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 are not in a rebuilding [...]

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 major [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 the [...]

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 Gophers are [...]

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? Can [...]

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.
Low experience; double-double threat

SF
Justin Johnson
6’6
Sr.
14.3 ppg through 7 games this year

SG
Dan Bohall
6’4
So.
Good: 3.1 apg; Bad: 2.1 turnovers per game

PG
Tony Freeman
6’1
Sr.
No. 2 scorer [...]

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 FG% last season

SF
Sterling Williams
6’4
Jr.
Just 3 games with 10+ shots in 3 years

SG
Michael Thompson
5’10
Fr.
Team-best 15.3 ppg through 4 games

PG
Craig Moore
6’4
Jr.
Stats through 4 games: [...]