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.