Big Ten Basketball

[redandwhite]

I was never a fan of this league this season, and one of the reasons I'm doing pretty well in my bracket is for this very reason.

 

With six teams in to start and none making it past the first weekend, was the Big Ten the most overrated conference in basketball this season?

[whitesoxfan101]

I was never a fan of this league this season, and one of the reasons I'm doing pretty well in my bracket is for this very reason.

 

With six teams in to start and none making it past the first weekend, was the Big Ten the most overrated conference in basketball this season?

 

Without a doubt, and I'm normally the ultimate Big 10 apologist. I've said for a while now that no Big 10 teams will survive the sweet 16 (even though I picked Indiana to make the final 8 because of their bracket), although I must say I'm surprised that none even made the sweet 16. I didn't pick the Big 10 to do very well either so my bracket is ok in that regard too, although Iowa and Indiana burned me (had Iowa in the final 16, and Indiana in the final 8).

[greasywheels121]

They definitely disappointed this year.

 

However, it's got to be said, to put this all in perspective. All the "experts" kept asking what's wrong with the Big Ten last year, and complaining how it was down. And that resulted in 2 Final Four teams.

 

I guess the moral of the story is to not believe computers or "experts".

[Jordan4life_2007]

I was never a fan of this league this season, and one of the reasons I'm doing pretty well in my bracket is for this very reason.

 

With six teams in to start and none making it past the first weekend, was the Big Ten the most overrated conference in basketball this season?

 

It's hard to argue otherwise right now. Very disspointing showing by what I "thought" was the second best conference in the country.

[chisoxfan79]

Its an odd year when the Missouri Valley has more teams in the sweet 16 than the big ten and sec combined.

[Spiff]

Its an odd year when the Missouri Valley has more teams in the sweet 16 than the big ten and sec combined.

 

SEC has 2 (FLA & LSU)

[chisoxfan79]

SEC has 2 (FLA & LSU)

Sorry I forgot about LSU

[SnB]

Its an odd year when the Missouri Valley has more teams in the sweet 16 than the big ten and sec combined.

it's just going to show that parity in college basketball is growing every year.

 

So many people said throughout the year that the big 10 was the best overall conference, which I think was correct. But it lacked an outstanding team, which as we see now, was definitely true.

 

MSU had the potential to be that team, but never developed fully.

IU's injuries and internal problems hurt them.

Illinois never fully got their act together, were missing a few pieces.

Iowa played so gutsy at times, but didn't have all the talent.

 

 

So I guess what you mean by "overrated", because many thought that the big 10 would struggle going far in this tourney.

[Felix]

It's hard to argue otherwise right now.

Thats basically how I feel. It would be a very hard argument to win

[ZoomSlowik]

It depends on how you're defining "best league." Clearly they didn't have a group of multiple teams that looked like they could make a run deep in the tournament. Pretty much everyone was on here posting that there weren't any great teams in the league. We knew that it might be a stretch to put any teams in the Elite 8 a long time ago.

 

However, the Big Ten was one of the deeper leagues, and I think they had numerous fairly good teams. Even teams like Minnesota Penn State were decent, and they were at the bottom of the league.

[Jimbo's Drinker]

They were too good at home, they could never beat each other on the road.

[WilliamTell]

Uhhhh we suck..............I also had no teams going past the Sweet 16. This conference was a very good conference this year, but in my opinion there was no great team in this conference. It was a little discouraging to see no teams make it past the first weekend, but there was just no stand out team in the Big Ten this year.

[ZoomSlowik]

Uhhhh we suck..............I also had no teams going past the Sweet 16. This conference was a very good conference this year, but in my opinion there was no great team in this conference. It was a little discouraging to see no teams make it past the first weekend, but there was just no stand out team in the Big Ten this year.

 

That's the difference between how you judge the best conference though. Last year, Illinois, MSU, and Wisconsin dominated the league and all of them made a pretty good run in the tournament. This year, we had more solid but not spectacular teams but no great ones.

 

The Big East definitely looks like it was a better conference, but that doesn't mean that The Big Ten totally sucked. I still think it was a much better conference than the Big 12 or Pac 10, and the SEC doesn't really look that much better right now.

Edited March 20, 2006 by ZoomSlowik

[SleepyWhiteSox]

So many people said throughout the year that the big 10 was the best overall conference, which I think was correct.

 

I think most were saying that about the Big East...

[Jordan4life_2007]

Pat Forded on the not so BIG TEN.

 

 

 

For about a month, this was a hot debate in the heartland: Is the Big Ten full of really good teams that knocked each other off repeatedly or rampant mediocrity?

Now we know the answer.

 

The immensely disappointing Big Ten is out of the NCAA Tournament after one weekend. That hasn't happened in a decade. For this year, at least, the Missouri Valley Conference is the boss of the Midwest.

 

Ohio State (No. 2 seed), Iowa (No. 3), Illinois (No. 4) and Michigan State (No. 6) all lost to lower seeds. Wisconsin (No. 9) was buried in round one. At least Indiana (No. 6) gave Gonzaga a tussle before succumbing in the second round.

 

Of the six, Michigan State is the biggest disappointment. The Spartans began the year in every top five and were considered a solid national championship alternative to the two popular choices, Connecticut and Duke. Instead, this turned out to be the softest Tom Izzo team in years -- not enough defense, not enough mental toughness.

 

Ohio State had a better regular season than expected, but sketchy shooting hampered the Buckeyes in the postseason. Tired legs might have been to blame.

 

An experienced Iowa team rode tough defense to the Big Ten tourney title, but flamed out in a shocking upset against Northwestern State, blowing a big lead in the second half. Steve Alford still has just one NCAA Tournament win as coach of the Hawkeyes.

 

Illinois was missing too much without Deron Williams, Luther Head and Roger Powell to make another serious run. Wisconsin badly lacked talent. Indiana's season was scuttled when D.J. White re-broke his foot.

 

Bottom line: When hard-working but fairly pedestrian Terence Dials of Ohio State is the Big Ten player of the year, the league lacks star power. Plenty of good players, no great ones. Nobody who could put a team on his back and rise above the round of 32.

 

And for a league of the Big Ten's stature, that's pretty sad

 

Harsh, but true.

[Jimbo's Drinker]

Pat Forded on the not so BIG TEN.

Harsh,  but true.

 

 

The big 10 will have a tough year next year...The big 12 is on the up. KU, OU, OSU,Texas, Texas A&M and Baylor, yes Baylor will be pretty good.

[Jordan4life_2007]

The big 10 will have a tough year next year...The big 12 is on the up. KU, OU, OSU,Texas, Texas A&M and Baylor, yes Baylor will be pretty good.

 

OSU should be one of the top 5-10 teams in the country. You're right about the rest of the conference.

[Jimbo's Drinker]

OSU should be one of the top 5-10 teams in the country.  You're right about the rest of the conference.

 

Ohio State will be awesome. The Big 10 was very senior heavy this year, but that is the beauty of college bball, one never knows.

[ZoomSlowik]

The Big Ten should definitely be down a bit next year. OSU will have a ton of talent, and Wisconsin should be decent with everyone coming back (well, besides Nixon). Also, in a weaker year than normal, I think Michigan could do fairly well. They'll still have a lot of talent, but of course I said that this year too, when injuries and poor defense came back to bite them. The rest of the teams have a ton of question marks.

 

As for the Big 12, why do people think that OU is going to be good next year? They had a mediocre team this year, and they lose their 3 best players without a whole lot of replacements on their roster. They've got some good recruits, but it's not stellar, and only James looks like an instant impact type.

Edited March 21, 2006 by ZoomSlowik

[Jimbo's Drinker]

The Big Ten should definitely be down a bit next year. OSU will have a ton of talent, and Wisconsin should be decent with everyone coming back (well, besides Nixon). Also, in a weaker year than normal, I think Michigan could do fairly well. They'll still have a lot of talent, but of course I said that this year too, when injuries and poor defense came back to bite them. The rest of the teams have a ton of question marks.

 

As for the Big 12, why do people think that OU is going to be good next year? They had a mediocre team this year, and they lose their 3 best players without a whole lot of replacements on their roster. They've got some good recruits, but it's not stellar, and only James looks like an instant impact type.

 

OU has an awesome recruiting class next year. They also have reynolds and keith clark.

[greasywheels121]

The Big Ten should definitely be down a bit next year. OSU will have a ton of talent, and Wisconsin should be decent with everyone coming back (well, besides Nixon). Also, in a weaker year than normal, I think Michigan could do fairly well. They'll still have a lot of talent, but of course I said that this year too, when injuries and poor defense came back to bite them. The rest of the teams have a ton of question marks.

 

You may laugh, but Penn State has the chance to fair well next year also.

 

And if Vaden and DJ stay, (I'm pretty confident at the least DJ is, Vaden's still undecided), IU has a great chance to compete next year. We could have a starting lineup of Calloway, Wilmont/Ratliff, Vaden, Allen, and DJ.

[ZoomSlowik]

You may laugh, but Penn State has the chance to fair well next year also. 

 

And if Vaden and DJ stay, (I'm pretty confident at the least DJ is, Vaden's still undecided), IU has a great chance to compete next year.  We could have a starting lineup of Calloway, Wilmont/Ratliff, Vaden, Allen, and DJ.

 

I considered those two teams, but I still think they have some question marks.

 

For Indiana, as you said, Vaden and White have to stay. Secondly, Wilmont and Calloway have to be a lot more consistent next year, as their guard play was often less than inspiring. They also don't get a lot of help in recruiting, although some guys on their roster might develop.

 

As for Penn State, they're decent, but I don't think they'll be near the top of the Big Ten. Outside of Claxton and Cornley, their roster is pretty mediocre. They're a solid 6'8"-plus post presence away from really competing.

[ZoomSlowik]

OU has an awesome recruiting class next year. They also have reynolds and keith clark.

 

It's not a good enough class to build a team around as freshmen, which is pretty much what they'll have to do. Unless Mayfield, another recruit, plays well right away, they're going to have virtually no post presence. Longar Longar and Taylor Griffin aren't going to cut it inside, and their guard play just isn't good enough to compensate for that deficiency. Is this lineup really going to compete for anything?

 

PG Scottie Reynolds

SG Michael Neal

SF Damion James

PF Keith Clark (a bit undersized)

C Longar Longar?

Edited March 21, 2006 by ZoomSlowik

[Soxbadger]

Wisconsin should be fine next year.

 

They get back 2 players lost to Academic Ineligibility gain some good recruits who will fit holes (2 guards 1 who can dribble, 1 who can shoot), and bring back everyone not named Ray "I missed about 20 shots in the last 2 games" Nixon.

 

The question is whether Gavinski is going to redshirt as Wisconsin will have a plethora of big men.

[Jimbo's Drinker]

According to Rivals.com:

 

San Bernardino (Calif.) Valley College's 6-foot-10, 220-pound center Jerome Habel, the second-ranked junior college prospect in the nation according to JucoJunction.com, is making an official visit to OU on Thursday and is on the verge of committing to the Sooners.

 

"Jerome has really taken a liking to the Big 12 and will most likely give a verbal (commitment) to Oklahoma on his trip," Jerome's uncle and recruiting advisor Jerome Vinson said. "He really wants to get this (recruiting) process over with."

 

The 6-foot-10, 220-pounder holds scholarship offers from Oklahoma, Nevada, Charlotte, Connecticut, Georgetown and many other programs have been showing interest too.

 

But, the Sooners have made the best impression on Habel and made him feel the most wanted.