News. Sports. Arts & Entertainment. Politics
Every Big Ten team has a game in the books now. Here’s what we learned.
We knew Purdue and new coach Darrell Hazell had work to do coming into the 2013 season but— wow. Rob Henry and the Boilermaker offense had nothing, and their defense had even less, in their 42-7 loss to Cincinnati.
Follow paulmbanks
A new era begins in Madison when the Wisconsin Badgers host their annual spring game on April 20th. Head Coach Gary Andersen takes over the only team in the nation to win it’s conference each of the past three seasons.
Andersen headlines a staff full of new faces challenged with inputting a new system with an intent to sustain the rich success the Wisconsin Badgers have enjoyed over the past decade.
Your first chance to catch them live at Camp Randall will be next Saturday when the Big Ten Network broadcasts the game at 4:00 PM CT. [Read more…]
Follow paulmbanks
Arkansas’ new head coach, Bret Bielema, has been anything but shy in regards to expressing his feelings on almost anything via twitter.
The former Wisconsin Badgers head coach has increased his online activity ten-fold since moving to Fayetteville and doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon.
It’s obvious that Bielema hasn’t completely moved on from his former job, evident from petty fights with disgruntled Badgers fans, but not all of his thoughts are random twitter fodder.
Some of his tweets accurately reflect why the Big Ten currently resides so far behind the nation’s mecca of college football, the much-hated Southeastern Conference. [Read more…]
Follow paulmbanks
Coming into the season, Wisconsin Badgers sophomore point guard Traevon Jackson‘s claim to fame was being the son of Big Ten legend and former NBA pro Jim Jackson.
Now he’s in the midst of an unpredictable point guard shuffle for a decent Badgers team (14-6) who has surged to a 5-2 record in the best conference in America.
To say Jackson’s season has been defined by up-and-down moments would be an understatement; the latest moment being a game-winning shot against 12th ranked Minnesota. [Read more…]
Follow paulmbanks
At the beginning of the season we gave a quarterly review of the performance of each Big Ten team and graded them based on how they did compared to pre-season expectations. As the season progressed, so did the quarterly reviews. About a month ago, we gave our third quarter review. Now, with the regular season over, we conclude the series with our season in review. Each school’s grade is based on its overall / conference record, and how the team improved or declined throughout the season based on their expectations.
Follow paulmbanks
With Wisconsin’s Big Ten Championship win over Nebraska, the loser to Stanford in the Rose Bowl has been determined. Okay, just a small joke touching on the weakness of the Big Ten conference this season, but, does Wisconsin stand a chance against Stanford in Pasadena on January 1st? If they play like the team that just completely obliterated Nebraska 70-31, you bet!
Going into yesterday night, I would have told you Wisconsin would lose something like…24-17. I was not convinced Nebraska was as good as their 10-2 record indicated, but I fully thought the Huskers would smell the Roses after yesterday night. However, Wisconsin looked like anything but a team that went 7-5 in the regular season and finished third in the leaders division.
Stanford has a tendency of shutting down good offenses. Such as holding Oregon to only 14 points, along with then no.2 ranked Southern Cal when the Cardinal beat them in week three 21-14. Wisconsin’s one-dimensional offense will have a hard time with the tough Stanford defense.
The 11-2 Cardinal is the toughest opponent Wisconsin will play this season, and if Wisconsin does not want to make their third straight Rose Bowl appearance a third straight loss, they have to develop a passing game. I would not anticipate Stanford letting Bucky get away with only passing the ball 8 times in a game, but after what we saw yesterday, who really knows? If Wisconsin is as unstoppable on the ground in four weeks as they were yesterday, they won’t need a passing game.
I was ready to crown Stanford Rose Bowl Champs regardless of which team won yesterday. However, with Wisconsin’s outstanding performance over the Huskers yesterday, I have a new found hope that if a similar looking Badger team shows up in Pasadena, it could be the right recipe for a Big Ten, Pac 12 Rose Bowl classic!
Follow paulmbanks
For the Wisconsin Badgers, a win at the Big Ten Championship game in Indianapolis would mean three straight Big Ten titles and three consecutive Rose Bowl appearances, a feet which is unprecedented in school history.
For the Nebraska Cornhuskers, a win in the Championship game would be their official welcome to the conference as they move on from a successful history in the Big 12 and start anew in just their second year in the Big Ten.
Who said there wasn’t a lot at stake in Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday?
Follow paulmbanks
It didn’t take long as the Wisconsin Badgers Montee Ball scored his 79th and record-breaking touchdown in the first quarter of UW’s season finale at Penn State.
Ball rushed 17 yards on a sweep to the right in which he tip-toed down the sideline and walked in for the historic score.
No single player in NCAA FBS history has scored more touchdowns than Ball has during his career at Wisconsin.
Follow paulmbanks
Anytime the Wisconsin Badgers lose a couple of games at Camp Randall, it’s probably not a very good year. This year is one of those years and yet they still have a chance to turn it around with a win in next week’s Big Ten Championship.
Before they embark to Indianapolis, they travel to Happy Valley to take on a surprising Penn State team on an emotional day for their senior class. Even though it could be the toughest environment the Badgers play in all year, they need this game to avoid stumbling into the BIG Game.
Follow paulmbanks
Unless you live in some vacuum without sports media, you’ve probably heard that Maryland joined the Big Ten Conference on Monday and Rutgers will soon join too.
We’ve heard all about what it means to Maryland, Rutgers and the Big Ten, but what does it exactly mean for the Wisconsin Badgers?
The simple answer is that there’s advantages and disadvantages, but let’s delve a little deeper in to the ramifications.
Follow paulmbanks
Senior quarterback Curt Phillips will make his first and last start at Camp Randall when the Wisconsin Badgers welcome in the undefeated Ohio State Buckeyes for Senior Day this weekend.
Overall, the Badgers have nine seniors taking part in the festivities, but it will be Phillips and star running back Montee Ball who will be expected to carry Wisconsin to victory. [Read more…]
Follow paulmbanks
Earlier in the season we gave a quarterly review of the performance of each Big Ten team and graded them based on how they did compared to pre-season expectations. About a month ago, we gave our mid-season review. Now, three-quarters of the season is over, and each school’s grade is based on its overall/ conference record, and how the team has improved or declined since the first half of the season.
Follow paulmbanks