I'm not quite ready to put them ahead of OSU. Let's see how they do in a few tough league games.

Midstate01;1357047 wrote:Wasn't minny pretty good a few years ago and had everyone talking... Then they didn't make the tourney?

That'd be last year. To be fair though, this year's team is much more talented with Dre Hollins older and Mbakwe healthy. They've had a lot of injury troubles in recent years.

WebFire;1357057 wrote:I'm not quite ready to put them ahead of OSU. Let's see how they do in a few tough league games.

I would agree, I think they're right around OSU's level as of now. They've met their challenges (except Duke early season) thus far, including MSU on Monday though. Their rebounding is exemplary. Should be interesting to see how they compete on the road against Illinois and Indiana next week.

gorocks99;1357084 wrote:That'd be last year. To be fair though, this year's team is much more talented with Dre Hollins older and Mbakwe healthy. They've had a lot of injury troubles in recent years.



I would agree, I think they're right around OSU's level as of now. They've met their challenges (except Duke early season) thus far, including MSU on Monday though. Their rebounding is exemplary. Should be interesting to see how they compete on the road against Illinois and Indiana next week.

I forgot about mbakwe getting injured.

Midstate01;1357086 wrote:I forgot about mbakwe getting injured.

Made it to #14 in the country a few years back too when they lost their starting PG Al Nolen, and Devoe Joseph transferred, and then declined pretty fast from there.

Bold prediction, road teams won't win a game this season. Seriously though, it seems so far like this conference is impossible to win on the road unless it's UM @ N'Western

Classyposter58;1358436 wrote:Bold prediction, road teams won't win a game this season. Seriously though, it seems so far like this conference is impossible to win on the road unless it's UM @ N'Western

I guarantee that wont be close to the case. But I get your point.

Michigan got off to a slow (and cold) start, but McGary said get that shit out of here.

Michigan really picking it up at the end of the half.

Michigan is making a damn highlight reel this game.

Michigan wins 95-67. It was pretty much an open gym the last 25 minutes.

Heading into the second week, my rankings:

1. Michigan - the class of the conference so far, IMO, and looking every bit one of the top teams in the country.
2. Indiana - Close behind Michigan, looking forward to seeing the Hoosiers travel in the B1G.
3. Minnesota - Two games, two double-digit wins. How good they can be will be set in the next week, with trips to Illinois and Indiana.
4. Illinois - Inconsistent, to say the least. If the 3's aren't falling, they don't look great. But when they are, look out. Big test at home against Minnesota upcoming.
5. Ohio State - Talented, but what happened in Champaign? Anxious to see how they bounce back - particularly with Michigan and MSU coming up.
6. Michigan State - Look like they're starting to round into form. Should be 4-1 heading into their game against OSU on 1/19.
7. Wisconsin - Don't look now, but they've won 5 straight. Big tests on their plate vs Illinois and @ Indiana in their next 2.
8. Iowa - Kept it close against Indiana, got run out of the gym against Michigan. Promising season is on the brink after a tough start.
9. Purdue - Couldn't compete in East Lansing, but a nice win against Illini in the opener.
10. Nebraska - Competed at home against Wisconsin, but just run over in Columbus earlier in the week. Might be able to pull an upset at home during conference season.
11. Northwestern - Too many injuries and issues. Two blowouts in two league games, albeit against good foes.
12. Penn State - Abandon all hope, ye who enter here.

Conference games of the week:

1/8: #15 Ohio State at Purdue: Buckeyes coming off a big loss to the Illinois, Purdue upset Illinois at Mackey last week. Another upset in the making? I wouldn't bet on it, but it's not outside the realm of possibility.

1/9: #8 Minnesota at #12 Illinois: Illini Jeykll and Hyde so far, but looking pretty good at home. Minnesota gets their first road game of the conference season; will Groce's team be able to hit their shots? Illinois should be the favorites here but a road win catapults Minnesota into the conference title discussion.

1/10: #22 Michigan State at Iowa: Hawkeyes will be trying to salvage their season after a rough start while MSU continues to gel.

1/12: #8 Minnesota at #5 Indiana: Second game of the roadtrip from hell for the Gophers who travel to Assembly Hall for the first time since winning there last season.

#12 Illinois at Wisconsin: Illini are the better team, but the Kohl Center has been a tricky place over the years.

1/13: #2 Michigan at #15 Ohio State: Huge game in Columbus. Michigan looks the better team now - but on the road, in conference, who knows. Should be a great end cap to the week.

Nebraska gave Michigan a good game tonight. Nebraska played well, Michigan did not. But Michigan hangs on and wins by 15. One thing concerning me is free throw shooting.

It would appear that Nebraska's game plan was to take the air out of the ball just like Northwestern had success doing against Michigan in the first half of the Wildcats' contest against the Wolverines earlier in the week, and that strategy of trying to play keep away ended in the exact same way tonight. A double-digit loss. That four corner approach might work for the first 15 minutes, but Michigan's superior athletes are eventually going to force their will upon you, and, by that point, your stall tactics will have scored you almost no points and you are going to get burned badly in the end.

Illinois shooting 26% and only down 4 at half to Minny.

Minnesota is incredibly good, Tubby must know what he's doing lol

That's a good/great win for Minnesota, particularly on the road. Starting to solidify themselves as the team closest to Indiana and Michigan at the top of the conference.

Ive stated my thoughts on Illinois and how they are a fraud contender in the B1G, but that was still a big statement by Minny.

And Rocks, Minny has been the closest to those two for awhile now. They are for real. Athletes and shooters all over the court.

Laley23;1362384 wrote:And Rocks, Minny has been the closest to those two for awhile now. They are for real. Athletes and shooters all over the court.

Good thing is, their next two are against ... you guessed it ... Indiana and Michigan. Should be measuring sticks for the Gophers on if they can compete for a *EEEK* national championship

gorocks99;1362385 wrote:Good thing is, their next two are against ... you guessed it ... Indiana and Michigan. Should be measuring sticks for the Gophers on if they can compete for a *EEEK* national championship

If they can win in Bloomington (heck, if anyone wins in Bloomington) I will consider them legit contenders. I cant wait for Saturdays game. Pumped I dont work till 4:30, so I wont have to DVR it.

Minny and UofM have a pretty frontloaded schedule, IU has a backloaded schedule. Important for the Hoosiers to pile up the Ws early as the end stretch of road/tough games will surely provide some Ls

Iowa all over MSU in the first half, up 26-16 with 6:47 to go.

Offensive explosion out in Iowa tonight. Gla to have gone with the under in this game. 32-28 with 16:41 left which means there have been a grand total of 16 pts in the last 10 mins

Iowa blows a chance to make some noise in the B1G this year. Pretty dissapointed they couldnt get that win. I had relativley high hopes for them this, but 2 home loses already isnt good (though they were to IU and MSU).

BTN will be doing a live one-hour pregame from Assembly Hall tomorrow starting at 11am ET, and the game will have Gus Johnson and Jim Jackson commentating. CAN'T WAIT.

gorocks99;1363664 wrote:BTN will be doing a live one-hour pregame from Assembly Hall tomorrow starting at 11am ET, and the game will have Gus Johnson and Jim Jackson commentating. CAN'T WAIT.

I like Jackson as a commentator. I think he does a good job as well as not being biased, even doing Michigan games.

IU - Minny about to tip-off. Pumped. Huge game in Bloomington today. See you all at halftime, maybe.