When you get into mid-late December, the featured games in college basketball can be less than appealing. We’re past the riveting pairings of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge and Feast Week Thanksgiving tournaments. However, we still have three weeks until conference season begins. Last Saturday’s nationally televised match-ups on Saturday were so dreadfully boring that Indiana Hoosiers vs. Kentucky Wildcats and Marquette Golden Eagles versus Wisconsin Badgers were the BEST options.
It also doesn’t help that college football was over by last Saturday, and the NFL hasn’t started their games on Sat part of the schedule. But hey, at least you have 7th tier bowl games coming up this week, it’ll give you something to distract you from all the hoops powerhouses loading up on cupcakes before conference season begins.
Perhaps this is why all your non-family related Christmas parties are going on right now. So spike the eggnog at the office yuletide, because you won’t get much excitement from watching your team destroy somebody you’ve never heard of with a hyphenated name by 30 points.
By Paul M. Banks
1. Ohio State Buckeyes- Jared Sullinger gets yet another Big Ten Freshman award (he’s won four of the first five weekly honors), and now a regular player of the week to boot this time! As a ranked team, Ohio State is 372-105 all-time. Ohio State improved to 22-7 when ranked No.2 in the country, and 107-17 when ranked among the Top 3 in the country. When ranked in the Top 10 nationally, Ohio State is 249-56 with wins in 40 of its last 42 outings.
2. Illinois Fighting Illini– One of the quality wins (Gonzaga) is starting to look less quality. But that Oakland win over the evil Bruce Pearl and Tennessee gave the Illini a sweet little RPI boost. Even if they lose to Mizzou in the “Braggin Rights” game, this pre-conference still has to be considered a smashing success. And if they win? Call everyone you know in Nellyville and tell them how much they suck! Cuz you’ll have “Braggin Rights”…I guess.
3. Purdue Boilermakers- Was their loss to Richmond a little hiccup? Possibly. Their win over Oakland is a good tournament resume builder. Boilers are looking like a 13-5 or 12-6 team in conference. And crazy as it sounds, that might be enough to win the league.
4. Michigan State Spartans- How can you have three losses and yet be ranked #14 in the nation? Because all three losses came to a top 5 team. Yes, that’s how ridiculous their schedule is. And they still have to play #22 Texas before Big Ten season starts. Simple fact: they are the only ranked team to play a true road game at a ranked opponent.
5. Minnesota Golden Gophers- If they were healthy, and their D a little tighter, I’d rank them second.
6. Northwestern Wildcats- Second in the nation in 3 pt %, the Wildcats are off to their best start since the 1993-94 season when they opened that campaign with nine consecutive victories. They’ll get another pushover tonight in American. (I wonder if their school fight song is Hulk Hogan’s ring entrance music “I am a Real American.” Then it’s off to Madison Square Garden to grapple with St. Francis and then most likely Coach Lav’s Johnnies in a de facto road game.
7a. Wisconsin Badgers-Third in the nation in scoring defense (what else is new?) But 17th in scoring margin and 23rd in rebounding…not too shabby!
7b. Oakland Golden Grizzlies– I figured since they scheduled literally half the conference this season, and they reside in Michigan, heart of Big Ten Country, Keith Benson and company belong as an honorary member.
8. Indiana Hoosiers- Had a chance to prove themselves versus Kentucky; failed badly.
9. Michigan Wolverines– Darius Morris is third in the nation in assists. So they got that going for them; which is nice.
10. Penn State Talor Battles- Conference schedule does them no favors. Their “one-plays” (not to be confused with the x-rated R. Kelly album “12 Play”) this season are Iowa and Indiana.
11. Iowa Hawkeyes- There are aspects of their offensive execution that are so…let’s just say I have a feeling a fan or two may hit DJK’s Iowa City drug house before watching this team play.
Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net , a Midwest webzine. He’s also a regular contributor to the Tribune’s Chicago Now network, Walter Football.com, Yardbarker Network, and Fox Sports.com
You can follow him on Twitter @thesportsbank
He also does a regular guest spot each week for Chicagoland Sports Radio.com