Big Ten Coaches

The Big Ten Conference just got a whole lot tougher in Men's Basketball with the hiring of Tom Crean at Indiana. With this hire, the Big Ten has what has to be considered the top conference coaches from top to bottom anywhere in the land. For a quick recap, let's look at the numbers:

Todd Lickliter, Iowa: Granted this year was rough, but i could pick up four homeless guys and myself and field a team as 'talented' as Iowa was this year. Anyway, it was Lick's first year at Iowa, but he took his Butler team to two Sweet Sixteen's in the last 6 years and was last year's NABC Coach of The Year. He also was under current Ohio State coach Thad Matta at Butler.

Tom Crean, Indiana: Just named coach of Indiana, Crean has been at Marquette the last 9 years, averaging 20 wins a year. He's been to the Tourney each of the last 3 years and advanced to the Final Four in 2003. He was also named Conference Coach of The Year twice.

Bruce Weber, Illinois: Coach at Illinois for last 5 years, Weber had led the Illini to four straight Tourney appearances before this year. In 2005 they were runner-up, losing to UNC in the Championship game, and Weber was named the Naismith Coach of The Year.

John Beilein, Michigan: His first year at Michigan was a struggle, but like Lickliter at Iowa was left with almost nothing. Look only at his last three years at W. Virginia, where he made the Elite Eight and Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tourney, and won the NIT Tourney last year.

Tom Izzo, Michigan State: Known for having teams that hit the boards hard, Izzo's Spartans haven't missed the Tourney in ten years. He has four final fours and one Championship, plus another Elite Eight and two more Sweet Sixteen appearances. He also served as head coach of the US Basketball team at the 2003 Pan American Games.

Tubby Smith, Minnesota: Another first year coach in the Big Ten, all Smith did was take a team that finished 9-22 last year and made them a 20-13 team this year. Previously at Kentucky, Smith had not missed the Tourney in 14 previous seasons to this one with three different teams, winning the Championship once, making the Sweet Sixteen 5 times, and the Elite Eight 3 additional times.

Bill Carmody, Northwestern: While Northwestern will never be confused for a basketball powerhouse, Carmody has done a nice job in the 8 years he has been there. He has a particular knack for beating the Hawkeyes EVERY SINGLE YEAR. Not that i'm bitter or anything.

Thad Matta, Ohio State: Previous coach at Butler and Xavier, Matta has been in control at Ohio State for four years. This year was his first in 7 years he did not make the Tourney in which his team was eligible (Ohio State was not eligible for postseason play his first year there). He finished runner-up to Florida last season, and made one additional Elite Eight.

Ed DeChellis, Penn State: Well, they can't all be winners. In his fifth year at Penn State, he has never finished better than 7th (this year). Though he did finish in first or tied for first each of his last three years at E. Tennessee State before coming to State College.

Matt Painter, Purdue: Took over the coaching job at Southern Illinois when Weber left for Illinois, and guided that team to a 25-5 record and first in the conference. Was named the MVC Coach of The Year. Left after one year for Purdue to take over for Gene Keady. In three seasons there he has improved the team each year, leading to 2nd place Big Ten finish this year and back to back years in the 2nd round of the Tourney. Was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year this year.

Bo Ryan, Wisconsin: In his 7th season at Wisconsin, Ryan guides the Badgers to 1st in the conference and the Sweet Sixteen. He has not missed the Tourney since becoming coach of the Badgers. Has been to one other Sweet Sixteen, and an additional Elite Eight in that time. Additionally, he coached his UW-Platteville teams to the NCAA D-III Championship three times in nine years in the '90s.

So there you have it. From top to bottom, i challenge any conference in the country to trot out a more formidable and accomplished group of coaches. I don't think this one can be matched.

Big Ten Tourney

I could write about the atrocity that is the Big Ten Tournament, or about how Iowa bowed out ever so (not) gracefully on the first day, but why would i do that when it is so eloquently recapped here.

It's long been known this season that the Big Ten was down, but jesus i didn't realize it was this bad. Here's a tip to all you bettors out there- No matter what Big Ten teams make the tourney, bet against all of them, with the possible exception of Wisconsin. They play such a slow-down style that it keeps them in games with anyone. In their case, always bet the under.

H/T to BHGP

Big Ten Woes....

So now the Big 10 is 12 - 13 vs the SEC in bowl games this decade. Not really a bad record but due to OSU losing two years in a row to Florida and LSU in the National Title game, the SEC is perceived as the much better conference. I want to dwelve into the Big 10's problems.

Unfortunately for Big 10 they play most of their Bowl Games on the road.
3 neutral bowl games
MSU vs BC in Orlando, Florida
Indiana vs Oklahoma in Phoenix, AZ
Wisconsin vs Tennessee in Tampa Bay, Florida
5 road bowl games
Purdue vs Central Michigan in Detroit, Michigan
Penn St vs Texas A&M in San Antonio, Texas
Michigan vs Florida in Orlando, Florida
Illinois vs USC in Pasadena, California
OSU vs LSU in New Orleans, Louisiana

Looking strictly at locations and not teams you would expect the Big 10 to have a losing bowl record. And please explain to me how the 9th place Big 10 team (MSU) ends up playing the second place ACC team in Boston College. That can not, should not, and would not be fair or even competitive, except for the fact that MSU should have won and was easily the better team on the field except for the 5 turnovers. Thus bringing me to my last point.

The Big 10 does not play games after mid November and then waits 5 to 7 weeks to play a bowl game, and this is what really pisses me off. The Big 10 teams always play like shit, or more specifically like they haven't played in almost 2 months. Take a guess at the plus/minus turnover ratio for the Big Ten teams in bowl games this year?

A. +4 B. even C. -6 D. - 13

Times up, D. -13. Minus 13, how the hell did they manage to win any games let alone go 3 - 5.

Here is my problem with the Big Ten teams, I am an admitted homer and love them and think they should play better than they do in the bowl games. They fucking take six weeks off and then play sloppy football, have trouble catching passes, too many penalties and are - 13 in the turnover department. That is no way to get er done.. -13 includes Indiana who was +2 and still managed to get rolled in the 'Sweet, Dude, We are in Fucking Phoenix for the Holidays instead of Bloomington' Bowl. As soon as the Hoosiers flight landed at the airport in Phoenix the entire team had a hard-on for the ASU honeys and sunshine. We can all imagine how hard it is to play a football game with no blood flow to the brain.

How does the Big Ten fix the problems? Tough questions, but playing and extra week or two later in the season would be a good start. I don't want to hear it about the weather either, the players and fans will be used to it and you could always utilize the domes in the area for late season games or Bowl Games. Minneapolis, Detroit, St. Louis, and Indianapolis all have domes and could be utilized for late season Big Ten Games or new Bowl Games and would still attract a full stadiums of fans. If the Big Ten plays later into the season maybe they would not be so rusty and turnover prone during bowl season. Add in the fact if even one or two new bowls being held indoors in the Big Ten Country instead of in SEC or Pac 10 country and we might, just might be able to change some opinions across the country.

Pre Season Previews: Big 10 Conference

Now we're talking. I can write previews for every other conference and team in America, but until i start talking Big Ten, i don't get truly excited for football season. A born and raised Iowan, i've followed the Hawkeyes, and Big Ten football in general, my entire life. From Hayden Fry to Bo and Woody, Northwestern's improbable '95 Rose Bowl season, Wisconsin's rise to national prominence, Michigan State's continuous ability to screw things up, and the year in and year out classic that is Michigan- Ohio St., the Big Ten never fails to disappoint me. Each year there are multiple story lines, multiple surprises, and multiple great games.

Call me a homer, but i love it. You can have your flashy, high scoring offenses of the SEC and PAC 10. Give me some old fashioned, smashmouth, run the ball at will offense and i'm content. There is something fascinating about a team deciding, 'You can't stop me, i'm going to run the ball wherever i want, as much as i want, and there's nothing you can do to stop it'. Take a look at the the '04 Outback Bowl between Iowa and Florida for a perfect example of this.

As for this year? Look for more of the same. The Big Ten will never change, nor should it. Michigan and Ohio St. will be stellar once again. Wisconsin looks to have another dream season like they did last year, where they finished 12-1 and ranked 5th in the nation. Penn St. is back to its winning ways the last few seasons, after scuffling a bit at the beginning of the decade. And every year one team has a big season and contends for the title, making for an exciting season. The Big Ten is football at its best, and this year looks to be no different...

Team To Beat: Michigan
Very, very obvious and easy choice. In a word, Michigan is LOADED. With returning quarterback/running back tandem of Chad Henne and Mike Hart, Michigan will score early and often, on anyone and everyone. They only have ten returning starters, but it won't matter. As the saying goes, Michigan doesn't rebuild, they reload. Their non-conference schedule is tough, with Notre Dame and Oregon, but both games are at home. They avoid Iowa completely, who has been tough on them lately, and get Ohio St. at home to finish the regular season. Michigan should be undefeated heading into the showdown with the Buckeyes, and that game will once again determine the Big Ten champion and BCS qualifier. While Michigan has struggles against Ohio St. lately, i think they will beat them at home this year.

Surprising Team: Iowa
Yeah, it's a homer call. But it's one with a good basis. After a very disappointing 2006 season which saw the Hawkeyes finish 6-7, with a 2-6 record in the Big Ten, head coach Kirk Ferentz took a new approach to the program during bowl preparations. Iowa played perhaps its best played game of the year in their Alamo Bowl loss to Texas, and except for some more bad officiating in bowl games, Iowa may have won that game. They are breaking in a new quarterback, Jake Christensen, but return two great running backs in Albert Young and Damien Sims. They return 8 starters on defense, and 14 overall. Their defense should be stout, and the Hawkeyes will be a ball control, running team. Their schedule couldn't set up any better, they avoid Michigan and Ohio St. completely. And while i think it is a joke they don't play either of them, it will help their record. Look for the Hawkeyes to finish 9-3, and possibly upset either Penn St. or Wisconsin, both of whom they have basically owned the last 7 years.

Disappointing Team: Michigan State
(Sigh)... The Spartans kill me, every year, without fail. No other team in the Big Ten squanders talent and expectation repeatedly quite like them. Whether its blowing a 21-point lead with 8 minutes left against Notre Dame, starting the season undefeated then collapsing down the stretch, or their own announcers practically having a heart attack while flipping out about their ineptitude (Go here to listen- It's kinda long, but freaking hilarious), the Spartans never fail to entertain me. Even with a new coach, this year should be no different. Their schedule is difficult, with road games at Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Ohio St., and Iowa. Look for Michigan St. to finish with about 4-5 wins, very few of which in conference play.

League MVP: Michigan Offense
Between Henne, Hart, and returning receivers Mario Manningham and Adrian Arrington, the Michigan offense will be nearly unstoppable. Hart and Henne will get all the attention, both will be invited to the Heisman ceremony, and both will compete for league MVP honors. I'm guessing Henne will probably get it, because quarterbacks get all the love, but it could easily go to Hart. Either way, the Wolverine offense in general will be the most valuable anything in the Big Ten.