Prescott;985023 wrote:I don't think Craft draws Rivers. I think Smith draws Rivers and Craft gets Curry. Lenzelle Smith is taller and longer than Craft and a better match-up for OSU. Tough decision for Matta because Rivers likes to penetrate the lane and Craft might be more suited to slowing him down.

.

To start the game, I agree with this. Over the course of the game, things could change. Smith doesn't have the stamina to stay in the game long periods of time. I am sure much of this depends on how the games goes. If Curry or Rivers gets hot, Craft could be moving around. But Matta does like that ball pressure. And that goes a LONG way in how the rest of the defense does.

Laley23;991438 wrote:Trevor Mbakwe is out for the year with a Torn ACL. Tough break for the kid and Gophers. Minny is in some major trouble now.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/7291427/trevor-mbakwe-minnesota-golden-gophers-season-knee-tear

Some big games in the B1G today.

Purdue just choked away a chance for a signature win @ Xavier. Led by 16 with about 10 minutes left, and then got Tu Holloway'd. He dropped three 3-pointers and 2 free throws in the last 90 seconds and X wins by 3.

Illinois is going to get a decent win over Gonzaga, who I still don't think is that good. Wisconsin down 8 to Marquette near halftime as well.

I was shocked Illinois wasn't in the Top 25 (preseason). To me this team is better than last year's team. And I'm not just saying that as a "homer." Sure, they lost McCamey, but he was vastly overrated if you ask me. Brandon Paul and DJ Richardson were the stellar guards last season (both back) and 7'1 Meyers Leonard has been phenomenal in the post thus far. 8-0 and ranked #22. They may be the 2nd best team in the B1G.

Big Ten Network is a joke. To not have live games on of your best fanbase is one thing because it will drum up the streaming for your website. But seriously...???? You lost video of the Purdue game tonight in the first half and you STILL dont have it back. About to miss over half this game, including the completion.

Laley23;1006228 wrote:Big Ten Network is a joke. To not have live games on of your best fanbase is one thing because it will drum up the streaming for your website. But seriously...???? You lost video of the Purdue game tonight in the first half and you STILL dont have it back. About to miss over half this game, including the completion.

I love what the BTN has done for the conference, but I hate how much of a money grab it is from the fans.

chicago510;1006299 wrote:I love what the BTN has done for the conference, but I hate how much of a money grab it is from the fans.

I agree I think in general it has been TREMENDOUS. But they make some really questionable decisions about scheduling and I dont like that they get rights to a lot of games before national stations (I BTN is more than regional, but still not ESPN and for sure not CBS).

Also, they have really bad technical problems at points.

I hate their streaming and refuse to pay for watching games that way. I'll listen on the radio, if I have to.

Why they don't do more games on overflow like football is a bit annoying, but I guess it must have to do with cost at this point. At some time in the future, I have to believe it will make them money to do this.

Not there yet.

Brandon Dawson is gonna be a damn good player before all is said and done for MSU

Hb31187;1020555 wrote:Brandon Dawson is gonna be a damn good player before all is said and done for MSU

You were saying? lol

wildcats20;1020576 wrote:You were saying? lol

Lol as he dunks over a 7 footer with authority

Dawson was sick in HS. I was bummed that Indiana didnt have room for him. He loved MSU, so not sure it wouldve mattered, but sucked they couldnt recruit him harder.

Also, Indiana with a 57 point win over Howard. Howard is bad, but 107 points is good. Ive been very impressed with Indiana on the offensive end. Lots of weapons on any given night. Continue to lead the nation in 3pt% at like 46% I think. Jordan Hulls is second in the nation at 55.6% and is honestly the best FT Shooter Ive ever seen. Granted, he doesnt take many, he never misses. I think he has made about 50 in a row.

Big Ten Power Rankings

1. Ohio State (10-1)

Key Wins: vs. Florida, vs. Duke
Bad Losses: None
Postseason: NCAA Tournament


2. Indiana (11-0)

Key Wins: vs. Kentucky, vs. Notre Dame
Bad Losses: None
Postseason: NCAA Tournament


3. Michigan State (10-2)

Key Wins: vs. Florida State, at Gonzaga
Bad Losses: None
Postseason: NCAA Tournament


4. Illinois (11-1)

Key Wins: at Maryland, vs. Gonzaga
Bad Losses: None
Postseason: NCAA Tournament


5. Wisconsin (10-2)

Key Wins: vs. BYU, vs. UNLV
Bad Losses: None
Postseason: NCAA Tournament


6. Michigan (9-2)

Key Wins: vs. Memphis, vs. Oakland
Bad Losses: at Virginia
Postseason: NCAA Tournament


7. Northwestern (10-1)

Key Wins: vs. LSU, vs. Seton Hall
Bad Losses: None
Postseason: NCAA Tournament Bubble


8. Minnesota (11-1)

Key Wins: vs. Virginia Tech
Bad Losses: vs. Dayton
Postseason: NCAA Tournament Bubble


9. Purdue (9-3)

Key Wins: vs. Temple
Bad Losses: vs. Butler
Postseason: NIT


10. Nebraska (7-3)

Key Wins: None
Bad Losses: vs. Oregon
Postseason: None


11. Penn State (7-5)

Key Wins: vs. South Florida
Bad Losses: vs. Louisiana Lafayette, at Duquesne
Postseason: None


12. Iowa (7-5)

Key Wins: None
Bad Losses: vs. Campbell
Postseason: None

Virginia is not a bad loss.

They are 11th in the RPI. So if that makes them a bad loss, Kansas(29th RPI and just lost to Davidson) is a bad loss for OSU.

I honestly see Illinois finishing 8th, 9th or 10th in the Big Ten. No better. No way they make the NCAA Tournament IMO.

wildcats20;1021287 wrote:Virginia is not a bad loss.

They are 11th in the RPI. So if that makes them a bad loss, Kansas(29th RPI and just lost to Davidson) is a bad loss for OSU.

I guess it's not an awful loss, but the RPI means nothing this early in the year. Michigan is the only good team Virginia has beaten and they lost to TCU.

I'd definitely have Wisconsin ahead of Illinois in terms of power rankings.

I don't really get your criteria for key wins or bad losses either. Not sure how Virginia is a bad loss, or how teams like Oakland, South Florida, Maryland, or LSU could be considered key wins.

wildcats20;1021287 wrote:Virginia is not a bad loss.

They are 11th in the RPI. So if that makes them a bad loss, Kansas(29th RPI and just lost to Davidson) is a bad loss for OSU.

On the road without Sullinger???

Wisconsin as usual is rated too low. They shouldn't finish any worse than tied for 3rd and could easily finish 2nd all alone.

Laley23;1020680 wrote:Dawson was sick in HS. I was bummed that Indiana didnt have room for him. He loved MSU, so not sure it wouldve mattered, but sucked they couldnt recruit him harder.

He is the kid who graduated from Valpo and transferred this year right? Think IU was better off without him since they would only get him for a year?

sportswizuhrd;1021345 wrote:He is the kid who graduated from Valpo and transferred this year right? Think IU was better off without him since they would only get him for a year?

No. Freshman, class of 2011. Was a McDonalds AA last spring.

Indiana was recruiting him, but they had already taken a scholarship from Austin Etherington and with 5 guys for 2012 already verbal commits they had to back off. They are one over as it is for 2012.

You are thinking of Brandon Wood.

Laley23;1021360 wrote:No. Freshman, class of 2011. Was a McDonalds AA last spring.

Indiana was recruiting him, but they had already taken a scholarship from Austin Etherington and with 5 guys for 2012 already verbal commits they had to back off. They are one over as it is for 2012.

You are thinking of Brandon Wood.

Ahh, wrong Brandon(or Branden). Thanks for clearing it up.

Double OT in Champaign. Pretty good game.

Msu and Indiana tonight, should be a damn good game