Record: (18-12, 9-8 Big Ten) Key Wins: N-Syracuse, Florida, @ Illinois, Minnesota, Purdue Key Losses: @ Tennessee, North Carolina, @ Iowa, @ Michigan Key Stat: 4-8 away from Value City Arena. Key Numbers: RPI: 55; SOS: 33; NSOS: 13; Vs. Top 50: 1-9 Biggest Strengths: Big-time talents. As I wrote earlier this season, the Buckeyes… more »

In a nationally televised BracketBuster game, one would have assumed Virginia Commonwealth’s Eric Maynor would have played a major factor – win or lose – in the Rams’ success. Ironically, Maynor was a shell of himself Saturday morning in front of 4,098 screaming fans at Rhodes Arena. Still, that didn’t stop VCU from making a… more »

Game Information: VCU (19-6, 12-3 CAA) vs. Akron (18-7, 8-4 MAC), 11 a.m. ET Saturday, ESPN2.About VCU: One year ago, Virginia Commonwealth took a big hit in its Bracket Buster matchup. The Rams fell to Bradley, 73-64, and I wrote, “The Rams might have to run the table in their remaining regular season games and… more »

Imagine Tim Floyd’s stomach last April. Floyd may have single-handedly propelled sales of Alka-seltzer in the Los Angeles area to an all-time record. Prior to April, it was assumed his Trojans, who finished T-3rd in the Pac-10 during the regular season, runner-up in the Pac-10 Tournament, and made an appearance in the Sweet 16, were… more »

The tears were flowing in Columbus, Ohio, last April. The Ohio State Buckeyes, who lost to Florida in the BCS Championship game in January and had already lost to the Gators on the hardwood back in December, were swallowed up by the Gators once again, this time in the NCAA title game. It wasn’t just… more »

In college basketball, the term “reloading” is thrown around often. Perhaps too often. It is one thing for a team to win a conference championship, lose a Player of the Year candidate and a few other weapons, and then compete for a conference title the following season (see this year’s Wisconsin Badgers). It is even… more »

The calendar only just turned to 2008, but take a guess at which team is No. 3 in the Big Ten. Wisconsin? Nope. Illinois? Try again. Purdue? This might take all night. Believe it or not, the Minnesota Golden Gophers are a step behind the Spartans and Hoosiers in the Big Ten rankings. The 8-1… more »

When analyzing matchups, experts tend to look at the obvious: rankings, star players, and big-name coaches. All of these play a factor, but sometimes a win just comes down to knowing your opponent. How does the opposition score? From the foul line? Mid-range jumpers? Three-pointers? And, almost as important, where are your team’s defensive weaknesses?… more »

2006-2007 Record: 17-14 (9-7 Big 10, T-4th) Postseason Games: 3/9/2007 Purdue Big Ten Tournament L 74-55 Returning Statistical Leaders: 7.5 ppg – Tony Freeman 4.6 rpg – Kurt Looby 3.7 apg – Tony Freeman Starting Lineup: Key Stat: C Seth Gorney 7’0 Sr. 57.5 FG% last year was career worst PF Kurt Looby 6’10 Sr…. more »

2006-2007 Record: 13-18 (2-14) T-10th Postseason Games: 3/8/2007 Michigan State Big Ten Tournament L 62-57 Returning Statistical Leaders: 13.4 ppg – Kevin Coble 5.2 rpg – Kevin Coble 2.0 apg – Craig Moore Starting Lineup: Key Stat: C Kevin Coble 6’8 So. Expected to be best Wildcat in history PF Jeff Ryan 6’6 So. 46.8… more »

2006-2007 Record: 22-13 (8-8 Big 10, T-7th) Postseason Games: 3/8/2007 Minnesota Big Ten Tournament W 49-40 3/9/2007 Ohio State Big Ten Tournament L 72-62 3/13/2007 Utah State NIT W 68-58 3/15/2007 Florida State NIT L 87-66 Returning Statistical Leaders: 5.7 ppg – Ron Coleman, Jerret Smith 4.0 rpg – Ekpe Udoh 3.4 apg – Jerret… more »

2006-2007 Record: 11-19 (2-14 Big 10, T-10th) Postseason Games: 3/8/2007 Illinois Big Ten Tournament L 66-60 Returning Statistical Leaders: 16.3 ppg – Geary Claxton 8.0 rpg – Geary Claxton 2.3 apg – Mike Walker Starting Lineup: Key Stat: C Jeff Brooks 6’8 Fr. A top-60 recruit should sure up post PF Brandon Hassell 6’11 Sr…. more »

2006-2007 Record: 23-12 (9-7 Big 10, T-4th) Postseason Games: 3/8/2007 Penn State Big Ten Tournament W 66-60 3/9/2007 Indiana Big Ten Tournament W 58-54 3/10/2007 Wisconsin Big Ten Tournament L 53-41 3/16/2007 Virginia Tech NCAA L 54-52 Returning Statistical Leaders: 11.4 ppg – Shaun Pruitt 7.5 rpg – Shaun Pruitt 4.5 apg – Chester Frazier… more »

2006-2007 Record: 30-6 (13-3) 2nd Postseason Games: 3/9/2007 Michigan State Big Ten Tournament W 70-57 3/10/2007 Illinois Big Ten Tournament W 53-41 3/11/2007 Ohio State Big Ten Tournament L 66-49 3/16/2007 Texas A&M-CC NCAA W 76-63 3/18/2007 UNLV NCAA L 74-68 Returning Statistical Leaders: 8.8 ppg – Brian Butch 5.9 rpg – Brian Butch 2.9… more »

2006-2007 Record: 22-12 (9-7, Big 10, T-4th) Postseason Games: 3/9/2007 Iowa Big Ten Tournament W 74-55 3/9/2007 Ohio State Big Ten Tournament L 63-52 3/16/2007 Arizona NCAA W 72-63 3/18/2007 Florida NCAA L 74-67 Returning Statistical Leaders: 7.2 ppg – Chris Kramer 4.9 rpg – Gordon Watt 2.5 apg – Chris Kramer Starting Lineup: Key… more »

2006-2007 Record: 9-22 (3-13 Big 10, 9th) Postseason Games: 3/8/2007 Michigan Big Ten Tournament L 49-40 Returning Statistical Leaders: 14.9 ppg – Lawrence McKenzie 6.0 rpg – Dan Coleman 2.8 apg – Lawrence McKenzie Starting Lineup: Key Stat: C Spencer Tollackson 6’9 Sr. FG% dropped 9.1% last season PF Dan Coleman 6’9 Sr. 77.4 FT%… more »

2006-2007 Record: 35-4 (15-1 Big 10, 1st) Postseason Games: 3/9/2007 Michigan Big Ten Tournament W 72-62 3/10/2007 Purdue Big Ten Tournament W 63-52 3/11/2007 Wisconsin Big Ten Tournament W 66-49 3/15/2007 Cent. Conn St. NCAA W 78-57 3/17/2007 Xavier. NCAA W 78-71 (OT) 3/22/2007 Tennesseee NCAA W 85-84 3/24/2007 Memphis NCAA W 92-76 3/31/2007 Georgetown… more »

2006-2007 Record: 21-11 (10-6 Big 10, 3rd) Postseason Games: 3/9/2007 Illinois Big Ten Tournament L 58-54 3/15/2007 Gonzaga NCAA W 70-57 3/17/2007 UCLA NCAA L 54-49 Returning Statistical Leaders: 13.8 ppg – D.J.White 7.3 rpg – D.J. White 3.0 apg – Armon Bassett Starting Lineup: Key Stat: C DeAndre Thomas 6’9 Jr. In 5 games,… more »

2006-2007 Record: 23-12 (8-8 Big 10, T-7th) Postseason Games: 3/8/2007 Northwestern Big Ten Tournament W 62-57 3/9/2007 Wisconsin Big Ten Tournament L 70-57 3/15/2007 Marquette NCAA W 61-49 3/17/2007 North Carolina NCAA L 81-67 Returning Statistical Leaders: 13.5 ppg – Drew Neitzel 6.7 rpg – Goran Suton 6.5 apg – Drew Neitzel Starting Lineup: Key… more »

For the first time in years the Big Ten’s “best” don’t include the names Illinois, Ohio State or Wisconsin. This season is expected to belong to Indiana and Michigan State while a handful of other teams fight for the third spot. The big change in Big Ten country this season is two added conference games…. more »

This preseason tournament–the CBE Classic–is all about the big boys. Well, three big boys to be exact. UCLA (AP No. 2, USA Today/ESPN No. 2) plays the role as the favorite. The Bruins are looking to jumpstart the 2007 season with four straight wins en route to a third-straight Final Four appearance, and possibly the… more »

Team personality: Just win, baby! Whenever you watch Ohio State, is there ever any doubt that the Buckeyes will somehow win the game? They always play loose on the floor and the energy of coach Thad Matta never ceases to electrify his players. While screaming a play at his team recently, Matta’s green-colored gum flew… more »

Team personality: The Badgers are a true example of a team (with a little Alando on the side). Outside of Alando Tucker, a top three candidate for National Player of the Year, the Badgers have a slew of role players that do all the dirty work and play within coach Bo Ryan’s system. Ryan’s swing… more »

You remember that kid in high school who, no matter who hit him, would retaliate? Think of Indiana as that team that doesn’t hesitate to retaliate. Regardless of the foe, Indiana won’t stop trading blows until the clock strikes 0:00.Much of that identity is new to Bloomington, and it came with the arrival of coach… more »

Team personality: Picture a pit bull, salivating as he stares down his prey. Move left, the pit bull moves left. Move right, the pit bull moves right. You’re trapped. Nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. So is the life of an opposing team’s offense against Illinois. Like a pit bull, the Fighting Illini team has… more »