Big 10 Basketball
I know we're avoid discussing the hoops team right now, but its an exciting time to be a Big 10 basketball fan.
Five teams are within 1.5 games of each for first place. Four of those teams play tonight.
Illinois at Wisco, Wisco -9
Purude at MSU, MSU -2.5
I have a post with picks over that JCB.
February 9th, 2010 at 3:48 PM ^
That Wisco line look like a great bet. Illinois +9?? Seriously? The team that just beat MSU can't stay within 9 of Wisco who almost lost to Michigan at home...
Also after glancing at your pick for the Under in that game, doesn't it make sense that Illinois should be able to stay within 9 in a low scoring affair?
February 9th, 2010 at 4:26 PM ^
You're extrapolating Illinois' single best performance, at home, against a team without their Big 10 POY candidate to what they're going to do on the road at the hardest place to play in the Big 10. And you're using Wisconsin's worst performance at home this season. Wisconsin beat MSU by 20, and Lucas was playing. Illinois scooted by a Lucas-less MSU.
I say Wisconsin woodsheds them.
February 10th, 2010 at 2:22 PM ^
Guess I was right...
So much for data mining
:-D
February 9th, 2010 at 7:22 PM ^
Data mining makes my head hurt.
February 9th, 2010 at 3:46 PM ^
It sucks that we are in early February and Michigan is not in that equation.
February 9th, 2010 at 3:46 PM ^
Jamie whats the over/under on number of Devin Gardner will not redshirt threads before Sept?
February 9th, 2010 at 3:49 PM ^
At least 50. Thats like 2 a week until the opener.
Probably should be higher.
February 9th, 2010 at 4:08 PM ^
I think that the Big Ten could get two, and probably will get one team into the final four.
Wisconsin? Purdue? Michigan State?
February 9th, 2010 at 7:26 PM ^
I still think Purdue is the best team in the conference and has the best chance to go all the way. State, with or without Lucas, turns the ball over too much to make a run in my opinion. Maybe if they iron that out they could pull something off.
As far as Wisconsin goes, who knows? I'd love to see Wisconsin match up with a young, overconfident Kentucky team in a second or third round matchup though. Imagine the frustration they could cause with their defensive ability. They are made to beat teams like that, so if anything they could make some of us some cash on our brackets. I don't know if they are capable of a long run though. I guess they are if they won a third round matchup though lol.
February 9th, 2010 at 8:51 PM ^
Purdue is probably the most likely, I agree, and I do think Wisconsin would beat Kentucky badly. Wisconsin is extremely efficient. We saw that Saturday, and Duke and Michigan State saw it too. Wisconsin hung tough with MSU, Purdue, and Turner on the road and they are a very hard team to beat and hold down for 40 minutes. Plus they're getting Leuer back for the Tournament. Teams never see this style of play and I think they can beat pretty much anyone if their shots are falling.
February 10th, 2010 at 2:16 PM ^
I'm already thinking about my bracket and think 2 of those 3 B10 teams make Final Four along with Villanova and one other team that I cannot pin down right now.
February 10th, 2010 at 2:49 PM ^
I don't know. A lot depends on the draw, and Purdue now appears to be the only Big Ten team with a shot at a #1 seed. Also, neither Painter nor Ryan has really distinguished himself as a tourney coach. Izzo has, but his team's had a tough time matching up against equally-talented opponents this year. They also can't seem to take care of the ball. It would not shock me if the conference got shut out of the Final Four this year.