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

SOUTH REGIONAL-Atlanta

AT LOUISVILLE
1. Kentucky 23-1 (SEC)
16. UNC-Asheville 18-7 (Big South)/Mississippi Valley State 11-11 (SWAC)

8. Notre Dame 15-8 (BE)
9. Illinois 16-7 (B10)

AT PORTLAND
5. San Diego State 20-3 (MWC)
12. VCU 20-5 (CAA)/N.C. State 17-7 (ACC)

4. St. Mary’s 22-2 (WCC)
13. Nevada 19-4 (WAC)

AT  OMAHA
6. Mississippi State 18-5 (SEC)
11. California 18-6 (P12)

3. Kansas 18-5 (B12)
14. Oral Roberts 21-5 (Summit)

AT COLUMBUS
7.  Virginia 18-4 (ACC)
10. Kansas State 16-6 (B12)

2. Michigan State 18-5 (B10)
15. Akron 16-7 (MAC)

MIDWEST REGIONAL- St.Louis

AT LOUISVILLE
1. Ohio State 20-3 (B10)
16. Norfolk State 16-8 (MEAC)

8. Wichita State 20-4 (MVC)
9. New Mexico 19-4 (MWC)

AT COLUMBUS
5. Louisville 18-5 (BE)
12. Miami FL 14-7 (ACC)

4. Murray State 23-0 (OVC)
13. Middle Tennessee 21-4 (Sun Belt)

AT PITTSBURGH
6. Indiana 18-6 (B10)
11. BYU 20-6 (WCC)

3. Marquette 19-5 (BE)
14. George Mason 19-6 (CAA)

AT OMAHA
7. Vanderbilt 16-7 (SEC)
10. Memphis 16-7 (CUSA)

2. Missouri 21-2 (B12)
15. Belmont 17-7 (A-Sun)

EAST REGIONAL-Boston        

AT PITTSBURGH
1. Syracuse 23-1 (BE)
16. Long Island 17-7 (NEC)/Stony Brook 15-7 (AEC)

8. Temple 17-5 (A10)
9. Harvard 20-2 (Ivy)

AT ALBUQUERQUE
5. Creighton 21-3 (MVC)
12. Minnesota 17-7 (B10)

4. Florida State 16-6 (ACC)
13. Long Beach State 17-6 (Big West)

AT NASHVILLE
6. Southern Miss 20-3 (CUSA)
11. Cincinnati 16-7 (BE)

3. Florida 19-4 (SEC)
14. Cleveland State 20-4 (Horizon)

AT GREENSBORO
7. UConn 15-7 (BE)
10. Iowa State 17-6 (B12)

2. Duke 19-4 (ACC)
15. Bucknell 18-6 (Patroit)

WEST REGIONAL-Phoenix

AT GREENSBORO
1. North Carolina 20-3 (ACC)
16. UT-Arlington 17-5 (Southland)

8. West Virginia 16-8 (BE)
9. Alabama 15-7 (SEC)

AT PORTLAND
5. Wisconsin 18-6 (B10)
12. Seton Hall 15-8 (BE)/Xavier 15-8 (A10)

4. UNLV 21-4 (MWC)
13. Iona 19-5 (MAAC)

AT NASHVILLE
6. Michigan 17-7 (B10)
11. Washington 16-7 (P12)

3. Georgetown 18-4 (BE)
14. Davidson 17-5 (Southern)

AT ALBUQUERQUE
7. Gonzaga 18-4 (WCC)
10. St. Louis 18-5 (A10)

2. Baylor 21-1 (B12)
15. Weber State 18-4 (Big Sky)

Wrong Side of the Bubble:
Purdue 15-8 (B10)
Oregon 16-7 (P12)
Colorado 16-7 (P12)
Central Florida 17-6 (CUSA)
Arkansas 16-7 (SEC)
UMass 17-6 (A10)
Arizona 16-8 (P12)
Ohio 19-4 (MAC)

Multiple Bid Conferences:
Big East (9)
Big Ten (7)
ACC (6)
Big 12 (5)
SEC (5)
A10 (3)
MWC (3)
WCC (3)
CAA (2)
CUSA (2)
MVC (2)
Pac-12 (2)

Click here for a list of RPI and SOS

David Kay is a senior feature NBA Draft, NBA, and college basketball writer for the Sports Bank.  He also heads up the NBA and college basketball material at Walter Football.com and is a former contributor at The Washington Times Communities.  David has appeared on numerous national radio programs spanning from Cleveland to New Orleans to Honolulu.  He also had the most accurate 2011 NBA Mock Draft on the web.

You can follow him on Twitter at DavidKay_TSB.

WCC (3)
CAA (2)
CUSA (2)
MVC (2)
Pac-12 (2)

The #3 Ohio State Buckeyes keep control of their first-place standing in the Big Ten with a 58-52 win over the #20 Wisconsin Badgers. Preseason All-American Jared Sullinger was particularly strong with 24 points and 10 rebounds in the Buckeyes first win at the Kohl Center since 2000.

Wisconsin has become the poster-child for being outplayed, yet having the ability to somehow still be in the game. Today’s game was a perfect example while being out-rebounded (30-25), out-shot (43.1% to 40.0%) and out-hustled, but were still within a single point in the last couple of minutes.

What It Means: The Badgers are not the best team in the Big Ten; even with a different result today, it probably would have been unfair to use that statement anyways. But, what we do know is that the Buckeyes are the best team in the conference and that the Badgers showed they can play with anyone in the country. Earlier this season, they stayed within striking distance at North Carolina, another top-ten team. This bodes well for a team who should finish in the top-half of the Big Ten and get a respectable seed in the NCCA tourney.

Player of the Game: Ryan Evans (14 points and 5 rebounds)

Evans is in the midst of a breakout season and he really was UW’s best player this Saturday. With hindsight, the team probably should have fed the hot hand a little more, seeing how ugly the rest of the offense was. Despite the shooting woes, four Badgers did reach double-digit scoring; Taylor (12), Bruesewitz (11) and Berggren (10) joining Evans.

Stat of the Game: (18.5) The percentage of three-pointers made for the Badgers. UW was a dismal 5-of-27 from behind the arc. That wasn’t the only thing that went awry wrong for the Badgers as they also attempted their first free throw 33 minutes into the game. Considering all the things that didn’t go Bucky’s way, it was really shocking how close they were for most of the game.

What’s Next: After the loss to Ohio State, the path doesn’t get any easier for the Badgers who face a couple of tough road match-ups. First, they will bus up to the Twin Cities to take on an improving Minnesota club and then travel to East Lansing to take on Michigan State which should be a battle for the rights of being called the second-best team in the conference.

What did you think of the Badgers and Buckeyes match-up at the Kohl Center? Let me know by commenting below!

Nick Grays is a senior writer at the Sports Bank where he covers the Wisconsin Badgers, Green Bay Packers, and Milwaukee Brewers. He also enjoys to share Fantasy Advice from time-to-time. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here or visit his blog Nick Knows Best.

Like many seasons before, the Wisconsin Badgers do not have a top ranked recruiting class. In fact, Rivals.com has the Badgers at 48th and Scout.com at 53rd.

It’s been a tumultuous off-season for the Badgers who have lost six assistant coaches to other jobs and now have signed one of the smallest recruiting classes ever under Head Coach Bret Bielema.

Even with the disclaimers, I wouldn’t bet against the Badgers who often exceed their expectations. Here are the notable signees (four-star recruits) who hope they can play a part in the Badgers returning to the Rose Bowl for a third year in a row.

Vince Biegel (pictured above)

- 6’3, 225, LB

- Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. (Lincoln HS)

High School: Four-star recruit by ESPN, Rivals and Scout … No. 73 player nationally by Rivals … ranked as the No. 3 outside linebacker by Rivals, No. 15 by ESPN and No. 23 by Scout … top-ranked player in Wisconsin by ESPN and Rivals … finished his career with 425 tackles, 27 sacks, 10 interceptions, 10 forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and four defensive touchdowns … in senior season, named U.S. Army, USA Today and Parade All-American … also the Gatorade Wisconsin Player of the Year and Conference Player of the Year … 2011 National Underclassman Midwest Ultimate Top 60 … winner of the John Anderson Award (outstanding linebacker) and finalist for the Dick Butkus Award

Bart Houston

- 6’4, 215, QB

- Dublin, Calif. (De La Salle HS)

High School: Four-star recruit by ESPN and Scout, three-star recruit by Rivals … ranked by Scout as the No. 7 quarterback in the country, by Rivals as the No. 12 QB and by ESPN as the No. 15 QB … holds school records for career passing yards and completions, surpassing Matt Gutierrez who played three seasons in the NFL … invited to ESPN Elite 11 QB camp and played in Semper-Fidelis All-American Bowl

Vonte Jackson

- 6’0, 190, RB

- Kenosha, Wis. (Bradford HS)

High School: Four-star recruit by Rivals and Scout and three-star recruit by ESPN … ranked as the No. 21 running back in the nation by Rivals, No. 22 by ESPN and No. 28 by Scout … No. 2 player in the state by ESPN and Rivals … missed almost all of senior season after tearing his ACL with 16 seconds left in second quarter of first game, still managed to rush for 160 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries and catch one pass for 38 yards before injury … carried 68 times for 956 yards and 13 touchdowns and caught 14 passes for 266 yards and four touchdowns in his junior year.

DJ Singleton

- 6’2, 195, S

- Union, N.J. (St. Peter’s Prep)

High School: Four-star recruit by ESPN and Scout and three-star recruit by Rivals … No. 14 safety in the country according to Scout, No. 18 by ESPN and No. 27 by Rivals … as a senior, selected for the US Marine All-American All-Star Game and the USA Today International Bowl … also chosen all-state, all-metro and all-county after posting 53 tackles, four sacks, three forced fumbles and 12 tackles for loss … named all-county and U.S. Army All-American Combine second-team after making 40 tackles with three sacks and three forced fumbles as a junior.

Dan Voltz

6’4, 295, OL

Barrington, Ill. (Barrington HS)

High School: Four-star recruit by Rivals, Scout and ESPN … seventh-ranked guard in the nation by Scout and No. 8 by Rivals, No. 19 offensive tackle in the nation by ESPN … third-ranked player in Illinois by ESPN and fourth-ranked in Illinois by Rivals … named all-state as a senior by Illinois High School Football Coaches Association, Illinois News-Gazette and Chicago Tribune, also named Mid-Suburban All-Conference and Daily Herald All-Area … IHSA All-State Academic Team member … team captain as a senior

The full list of new Badgers with videos can be found on the school’s website by clicking here.

What do you think of the Badgers 2012 signing class? Let me know by commenting below!

Nick Grays is a senior writer at the Sports Bank where he covers the Wisconsin Badgers, Green Bay Packers, and Milwaukee Brewers. He also enjoys to share Fantasy Advice from time-to-time. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here or visit his blog Nick Knows Best.

Urban Meyer’s first recruiting class at Ohio State is ranked 3rd or 4th in the nation, depending on who you ask. So much for being hurt by NCAA sanctions/the stain of Jim Tressel/Terrelle Pryor corruption. Meyer’s recruiting class and alleged lack of class has caught the attention of Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema.

The Badgers leader was asked Wednesday if he thought Meyer would change recruiting in the Big Ten and Bielema had some choice quotes. From CBS Chicago:

“I hope it doesn’t change. I think the potential for change is there,” Bielema said. “There are a few things that happened early on that I made people aware of that I didn’t want to see in this league, that I had seen take place in other leagues. Other recruiting recruiting tactics, other recruiting practices that are illegal.

“I was very up front and was very pointed to the fact, actually reached out to Coach Meyer and shared my thoughts and concerns with him. The situation got rectified.”

Wow. Smack down! Sounds like something shady could be going down with Meyer, who’s sanctified in the college football world…for now. I predict stuff will come out on him eventually. This Big Ten banter reminds me of 2007, when Illini Coach Ron Zook hauled in an impressive class despite the program being really bad. It prompted then Michigan State coach John L. Smith to accuse him of chicanery and perhaps even malfeasance (and not in those words) stating “where’s there’s smoke, there’s fire.” Well, at least the Zooker hung around for a little while longer than Smith did.

Meanwhile back in Columbus:

“Everything went smooth today,” Meyer said. “I love to recruit and I love to recruit great players.”

The 2012 recruiting class includes 16 from the state of Ohio, including as many as five of the Top 10 players in the state according to most rating services.

Meyer said the defensive linemen who signed were a real strength of this class and the key development. All four of the defensive linemen are among the Top 100 players in the nation, with Noah Spence, a 6-4, 245-pounder from Harrisburg, Pa., and Adolphus Washington, a 6-5, 245-pounder from Cincinnati, each considered among the Top 5 defensive ends in the nation. Tommy Schutt, who goes 6-3, 300 and is from Glen Ellyn, Ill, is Top 5 defensive tackle. And Se’Von Pittman, a 6-5, 245-pounder from Canton, Ohio, is in the Top 25 for all defensive linemen. Three of the four are considered five-star prospects with the fourth rated as a four-star.

“The defensive line is the strength of this class and the prize of this recruiting class,” Meyer said. “But with that said, I am really pleased with the entire group as a whole. We filled some needs with some quality players, and I think overall we have a very solid class.”

Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net, an official Google News site generating millions of unique visitors. He’s also a regular contributor to Chicago Now, Walter Football.com, Yardbarker, and Fox Sports

A Fulbright scholar and MBA, Banks has appeared on live radio all over the world; and he’s a member of the Football Writers Association of America, U.S. Basketball Writers Association, and Society of Professional Journalists. The President of the United States follows him on Twitter (@Paul_M_BanksTSB) You should too.

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:
1.) Welcome Back Indiana Hoosiers

Not sure anyone, but Head Coach Tom Crean saw this one coming. The Hoosiers are ranked #20th in both polls and have a 17-7 record with wins over big-dawgs Kentucky and Ohio State. Yeah, they may 5-5 in the conference, but not even the Buckeyes are running away with the Big Ten title.

This Hoosiers team is nothing like you’ve seen the past few years, mostly because they can fill up the scoreboard. Just ask the Hawkeyes who yielded 103 points to the Hoosiers in a loss this past weekend. Indiana leads the conference with a robust 79.5 points per game.

2.) Big Ten is the Best Conference in the Country

From top to the bottom, the Big Ten has been the most competitive conference in the nation. Only the Big Ten has six teams with 16 or more wins and nine teams with an RPI in the top 51. Moreover, the Big Ten is the only conference in America to have each and every one of it’s teams ranked in the top 131 in RPI.

This should bode well for the conference come tourney time, meaning the Big Ten will most likely see eight or nine teams go dancing.

3.) Draymond Green for Player of the Year

Everyone’s player of the year in the preseason was Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger. No disrespect to Sully, but Green has been better. Green has eleven double-doubles to Sullinger’s nine and has been instrumental in helping the Spartans reach the top ten in both polls. He also has 14 games of double-digit rebounds to Sullinger’s nine. Granted Sullinger hasn’t been healthy all season, that’s more of a reason to give Green the award at the end of the season.

Mark your calenders for February 11th because it marks the first meeting between Green and Sullinger when the Spartans travel to Columbus.

4.) Cody Zeller is No Boy, But Rather a Man

Who knew Zeller would have this much of an impact when he committed to play in Bloomington? He’s no doubt the Big Ten’s Freshman of the Year, but more importantly he’s the key to the Hoosiers resurgence in 2012 (see story one). His inside game has opened it up for the Hoosiers sharpshooters on the perimeter.

He’s rough around the edges and can definitely improve on the defensive end, but what else can you expect out of a freshman. If Zeller decides to stay around another year or two, he will be the talk of the conference for some time to come.

5.) Conference Title Still Up for Grabs

What makes Big Ten basketball even more exciting is the fact that four or five teams are still in the mix for the conference title. While the Buckeyes appear to be the cream of the crop, they are not invincible, evident from their two road losses at Illinois and Indiana. They have another tough road venture when they travel to Wisconsin this weekend to take on the Badgers who sit just one game back in the standings. Michigan State is only a half game back from the Buckeyes while Michigan is a full game back. For these four teams, a strong finish in the conference could mean a number one or two seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Honorable Mention: Could this be the year that Northwestern Goes Dancing?, Minnesota’s Mbakwe Out for the Year, Badgers Do it On Defense Again

What do you think of these story-lines in the Big Ten this season? Did I miss something significant? Let me know by commenting below!

Nick Grays is a senior writer at the Sports Bank where he covers the Wisconsin Badgers, Green Bay Packers, and Milwaukee Brewers. He also enjoys to share Fantasy Advice from time-to-time. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here or visit his blog Nick Knows Best.

OTHER BIG TEN BASKETBALL RELATED ARTICLES:

- David Kay’s latest Bracketology with EIGHT Big Ten teams dancing
- Paul Banks’ latest Big Ten Power Rankings

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

SOUTH REGIONAL-Atlanta

AT LOUISVILLE
1. Kentucky 21-1 (SEC)
16. UNC-Asheville 16-7 (Big South)/Mississippi Valley State 9-11 (SWAC)

8. Southern Miss 19-3 (CUSA)
9. Illinois 15-6 (B10)

AT COLUMBUS
5. Wisconsin 17-5 (B10)
12. BYU 18-6 (WCC)/Notre Dame 14-8 (BE)

4. Murray State 21-0 (OVC)
13. Middle Tennessee 20-3 (Sun Belt)

AT  NASHVILLE
6. Florida State 14-6 (ACC)
11. New Mexico 17-4 (MWC)

3. Georgetown 16-4 (BE)
14. Davidson 15-5 (Southern)

AT ALBUQUERQUE
7.  California 17-5 (P12)
10. Wichita State 18-4 (MVC)

2. Baylor 19-2 (B12)
15. Weber State 16-4 (Big Sky)

MIDWEST REGIONAL- St.Louis

AT LOUISVILLE
1. Ohio State 19-3 (B10)
16. Norfolk State 16-6 (MEAC)

8. Kansas State 15-5 (B12)
9. Memphis 15-6 (CUSA)

AT PORTLAND
5. St. Mary’s 21-2 (WCC)
12. Oregon 16-6 (P12)/Ole Miss 14-7 (SEC)

4. Creighton 20-2 (MVC)
13. Nevada 18-3 (WAC)

AT PITTSBURGH
6. Virginia 17-3 (ACC)
11. Xavier 14-7 (A10)

3. Marquette 18-4 (BE)
14. George Mason 18-5 (CAA)

AT OMAHA
7. Michigan 16-6 (B10)
10. Alabama 13-7 (SEC)

2. Missouri 19-2 (B12)
15. Akron 14-7 (MAC)

EAST REGIONAL-Boston        

AT PITTSBURGH
1. Syracuse 22-1 (BE)
16. Long Island 15-7 (NEC)/Stony Brook 13-7 (AEC)

8. Temple 15-5 (A10)
9. Harvard 18-2 (Ivy)

AT NASHVILLE
5. Indiana 17-5 (B10)
12. UMass 16-5 (A10)

4. Florida 17-4 (SEC)
13. Iona 17-5 (MAAC)

AT COLUMBUS
6. San Diego State 18-3 (MWC)
11. St. Louis 16-5 (A10)

3. Michigan State 17-4 (B10)
14. Cleveland State 18-4 (Horizon)

AT GREENSBORO
7. UConn 14-6 (BE)
10. Iowa State 15-6 (B12)

2. North Carolina 18-3 (ACC)
15. Bucknell 17-6 (Patroit)

WEST REGIONAL-Phoenix

AT GREENSBORO
1. Duke 18-3 (ACC)
16. UT-Arlington 15-5 (Southland)

8. West Virginia 15-7 (BE)
9. Minnesota 16-6 (B10)

AT PORTLAND
5. Vanderbilt 16-5 (SEC)
12. Washington 14-7 (P12)

4. Gonzaga 17-3 (WCC)
13. Long Beach State 16-6 (Big West)

AT ALBUQUERQUE
6. Louisville 17-5 (BE)
11. Purdue 15-7 (B10)

3. UNLV 20-3 (MWC)
14. Oral Roberts 20-4 (Summit)

AT OMAHA
7. Mississippi State 17-5 (SEC)
10. Seton Hall 15-6 (BE)

2. Kansas 17-4 (B12)
15. Belmont 15-7 (A-Sun)

Wrong Side of the Bubble:
Dayton 14-7 (A10)
Cincinnati 15-7 (BE)
Stanford 15-6 (P12)
N.C. State 15-7 (ACC)
Arkansas 15-6 (SEC)
VCU 18-5 (CAA)
Wyoming 17-4 (MWC)
Central Florida 15-6 (CUSA)

Multiple Bid Conferences:
Big East (8)
Big Ten (8)
SEC (6)
Big 12 (5)
ACC (4)
A10 (4)
Pac-12 (3)
MWC (3)
WCC (3)
MVC (2)
CUSA (2)

Click here for a list of RPI and SOS

David Kay is a senior feature NBA Draft, NBA, and college basketball writer for the Sports Bank.  He also heads up the NBA and college basketball material at Walter Football.com and is a former contributor at The Washington Times Communities.  David has appeared on numerous national radio programs spanning from Cleveland to New Orleans to Honolulu.  He also had the most accurate 2011 NBA Mock Draft on the web.

You can follow him on Twitter at DavidKay_TSB.

Under NCAA rules, a college athlete who receives his undergraduate degree but still has a year of eligibility remaining can transfer to another school and play right away rather than sit out a year which other transfers must do.  This exception became a focal point in the national media when St. Joseph’s would not release center Todd O’Brien from his scholarship so that he could pursue his graduate degree and play out his final year of eligibility at UAB.

Big Ten teams Michigan State and Illinois have benefited from this rule this season.  The Spartans starting shooting guard Brandon Wood transferred in from Valparaiso under these guidelines, so did Illini point guard Sam Maniscalco who left Bradley and provided Bruce Weber with a much needed, experienced floor leader. 

Wisconsin Badgers head coach Bo Ryan is vehemently against this rule though.  He had quite the rant on the topic when speaking to the media on Monday, describing it as “a terrible rule” and “one of the worst rules I’ve ever seen.”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea at all,” Ryan stated.  “I’ve never liked the idea of people leaving a program after four years of development at that institution, with teammates, and with that school, and to all of a sudden change and be eligible to play right away.  If you make a move you sit.  That’s all about building a team, building trust, building what college athletics was meant to be; the experience.”

Ryan also brought up some of the possibly shady, behind-the-scenes antics that may conspire with this rule in place.  “All of a sudden, there’s going to be more of this going on.  There’s going to be guys through outside third parties trying to find out for example if a guy was playing on a team and a bunch of seniors graduated… I look at Jordan Taylor, he would have been a heck of a free agent pick-up for somebody if say Jordan already had his degree and we lost as many players as we did to guys exhausting their eligibility.  And maybe there’s a team out there that needed a point guard.  Next year, there might a team that needs a big man (likely referring to Badgers’ redshirt junior center Jared Berggren who would be able to take advantage of this rule if he completed his undergrad this year.)

“It’s creating free agency and conversations behind the backs of the institutions, his coaches, and his teammates… People can tell talk about the education thing and this school didn’t have the masters and this.  There’s other ways of doing it than to leave your school.”

When Ryan was asked if he would ever consider welcoming a player at Wisconsin via this loophole, his answer was emphatic.  “We’ve been contacted about players.  I tell my assistants I’ve got absolutely no interest, but that’s just me.  That’s not making a judgement on anybody else.  In some cases, I’m sure it’s done for all the right reasons.  I just think because it’s out there now that people are going to abuse in other ways.”

Coincidentally enough, the Wisconsin football team tremendously benefited from this rule this past season when N.C. State transfer Russell Wilson became immediately eligible and quarterbacked the Badgers to their second straight Rose Bowl.  Wilson’s circumstances were a bit different though since he was released from his scholarship with the Wolfpack so that he could pursue a professional baseball career.  It was after that move when Wilson decided he wanted to play one more year of college football and landed at Wisconsin.

David Kay is a senior feature NBA Draft, NBA, and college basketball writer for the Sports Bank.  He also heads up the NBA and college basketball material at Walter Football.com and is a former contributor at The Washington Times Communities.  David has appeared on numerous national radio programs spanning from Cleveland to New Orleans to Honolulu.  He also had the most accurate 2011 NBA Mock Draft on the web.

You can follow him on Twitter at DavidKay_TSB.

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

SOUTH REGIONAL-Atlanta

AT LOUISVILLE
1. Kentucky 19-1 (SEC)
16. UNC-Asheville 14-7 (Big South)/Mississippi Valley State 7-11 (SWAC)

8. Southern Miss 17-3 (CUSA)
9. Dayton 14-5 (A10)

AT COLUMBUS
5. West Virginia 15-5 (BE)
12. Iona 15-4 (MAAC)

4. Indiana 16-4 (B10)
13. Mississippi 13-6 (SEC)/Oregon 15-5 (P12)

AT  NASHVILLE
6. Vanderbilt 14-5 (SEC)
11. Minnesota 15-5 (B10)

3. Georgetown 16-3 (BE)
14. Middle Tennessee 19-2 (Sun Belt)

AT ALBUQUERQUE
7. Florida State 13-6 (ACC)
10. California 16-5 (P12)

2. Baylor 17-2 (B12)
15. Weber State 15-3 (Big Sky)

MIDWEST REGIONAL- St.Louis

AT LOUISVILLE
1. Ohio State 17-3 (B10)
16. Norfolk State 15-5 (MEAC)

8. Temple 13-5 (A10)
9. Alabama 13-6 (SEC)

AT PORTLAND
5. St. Mary’s 19-2 (WCC)
12. Iowa State 14-5 (B12)

4. Creighton 18-2 (MVC)
13. Long Beach State 14-6 (Big West)

AT PITTSBURGH
6. Virginia 15-3 (ACC)
11. Central Florida 15-4 (CUSA)

3. Marquette 16-4 (BE)
14. Belmont 13-7 (A-Sun)

AT OMAHA
7. Michigan 15-5 (B10)
10. New Mexico 15-4 (MWC)

2. Kansas 16-3 (B12)
15. Akron 12-7 (MAC)

EAST REGIONAL-Boston        

AT PITTSBURGH
1. Syracuse 20-1 (BE)
16. Long Island 14-6 (NEC)/Stony Brook 12-7 (AEC)

8. Illinois 15-5 (B10)
9. Harvard 15-2 (Ivy)

AT NASHVILLE
5. Florida 15-4 (SEC)
12. St. Louis 15-4 (A10)/BYU 17-5 (WCC)

4. Murray State 20-0 (OVC)
13. Davidson 14-4 (Southern)

AT COLUMBUS
6. UConn 14-5 (BE)
11. Xavier 13-6 (A10)

3. Michigan State 16-4 (B10)
14. Cleveland State 17-4 (Horizon)

AT GREENSBORO
7. Mississippi State 16-4 (SEC)
10. Louisville 15-5 (BE)

2. Duke 16-3 (ACC)
15. Bucknell 15-6 (Patroit)

WEST REGIONAL-Phoenix

AT OMAHA
1. Missouri 18-1 (B12)
16. UT-Arlington 13-5 (Southland)

8. Wisconsin 16-5 (B10)
9. Wichita State 17-3 (MVC)

AT PORTLAND
5. San Diego State 17-2 (MWC)
12. Purdue 14-6 (B10)

4. Gonzaga 16-3 (WCC)
13. Nevada 16-3 (WAC)

AT ALBUQUERQUE
6. Kansas State 14-4 (B12)
11. Cincinnati 15-5 (BE)

3. UNLV 18-3 (MWC)
14. Oral Roberts 18-4 (Summit)

AT GREENSBORO
7. Seton Hall 15-4 (BE)
10. Memphis 13-6 (CUSA)

2. North Carolina 16-3 (ACC)
15. George Mason 15-5 (CAA)

Wrong Side of the Bubble:
Stanford 15-5 (P12)
N.C. State 15-5 (ACC)
Marshall 13-6 (CUSA)
Colorado State 13-5 (MWC)
Arkansas 14-5 (SEC)
Colorado 13-6 (P12)
Northwestern 12-7 (B10)
Texas 12-7 (B12)

Multiple Bid Conferences:
Big East (8)
Big Ten (8)
SEC (6)
Big 12 (5)
ACC (4)
A10 (4)
CUSA(3)
MWC (3)
WCC (3)
MVC (2)
Pac-12 (2)

Click here for a list of RPI and SOS

David Kay is a senior feature NBA Draft, NBA, and college basketball writer for the Sports Bank.  He also heads up the NBA and college basketball material at Walter Football.com and is a former contributor at The Washington Times Communities.  David has appeared on numerous national radio programs spanning from Cleveland to New Orleans to Honolulu.  He also had the most accurate 2011 NBA Mock Draft on the web.

You can follow him on Twitter at DavidKay_TSB.

No longer known for just his insanely cool Kid ‘n Play haircut, the Wisconsin Badgers junior forward Ryan Evans is starting to get noticed for his solid production on the court.

Evans has scored double-digits in ten games this season and is one of the best defenders on a squad which ranks tops in the NCAA when it comes to locking down opponents.

The native of Phoenix, Arizona is one of the biggest surprises of a wild-and-crazy season in the Big Ten.

Believe it or not, Evans made his first career start in the Badgers season opener versus Kennesaw State. Since then, he’s stepped into a pivotal role as the team’s leading rebounder and defensive stalwart. He ranks fourth in the Big Ten with just under seven rebounds per game and ranks seventh with 1.3 blocks per game.

Wisconsin stumbled out of the gates in conference play, going 1-3, but have quickly regained momentum while winning their last three. Evans has been instrumental in helping this team turn it around.

In the Badgers latest win over Northwestern, Evans scored 15 of his team-high 17 points (7-for-13 shooting) in the second half. A big knack on Evans in the past has been his horrible jump shot. However, he’s turned that around in a hurry while shooting a surprising 44.4 percent from the field.

Followers may be surprised, but Head Coach Bo Ryan isn’t fooled because he knows the player Evans is capable of being.

“The more he plays to his strengths, the better team player he is because he gets results—he can get fouled, he can get to the line, he can get to the glass, he can face up,” said Ryan following the team’s 20 point win over the Cats.

The only question in Evans’ game now is consistency. He plays great in the Badgers wins, but seems to falter in their losses. Northwestern Head Coach, Bill Carmody, hit it right on the head when he referred to Evans as the “x-factor.”

In a shocking loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes at home, he played the lowest amount of minutes (15) on the year due to foul trouble. He followed that game up with a 3-for-15 shooting performance and four rebounds in 40 minutes versus the Spartans, another loss at home.

When Evans plays well, the Badgers play well.

The notion was in full effect when Evans threw down one of the best ally-oop dunks of the year. When asked if it was the best of his career, he responded, “I don’t know, it felt good though. Rob (Wilson) was saying I couldn’t jump anymore, so I had to show him a little something.”

What do you think of Evans’ play of late? Is he the x-factor for the Badgers? Let me know by commenting below!

Nick Grays is a senior writer at the Sports Bank where he covers the Wisconsin Badgers, Green Bay Packers, and Milwaukee Brewers. He also enjoys to share Fantasy Advice from time-to-time. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here or visit his blog Nick Knows Best.

You could make a case that Wisconsin had the greatest running back and quarterback tandem in college football history. Quarterback Russell Wilson broke the season passer rating record, and tailback Montee Ball tied the season record for touchdowns. The Badgers were the first team to ever have a player run for 30 TDs, and another player pass for 30 TDs.

Production like that will no doubt attract attention for the offensive coordinator, and Paul Chryst parlayed the astronomical numbers he generated into a new head coaching gig at Pittsburgh.

Today, Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema named Matt Canada his replacement.

Canada (You gotta love a guy with a nation as his last name) will be the Badgers’ new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Canada spent last season in the same role at Northern Illinois, helping the Huskies to an 11-3 record, a MAC championship (their first in almost 30 years) and a victory in the GoDaddy.com Bowl.

“Matt has a terrific history as an offensive coordinator and has excelled at developing quarterbacks throughout his career,” Bielema said. “I know he is very excited about running a pro-style offense and handling a game the way we typically have at Wisconsin. I think this is a great hire for us and I can’t wait for him to get to work with our coaches and players.”

Last season, Canada worked for former Badger defensive coordinator Dave Doeren and directed one of the most explosive offenses in the country. Northern Illinois finished among the top 12 in the country in scoring offense, total offense and rushing offense. The Huskies joined Wisconsin as two of the five teams in the country to average at least 230.0 yards rushing and passing last season.

NIU’s quarterback, Chandler Harnish, finished ninth in the country in total offense, averaging 328.2 yards per game. He ended his career as the best QB in NIU history, and projects to be a round 4-6 NFL Draft prospect.

Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net, an official Google News site generating millions of unique visitors. He’s also a regular contributor to Chicago Now, Walter Football.com, Yardbarker, and Fox Sports

A Fulbright scholar and MBA, Banks has appeared on live radio all over the world; and he’s a member of the Football Writers Association of America, U.S. Basketball Writers Association, and Society of Professional Journalists. The President of the United States follows him on Twitter (@Paul_M_BanksTSB) You should too