In our latest NCAA Tournament bracket projection, we have Northwestern as a #12 seed, one of the last four teams in. Of course, this isn't a place you want to stay right now as Selection Sunday approaches. Even though this is a supposedly "weak bubble," bracket projections don't and can't factor in the "bid-stealing" that will occur next week when small conference favorites … [Read more...] about Northwestern still needs three wins to make NCAA Tournament
spartans basketball
Just how shaky is Illini coach Bruce Weber’s Job Security?
The Assembly Hall crowd in Champaign called for Bruce Weber's head. Illini fans in B Section screamed "pack your bags" and "I can draw up a better offense." This has gone on for years, except this time there was one major difference- No one in the orange and blue crowd stuck up for Bruce. And this happened during one of this year's signature wins, a victory over a top ten … [Read more...] about Just how shaky is Illini coach Bruce Weber’s Job Security?
Spartans’ Leading Scorer/Rebounder Draymond Green Leaves Game With Serious Leg Injury
The Big Ten's leading rebounder, and best player on the nation's 9th ranked team may be out for awhile. Michigan State forward Draymond Green seriously hurt his left leg in tonight's mild upset loss to the Illini, and left the game with 3:50 left, unable to walk on his own power. Green was down on the Assembly Hall floor in Champaign for quite awhile, and after examination … [Read more...] about Spartans’ Leading Scorer/Rebounder Draymond Green Leaves Game With Serious Leg Injury
Michigan St.-Illinois Game Just Like Overall Series: Very Tight
Entering tonight's contest, the Michigan State-Illinois series was tied at 55. The last 13 games in the series have been decided by 10 points or less, and this was no different. And the #9 Michigan State Spartans fell to the Illinois Fighting Illini 42-41. There was really ugly offense in the first half, by both teams. A 22-20 score is often the result when one team's best … [Read more...] about Michigan St.-Illinois Game Just Like Overall Series: Very Tight
Northwestern’s Surprisingly Good RPI, Tournament Profile
RPI (Ratings Percentage Index) is an algorithm based on opponents' winning percentage, opponents' opponents' winning percentage, and opponents' opponents' opponents' winning percentage. This is the truth, I'm not trying to sound like Dr. Seuss here. So RPI is like the BCS, a very controversial number that certains groups of people ascribe meaning to; other groups of people … [Read more...] about Northwestern’s Surprisingly Good RPI, Tournament Profile
#6 Michigan State Sees Win Streak End at Northwestern!
Was this a huge upset? On one level, yes. Any time the most prominent college basketball program in the Big Ten falls to the program with the least amount of tradition in the conference, it's huge! Not to mention it ended the biggest win streak that prominent On the other hand, Northwestern came in with a RPI of 28 while Michigan State's number is 6, so it's not that big … [Read more...] about #6 Michigan State Sees Win Streak End at Northwestern!
Michigan State on Biggest Winning Streak Since Izzo’s 1st Final Four Team
When the #6 Michigan State Spartans head to Northwestern on Saturday, they'll do so riding a 15 game winning streak=longest winning streak since the 1998-99 season, when they won 22 in a row before losing to Duke in the Final Four. That was Tom Izzo's fourth season at the helm in East Lansing, and the first of his six Final Fours. That team lost to the Wisconsin Badgers at … [Read more...] about Michigan State on Biggest Winning Streak Since Izzo’s 1st Final Four Team
CONTROVERSIAL Buzzer Beater Ending as #10 Michigan St. wins at #18 Wisconsin
It's only the third of the year yet Wisconsin has three home losses this college basketball season. Seriously, when do the Badgers lose more than twice at the Kohl Center in an entire season? Let alone three times? No. 18 Wisconsin fell to 12-4 overall and 1-2 in the Big Ten with a 63-60, overtime loss to No. 10 Michigan State (14-2, 3-0) tonight. What a way for Tom Izzo to … [Read more...] about CONTROVERSIAL Buzzer Beater Ending as #10 Michigan St. wins at #18 Wisconsin