"Your most valuable option for Midwest sports"
The Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament tips off Thursday, March 8, at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Heading into the tournament, the Big Ten continues to lead all conferences in the RPI and Sagarin ratings and is the only conference in the country with five top-15 teams.
So you could easily say it’s the toughest conference in college basketball. But it doesn’t mean the games will be the prettiest; in fact you might see a couple ugly ones.
It is kind of hard to believe that Selection Sunday for the NCAA Tournament is just nine days away and conference tournaments are already underway. Here is The Sports Bank‘s latest Bracketology. I have more than held my own the past couple of years against ESPN’s Joe Lunardi and with my extreme college hoops nerdom, plan to do so again this year.
UPDATED: 3/2/12
It is kind of hard to believe that Selection Sunday for the NCAA Tournament is only two weeks away and conference tournaments begin this week. It is becoming time when college basketball teams are separating themselves as either tourney contenders or pretenders. Here is The Sports Bank‘s latest Bracketology? I have more than held my own the past couple of years against ESPN’s Joe Lunardi and with my extreme college hoops nerdom, plan to do so again this year.
UPDATED: 2/27/12
Minnesota Golden Gophers forward Rodney Williams is a bonafide NBA draft prospect. Not so much this year, but for 2013 (where we have him projected as a mid-2nd rounder), and I can’t for the life of me understand why. (But I’m a NFL draftnik, not an NBA draftnik) When fighting for their NCAA Tournament lives this week, the 6-7, 205 junior forward from Minneapolis just disappeared in the 2nd halves of both games. Each of these contests saw Minnesota drop a second half lead and eventually lose.
When you lead the team in scoring, rebounding, blocks, steals, field goal percentage and minutes, you are expected to BE the leader, and THE GUY who takes over in crunch time.
In the loss at Northwestern, Williams had 7 points at halftime, but just two points and two shots in the second twenty minutes. In the 66-61 loss to Michigan State, Williams VANISHED in the second half when Minnesota Tubby Smith needed him most. And in the closing minutes with the game tied, he cost his team dearly at both ends of the floor.
If you were following Twitter during the Michigan State Spartans 66-61 victory at the Minnesota Golden Gophers contest last night, you may have noticed UM Coach Tubby Smith rocking a blue bow tie.
There was praise, but there was of course plenty of jokes and insults. There was even speculation that the blue was in reference to his old job leading the Kentucky Wildcats. I do wish more college basketball fans would simply ask a relevant question or two before passing judgment. Now when they find out what the bow tie was for, and what it represents, they might feel more like the jackasses they are for shooting their mouths off.
It is kind of hard to believe that Selection Sunday for the NCAA Tournament is only three weeks away. It is becoming time when college basketball teams are separating themselves as either tourney contenders or pretenders. Here is The Sports Bank‘s latest Bracketology? I have more than held my own the past couple of years against ESPN’s Joe Lunardi and with my extreme college hoops nerdom, plan to do so again this year. Check back every week for an update.
UPDATED: 2/20/12
It is kind of hard to believe that Selection Sunday for the NCAA Tournament is only five weeks away. It is becoming time when college basketball teams are separating themselves as either tourney contenders or pretenders. Here is The Sports Bank‘s latest Bracketology? I have more than held my own the past couple of years against ESPN’s Joe Lunardi and with my extreme college hoops nerdom, plan to do so again this year. Check back every week for an update.
UPDATED: 2/6/12
The Big Ten is having one of the most memorable basketball seasons we’ve seen in some time. The conference leads the country with five top-25 teams and ranks number one in the RPI/Sagarin ratings.
Along with being regarded as the best conference in the nation, the Big Ten is full of intriguing stories. Here are the top five on the year thus far: [Read more...]
It is kind of hard to believe that Selection Sunday for the NCAA Tournament is only six weeks away. It is becoming time when college basketball teams are separating themselves as either tourney contenders or pretenders. Here is The Sports Bank‘s latest Bracketology? I have more than held my own the past couple of years against ESPN’s Joe Lunardi and with my extreme college hoops nerdom, plan to do so again this year. Check back every week for an update.
UPDATED: 1/30/12
I am well aware that the 2012 NBA Draft has not even occurred yet. Still, we are looking ahead to the 2013 NBA Draft with insanely early projections on how it may unfold. Team needs and outstanding trades have NOT been taken into consideration with this 2013 NBA mock draft. Click on the players’ name for a complete, in-depth scouting report.
(By the way, The Sports Bank was graded as the most accurate 2011 NBA Mock Draft on the web.)
With conference play underway, we begin to get a better feel for how college basketball teams stack up in our Bracketology? I have more than held my own the past couple of years against ESPN’s Joe Lunardi and with my extreme college hoops nerdom, plan to do so again this year. Check back every week for an update.
UPDATED: 1/23/12
