic point guards, highly skilled big men and brilliant coaching. They maximize their assets and have the intangibles to reach the second week of the dance.

But after the big three, things get a lot hazier. It is still unclear who is the fourth best team in the conference. Or the fifth, or the sixth or the seventh best. Illinois is currently in fourth position with a 6-6 conference record, but Bruce Weber’s squad has been plagued by wildly inconsistent play all season. Then Minnesota, Michigan State, Michigan and Penn State are deadlocked at 6-7.

Parity, maybe. Mediocrity, clearly. Each team has a number of glaring weaknesses that will prevent them from being serious players in late March. Two of these teams are tournament locks, Illinois and Minnesota, but the rest are searching for answers to questions they can’t solve.

The injury to senior guard Al Nolen has seemingly derailed Minnesota’s sweet 16 aspirations, but Illinois has inexplicably been out-coached, out-hustled, and outplayed throughout much of the conference schedule. They may rank second in talent, but their heart and basketball intelligence leaves a lot to be desired. Their matinee clash against Purdue exposed them for the team they really are. They were the bigger team, the team with more athletic ability. But they’re soft. JaJuan Johnson imposed his will down low, blocking shots, slamming home dunks, and grabbing rebounds in traffic. And Demetri McCamey reverted back to his old ways.

I suppose the biggest disappointment has been Michigan State, but there demise was largely dissected in “Spartans NCAA reign is over.” They quit in consecutive games against Iowa and Wisconsin, but it is becoming clearer that this team just isn’t that good. Kalin Lucas is a shell of his former self and ultra talented guard Durrell Summers has been an enigma in critical games. He had zero point against Ohio State last night. He couldn’t muster one basket in a game the Spartans had to have!

Penn State and Michigan have a real chance to take advantage of this alarmingly disappointing play, but the fact that they’re even in the discussion of finishing as high as fourth is a mockery to this conference. These teams, picked to finish in the bottom of the conference should not be in this position.

Big Ten slate for Tuesday, Feb. 15

Only one game on tap tonight:

Michigan State (14-10, 6-6) @ #2 Ohio State (24-1, 11-1)

The game can be seen at 9 p.m. on ESPN.

Comment: Expect a tight game. Ohio State will shoot the ball very well as they look to forget about their meltdown in the Kohl Center Saturday afternoon. But, the Spartans are in dire need of a signature win to take themselves off the bubble. ESPN's Bracketologist Joe Lunardi currently has Michigan State as one of the "last four in" in his latest bracket. Expect a dominant performance from Draymond Green who hopes to build on his spectacular play against Penn State, in which he recorded the third triple-double in Spartan history. This could be the game Michigan State's season gets back on track as they attempt to gather a full head of steam toward March, but they will have trouble defending the the three. The Buckeyes Jon Deibler will nail a number of big triples and Ohio State will edge out a victory, 70-68.

Why Wisconsin is better than Ohio State and why they're championship caliber

By John Williams

If you watch the Wisconsin Badgers, you notice that they do all of the small things right. They’re a fundamentally sound team.

Their free throw shooting is impeccable. Their defense swarms and pressures you to take outside shots. They don’t lose on their home hardwood. And they don’t turn over the ball; especially guard Jordan Taylor who went postal on Ohio State this past weekend putting 27 points in the Badgers win, 21 of which were scored in the second half.

Come Selection Sunday, all of this will earn Wisconsin a one or two seed in the tournament.

To see the way Jordan Taylor torched Ohio State guard Aaron Craft, who is a superb defender in his own right, was simply astonishing. In the last nine minutes of the game, Taylor was 6-for-6 from the field including 4-for-4 from behind-the-arch. Not to mention, Mike Bruesewitz – who is fittingly dubbed the Trying Tomato – and Jon Leuer played to their strengths and setup Taylor to get his looks.

What’s even more revealing is Ken Pomeroy’s “Adjusted Offense” calculations. In the past six seasons, Pomeroy’s statistics have proven that the top three teams in the category make the championship game and subsequently win the national championship.

This season, Wisconsin ranks first in “Adjusted Offense” with 122.2 points per 100 possessions. Does this make Wisconsin more of a championship caliber team than the Buckeyes? All I gotta say is that this stat is no accident.

And the help that Wisconsin gets off the bench from the likes of Bruesewitz is so refreshing.

Let’s get to a more intriguing issue.

Apparently, before-and-after the Badgers home victory, fans – specifically the college-aged populace – were allegedly spitting on Ohio State phenom Jared Sullinger. After the game, Sullinger tweeted that no player should be spat on and that he better not see any Ohio State fans do that.

In Ohio State’s newspaper, The Lantern, students and columnists alike addressed the alleged spitting-gate incident. One columnist proclaimed that “the land’s best fans are above that,” of course referring to the ever-loyal Ohio State enthusiasts.

The same columnist said “Wisconsin will get what’s coming,” easily dismissing the fact that the Buckeyes squandered a 15-point lead in the second half and appeared answer-less for nine minutes. Who would’ve known that some good old double teaming on Sullinger would completely unravel the Ohio State offense? Huh. I hope you're watching Big Ten opponents.

Back to my original point, the Badgers did the small things right. The way they worked off of screens to get open looks for Taylor was masterful. It’s the Badgers poise under pressure that sets them apart from the pack.

Originally posted on Monday, Feb. 14.

Big Ten schedule for Sunday, Feb. 13

Three games to be played today:

#14 Pudue Boilermakers 81 Illiois Illini 70. Final.

Northwestern Wildcats 41 Penn State Nittany Lions 65. Final.

Minnesota Golden Gophers 62 Iowa Hawkeyes 45. Final.

Jordan Taylor elevates game to next level

By Conor O’Brien

cmo5041@gmail.com

As expected (see “Wisconsin will hand OSU its first loss") undefeated and number one ranked Ohio State fell to the Badgers of Wisconsin Saturday afternoon in the Kohl Center.

The Badgers came out hot, hitting a bevy of threes and playing stout defense in the opening minutes. But their offense came to a screeching halt late in the first half and early on in the second, stymied by the suffocating defense of Ohio State. Wisconsin has made a reputation on hitting deflating high percentage shots after methodically running down the shot clock, but was often forced into off balance looks early on. Ohio State was able to extend a sizeable lead as the scolding hot shooting of junior stand-out William Bufford torched Wisconsin’s defense. Bufford finished with 21 points.

But that all changed with about 14 minutes left in the game after the Buckeyes silenced the crowd and took their largest lead of the game, 45-30. Taylor’s brilliant play helped the Badgers go on a 32-12 run and reclaim the lead 62-57 under four minutes to play.

With the crowd in a malaise and the Buckeyes seemingly on their way to a 25^th consecutive win; Taylor took over by hitting 3-pointers on three successive possessions. Each time Ohio State would answer with a bucket, Taylor was the one who wanted the ball in his hands with the shot clock winding down. Not afraid to take the big shot in the big moment, he is quickly becoming one of the best players in the conference and electric guards in the country. He finished the game with 27 points, (8-13, 5-8 three-pointers) and seven assists.

The Badgers were able to shorten the game once they reclaimed the lead, and the Buckeyes struggled to recover. Senior forward Jon Leur outfought Jared Sullinger as he ripped down a monster rebound with 2:08 to play. Ohio State had momentum and was looking to cut the lead, but Leur’s rebound helped Wisconsin kill more clock.

Ohio State did reduce the lead to 65-63 after Sullinger completed a three point play, but the unsung hero Mike Bruesewitz delivered the dagger, a three-point jump shot with one second left on the shot clock and 29 seconds remaining in the game. Bruesewitz proved to be monumental, shooting 4-5 from the field and finishing with 12 points.

Ryan improves to 6-0 all time against the Buckeyes in the Kohl Center and the Badgers remains unbeaten at home. Ohio State will be a force to be reckoned with in the tournament, but this was a momentous win for Wisconsin. They will be ranked inside the top 10 come Monday and have a real shot to claim as high as a two or a three seed if they can continue this success.

Big Ten schedule for Saturday, Feb. 12

Here are the games on tap in the Big Ten for Saturday, Feb. 12:

Ohio State 67 Wisconsin 71. Final.

Indiana 69 Michigan 73. Final.

Originally published on Saturday, Feb. 12.

Wisconsin will hand OSU its first loss

By Conor O’Brien

Ohio State has been dominant all year (see “Buckeyes continue to impose their will”) but the combination of the Badger’s swarming defense and systematically concise offense, and the raucous crowd that so often inhabits the Kohl Center will prove to be too difficult to overcome tomorrow afternoon.

There is no doubt in my mind the Buckeyes can and will win the national championship, but it is far too difficult to go through an entire season without one blemish on their record. Wisconsin beat the final undefeated team and eventual national champion, Duke Blue Devils, last year in Madison. They have a 13-0 home record this season and are poised to duplicate that performance against the Buckeyes. The Badgers are 148-11 at home since Bo Ryan began his tenure, which leads me to my next point.

Ryan is one of the best coaches in not only the conference, but the country. If you’re a young high school player looking to learn the fundamental aspects of the game, watch Wisconsin’s sharp cuts to the basket and the way in which their motion offense is run with precision and fluidity. They set hard screens and display one of the more efficient half court sets in the country.

And it’s all because of Ryan. He is a skilled tactician who eats, sleeps and breathes basketball. His players are an extension of his overwhelmingly disciplined philosophy. He’ll use his guile to develop a game plan to shut down Sullinger. Wisconsin may have to double when Sullinger is posting with his back to the basket, but the key will be their ability to close out on the other Buckeye stars, Jon Deibler, William Buford and David Lighty. If they can do that, the onus will be on freshman point guard Aaron Craft. His ability to knock down big shots will be tested once more. Penn State was mildly successful using this same strategy, but Craft repeatedly burned them from the three point line.

But make no mistake, Wisconsin is not Penn State. The Badgers have one of the best one-two punches in the conference with 6’10” senior superstar Jon Leur and junior point guard Jordan Taylor. Leur is among the best post-up players in the nation. He is fundamentally sound and difficult to defend down low. Taylor has incrementally improved each year. He was taken under the wing of graduated point guard Trevon Hughes his freshman year, and has recently blossomed into one of the more dynamic point guards in the conference. He possesses lightning quick speed and a knack for finding the open man. Also, look for forward Keaton Nankivil to have a big game tomorrow. He is a versatile player with a pure jump shot.

Wisconsin is notorious for playing suffocating defense at home. They have held their opponents under 70 points in 37 straight home games, but I believe shots will be made tomorrow. Both teams will entertain the nation in the most anticipated game of the weekend. Ohio State will play well, but the Badgers will eek out a victory with a 72-70 final.

This weekend's predictions

By: Conor O'Brien

UPSET SPECIAL
#13 Wisconsin defeats #1 Ohio State 72-70. Ohio State's reign as number one in the country will end Saturday in the Kohl Center. Bo Ryan is a skilled tactician who will develop a brilliant game plan to shut down Jared Sullinger. Seniors forwards Jon Leur and Keaton Nankivil and dynamic point guard Jordan Taylor will shoot the ball well enough to win. (stay tuned for a more extensive game preview later)

Michigan defeats Indiana 65-57. Michigan has been playing well of late. Sophomore guard Darius Morris is becoming one of the toughest players to defend in the conference and junior guards Stu Douglas and Zack Novak, who have been inconsistent all season, have really begun to find their shot from three point land. Freshman forward Jordan Morgan produced dominating performances down low in consecutive games against Penn State and Northwestern. Indiana has been playing well as of late, but Michigan's three point shooting will be the difference.

Illinois defeats #14 Purdue 64-62. Illinois is coming off a major road victory Thursday night at the Barn in Minneapolis. Demetri McCamey's newfound confidence and mental toughness will be enough to hold off E'Twaun Moore and JaJuan Jones to eek out another win in Champagne.

Penn State defeats Northwestern 59-56. The Nittany Lions will snap their three game losing streak as senior Jeff Brooks works his way back into the starting lineup.

Minnesota defeats Iowa 77-58. The Gophers have lost four in a row and will be looking to take their frustrations out on an overmatched Iowa squad.

Illinois notches much needed road victory

By Conor O’Brien

An Illini team picked to compete for a Big Ten title early in the season has fallen on tough times of late.

Sophomores DJ Richardson and Brandon Paul have struggled mightily from the field, and senior stand-out Demetri McCamey has lacked the leadership and toughness required to sustain success in this league.

But, Illinois’ fortune changed Thursday night in Minneapolis. Credit highly scrutinized coach Bruce Weber for making the gutsy decision to bench McCamey and senior forward Mike Tisdale to begin the game. Often, these decisions can backfire, and may create an irreparable rift between star player and coach. That didn’t happen Thursday. In fact, Weber’s strategy worked to perfection.

Weber lit a fire that burned all night for McCamey. Whether it was sacrificing his body to save a lose ball or being clunked in the head on his way up to finishing a layup, McCamey was ready to play against the Gophers. He was clearly pressing early in the game, forcing errant passes, but the passion and desire the senior guard exuded from the minute he stepped on the court was apparent.

Richardson scored 12 points and made two important three point shots that helped the Illini stretch their lead late in the game and senior forward Mike Davis continued to progress by delivering 17 points. Paul also poured in 12, going 8-8 from the free throw line as the Illini snapped a four game road losing streak and improved to 16-8, in 6-5 conference.

Minnesota (16-8, 5-7 conference) lost its fourth straight game for the first time since Coach Tubby Smith began his tenure in 2007.

The Gophers boast an extremely athletic team, led by dynamic forward Trevor Mbakwe and three point sharp shooter Blake Hoffarber. The human highlight reel Mbakwe slammed home four thunderous dunks, scored 17 points and snatched a career high 16 rebounds. Guard Chip Armelin nearly made a number of scintillating plays including a spectacular reverse layup, but was ultimately unable to finish at the rim. Center Ralph Sampson III had 17 points. But they lack the intangibles to pull out late game victories.

Both teams will dance in March, but an early exit for Minnesota is a virtual certainty if senior guard Al Nolen doesn’t return soon. Nolen has proven to be an indispensable player as the Gophers continue to be a shell of their former selves since his departure.

I’m not sure if Illinois will enjoy an extended stay in the tournament either. They shot an abysmal 41 percent from the field, but don’t denigrate this victory. It was an important win for the Illini to help eliminate the memory of the horrendous performance they put forward last Sunday in Northwestern.

The question will be can McCamey sustain this energy and intensity. If he can, Illinois has a chance to surprise a lot of people in the next few weeks. If not, they will return to being a slightly above average team destined for a first-round NCAA K.O.

Boilermakers must close out away games

By John Williams

As Purdue ventures into the meat-and-gravy of their conference schedule, it's interesting to see how different they play on the road.

Although unbeaten at Mackey Arena this season, the Boilermakers can't find answers for big-time road match-ups. Purdue's home games are played with a swagger. They're fast, they spread the floor and they play with a purpose

In their road games, they play timid and it shows.

At Wisconsin on Feb. 1, Purdue even had a one-point lead with about a minute-and-a-half to go. At Minnesota earlier in the Big Ten schedule, it was much of the same. Ohio State isn't a fair comparison, so I won't even go there. So what's the problem?

Purdue misses Robbie Hummel.

I mean, how much better could this team be if Hummel was on the court? I'd venture to say a legitimate elite-8 team. The way this team is structured now, I see them making an early tournament exit. It's a stretch, but if they were to get a five seed (which they won't), I can see the Boilers struggling versus a play-in-game opponent. Especially one in which they're unfamiliar.

JuJuan Johnson is an animal and just like Jared Sullinger, he's multi-faceted. His game has so many different dimensions and keeps teams guessing. There's no question that he is a player that can be plugged into a lineup and change the culture of a team. But, and this is key, he isn't bringing the ball up the court and commanding the offense like Hummel.

When a team is trailing in the final seconds, everyone will look to its floor general - the point guard - to take the reins and setup the offense. Talor Battle at Penn State is a perfect example (although I believe he's looked to a little too much). Purdue, with all the talent they have, is lacking a floor general.

Purdue's talented senior guard E'Twaun Moore will continue to play 30-plus minutes a game and put up tremendous numbers. They need him to do just that. Last season, Moore averaged 16.4 ppg (more than Hummel, who averaged 15.7 ppg) and he also averaged 31.5 minutes per game. In fact, Moore has led the Boilers in points per game for the last three seasons prior to this year. To Hummel's credit, he only played 27 games in the 2009-10 season and has been hampered by ongoing knee problems.

If Purdue is to make a strong tournament run, they will need even more production from Moore as well as Johnson.

As for the road schedule, it's Illinois, Indiana, Michigan State and Iowa. Two games look favorable, while the two others look like toss-ups.

What will be interesting to see is if Purdue has the wherewithal to close out a game on the road.

Originally published on Thursday, Feb. 10.

Big Ten schedule for Thursday, Feb. 10

Today's Big Ten match-ups:

Penn State 57 Michigan State 75. Final.

Illinois 71, Minnesota 62. Final.

The PSU/MSU game can be viewed on the Big Ten Network and the Illinois/Minnesota game can be watched on ESPN or ESPN 2.

Originally published Thursday, Feb. 10 at BigTenHoopsTalk. Updated at 11:50 p.m.

Buckeyes continue to impose their will

By: Conor O'Brien

Don’t listen to the critics. Ignore the naysayers. Those who claim there are no dominant teams in college basketball have not watched Ohio State.

The undefeated Buckeyes (24-0, 11-0 conference) boast an array of highly skilled players who can dictate play in every facet of the game.

We live in a society where too often we focus on what a kid can’t do at the next level or how a national championship caliber team would measure up against great teams of the past. Would this team beat the great UCLA teams of the 70’s? Of course not, could they hang with the Michigan Fab Five or play with the back-to-back national championship winning Florida Gators? Probably not, could they keep up with the prolific scoring of the ’05 North Carolina team, maybe. We’ll never know, but if you don’t think Ohio State is a dominant team this year and this season, then you’re missing the point.

Sure college basketball has taken a hit in recent years due to players foregoing multiple years of eligibility. There might be mediocrity outside of the top 25, maybe outside of the top 15, but Ohio State is number one in the country. They have had some close calls against Penn State, Northwestern and Iowa, but have also dismantled the likes of Florida, Florida State, Minnesota and Purdue.

Just because this team may not have a handful of NBA lottery picks does not mean they’re not dominant. I believe the 2010 Kentucky Wildcats had two top five picks and a total of five players selected in the first round of the draft. They were not dominant. Because part of being dominant is playing as a team and that is exactly what Ohio State does night in and night out.

And make no mistake about it; the cupboard isn’t bear in Columbus. Freshman Jared Sullinger is a National Player of the Year Candidate who is nearly impossible to defend down low. He is a crafty, fundamentally sound player who attacks the rim with tenacity and poise. Many teams simply lack the inside presence to contain his rugged style of play.

But, what distinguishes Ohio State from the rest is their supporting cast. A group of role players who would be stars at almost any other program. David Lighty can carve up a defense with a quick first step and an uncanny ability to finish at the basket. Jon Diebler is one of the best three point shooters in the land and has dramatically improved his ability to create his own shot. If teams key on these two senior standouts, then junior forward William Buford will frustrate defense with the smoothest mid-range jump shot in the country.

Prior to the season, many questioned Ohio State’s ability to operate their offense without a true point guard. But, freshman guard Aaron Craft has filled that void admirably. He’s not a player that will light a team up from the field, but he is scrappy point guard with a high basketball IQ. He locks down the best player on the opposing team and often plays suffocating defense. He frustrated All-Big Ten point guards Talor Battle and Demetri McCammey in successive games.

So, instead of being critical of what Ohio State can’t do, let’s sit back and marvel at the cohesiveness and unity this determined squad plays with. This team has not lost a single game. They may not be able to beat the ’73 Bruins, but I think they have a good shot at 2011 Longhorns or Jayhawks or any other final four contenders, and that is all that matters.

Big Ten schedule for Wednesday, Feb. 9

Two games on the slate for tonight:

Michigan 75, Northwestern 66. Final.

Wisconsin 62, Iowa 59. Final.

Both games are being broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.

No depth = certain tournament death for Penn State

By: John Williams

In yet another below-par performance against a mid-level Big Ten rival, the Nittany Lions season continues to spiral out of control.

Penn State (12-10, 5-6 conference) may not have only lost standout small forward Jeff Brooks to a shoulder injury, but they may have lost their season. This left Cameron Woodyard and Billy Oliver to fill his vacancy, thus stretching the Lions razor thin bench even further.

Fast forward to Feb. 6 at home versus Michigan and the Nittany Lions bench contributed a mere two points to the final tally. Talor Battle scored half the team’s points with 31.

Michigan 65, Penn State 62. Final.

With no balance and Battle left to pick-up-the-pieces, the future looked bleak.

It became just another heartbreaker. A game not too far from reach for a squad poised to be a legitimate tournament bubble team after their home win against Wisconsin. Almost routinely though, the game slipped through their hands.

Michigan (14-10, 4-7) is not an elite program by any standards. In the first half of the Super Sunday matchup, the Wolverines shot a dismal 11-of-26 from the field. Ironically enough, Penn State managed to hold a few double digit leads in both the first and second half.

Scoring has been an issue for the Lions, especially when it counts. Overall, in terms of points scored per game, Penn State is a tallying 64.7 (or number 280 in Division I). In field goal percentage they’re ranked 200. It goes on and on.

In Penn State’s loss to Ohio State on Jan. 15, the bench scored two. Versus Purdue only four days later, the bench didn’t notch one, single point. Nothing.

What I’m trying to get at is that no bench presence will ultimately be the Achilles Heel for Penn State. At this point, they’re an at-large bid – at best. There are no promises anymore.

They’ve got Northwestern and Minnesota at home – by no means “gimme” games. They’re at Michigan State and Wisconsin – it’s hard getting a win in Madison as it is. Then the Lions play host to the number one ranked Ohio State Buckeyes on Senior Night. How fitting.

There’s no fixing the bench problem. The best case scenario is that Brooks warms up before the Michigan State game and maybe gives it a go. And if not Michigan State, then very soon. The Lions need him if they're to make any kind of postseason run because clearly wild-eyed Billy Oliver just isn’t the guy.

Remember there’s no “I” in team, but clearly Talor Battle is that “I.” Help wanted.

Originally published on Wednesday, Feb. 9 at BigTenHoopsTalk.

Spartans NCAA reign is over

By: Conor O'Brien

A program rich in history and tradition, a program that has grown accustomed to dancing in the latter weeks of March and even the early stages of April is destined for the N.I.T.

Michigan State has reached the final four an astounding six of the last 12 seasons, led by the fiery passion of their coach Tom Izzo and their usual array of McDonalds All Americas, but this years team has seemingly quit. There is no other logical explanation. The team, which brought back most of the talent that catapulted the Spartans to their second consecutive final four appearance in 2010, is lacking the heart and desire needed to win games.

Sure, MSU is clearly not as talented as their preseason #2 ranking suggested, but their roster is loaded with supremely skilled players such as Durrell Summers and Draymond Green. Kalin Lucas’s 2010 acl injury has encumbered his abilities. He is clearly not the same player that won Big Ten Player of the Year in 2009 and led the Spartans to a national championship game appearance. But this team, even with the dismissals of guards Chris Allen and Korey Lucious, should be no less than an eight seed in the NCAA tournament.

This is not a foreign concept. We’ve seen talented teams quit in every sport and at every level. Look at the 2010 Dallas Cowboys or watch the Kentucky Wildcats loss to West Virginia in the 2010 Elite Eight. But the catalysts to these downfalls were detected much easier. Whether it was an incompetent coach that had lost his team or an immature group of freshmen that were eager to sign their first NBA contract, explanations existed.

But this Michigan State plays for one of the most prideful coaches in the nation. Last year, North Carolina had a surprisingly disappointing season under one of the nation’s best in Roy Williams, but that team didn’t have this type of talent.

For whatever reason, MSU’s season has spiraled downward to new lows as Izzo suffers through the most excruciating season of his career. Losing to Michigan in East Lansing was surprising, but being trounced by more than 20 points in Iowa City was shocking. Izzo called it the worst loss of his career.

Even then, their strength of schedule and record was and still is respectable enough to rationalize a tournament bid if they can produce a late-season resurgence. Conventional wisdom said this team would not quit on Izzo and perform admirably in a bounce-back game at one of the toughest places to play in the country, the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin. But that was wishful thinking for Spartan fans as they completely laid down and let a well-oiled Wisconsin squad torch them this past Sunday. This game exposed the Spartan’s lack of discipline and passion. Michigan State has more talented players, but both teams are polar opposites at this juncture in the season.

You would think this Michigan State roster plays for too prideful of a coach and too good of a program to continue to suffer what have become tantalizingly painful defeats at the hands of inferior talented teams. Penn State comes to town Thursday and another opportunity to kick-start a late season surge presents itself.

Will the traditionally bad, cellar-dweller of the Big Ten eliminate any hopes of the Spartans dancing? Probably, but we’ll see Thursday.

Penn State's season may be slipping away

By: Conor O'Brien

Penn State's basketball season and their hopes of reaching the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2001 may have went by the wayside when Jeff Brooks' right shoulder popped out of its socket.

What has been a tumultuous, roller-coaster season of ups and downs may be spiraling downward to an anti-climactic finish. The season has included a home loss to Maine, an embarrassing 39-point performance against Maryland and two defeats at the hands of Big Ten bottom-feeder Michigan.

This is a senior-laden team hungry for an NCAA berth, but their glaring weaknesses and lack of depth is destined to hold them back. The team has operated with virtually zero bench production throughout most of the season. Junior guard Cameron Woodyard was a pleasant surprise Sunday, scoring 10 points during the Nittany Lions matinee clash with Michigan, but that was not enough to hold off the Wolverines.

Before Woodyward's performance, the Nits had been operating with a 7-man rotation of starting guards Talor Battle and Tim Frazier, and senior forwards Brooks, David Jackson and Andrew Jones. Freshman guard Jermaine Marshall is a raw talent who has shown flashes of brilliance, but has also looked like a young player struggling to get his feet wet in a conference that has not been kind to freshmen players. The graduation of Andrew Ott and season-ending injury to Sasha Borovnjac has forced Coach Ed Dechellis to give third-year freshman Billy Oliver significant minutes. Oliver, a player that has looked lost throughout much of the season, struggles defensively against quicker players and inexplicably misses wide open shots.

Undeterred by these shortfalls, The Nittany lions have survived with their scarce group of capable players throughout most of the season due to the astounding talents of Battle and spectacular emergence of Brooks. The Nittany Lions have showed resiliency and fight, scoring major home victories over Michigan State, Illinois and Wisconsin. But the injury to Brooks may have bursted their NCAA bubble.

Despite their impressive home victories, this is a team that is in dire need of a signature road win. The team suffered gut-wrenching road losses when Ohio State's freshman sensation Jared Sullinger scored the game winning basket with 15 seconds remaining and Purdue's All-America candidate Ja'Juan Johnson delivered a buzzer-beating 18-foot jump.

Penn State hoped to secure that elusive road victory last Tuesday against Illinois, but a disastrous road trip that included a five hour bus ride from Evanston, Indiana to Champagne led to an embarrassing 17-point defeat.

Although the Nittany Lions trailed 29-15 early in the game, Penn State showed some fortitude, coming within five points of the Illini before Brooks left with the injury.

However, the second half of the game might prove to be a microcosm of the rest of their season as they were continuously abused inside by the finesse, jump shooting Illinois squad. Dechellis was forced to use Oliver and senior walk-on Steve Kirkpatrick as Illinois Senior forwards Mike Davis and Mike Tisdale dictated play inside the paint.

Interior defense was also a problem against a smaller Michigan team that plays a similar style.

Looking ahead, the Nittany Lions must go 5-2 to reach 10 big ten wins and have a realistic chance of securing an NCAA berth. The Nittany Lions have a murderous schedule down the stretch, playing road games at Michigan State, Wisconsin, Northwestern and Minnesota and home matchups against Northwestern, #1 Ohio State and Minnesota. But with this schedule comes opportunities, chances to secure major road wins and a potentially tournament clinching victory against Ohio State.

Although I and many others believe the Nits are down and out, we've thought that before and they have shown the heart and determination to fight. Either way, it will be fun to see how the brilliant career of Battle comes to a close.