OccaM

April 7th, 2015 at 12:07 AM ^

Never until B10 conference games are officiated like the rest of the conferences in the nation. (less physical)

Until then B10 teams will keep getting jobbed by foreign conference refs. 

 

But to answer your question: Under b/c Michigan will win one with this current batch of freshmen :)

snarling wolverine

April 7th, 2015 at 12:43 AM ^

College basketball officials don't work by conference.  Other conferences have had to deal with TV Teddy and the rest also.  In any event, the B1G has no problem getting teams into the Final Four, so tournament officiating as a whole doesn't seem to be an issue.  

That said, Michigan and Wisconsin did get a pretty crappy whistle in the '13 and '15 title games.  

 

Yostbound and Down

April 7th, 2015 at 12:05 AM ^

Under. The conference is probably the strongest it's been in a while and only the ACC is on par. SEC is dominated by UK, Big 12 by KU, Pac 12 by Arizona and the Big East isn't close to what it once was. The Big Ten has great balance. Keep sending a team (s) to the Final Four and one will work out.

Michigan4Life

April 7th, 2015 at 12:09 AM ^

that B1G is the strongest it has been when this year is the weakest it has been in 5 years. They're at best 4th best conference in the country. Don't let the NCAA tournament with 2 B1G in Final Four to validate your statement because it's a with one and done format that encourages randomness.

Last season is the strongest B1G conference that is head and shoulders above every other conference. There were about 7 teams who are in the top 25 with 2 other teams in the top 50.

stephenrjking

April 7th, 2015 at 12:13 AM ^

I read what he said to mean the how strong the B1G will be in the coming season, since we are looking to a hypothetical future title. FWIW.

And if that's the case, I think he's got a point. Next season the B1G is going to be a monster. Wisconsin comes back to the pack, so the proverbial head gets cut off, but teams like Maryland and of course Michigan are going to be massively better. Game on.

Yostbound and Down

April 7th, 2015 at 12:26 AM ^

Well as long as Izzo is there, how much worse is State really going to be? They will lose Trice and Dawson for sure, but there are already guys that slotted in for them. Unless they lose someone to the draft (Valentine?) which I don't see happening.

Michigan will be better and will be a tournament team. I think without a big leap from either Levert (if he stays), Walton or a Jaylen Brown type, we won't distance from the pack...but we'll push teams along. Agreed about Wisky but who knows maybe they can retain Dekker (think he'll be middle-first, maybe lottery now) and Hayes. Maryland will be solid again. Maybe IU or Illinois can break through. 

That there are 3-4 potential teams to win I think speaks to the strength of the conference along with how many good coaches there are. Pac 12, it's Arizona's to lose (I guess you could argue UCLA). SEC clearly Kentucky. The Big 12 is a little more open but Kansas rules it. 

ak47

April 7th, 2015 at 11:47 AM ^

If Jake Layman comes back, and he should, Maryland is probably a top 5 team next year.  MSU also has eron harris and Mcdonalds all american coming in plus a guy Beilein wanted, have to assume they will be top 20.  Who does Indiana lose? Conference will be better next year.

Yostbound and Down

April 7th, 2015 at 12:15 AM ^

The ACC is a given but what are the other two that were stronger this year? 

It was a down year for the Big Ten for sure, MSU either underachieved all year or was mediocre and turned it on for two weekends. Wisconsin was good the whole year. Maryland was fairly good. The middle of the pack didn't challenge Wisconsin as much as the pack has challenged the good teams in the past whether Michigan, IU, OSU or MSU in recent memory.

I think the down year was exaggerated on the national level. The ACC was definitely the best this year but the Big Ten has been right there with the ACC the last five years or so. Now that the Big East is a shadow of itself these are the two most competitive leagues and aside from the blue blood programs in the other leagues, more good players are going to wind up playing in the Big Ten.

Michigan4Life

April 7th, 2015 at 12:28 AM ^

1. Big 12 - There's Kansas as the top dog who is right up there with Wisconsin. But they have 6 teams who are considered to be top 25 quality teams.

2. ACC - You have Duke, UNC, ND, Louisville.  They're all better than the 2nd best team in B1G.

3. Big East - You have Nova who is just as good as Wisconsin. Butler, Georgetown, Xavier, and Providence are all quality teams who are just as good as Maryland and MSU.

4. B1G - Wisconsin is the top dog. Maryland is a tad bit overrated but still a quality team. MSU, OSU and Iowa are quality teams. There are big drop off after Iowa IMO.

5. SEC

6. Pac 12

Yostbound and Down

April 7th, 2015 at 12:42 AM ^

Interesting that you put Big 12 that high. I guess none of those teams really scare me besides Kansas, ISU and WVU (I actually thought WVU would give UK some trouble so take every think I say with about two cupfuls of Morton's.) I thought it was pretty telling that MSU was actually favored against Oklahoma in the Sweet 16. To me the ACC was far superior to any league this year (UVa having a banner year helped as well).

My argument against the Big East wasn't really as much this year as it is the removal of Louisville, Syracuse, Pitt etc that used to be the blue bloods of that conference. Nova was a great team this year but they still bowed out to NC State in a game that wasn't that surprising. I don't think they were as good as Wisconsin. Butler was the only other team of those ones that I think you plop in the Big Ten, they are a good bet to contend in the league.

Gobgoblue

April 7th, 2015 at 12:08 AM ^

just because 6 years is a lot.  But it will be hard to get past of the Kentucky and Kansas types.  MSU and M have good shots if they can retain and develop their talent.  I think Wisconsin is watching their prime pass them by.  Maryland will be a force.  

Michigan4Harbaugh

April 7th, 2015 at 12:09 AM ^

Michigan has the potential to next season with a LeVert return, the arrival of Brown, and improved BIG MAN play. Even without Brown, and LeVert returning, I really like our depth. How incredible would it be to watch One Shining Moment after seeing Michigan win a National Championship!

TheLastHarbaugh

April 7th, 2015 at 12:16 AM ^

Next year. Michigan. After we land Jaylen Brown. Says the optimist. 

Edit: This isn't just me talking. Another, Michigan related Jalen has brought this up in a podcast.

Black Socks

April 7th, 2015 at 12:18 AM ^

Not until they shoot more FT than the opponent in the Final Four.  Refs hate the Big 10.  Truth.

snarling wolverine

April 7th, 2015 at 12:20 AM ^

Over, because other than maybe OSU, the programs in this conference don't seem particularly sleazy and consequently have a hard time landing the one-and-dones that frequently put championship teams over the top.  We regularly make the title game but are usually the underdog.

 

 

1974

April 7th, 2015 at 7:29 AM ^

Maybe, maybe not ...

I can certainly understand why (for example) Shane Battier would want to pick Duke in the late '90s.

When a Chicago AAU specimen (no names) who's more of a "play school" type goes there, I start wondering.

I really *do* wonder why the Chicago HS and AAU types play ball with Bill Self and Coach K. I have no evidence that anything wrong is going on, but I still wonder.

Aside: Coach K's success is a little more painful because it has -- in the form of some key players -- come at the expense of Big Ten schools. (Other conferences can obviously say that to some degree, too.)

Roc Blue in the Lou

April 7th, 2015 at 12:23 AM ^

UNDER!!  Wiscy just proved the one and dones can be done before the ONE game that matters...Duke waited 5 years between NAT Champs and that seems like more than enough time for my WOLVERINES to get er done!!!!!!!   In fact, here is a direct quote from the future post-script of that Championship win in the near future:  "That's right Baby (in the voice of you know who), the Wolverines, and Mr. John Beilein, have shown the world that you can play the game right, take care of your kids, and STILL bring home the Trophy!!!"

 

Relax...in the future, they are still called the Wolverines...

CR7

April 7th, 2015 at 12:35 AM ^

Well it would help if the Big Ten actually got more than 2 teams past the first weekend. If you get 7 teams in the tourney but only 2 teams win multiple games doesn't mean your conference is strong. Having a team get a favorable run to the Final Four only to lose doesn't mean your conference is strong. I think the Big Ten is overrated every year. The year Indiana was easily the best team in the Big Ten and got dicked by a double digit loss Syracuse team in the Sweet 16 cemented that notion for me.

snarling wolverine

April 7th, 2015 at 12:47 AM ^

The year Indiana was easily the best team in the Big Ten and got dicked by a double digit loss Syracuse team in the Sweet 16 cemented that notion for me.

You mean two years ago, when we were a missed layup away from tying that IU team for the league title, and then went on to beat that Syracuse team en route to the title game? Not sure how IU was "easily the best."

Old Lax Wolve

April 7th, 2015 at 7:01 PM ^

And the offensive player initiated the contact.



Fouls in basketball are for shit. Everything is a foul and at the same time nothing is.



Refs call what they expect to see. Offensive players launch themselves wildly into the nearest defender. Face slaps are not called flagrant two fouls, or even just a plain old foul do that matter.



Too infuriating to even watch anymore. Basketball has been dead to me for years.