As always, Jerod, Ryan, and Andy will be here with another episode of The Assembly Call as soon as the game ends with instant analysis and fan reaction.

IU-Illinois Gameday Info

• Date: Thursday, February 9th
• Time: 8:00 ET, 7:00 CT
• TV: BTN
• Announcers: Gus Johnson and Jimmy Jackson
• Point Spread: Indiana by 4.5
• Over-Under: 134
• KenPom Prediction: Indiana 74-63 with a 83% chance of winning
• Peegs: IU Gameday
• Inside the Hall: What to Expect – Illinois
• IU-Penn State live tweet coverage: @AssemblyCall
• Assembly Call IU Postgame Show: http://assemblycall.com/live

IU-Illinois Preview

Illinois

The Illini come in losers of four of their last five games after falling to Northwestern at home on Sunday.  Brandon Paul poured in 22 points, while Meyers Leonard added 21, but once again the Illini got no scoring from their bench.  In fact, four players logged 39 or more minutes against the Wildcats, and only six guys played more than one minute.

Illinois’ lone win during that five-game stretch was a 42-41 victory over Michigan State in one of the ugliest games I have watched all season.  As that point total would indicate, the Illini have struggled offensively most of the season.  They have been held under 1.00 points per possession in seven of their last nine contests.

In conference play, the Illini rank 10th in adjusted offensive efficiency.  Their best attribute is their 51.3 percent shooting from two-point range, but they don’t shoot it nearly as well from beyond the arc.  They rank eighth in offensive rebounding percentage and free throw rate, and they are next to last in turnover rate.  That’s good news for an IU team coming off of its best defensive performance in weeks.

That said, the Hoosiers can’t allow Brandon Paul to get clean looks.  Despite the fact that his efficiency numbers aren’t particularly impressive, he did explode for 43 points against Ohio State and has three 20-point efforts since then.  Paul has taken at least 11 shots in 11 straight games, so it will be important for the Hoosiers to make him work for his points.

The other main offensive threat on the Illinois roster is sophomore big man Meyers Leonard.  In many ways, he and Cody Zeller are similar in the sense that each team recognizes their talent but often struggles to get them the basketball.  Against Northwestern he finished 10-of-12 from the field, so the Hoosiers need to limit his touches inside and push him off the block.  They also need to keep him off the offensive glass, which is an area that plagued them early on in conference play.  On the defensive end, Leonard is a tremendous shot-blocker, and I am really looking forward to the matchup with Zeller.

Guard D.J. Richardson also averages in double figures, but he has scored more than nine points just twice in the last eight games.  He’s really struggled with his shot since sustaining a wrist injury early in Big Ten play.  Joseph Bertrand started to emerge near the end of the non-conference slate and has shown flashes as well.  Again, their is limited depth on the Illini roster, so these four players are likely to score most (if not all) of Illinois’ points.

The Illini defense ranks fourth in defensive efficiency in Big Ten play.  Thanks in part to Leonard’s shot-blocking prowess, opponents are shooting just 46.9 percent on two-pointers.  They also do a nice job of forcing turnovers, but they rank in the middle of the pack in defensive rebounding percentage, opponents’ free throw rate, and three-point defense.  Opponents are also shooting a league worst 66.7 percent from the line, so some luck has also played a factor in their solid defensive numbers.  Three of their last four opponents have scored at least 1.02 points per possession, with the 1.25 ppp allowed against Northwestern establishing a new season high.

Indiana

The Hoosiers should come into the game with plenty of confidence after a 17-point win at Purdue on Saturday.  Victor Oladipo played the best game of his career and scored 23 points to go with eight rebounds, four assists, and two blocks.  He was relentlessly aggressive, which paid huge dividends on both ends of the floor.  Indiana also got a lift from Remy Abell, who came off the bench to score 13 points in just 19 minutes.  Cody Zeller attempted 11 of IU’s 35 free throws in the game and finished with 16 points and eight boards.

Against the Boilers, the team showed more toughness than they have in recent weeks and put together a complete performance.  They will need to carry that over to Thursday night’s game and jump on the Illini early.  If the Hoosiers can get Illinois in foul trouble, get out to an early lead, or both, Illinois’ offensive struggles and lack of depth will be magnified.

The Hoosiers are likely to play without Verdell Jones once again, but Oladipo did a nice job of handling the ball more and allowing Jordan Hulls to spend time playing off the ball.  Limiting turnovers will be important for IU, because they don’t want to give a team that struggles offensively any easy baskets off of miscues.  Otherwise, the Hoosiers match up pretty well with Illinois, particularly if they stay aggressive by attacking the offensive glass and getting the ball inside.

Indiana has gotten great play from the bench in recent games, and their depth is a real advantage in this one.  It’s unclear whether Crean will stick with Derek Elston in the starting lineup given Illinois’ relative lack of size, but no matter what, he will have multiple contributors available off the bench like Will Sheehey and the aforementioned Abell.

Final Thought

The Hoosiers finally got a key road win in Big Ten play against Purdue, and it will be important for them to remember how they earned that victory.  If they come out with the same intensity and toughness from the opening tip, this is a game IU should win at home.

On the defensive end, they need to limit Leonard’s touches inside and force Paul into contested jumpers.  Offensively, the Hoosiers have to continue to attack off the dribble or through Zeller in the post, both of which give them a chance to get Leonard in foul trouble or kick the ball out to open shooters.  Look for IU’s depth and what should be a raucous home crowd to be the difference in this one.

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Listen to Andy Thursday on The Assembly Call. Follow him on Twitter at @AndyBottoms.

As always, Jerod, Ryan, and Andy will be here with another episode of The Assembly Call as soon as the game ends with instant analysis and fan reaction.

IU-Purdue Gameday Info

• Date: Saturday, February 4th
• Time: 7:00 ET, 6:00 CT
• TV: BTN
• Announcers: Dave Revsine and Jimmy Jackson
• Point Spread: Purdue by 4.5
• Over-Under: 144
• KenPom Prediction: Indiana 73-72 with a 53% chance of winning
• Peegs: IU Gameday
• Inside the Hall: What to Expect – Purdue
• IU-Penn State live tweet coverage: @AssemblyCall
• Assembly Call IU Postgame Show: http://assemblycall.com/live

IU-Purdue Preview

Purdue

The Boilers come in losers of four of their last seven games, including a pair of home losses, but they have been idle since last Saturday when they picked up a nice road win at Northwestern.  Robbie Hummel hit the game winner and tallied 11 points, while Terone Johnson came up big with 14 points for Purdue.

Without E’Twaun Moore and JaJuan Johnson, this Purdue team has a significantly different look than in years past on a number of fronts.  Offensively, the team has very limited production in the post and relies heavily on Robbie Hummel and Lewis Jackson.  Hummel leads the team with 15.2 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, but he’s hitting just 39.5 percent from the field.  He can step out and knock down three-pointers but has struggled from long range in conference play.

Jackson is the kind of quick point guard that has given Indiana trouble off the dribble.  He has battled back injuries of late, but he comes in averaging 10.2 points and a team-high 3.9 assists.  IU needs to keep him out of the lane where he can be dangerous at either finishing or kicking it out to open teammates.

Ryne Smith is the team’s designated sharpshooter and is hitting 41.8 percent from beyond the arc this season.  The Hoosiers allowed a number of Michigan players to get open looks from three-point range, and they cannot afford to lose track of Smith.  The aforementioned Terone Johnson has shown flashes this season, while veteran D.J. Byrd has been a solid contributor off the bench.

The Boilers have struggled with their shooting in conference play, hitting 33.9 percent of their three-pointers, 47.6 percent of their two-pointers, and a league-worst 64.3 percent from the line.  They rank eighth in free throw rate in league play and 10th in offensive rebounding percentage, but they do boast the lowest turnover rate in the nation.  As a result, the Hoosiers can’t afford to gamble on defense and get themselves out of position.  They also need to do a better job of stopping dribble penetration and not allowing uncontested layups, as they did on multiple occasions against the Wolverines.

As has not been customary in recent years, Purdue has struggled defensively this season.  They are in the middle of the pack for overall efficiency, but they rank 11th in league play in effective field goal percentage defense.  They are dead last in three-point defense, which the Hoosiers should look to exploit with Jordan Hulls and Matt Roth outside.  The Boilers are eighth in defensive rebounding percentage and ninth in opponents’ free throw rate, so Indiana needs to remain aggressive at driving to the basket and crashing the glass.  Purdue does have a solid turnover rate, which is an area that has plagued the Hoosiers at times this year.

Indiana

Once again, the Hoosiers got off to a slow start on Wednesday night, falling in 13-0 hole against the Wolverines and trying to dig their way out over the remaining 35 minutes.  They got as close as two points but allowed a pair of clutch three-pointers and faltered down the stretch.  Tom Crean called his starting lineup “a joke” after the game, so it will be interesting to see if any changes are made.

One change that may be made for him is related to Verdell Jones, who hurt his shoulder late in the first half against Michigan and sat out the second half.  Jones is expected to be a game-time decision, but if he can’t go, it might free up more playing time for Matt Roth and freshman Remy Abell, who has played well in recent games.

As always, it will be important for Indiana to pound the ball inside to Cody Zeller given Purdue’s lack of quality big men.  Zeller posted his second career double-double against Michigan but certainly didn’t play one of his best games.  He seems to still be struggling with the physicality of Big Ten play but needs to be more aggressive in carving out position for himself and attacking the basket.  Given Purdue’s three-point defense, it would again be wise for the Hoosiers to play from the inside-out.

Jordan Hulls is coming off of a terrific game against Michigan.  He scored 18 points and dished out five assists, but more than that his leadership helped the team claw its way back into the game.  It will be important for him to carry over his hot shooting, as the Indiana native looks for his first win over the Boilers.

The Hoosiers also need a more consistent effort from Christian Watford.  He played poorly in the first half against the Wolverines and started the second half on the bench.  Watford responded to the benching with some inspired basketball on both ends of the floor, but he needs to bring that effort from the opening tip.  Otherwise, he may continue to cede playing time to Derek Elston, who has been a spark off the bench in recent games.

Will Sheehey also needs to respond following a rough night against Michigan that saw him go scoreless with three turnovers and two fouls in just 10 minutes of action.  He played well in his first start against Iowa, but it’s unclear whether he will retain a starting role for the third straight game.  Meanwhile, Victor Oladipo seems to have embraced his role off the bench, scoring 18 points and grabbing 12 boards over the last two games.

Final Thought

To some extent I feel like a broken record here in saying that IU needs to stop dribble penetration and feed the ball to Zeller inside.  They also have to bring a consistent defensive effort throughout the game, something they have struggled to do in recent games.

And while those things will be critical, how Indiana plays at the start of the game will be even more important.

The team has fallen behind early in virtually every game they have lost.  Michigan State jumped out to a nine point lead in the first 6:30, Ohio State was up 11 in roughly the same amount of time, Wisconsin led by five before the first TV timeout, and Michigan was up 13-0 early in Wednesday’s game.  For a team still learning to win on the road, they simply can’t afford to get that “here we go again” feeling.  More than that, a quick early start might help quiet what is sure to be an electric atmosphere at Mackey Arena.

Indiana needs to win this game to get back to .500 in conference play and prove they can win on the road.  Purdue needs this win to protect their home court before a number of tough games down the stretch and to help preserve their spot in the NCAA field.  If the Hoosiers want to come away with what would be their best road win of the season, it will be imperative that they get off to a good start, play solid position defense, and cut back on unforced turnovers.

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Listen to Andy Saturday on The Assembly Call. Follow him on Twitter at @AndyBottoms.

As always, Jerod, Ryan, and Andy will be here with another episode of The Assembly Call as soon as the game ends with instant analysis and fan reaction.

IU-Michigan Gameday Info

• Date: Wednesday, February 1st
• Time: 6:30 ET, 5:30 CT
• TV: BTN
• Announcers: Gus Johnson and Shon Morris
• Point Spread: Michigan -2.5
• Over-Under: 135
• KenPom Prediction: Michigan 71-70 with a 54% chance of winning
• Peegs: IU Gameday
• Inside the Hall: What to Expect – Michigan
• IU-Penn State live tweet coverage: @AssemblyCall
• Assembly Call IU Postgame Show: http://assemblycall.com/live

IU-Michigan Preview

Michigan

The Wolverines have alternated wins and losses over their last six games and are coming off of a three-game road trip where they went 1-2 with a win at Purdue sandwiched between losses at Arkansas and Ohio State.  Tim Hardaway Jr. has led the team in scoring in each of the last two games with 19 points against the Boilers and 15 versus the Buckeyes.  However, Michigan shot just four free throws against OSU and was crushed on the glass, allowing the Buckeyes to grab 14 offensive rebounds.

Offensively, the Wolverines have taken 43.0 percent of their shots from beyond the arc despite connecting on just over 30 percent from deep.  Interestingly, they are sixth in the nation in two-point shooting.  With freshman Trey Burke running the show, they have a low turnover rate, but they are last in free throw rate during league play.  Overall, their offensive efficiency is in the middle of the pack, but their 0.84 points per possession against OSU is dragging down what would otherwise be a solid average.

That isn’t particularly good news for Indiana given how poor their defense has been in league play.  The Hoosiers rank eighth or worse in all four factors and surrendered 1.08 ppp in the first meeting between these two teams.  They did show signs of improvement against Wisconsin, but they allowed 1.20 ppp against Iowa on Sunday.  The fact that Michigan plays at a much slower pace should help limit transition baskets, but it will be critical for the Hoosiers to keep Burke out of the lane.

Burke has been one of the best freshman in the nation and comes in averaging 14.1 points, 5.0 assists, and 3.6 rebounds.  The Wolverines have also gotten improved play from big man Jordan Morgan, who has 36 points and 18 rebounds over the last three games.  Indiana natives Zack Novak and Stu Douglass will also be looking to end their careers against the Hoosiers on a high note.

On defense, the Wolverines have allowed their last five opponents to score at least 1.04 ppp.  They rank first in opponents’ free throw rate and third in turnover rate in conference play.  However, they have allowed league foes to shoot 38.4 percent from beyond the arc and are last in block percentage.  Cody Zeller and Christian Watford combined for 43 points on 16-of-21 shooting in the first meeting, so expect the Hoosiers to attack from the inside out.

Michigan is in the middle of the pack in defensive rebounding percentage in league play but has allowed opponents to grab at least 36 percent of their misses in three of the last five games.  On Sunday the Hoosiers grabbed 18 of their 30 missed shots against Iowa, and it will be critical for them to maintain that level of aggressiveness on the boards.

Indiana

IU should come in with plenty of confidence offensively after scoring 103 points against Iowa, as six players reached double figures.  The Hoosiers changed their starting lineup for the first time in that game, inserting sophomore Will Sheehey in place of fellow soph Victor Oladipo.  Both players seemed to respond well, and it’s worth noting that Sheehey missed the first matchup between these teams with an ankle injury.  His ability to defend multiple positions should really help the Hoosiers against the perimeter-oriented Wolverines.

For Indiana, Zeller is coming off of a career-high 26 points against Iowa, most of which came on dunks.  Verdell Jones III has also played better of late with 26 points in the last two games.  He has been more aggressive in going to the basket, and many of his nine assists against the Hawkeyes were off of dribble penetration.  He needs to remain aggressive and put pressure on the Michigan defense while making good decisions with the ball in his hands.

The Hoosiers got 18 points and five offensive rebounds from the bench tandem of Derek Elston and Tom Pritchard against Iowa.  Elston has played much better over the last three games, and Tom Crean’s team has gotten a real spark from the bench in recent games.  Given Michigan’s struggles to defend the three-point line, sharpshooter Matt Roth could play a factor in the outcome.

Final Thought

For IU, the keys on defense will be containing Burke off the dribble and forcing Hardaway to settle for contested jumpers while controlling the defensive glass.  If they can rekindle the defensive energy they showed against Wisconsin, they should be able to slow up Michigan offensively.

On the other end of the floor, the team needs to maintain their aggressiveness by going inside to Zeller or penetrating off the dribble.  That should open things up at the three-point line for shooters like Jordan Hulls and Matt Roth.  They also need to attack the offensive glass, as Michigan has shown vulnerability there in recent games.

The Wolverines are undefeated at home this season, although victories over Minnesota, Northwestern, and Michigan State have come by a combined eight points.  Consequently, I expect a close game that won’t be decided until the final minutes.

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Listen to Andy Sunday on The Assembly Call. Follow him on Twitter at @AndyBottoms.

Fuller disclosure:  Coming from me, that means a lot…because in general, I absolutely hate Ohio State.

Image source: Dan On The Street

Don’t get me wrong, they have some of the most loyal AND knowledgeable fans in all of college sports.  I definitely respect them as a whole (unless they are playing an SEC team in football…then they are a laughingstock).  But in general, I despise them.

So for me to say that I really like their team this year – you know it’s not something that I WANT to say.

Jared Sullinger is the most complete big man in college basketball.  He’s a beast in the post, a great passer out of it, and can even knock down the outside jumper.

William Buford is a great catch-and-shoot scorer.  He’s a senior, and he adds an element of outside shooting to the group.

Deshaun Thomas is a great slasher, and despite his immaturity, he does a decent job at creating his own shot.

Aaron Craft is one of my favorite players in college basketball.  In my opinion, he is the best on-ball defender in the entire nation.  He’s smart, he’s crafty, but more than that, he’s just good.

However…(you knew it was coming)…when Ohio State gets into a close game, they have problems.

Ohio State’s Fatal Flaw

To be fair, the Buckeyes are still 15-3, and they lost all three games ON THE ROAD to some very good teams (Kansas, Indiana, and Illinois).  In the Big Ten, it’s very hard to beat good teams in their own building, and you know how hard it is to win in Jayhawk Country.

With that said, if Ohio State wants to be elite – one of the top two or three teams in the country – they will need to fix their potentially fatal flaw and close out games better.

And why do they have problems closing out games?  Because they don’t have THE GUY that will take over down the stretch.

Ohio State is built to blow you out.  Give it to Sully early, knock you around, force you to scramble, and then start raining some threes.  If they can get a twenty-point lead (which they are able to do at a startlingly efficient rate), they will run you out of the building.

But when games stay close, Ohio State has nobody (currently) that is both willing AND able to take over.

It’s one of the biggest fallacies in basketball thinking – that a team can win without a star as long as they all play well together.

False.

Even Hickory had Jimmy Chitwood.

Even Milan had Bobby Plump.

So who is that guy for Ohio State right now?

William Buford, the lone senior, would seem to fill the role.  And in games versus IU and Illinois, he has tried to take that role.  He is WILLING, but he has not been able.

Buford’s problem is that he can’t really create his own shot.  He is very similar to Christian Watford from IU.  He’s a great shooter that is difficult to block because he is so long.  However, both players play OFF the ball much better than they play ON it.  In fact, their size often times ends up giving them problems when they try to dominate the ball, because their ball-handling is so suspect that smaller defenders are often able to poke it away.

In the last few games, Buford has made some VERY questionable decisions down the stretch, and it’s all because he’s trying to do something he can’t really do.

Ask him to run around screens and knock down open jumpers…that’s right up his alley.  Ask him to score for you down the stretch…you will be disappointed.

So if not Buford, then who?  Sullinger is the most talented player on the team, but he’s a big man.

How many teams run plays for the big man down the stretch of games?  Unless he has a single go-to move (Kareem’s sky hook, Dirk’s fadeaway, Hakeem’s Dream Shake), it is often a lost cause.  Why?  It’s simply too hard to consistently get the ball into the post when teams step up their defense.  Even if you CAN get it into the post, it’s usually in an unideal place.  There is a reason that Kareem, Dirk, and Hakeem ALL started their go-to moves fifteen feet from the basket – it’s because YOU CAN’T get it closer.

If you don’t believe me, look at the last ten college basketball champions, and then notice who each team’s “go-to” SCORER was.

• UConn – Kemba Walker
• Duke – Nolan Smith/Kyle Singler
• UNC – Tyler Hansbrough/Ty Lawson/Wayne Ellington
• Kansas – Mario Chalmers/Brandon Rush
• Florida – (The best college team of the last 20 years)
• UNC – Rashad McCants/Raymond Felton/Sean May
• UConn – Ben Gordon
• Syracuse – Carmelo Anthony
• Maryland – Juan Dixon
• Duke – Jay Williams/Shane Battier

There are only two big men in the group – Psycho T and Sean May.  Both players played on teams that had MULTIPLE go-to guys.  Also, Psycho T scored most of his points through the face-up game and Sean May was a beast on the boards.

Ten of ten teams relied on outside scorers to lead them down the stretch.

So what does that mean for Jared Sullinger?  He is ABLE to do it talent-wise…but he isn’t really ABLE to do it basketball-wise.

Ironically, Deshaun Thomas is probably the player that is best equipped to take over the “closer” role down the stretch.  Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, he is not only a sophomore, but he’s the third sophomore in line when it comes to leadership.  Sullinger and Craft really run the show with Buford being a steady leader behind the scenes. Thomas isn’t the answer, at least he hasn’t been.  Only one guy is left.

Aaron Craft.

As much as I love Aaron Craft’s game, I don’t think that he’s talented enough to carry this role.  Craft is a good shooter, but like Buford, he rarely creates his own shot.  He hits most of his threes off of kick-outs and ball-rotations.  He is also too small to consistently get to the basket.

This is bad news for the Buckeyes because in reality, you REALLY want the ball in Craft’s hands late in games.  He’s your smartest player, and he CAN create things for them.  Unfortunately, he’s a complete non-threat for teams as far as scoring the basketball.  Teams have figured this out, and have started to play him “to pass” late in games.  This enables them to focus more attention on Buford and Sullinger, and it increases the Buckeyes’ scoring difficulties.

Buckeyes Similar To Hoosiers – Except In One Key Way

When you really think about it, Ohio State and IU are eerily similar.

Sullinger and Zeller are both talented big men that can also bang around, get some rebounds, and play above-average defense.

Buford and Watford are basically twins.

Oladipo and Thomas both play the athletic slasher/scrappy defender/crowd favorite role to perfection.

Aaron Craft and Jordan Hulls are both white.

BUT WAIT!!!!  Hulls and Craft are DIFFERENT.

Jordan Hulls can create his own shot.  He was Mr. Basketball in the state of Indiana.  He has the quickest release in college hoops.  He is deadly from up to thirty feet.

Late in games, Jordan Hulls is dominating the rock for the Hoosiers.  Because you have to respect his jumper, and defend him further out, the entire floor is opened up for the rest of his team.  He can hit Oladipo slashing to the basket.  He can run the pick and roll with Zeller.  Watford has more room to operate off of screens.  If you try to defend all of that, Hulls can still go one-on-one and kill you at the end of the shot clock.

The Hoosiers, simply, are built to win close games.  They have the right guy to run the show.

Ohio State doesn’t.  At least not now.

And if somebody doesn’t step up, one of my favorite college basketball teams of 2012 will go home early.  Again.

This week, they discuss:

• The Crosstown Brawl between Cincinnati and Xavier
• The Big Ten
• Terrence Jones
• Murray State
• Conference USA
• Teams they are worried about.
• Plus a couple games to watch this weekend.

Click play on the player below to listen:

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That’s a rant for another day, but a quick look shows that the conference lost three first team All-Conference performers, eight of its top 12 scorers (including the top three), six of its top 10 rebounders, and its top two assist men.

Still, the league will be bolstered by the unexpected return of Jared Sullinger and may well boast the nation’s top point guard in Jordan Taylor.  Throw in do-it-all forward Draymond Green, the return of Robbie Hummel, and three or four Top 25 recruiting classes (depending on which recruiting site you trust), and the Big Ten may not be down quite as much as people think.

Since the conference is my first love despite being the butt of its share of jokes around the style and pace of play, I’m starting in the midwest with an early look at how each team is shaping up.

Keep in mind that there is still time for additional transfers or signings, so this picture is still taking shape.

Illinois

The Illini lost starters Demetri McCamey, Mike Davis, and Mike Tisdale to graduation, and with Jereme Richmond’s questionable decision to remain in the NBA Draft, Bruce Weber returns just two players who averaged over three points.

That duo of juniors Brandon Paul and D.J. Richardson will lead a roster comprised largely of a highly touted class of newcomers.  They’ll be helped in the backcourt by Bradley transfer Sam Maniscalco who led the Braves in assists during his first three seasons before an injury limited him to just six games last year.  Freshman Tracy Abrams, who Rivals tabbed as the Big Ten’s best incoming passer and perimeter scorer, should also see time at the point, while fellow frosh Mycheal Henry adds depth on the wing.

The serious question marks are on the interior with sophomore Meyers Leonard the best returning option.  While I expect a jump in production from Leonard due to a steep increase in minutes, freshmen Nnanna Egwu, Mike Shaw, and Ibrahima Djimde will be counted on to contribute immediately.  Chemistry issues led this team to underachieve a year ago, so despite the losses, it could be an addition by subtraction scenario.

Indiana

The good news is that the Hoosiers lost only defensive stopper Jeremiah Rivers and added big man Cody Zeller in Tom Crean’s biggest recruting coup to date.  The bad news is that the returning core of players finished 12-20 last season.

Forward Christian Watford showed significant improvement and was starting to peak when he suffered a broken hand against Michigan State.  Guard Jordan Hulls also asserted himself more offensively and knocked down better than 40 percent of his three-pointers, while Victor Oladipo and Will Sheehey exceeded expectations as freshmen.

However, the fact that the Hoosiers return their top seven scorers and top five rebounders from last year won’t matter if they don’t show significant improvement on the defensive end. In addition to surrendering plenty of wide open shots, the team also fouled at a high rate and had trouble taking care of the basketball.

Stability at the point guard position will be important as Verdell Jones III, who led the team in both assists and turnovers, and the aforementioned Hulls shared duties there a year ago.

Aside from a lack of interior depth, the biggest question mark for IU is the health of guard Maurice Creek who suffered his second knee injury in as many seasons.  Hoosier fans are expecting Crean’s team to take the next step this season, and their progress defensively will ultimately determine their fate.

Iowa

By all accounts, the Hawkeyes overachieved in year one of the Fran McCaffery era.  They knocked off Purdue and Michigan State at home, took Wisconsin and Michigan to OT, and tested the second-ranked Buckeyes.  Another year in McCaffery’s system only helps, as does the return of six of their top seven scorers, including the top three.

Bryce Cartwright excelled at the point over the latter half of the season, finished third in the conference with 5.9 assists per game, and relieved some of the pressure on Matt Gatens.  Throw in solid inside play from the undersized Melsahn Basabe, and there is reason for optimism in Iowa City.

The Hawkeyes add a couple decent recruits in shooting guard Josh Oglesby and small forward Aaron White.  However, their most intriguing signing was 25-year old forward Anthony Hubbard, who averaged better than 20 points and 10 boards for Frederick C.C. last year.  The intrigue comes from the four years Hubbard spent in prison following a robbery arrest.  He should provide them with another scorer as well as a guy not afraid to mix it up on the glass even at 6-foot-5.

This team won’t make the NCAA Tournament, but if they can get anything inside from guys like Andrew Brommer, Devon Archie, or freshman Gabe Olaseni, they won’t be easy to beat.

Michigan

I argued earlier this week that the departure of Darius Morris could cripple a Michigan team that snuck up on people a season ago.  It’s now unclear who will get into the lane and set up teammates for open looks, despite the fact that everyone else is back in maize and blue.

Sophomore Tim Hardaway Jr. came on strong over the second half of the season, scoring in double figures the final 16 games of the year.  He’ll be counted on to shoulder the scoring load with Morris out of the picture. Veterans Stu Douglass and Zack Novak will provide plenty of leadership, and talented freshmen Trey Burke and Carlton Brundidge also enter the backcourt fray.

Big man Jordan Morgan was the beneficiary of many of Morris’ assists, so it will be interesting to see how he performs as a sophomore.  Morgan will need to enhance his arsenal of post moves in order to continue his development into a reliable low post scorer.  Jon Horford’s bloodlines suggest improvement in his second season, which would give Michigan another option down low.

Ultimately Burke will be the X-factor for this team.  If he can slide in and produce at the point, the other pieces are there for John Beilein’s squad to finish in the top third of the Big Ten.

Michigan State

While teams like Iowa and Michigan overachieved last season, the Spartans were unable to live up to their lofty preseason expectations.

Gone are Kalin Lucas and Durrell Summers along with recent transfers Chris Allen and Korie Lucious, leaving the Spartans pretty thin in the backcourt.  Keith Appling was relegated largely to a defensive stopper as a freshman, but he’ll be asked to do more this season to pick up the slack.  One of the more unheralded transfers will also be key for Sparty, as former Valparaiso guard Brandon Wood joins the team after scoring 16.7 points per game for the Crusaders last year.

There’s more experience up front with versatile forward Draymond Green and senior Delvon Roe.  Green does a little of everything for this team and has consistently improved his all-around game and skill set from year to year, while knee ailments have limited Roe’s development.  Tom Izzo needs more from Adreian Payne and Derrick Nix, both of whom were highly rated coming out of high school.  Redshirt freshman Russell Byrd can also provide a lift on the perimeter after missing last season due to injury.

A talented recruiting class will have the chance to step in and play extended minutes early.  Forward Branden Dawson is the most talented of the bunch and can play on the wing as well as pound the glass.  Point guard Travis Trice can knock down open threes and could factor into the backcourt rotation immediately if his body can hold up to the rigors of Big Ten basketball.

Outside of Green, there are no sure things for the Spartans, and expectations are probably as low as they have been in recent years in East Lansing.  Expect them to finish in the top half of the conference, but don’t expect them to challenge for the title.

Minnesota

A promising start to the 2010-11 season came unraveled after the transfer of Devoe Joseph and Al Nolen’s foot injury.  Without Nolen, the offense struggled to consistently produce, and fears of a repeat performance are at the forefront of fans’ minds with limited backcourt experience and depth on this year’s roster.

Returnees Austin Hollins and Chip Armelin both scored fewer than five points per game, and while they had some bright spots, neither one is a good fit at the point.  That puts a lot of pressure on juco transfer and former Big West Freshman of the Year Julian Welch who joins the team this season. Freshmen Andre Hollins and Joe Coleman have a chance to earn early minutes at shooting guard as well.

Minnesota’s strength is on the interior led by double-double machine Trevor Mbakwe.  Ralph Sampson III eventually decided to eschew the NBA draft, and Mo Walker is expected to be at full strength after a knee injury cut short his freshman season, both of which should help ease the blow of Colton Iverson’s transfer.  Throw in athletic wing Rodney Williams, and the Gophers look impressive across the frontline.

Last season’s team is proof positive as to how important a strong floor general is, so the overall success of the season rests largely on how well Welch can acclimate himself to the team.

Nebraska

The Huskers made a late push for the NCAA Tournament last season but faltered in the wake of a wild comeback win over Texas.  Their only notable loss was point guard Lance Jeter, who led the team in scoring and assists.

Nebraska does boast six players who averaged at least five points a year ago, and they expect to add LSU transfer Bo Spencer to the mix.  Spencer put up better than 14 points per game with the Tigers in 2009-10, but he’s apparently got some work to do in order to become academically eligible.  While things are reportedly moving in the right direction for Spencer, it’s no sure thing at this point.

There is no shortage of size up front for the huskers with 6-foot-11 Brian Diaz, 6-foot-10 Brandon Ubel, and 6-foot-11 Andre Almeida, all of whom seem well suited for the Big Ten battles down low.

Like so many other teams in the conference, point guard is the biggest question mark.  Brandon Richardson is the top returning option, but freshman Corey Hilliard also has a shot to earn playing time there.  If Spencer is ineligible, there’s really no go-to scorer on the roster despite a glut of juniors and seniors.

Northwestern

Following the graduation of four-year starter Juice Thompson, the Wildcats are also uncertain at the point.  John Shurna is in line for a bounce-back season after suffering from a variety of injuries and ailments last year.  It sounds odd to call it a bounce-back since despite those issues, he still led the team in scoring for a second straight season and shot better than 40 percent from beyond the arc.

Including Shurna, Northwestern returns seven of its top eight scorers, including wing players Drew Crawford and JerShon Cobb.  Crawford has shown flashes but also disappears at times, and Cobb displayed solid potential as a freshman last year.  The fact that neither is really cut out to run the show puts a lot of pressure on incoming freshman Tre Demps. Recruiting descriptions of Demps reference a high basketball IQ and a savvy approach to the game, both of which seem reminiscent of what Thompson provided during his underrated career.

Inside, Luka Mirkovic is back, but there isn’t much depth there.

I feel like a broken record, but point guard play is the key for this team as they look to replace Thompson.

Ohio State

The return of Sullinger along with William Buford and Aaron Craft give the Buckeyes a strong foundation even after the graduation of David Lighty and Jon Diebler.  With all the attention given to Sullinger last season, Buford’s impressive numbers (14.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.9 apg, 44.2 3P%) flew a bit under the radar.

The other returning player to watch is DeShaun Thomas, who averaged 7.5 points despite logging just 14 minutes per game.  His propensity to shoot helped him make up for lost time, but he’ll need to be more selective in an expanded role this year.

Once again, the Buckeyes boast the top recruiting class in the conference led by McDonald’s All-Americans Shannon Scott and Amir Williams.  Scott fits the mold of the talented wing players Thad Matta has had so much success with in recent years, while Williams will provide length and athleticism alongside Sullinger inside.  Throw in a few more talented freshmen like Sam Thompson and LaQuinton Ross, and Ohio State is once again the prohibitive favorite to win the conference.

One of the knocks on Matta’s teams in recent years has been a lack of depth, but that doesn’t appear to be an issue with this year’s squad, which is ranked in the Top Five of most preseason rankings I’ve seen.

Penn State

No team was ravaged more by the departures of seniors than the Nittany Lions, who lost All-Conference guard Talor Battle along with Jeff Brooks, David Jackson, and Andrew Jones.  That leaves point guard Tim Frazier as the leading returning scorer at 6.3 points per game.

No one else on the roster averaged more than three points, and only five players played at all.  So unlike most Big Ten teams, there is stability at the point, but who Frazier will be passing the ball to remains to be seen. Jermaine Marshall should slide into a starting role in the backcourt and had some moments coming off the bench last year.

Up front, redshirt freshman Jon Graham should see time along with sophomore Sasa Borovnjak, who missed last season after tearing his ACL.  Penn State does have a couple big guys among their incoming recruits, but it seems unlikely that either one could step in and play major minutes.  Their top newcomer is small forward Ross Travis, whose versatility will likely land him a spot in the starting lineup.

With so many questions and unknowns, it’s tough to envision the Nittany Lions finishing anywhere but in the cellar.

Purdue

What Penn State lost in quantity, Purdue lost in quality due to the departure of four-year starters JaJuan Johnson and E’Twaun Moore.  If you’re looking for a silver lining as a Boiler fan, you do have Robbie Hummel back to serve as the team leader, and you have everyone else back in the fold.

Lewis Jackson played well over the latter half of the season and provides continuity in the backcourt along with sharp shooter Ryne Smith.  D.J. Byrd is an undersized and gritty player up front, but the real void for this team will be down low.

The trio of Patrick Bade, Travis Carroll, and Sandi Marcius hasn’t shown much thus far in their careers, although with Johnson around not much was expected of them.  Freshmen Donnie Hale and Jacob Lawson are a bit undersized but will be asked to contribute at least a little bit inside, particularly on the glass.

After being suspended for the tournament last season, Kelsey Barlow is also expected to return and provides Matt Painter with a lockdown defender.  John Hart is also healthy again, but the guy I am anxious to see is Terone Johnson.  With Moore in the backcourt, Johnson was limited to around 19 minutes per game and wasn’t counted on for scoring.  You know the Boilers will be sound defensively, so if Johnson becomes a double-digit scorer in his second season and someone steps up inside, Purdue could surprise people.

Wisconsin

If history has taught us anything, it’s that you cannot write off Bo Ryan’s Badgers under any circumstances.  So even though they lost two of their top three scorers, including big man Jon Leuer, don’t expect a huge dropoff in Madison.

The biggest reason for optimism is the return of Jordan Taylor, who averaged 18.1 points to go with a ridiculous assist-to-turnover ratio of nearly 4:1.  He makes everyone around him better and enters the season as the early favorite for Big Ten Player of the Year.

Forward Mike Bruesewitz came up big on a few occasions last year and will be asked to play a much larger role as a junior.

Keep an eye on sophomore-to-be Josh Gasser in the backcourt.  He did a little bit of everything for the team as a freshman, and he even messed around and got a triple-double against Northwestern.  Forward Ryan Evans took a step back as a sophomore but should be in line for increased minutes.

The big hole for this team is in the post, but they have a few options to fill the void left by Leuer and Keaton Nankivil.  Junior Jared Berggren has the most experience, but redshirt freshman Evan Anderson, a highly regarded recruit in the 2010 class, will be in the mix as well.  A pair of freshmen, Jarrod Uthoff and Frank Kaminsky, will also factor into the frontcourt equation.  Uthoff has more upside of the two but may need a year to bulk up.

Regardless, the Badgers have made a living in recent years on the “next man up” philosophy, so you’d be hard pressed to bet against Wisconsin finishing in the top three of the league.

Follow me on Twitter for more college hoops thoughts and analysis.

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With the Super Bowl set and the NFL season nearly over, fans will be looking to fill their sports void with college hoops as we press on toward March Madness.  However, with many spending their time calling in Amber Alerts for Reggie Wayne during the fantasy playoffs, or wondering how to earn spare cash as Mark Sanchez’s human Kleenex, NCAA basketball has taken an unfortunate back seat.

Luckily, my Indiana roots have rendered me unable to fall victim to such traps, which is a bad thing for my family but a good thing for those of you looking to start prepping for the Big Dance.  In the coming weeks, I’ll give a crash course in what you may have missed over the first couple months of the season and what to look for as we near the midway point of conference play.

The Big Ten is up first.  You may remember this conference from dreaming up the dumbest division names in the history of organized sport or going 0-5 in New Year’s Day bowls. But the conference does boast some pretty good basketball teams.

Best Team: Ohio State (20-0, 7-0)

After losing do-it-all National Player of the Year Evan Turner, it’s hard to imagine the Buckeyes being improved, but their play certainly suggests it.  Freshman sensation Jared Sullinger is a beast down low with nine double-doubles already, including his most recent 27-point, 16-board masterpiece in a road win at Illinois.  He gives OSU the inside presence they’ve lacked since losing Greg Oden, and Thad Matta has surrounded Sullinger with talented wing players like William Buford, David Lighty, and Jon Diebler.

A thin seven-man rotation leaves some cause for concern, but Matta has shown the ability to work with limited depth in the past.  While I don’t think the undefeated mark of the ’76 Hoosiers is in jeopardy (six of OSU’s final 11 games are against ranked opponents), Ohio State is looking like a lock as a top seed barring a complete collapse.

Biggest Suprise: Purdue (17-3, 6-1)

Despite losing Robbie Hummel to a second ACL tear on the first weekend of practice, fellow seniors JaJuan Johnson and E’Twaun Moore have carried the Boilers to a strong start.  Johnson has vaulted himself into the National POY conversation by averaging 20.5 points with eleven 20-point performances and seven double-doubles.  Moore is posting a career best 18.1 points per contest, which helps make up for the fact that no other Boiler averages more than seven.

The team is coming off of its biggest win of the season against Michigan State on Saturday night, but Purdue will be tested with six of their next seven against ranked foes, including home-and-homes against Ohio State and Wisconsin.  How the Boilers handle that stretch will go a long way to determining their seed, which would be around a four if the tournament tipped off today.

Biggest Disappointment: Michigan State (12-7, 4-3)

With nearly everyone back from last season’s Final Four squad, the Spartans were tabbed by many pundits as a National Championship contender, but as Tom Izzo teams have fallen into the habit of doing in recent years, they’ve gotten off to a slow start.  Neutral court losses to Connecticut and Syracuse are explainable, as is a road loss to Duke, but getting manhandled in East Lansing by Texas and falling on the road at Penn State are a little tougher to swallow.

Draymond Green gives them a versatile presence up front, and Kalin Lucas continues to gain strength as he recovers from the Achilles injury he suffered in the tournament last season.  But they struggle to consistently knock down shots, and the enigmatic Durrell Summers has returned in place of the guy who took over games late last year.  Sparty isn’t in danger of missing the tournament (yet), but if Izzo’s squad wants to make another run in March, they’ll need to shake off a series of underachieving performances.

Best of the Rest:

Wisconsin (15-4, 5-2) – As usual, Bo Ryan’s team just keeps on winning.  The Badgers don’t have a bad loss and have arguably the easiest remaining schedule of any if of the league’s top teams.  Jon Leuer and Jordan Taylor give the Badgers a potent inside-outside combo, which should net them around a four seed.

Illinois (14-6, 4-3) – The talent is there for the Illini, but they’ve lost three of their last four games.  Even so, their upcoming slate gives them a chance to get on a roll heading into the stretch run.  The key player may well be freshman Jereme Richmond who has responded to transfer rumors by posting 32 points and 15 boards in his last two contests.

Minnesota (15-4, 4-3) – The Gophers knocked off North Carolina and West Virginia to win the Puerto Rico Tip-Off, but the depth that played a factor in those victories is all but gone after the transfer of Devoe Joseph and injuries to Mo Walker and Al Nolen.  Nolen, the team’s senior point guard, broke his foot in Saturday’s win against Michigan and will likely miss the rest of the season.  Trevor Mbakwe averages a double-double, and Blake Hoffarber may be asked to take on more responsibility with Nolen out.  Yes, Hoffarber is still in school.  No really, I mean it.

Penn State (10-8, 3-4) – Following wins over Michigan State and Illinois, the Nittany Lions lost to Ohio State and Purdue by a total of four points.  A non-conference loss to Maine looms large, but improved play from Jeff Brooks and David Jackson has Penn State in the discussion.

Northwestern (13-6, 3-5) – Even after the abrupt departure of Kevin Coble, the Wildcats remained optimistic they could earn their first NCAA Tournament berth.  So far…um, not so much.  They have no marquee wins and were just dumptrucked by Wisconsin on Sunday, so things look bleak to say the least.

The Rest

Indiana/Iowa/Michigan – These teams are a combined 3-18 in league play.  That seems like enough information.

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* – Jared Sullinger photo credit: Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images North America via Zimbio

@JerodMSF Robbie Hummel: OUT FOR SEASON

As you know, I’m an IU fanatic. I hate Purdue, with every fiber of my being. Yet I still felt like someone had punched me in the stomach the second I read that.

And sorry Tyler, I cannot agree with you. The IU fan in me most certainly does not love this.

You’ll remember that Hummel also tore his ACL last year. He reportedly tore the same one in practice yesterday and now will miss the entire 2010-11 season.

There is nothing more I hate as a sports fan than when good athletes get injured, even when those athletes are on teams I hate. It just sucks. Hummel has done nothing but represent the Big Ten and college basketball well. As Mark Titus put it on Twitter, “Life isn’t fair sometimes.”

No, no it’s not.

Understand, I don’t necessarily feel bad for Purdue as a program. And by that I mean that injuries are part of sports. Scott May, Alan Henderson, Maurice Creek…I could go on and on listing great IU players who suffered injuries that derailed seasons. It happens. It sucks, but it happens. And it can happen to the teams you’re the most excited about, as when Henderson was hurt during IU’s 1992-93 season…my favorite sports team of all-time.

Who I feel bad for is Hummel, and to a certain extent E’Twaun Moore and JaJuan Johnson, the trio that has helped Matt Painter rebuild Purdue and that were coming back together for one more run. As a college basketball fan I was curious to see just how good this team could be…while obviously hoping that they didn’t end up being as good as I feared they could be. (The one trump card I have over Purdue fans is the five banners! We can’t have Purdue getting one…)

But I certainly didn’t want them to not live up to expectations because of another season-ending injury to Hummel, and especially when you injure the same knee.

My younger brother did the same thing in high school, tearing the same ACL twice (and he actually tore the other one once too). The rehab sucks and it can really mess with you mentally to work that hard to return and then suffer the same injury again. After seeing my brother go through that, I wish it no one…obviously not even my worst enemy.

Best wishes to Robbie Hummel. Hopefully he makes a full recovery and can have a healthy NBA career. He can be a solid bench contributor to a good NBA team…so long as his knees to cooperate.

This post and all of our March Madness coverage this year is sponsored by Armorex Exterior Coating, the company that helps keep you inside watching sports went you want to be…not outside re-painting your house. Do it right the first time, for a lifetime.

Update 3/13/10: This post was originally published on February 28th, 2010. The table below has been updated with all results leading up to Sunday’s title game between #1 Ohio State and #6 Minnesota.

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Prior to the season, the Big Ten was expected to be a Michigan State-Purdue battle for the top, and aside from Ohio State’s stellar play, it has been.

On Feb. 9, the Boilers demolished the Spartans in East Lansing, making the top of the conference a veritable log jam (pardon the cliché). But Feb. 28, while most of the naton focused on a classic gold medal hockey game, Purdue laid (perhaps an expected) egg in a disheartening, sloppy payback loss to “Sparty.”

Earlier in 2010, the Spartans were rolling along undefeated, with a huge conference lead through January, but an injury to a star player (Kalin Lucas) and three early February losses in a row opened the door for defending tourney champ Purdue, as well as the red-hot Buckeyes, Wisconsin, and the erstwhile surprising Illini of Illinois — to join them among the conference’s upper echelon.

Update: Now the question is how will the injury to Robbie Hummel affect the end of the regular season and the Big Ten Tournament?

The Big Ten’s top five teams may be good as any group in the nation, setting up what should be a thrilling 2010 Big Ten Tournament.

Here is the TV schedule and matchups for this year’s Big Ten Tournament, along with links for great deals on Big Ten Tournament tickets.

Big Ten Tournament Tickets and TV Schedule

• StubHub: Big Ten Tournament Tickets – All Session Pass
• StubHub: Individual Big Ten Tournament Tickets
• TicketMaster: Big Ten Mens Basketball Tournament Tickets – All Session Pass
• TicketMaster: Individual Big Ten Mens Basketball Tournament Tickets

2010 Big Ten Mens Basketball Tournament Bracket and TV Schedule

Of course Purdue, the defending Big Ten Tournament champion, is now without star forward Robbie Hummel. But don’t forget, the Boilers can still play with anyone. They were undefeated and impressive non-conference, ranked as highly as fourth nationally then, before losing three of their first five Big Ten games.

Prior to Sunday’s setback inside Mackey Arena, the Boilers had rebounded quite nicely over six weeks, winning at Champaign, Bloomington, Columbus, and beating the Badgers in West Lafayette. They capped their run off with the aforementioned win at East Lansing. After beating Penn State Saturday afternoon in State College, Purdue finished tied with MSU and OSU for a share of the regular season conference crown.

The Boilermakers, winners of 10 straight between mid-January and February’s final evening, will happily play in front of partisan crowds with the conference tourney at Conseco Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis, 65 miles from their campus. They would love to return a few weeks later for the Final Four across town at Lucas Oil Stadium.

We’ll find out next month whether or not Purdue can overcome adversity and add their name to the following table one more time. Here is the complete (though brief) history of the Big Ten Tournament: champions, runners-up, and Most Outstanding Players.

Big Ten Tournament History: Past Champions, Runners-Up, MOPs, and Sites

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* – Matt Painter photo credit: Darron Cummings / Associated Press via CourierPress.com

Midwest Sports Fans (MSF) Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links above are affiliate links, which means that MSF makes a small percentage of anything purchased upon a click-through. That said, MSF only writes about stories that we believe will interest our readers, and we only link to and endorse sites and services that we would use or have used ourselves. We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

He also gave us today’s edition of Photo Hilarity of the Day.

As you can see, Moore clearly has taken to Matt Painter’s credo of playing tough, physical defense. Demetri McCamey of the Fighting Illini, however, is probably wishing that Moore’s defense didn’t involve E’Twaun grabbing (or tickling, not exactly sure…he is from Purdue after all) McCamey in his twig and berries while the Illinois guard attempts a jump shot.

Not sure if McCamey made the shot or not – although from the look of horror on his face, I’m not sure how he’d have the concentration to do so – but perhaps we should a column in the scorebook for “cock blocks” next to actual blocks when Purdue is on town.

Here is the bigger version of the picture, with a big tip to Jimmy Traina and today’s AM Hot Clicks for bringing this picture to my attention. I expect some good comments on this one.

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* – E’Twaun Moore grabbing crotch of Demetri McCamey photo credit: AP via SI.com

Watching the star guard writhe in pain below the basket added to the nastiness and Turner being unable to walk himself off the court to the locker room didn’t look good. The arena was silent the whole time and there was concern everywhere.

Obviously fans were concerned for the team’s success this season, but there was also plenty of concern for Turner’s future because he had injured his back. And over the past 18 months, Turner’s career has begun to look bright enough to include being some team’s star in the NBA.

Breaking vertebrae just sounds ugly and nothing good can come of that, right?

Wrong.

At “90 percent” health, as Turner thinks he is now, all that ugliness is ancient history. See last night’s 20 point, 13 rebound, 8 assist stat sheet against Northwestern, which is 100% output compared to his averages before the injury.

Seeing Turner overcome his fall and return to the lineup in such impressive fashion is a huge boon to the Buckeye’s outlook for rest of the Big Ten season and NCAA Tournament and has some Buckeye fans even thinking that a darkhorse run to the Final Four is not out of the question.

I know that sounds ridiculous, but just watching the Chicago native’s fall and seeing a sad season ending injury to IU’s Maurice Creek, it is a great relief just to see him back on the court again. The fall itself is some distant place behind, let’s say, Lawrence Taylor’s bone breaking sack on Joe Theisman’s leg. But Evan Turner’s fall was still horrific and freaky.

He was supposed to be out at least 8 weeks and suddenly we saw him start and play 20 minutes just four weeks later.  And then we saw vintage Turner last night. He became the only the second Ohio State player to reach 1000 points, 500 rebounds, and 300 assists in his career, Jimmy Jackson being the first.

In the middle of a three game win streak, the future still looks bright for Turner’s basketball career and the team’s success this season. Kendall Gill of the Big Ten Network was discussing how the Buckeyes can be discussed as the best team in the Big Ten now.

Thank God I don’t have to spend the rest of the 2010 college basketball season watching video of Ohio State’s high school recruits to be psyched. To gain any sense of hope from that would be downright pathetic and depressing. (Jerod (IU fan), please avoid Rival’s high school recruiting videos for the reasons above. Thanks.)

A “future being bright” comes with plenty of jokes and some terrible puns. So here’s another one: while wearing sunglasses at night, someone said to me, “KVB the sun does not set on cool.”

I laughed.

You might hate it, but you cannot disagree it wasn’t cool watching the Buckeyes look like a top 25 team again, especially with Evan Turner carrying the team on his rehabilitated back.

Somebody get that man a pair of sweet shades. He deserves them.

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* – Evan Turner photo credit: NowPublic.com

I know that there are three teams who have played and won two games this season, while Indiana has only won one. And I know that the Hoosiers didn’t really accomplish all that much by beating a struggling Michigan team at home, in what was essentially payback for a game IU should have won last year.

And, most of all, I know that Indiana has as much a chance of winning the Big Ten this year as this song has of winning a Grammy.

Still, ask any IU fan and they will tell you that, all things considered, this right here looks about as beautiful as this right here. (Yes, we take our basketball very seriously in Bloomington.)

The Hoosiers will most likely have a much tougher go of it tonight in Columbus than they did last weekend in the friendly confines of Assembly Hall. This is will be especially true if the Buckeyes’ all-everything player Evan Turner returns to the lineup, as it is now being reported that he will do.

I think I speak for Tom Crean all Hoosier fans when I say that Turner should not rush back. He suffered a very serious injury and should be extra cautious in making sure that he is totally healthy. Sure, we’d be disappointed not to get to marvel at his all-around brilliance, but we’d get over it.

Tonight will tell us a lot about this year’s Hoosiers. If we compete and make it a game on the road (Evan Turner or not), I’ll have a lot more faith in a possible 6- or 7-win Big Ten season. If we lay and egg and get blown out, it’s back to expecting 3 or 4 wins.

Looking forward to it. I think the Hoosiers will lose…but play well.

Tonight, Indiana @ Ohio State, 8:30 ET, Big Ten Network

Peegs Gameday Page

I remember when the Big Ten/ACC Challenge started. It now seems like eons ago. Hell, Bob Knight was still coach at IU back then. And ten years later, coming into this year’s event, the ACC had won it all ten times.

Now, thanks to a terrific victory over Duke by Wisconsin – shocking (right J.J. Redick?) when you consider Duke’s 10-0 record in the Challenge entering this year’s – , and a thrilling comeback win by Bruce Weber and the Fighting Illini, the Big Ten has finally captured its first ever title in the annual battle between the conferences.

Our friend Ricky O’Donnell of Tremendous Upside Potential, who wrote about the Big Ten’s victory in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge at the SunTimes’ Full Court Press blog, summed it up the best when he said:

Or, to put in terms you’ll understand: the ACC is the Metrodome, the Big 10 is the White Sox. The ACC is the Circus Trip, the Big 10 is the Bulls. The ACC is Carlos Lee, the Big 10 is Cubs’ pitching.

Perhaps even labeling this as oppression was too kind. For 10 years, the Big 10 tried and the Big 10 failed. For 10 years, they never really stood a chance against the mighty ACC.

It is because of all this that I have to use the entirety of my will power not to type the rest of this entry in all caps.

Finally, finally, finally….the streak is over.

Big 10: 6
ACC: 5

I never thought I’d see the day. Exhale. And then rejoice.

I could not have said it better myself.

Unfortunately, my Hoosiers could not hold up their end of the bargain and defeat Maryland on Tuesday, but I am very happy as a Big Ten fan that this much-maligned conference finally has some bragging rights.

And this was not a fluke. The Big Ten is stacked with very good teams this year and will most likely get 6-7 teams in the NCAA tournament, and that’s with traditional power Indiana still trying dig itself out of its Sampson-dugg hole.

For once in December Big Ten fans can hold their heads up high.

To echo Ricky: finally, finally, finally…the streak is over.

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* – J.J. Redick photo credit: Full Court Press Blog

The game is now over, with the Boilermakers winning 81-67. My prediction was a 4-point win for the Boilers, I think they were favored by 22, and it ended up at 14. I guess that sounds about right. Here is the IU-Purdue box score if you’re interested.

While I am never happy about a loss, especially to Purdue, I think Indiana represented itself it well by playing hard, looking competent for stretches on the offensive end, and not allowing Purdue to ever run away with the game. Until E’Twuan Moore’s three-pointer with about 3:30 minutes left, the Hoosers were hanging around between 6-10 points down, just a few quick threes away from making it a game. But Moore’s three was a dagger that pushed the Purdue lead to 12 and effectively ended IU’s hopes of a comeback.

Here are a few observations and things we learned today:

1 – It is an absolute travesty that IU and Purdue are only playing once this year

This point is really too obvious to spend a lot of time worrying about. Does the Big Ten conference just stick its head up its own rear when it decides on the schedule? Certain rivalries should always be played twice a year, end of story. Indiana should always play Illinois and Purdue twice a season, no questions asked. I’m not even saying anything else because it is the one thing that IU and Purdue fans can agree on. There should be a meeting in Assembly Hall. The Hoosiers might not win, but they certainly could make it a competitive game. Now that this game is over, the fact that IU and Purdue are only playing once this year is really starting to piss me off.

2 – If Purdue shoots well in March (and Hummel is healthy), they can make a tournament run

I am impressed with this Purdue team. They struggled out of the gates in the Big Ten season but are playing really well right now. They play suffocating man-to-man defense and have solid continuity on offense. And when E’Twuan Moore is shooting the ball well from outside they become especially difficult to defend. The big caveat is Robbie Hummel’s health. I don’t think they have enough multi-dimensional players to compete with the top teams in the nation if Hummel is out, as evidenced by their 1-3 Big Ten record without him. With Hummel in the game, however, he provides that one guy with size who can do a little bit of everything.

3 – JaJuan Johnson is talented, but will never realize his potential until he learns how to focus

Full disclosure: This is the first full Purdue game I have watched this year, so Boiler fans can correct me on this one if I am wrong; but JaJuan Johnson really seems to lack focus. He played a very good game today though. 14 points, 10 boards, and 5 blocks. He showed range on his jumper, obvious athletic ability, and has undeniable talent. Yet, he made some really careless turnovers and got caught out of position a number of times on defense. And while I love Tom Pritchard and Kyle Taber, they are not in the upper echelon of big men that Johnson will have to face come March. If Johnson increases his ability to focus, he could be a monster as a junior and senior. He’s so talented, he may be anyway.

4 – Indiana has a team full of role players, but two guys have emerged as pieces to build around for the future

Nick Williams, Devan Dumes, Matt Roth, and Malik Story all bring unique individual abilities to the floor, and all will be solid players in the cream and crimson for the next year (Dumes) or three (the others, all freshmen). However, on a good team that can contend for a Big Ten title, they should be bench players who fill specific roles playing 10-15 minutes a game. And I don’t think that is a knock on them at all. They are getting tons of playing time as freshman because IU had so little coming back this year, and will be better players because of it. But each has critical deficiencies that put ceilings on their potential:

• Nick Williams is too short to be a guy who lacks quickness and handle
• Devan Dumes is not consistent enough as a shooter and plays out of control with the ball
• Matt Roth is a non-factor if he is not getting open looks from 3, and lacks quickness to get open if defenses focus on him
• Malik Story is simply average from a skill standpoint and athletic ability standpoint

With all that said, all four of these guys have tremendous heart and because of it they have been more productive than their respective talent and skills would suggest they’d be. They have also continued to fight in the midst of an awful season and will forever have my appreciation and respect, as well as that of Hoosier fans everywhere. And while they will improve moving forward, these are the kind of guys who should be like Pat Graham, Brian Evans, and Todd Leary on the 1993 team: solid role players who are not asked to do more than they are capable of doing and who contribute to a winning team.

There are two guys on this year’s team, however, that are proving to be future starters that IU can build around: Tom Pritchard and Verdell Jones.

Pritchard has been pretty consistent all season, though his play dipped a bit recently. I thought he played well today though. He was active offensively, made some tough shots, did a solid job on the boards, and played well with fouls in the second half. He finished with 12 points and 8 boards, which I think will be a similar line to what he’ll put up as a senior when he plays Purdue. Pritchard has obvious deficiencies in foot speed, overall athletic ability, and free throw shooting — only one of which he can really do anything about. But he is a physical presence with decent skills and a high basketball IQ. He can be a Matt Nover-type contributor who you can pencil in for 10-14 points and 8-10 boards every night. He is almost that right now as a freshman.

In terms of improvement, no Hoosier has improved more from the beginning of the season to now than Verdell Jones. Honestly, at the beginning of the season I was wondering why we gave him a scholarship and why he was playing so much. He looked scared, he turned the ball over left and right, and had no physical toughness. Over the last few weeks, Jones has shown off his offensive abilities and become a much more poised leader with the ball in his hands. He still does not dribble especially well and makes lazy passes, and he simply has to get stronger, but 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in his first trip to Mackey is nothing sneeze at.

I thought Verdell was outstanding today. For the first time all season I thought he looked completely comfortable on the floor. He made some beautiful passes, did a great job of pulling up for the 10- to 15-foot jumpshot, and led an IU offensive attack that played pretty well, all things considered, against a team that really knows how to lock down on defense.

Verdell Jones also has one huge advantage that cannot be taught: height. At 6’5, he is a tough matchup for most guards in the Big Ten. He has gotten eaten alive though by shorter, quicker players this season when he is careless with the ball; but as his ball-handling and decision-making improves he is going to become a really tough matchup on a night-in, night-out basis. With talented players Maurice Creek and Christian Watford, among others, coming in at the guard and wing spots next season, this year’s freshmen will have more competition for playing time. Verdell Jones is proving that he has the talent to be a starter on a top-flight Big Ten team. If he can continue grow physically, as a ball-handler, and in the mental aspect of the game, we could be looking at a player who puts up stat lines like today’s on a nightly basis.

5 – The IU-Purdue rivalry is going to be really fun again

In the late 80s and into the mid-90s, the IU-Purdue rivalry was awesome. Calbert Cheaney against Glenn Robinson. Brian Evans against Cuonzo Martin. AJ Guyton against Chad Austin. And of course, Bob Knight against Gene Keady. Over the last decade or so, while the game is always exciting, it has lacked that extra bit of star power and top-level performance. A major part of it has been the two programs’ transition from legendary coaches to the guys at the helm now. Another part of it is a huge lull in the two programs’ ability to keep the top in-state talent at home. And honestly, it has been rare recently for both teams to be really good at the same time.

But I think with Tom Crean and Matt Painter settling in as the long-term stewards of Indiana and Purdue basketball, this rivalry is on the right track towards becoming one of the elite rivalries again on a yearly basis.

Painter has done a great job of building a solid nucleus around in-state players. Tom Crean is bringing some good Indiana kids in next year and supplementing them with top-flight national talents like Creek and Watford. Give IU one more year to settle in next season, and then I think these two programs are poised to be in the upper third of the Big Ten for the next decade. And with these two coaches we know that the games will be extremely physical and hard fought.

For once, I am not completely despondent after a Purdue loss. I have resigned myself to the pitiful fate of seeking moral victories in every loss. The state of our program demands it. Today, the Hoosiers showed that they have two starters and four solid bench players ready to go for next season. Assuming three or four of the new guys are ready to step in and contribute right away, we can look forward to a still young but much more talented team next season that should be ready to compete for a Big Ten title again in 2011.

And hopefully, God willing, moral victories will no longer be an option.

Maybe I’m just a glutton for punishment, and perhaps I’ll feel differently if today’s game goes as every expert predicts it will go (read: blowout), but there is still always something special when Indiana and Purdue take the court together. Today is no different, and in fact is a little extra special because it is the first meeting in what should be a long and competitive rivalry between two outstanding coaches: Tom Crean and Matt Painter.

I am about to do something that I rarely do, and that may shock anyone who knows me. So brace yourselves. But I am about to give someone affiliated with Purdue a compliment.

I really, really like Matt Painter as a coach. Obviously I hate his guts because he coaches for Purdue, and I want to see him lose every game, but I respect what he is building in West Lafayette, and his teams embody what I am optimistic that Tom Crean can build in Bloomington (just better, of course). Painter has produced a team with many home-grown kids from the state of Indiana that protect their home floor, play tough and physical defense, and make every game a battle. They are not flashy, but they are solid and successful. And I can tell you this: I’m already penciling Purdue in for the Sweet 16 and the brackets aren’t even out yet.

(Pause. I am going to wash my hands now because I feel dirty and traitorous for having typed the previous paragraph.)

All that said, I wouldn’t trade Tom Crean for Matt Painter, and even though Purdue is better than Indiana this year, the fact remains that the ceiling for greatness in Bloomington is and always will be higher than in West Lafayette. At the end of the day, while Purdue has us 21-20 in Big Ten titles, the five national championships and 8 Final Four appearances dwarf the modest success that Purdue has had on a national level. Now that we have a coach who can build a winner the right way, and for the long-term, the Hoosiers should be able to elevate to the height of that ceiling once again.

And hopefully today is a step in the right direction.

A lot has been written over the past 36 hours about the frustration that Tom Crean showed after Thursday night’s loss to Wisconsin. He was not particularly amicable with Bo Ryan during the post-game handshake, and did not stay around long to answer questions with the media. Apparently, at least according to this forum thread, such behavior was his M.O. after particularly tough losses while at Marquette. Call me crazy, but I doubt IU fans will hold that against him. We have a little bit of experience with coaches who do not always display the height of their jocularity after losses.

To be perfectly honest, I felt the same way after the Wisconsin loss. I’ve stayed pretty positive all year, but that second half was pathetic. We looked tired, lacked focus, and did not even play up to our modest capabilities. We were terrible and non-competitive. I don’t think too many people realistically expected victory, but we all certainly expected a better effort than that. Tom Crean has stayed remarkably positive all season long in the face of some of the most dire circumstances and results any big-time college basketball program has ever experienced.

I’ll forgive him if every now and then the frustration boils over.

I hope and expect that the team saw every bit of that frustration in the locker room. If we play against Purdue in Mackey today like we played at home in the second half against Wisconsin, we’ll lose by 30 points. If we bring the effort and intensity we have brought all season long we can make it a semi-competitive game and at the very least not be embarrased. Like many, I will be rooting as hard as I can and hoping for the best, but I’d be shocked if IU pulled off a victory. It sure would be a beautiful thing, but while I hate Purdue with every fabric of my being, I don’t disrespect them enough to predict an IU win on their home floor. Not this season anyway.

I did say at the beginning of the year that if we went 1-15 in the conference, but beat Purdue, that I would consider the season a success. We already got our one win against Iowa and it remains to be seen if this year’s Hoosiers are capable of a second. But if somehow — by some combined stroke of luck, serendipity, and downright divine intervention — the Hoosiers are able to sneak out of West Lafayette with a win, it will erase an entire season of frustration and disappointment and make the whole ugly experience just a little more palatable.

I’m not holding my breath, but I’m certainly holding out hope.

Whatever happens today boys, just go out there and play hard and give your best effort. We have known all year as fans that we have to keep our expectations in check; but only for Wins and Losses, not for effort, focus, and heart. We left a lot to be desired in the second half of Thursday, but today presents a great opportunity to attone. Let’s send a message to Purdue and the rest of the Big Ten that we are not years away from competing. Go out there and compete today and show everyone that the pride of the cream and crimson endures, even in the face of tremendous struggle and frustration.

I’ll be in front of my TV cheering for all 40 minutes and believing every second that we’ll find a way to win (rationality goes out the window once the ball is tipped…always). I don’t ask for much, just to see that same effort and belief in you.

Go IU!

Official Game Info:

• TV: Big Ten Network
• Time: 2:00 ET
• Location: Mackey Arena in West Lafayette

Prediction: Purdue wins, but the Hoosiers make it a far more competitive game than anyone expects. 62-58 Boilers