Last but not…..well, probably least, the Big Ten Conference. For some reason Big Ten sports have been down the last couple years, unless that is if we’re talking Women’s Field Hockey, as that might be the only sport worth talking about in the Big Ten right now. Michigan Football wasn’t what it should have been, OSU made it to the Championship some how but is still overrated. But football season is done, and even Big Ten basketball isn’t dominant compared to other conferences. Big Ten seems to have a more team-oriented type of play, with a lack of stand out future NBA superstars unlike some of the other conferences. Maybe I’m just not giving them enough credit. The Big 10 still has three teams in the top 14 in both the AP and USA/ESPN polls. Though being realistic, you can count on only five teams being sent to the tournament, maybe six, if Tubby Smith can get everything together with his new team (there record still standing at 12-6 and the Gophers have lost three straight). Michigan State, Indiana, and Wisconsin are the top three teams in the big ten ranked 7, 11, and 13 respectively. Wisconsin and Indiana have both lost their last contest, while MSU has won four straight coming off an embarrassing loss at Iowa (10-11) only scoring 36 points, ugly. Michigan State has a real good chance to make it to the elite 8 with a tournament experienced coach, Tom Izzo. However, I just don’t see the Hoosiers or the Badgers getting past the sweet 16, granted they even make it there.
(Michigan State’s Raymar Morgan)
First Team All Big Ten
F- D.J. White – Sr – Indian Hoosiers(16.8 Pts, 10.2 Reb, 1.8 Blocks)
F – Raymar Morgan – So – Michigan State (16.6 Pts, 6.8 Reb, 57.6 FG%)
F – Geary Claxton – Sr – Penn State (17.5 Pts, 8.4 Reb, 49.5 FG%)
G – Eric Gordan – Fr – Indiana Hoosiers (21.7 Pts, 1.4 Steals 84.7 FT%)
G – Jamar Butler – Sr – Ohio State (15.0 Pts, 6.3 Ast, 1.5 Steals, 92.7 FT%)
(Wisconsin will go as far as Senior leader Brian Butch will take them)
Second Team All-Big Ten
F – Kosta Koufos – Fr – Ohio State (13.7 Pts, 6.8 Reb, 1.9 Blocks)
F – Brian Butch – Sr – Wisconsin (13.2 Pts, 7.8 Reb 1.0 Ast)
F – Manny Harris – Fr – Michigan (16.2 Pts, 4.6 Reb, 3.1 Ast)
G – Drew Neitzel – Sr – Michigan State (14.1 Pts, 4.8 Ast 2.8 3ptm)
G – Shane Pruitt – Sr – Illinois (12.8 Pts, 7.7 Reb, 54% FG%)
(Does Indiana’s Eric Gordon already have his mind on the NBA?)
Big Ten Freshman of the Year Favorite
G – Eric Gordan – Indiana (21.7 Pts, 3.2 Reb, 2.4 Ast, 1.4 Steals, 84.7FT%)
Goran Suton??? That’s garbage.
Mrs. Izzo, is that you?
Yeah Willis, you saw the unedited version. Corrections have been made.
haha clever. I had written the article in a hurry as I tried to finish before work, and yes, I could be considered Mrs. Izzo, and well, corrections have been made..however Sutan is a contributor to every stat catagory and thats why I liked him…
That picture of Butch is classic with the arm-sling, and I am pretty sure he is crying.
fitz geary claxton is out for the year.. how is he on your your first team all big 10?
maybe you missed the title? (midseason) which still makes him eligible…
wow, fitz, you really know your stuff!!
Good job!!
fitz you have oviously never watched wisconsin play if you think they cant make it past the sweet 16
vokey maybe you forgot last year’s Big Dance for Wisconsin? Last I checked they lost in the second round against UNLV… and I watch plenty of Wisconsin’s bullshit basketball.
mitch walker… obviously you forgot that butch didnt play because of a dislocated elbow… and this year they have more team chemistry and dont rely so much on Mr. Tucker to control and take over the games, last year if tucker struggled then they didnt play well sweet 16 maybe elite 8 for sconny this year no doubt about it
you know what the most disappointing thing about you is vokey? you’re supposed to be an iowa fan and you’re in love with wisconsin, the most despicable team when it comes to iowa sports. i bet you’re an iowa state fan now too. i used to like you… you are a red sox fan to me now, you are dead to me.
wow…red sox fan? those are harsh words…it doesn’t get any worse than that
mitch you really need to take it easy, i obviously am an iowa fan and when i go to iowa state games i cheer for the other team
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