Wrapping up the Week & Power Rankings

Power Rankings

1. aOSU- These frightening monsters left any doubt of who is the league's best this week...and made me very sad in the process.

2. Wisconsin- By default, they earn the second-place standing this week.

3. Minnesota- Without Nolen, when they visit Mackey this Saturday, I expect them to be exposed like J Money at his favorite watering hole after too many apple-tinis. Until then, they have a nice view of much of the league below them.

4. Purdue- I don't really think Purdue belongs down here...but there's gotta be some repercussions for the performance (or lack thereof) in Columbus this week.

5. Penn State- Ya know, it'd be nice if they could help us out a bit and knock of Wisconsin as they've done to nearly everyone else atop the league. Make it so, oh wise one, Coach DeChellis!!

6. Michigan State- What happened last night in East Lansing is nearly-unexplainable...but as our pal Travis said, this team is in shambles right now.

7. Northwestern- They're officially back in the running for keeping their astounding post-season streak alive...the next two games will probably be losses for those clad in purple.

8. Michigan- Their big win over in-state rival, Sparty, removed them out of the dark, self-imposed dungeon in which they had been placed.

9. Indiana- I'll get into what I think about them in more detail in a moment...but the bottom of the conference is simply deplorable...and they're chairman of the board of that group's weekly meetings.

10. Iowa- They have a very good opportunity to take another step forward and knock Michigan back down in their next contest.

11. Illinois- Seriously, Coach Weber? All that talent...all those upper-classmen and you can't muster more than 17 in a half versus a team that allowed both Iowa and Northwestern to score 90 (+) points?? On top of that, those new unis stink.

Storming The Court Goodness in Bloomington

If you watched the IU v. Illinois game last night like me, especially the second half...I'm sorry! Yikes, was that bad basketball. I'd love (not really) to tell IU fans that their stout defense led Illinois to score so few points in the second half, but even they know that's not the case. IU's defense is horrible. They didn't figure out how to play it just because the Forehead gave a good half time speech. Illinois played their second half like Purdue played v. Minny in the BTT last spring. They have no one to blame but themselves. The Illini have gone from close to the top of the league to sinking to the cellar in just over two weeks.

There are too many Seniors, too many shooters and too much surrounding talent for them to be in the situation they're in. But, they are as soft in the middle as a tasty Devil Dog, and that's not going to change.

If you listened to the Handsome Hour this week, you heard me rant about how IU is making no progress. Well, after last night's game, the students rushed the floor, the Forehead hugged his wife and kids as if he had just won an Oscar, and the announcers acted as if my Savior had returned the court at Ass. Hall. Friends, last night's game changes nothing.

Shut up, and just kiss me.

Beating an over-rated team and storming the court only solidifies the idea that's entrenched within my skull- IU is not good, the heritage of national championships past isn't even a memory, it's folklore (you can study that in Bloomington, by the way) and Tom Crean can't win unless he has a guy with the last name of 'Wade' on his team.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, I introduce exhibit A:

Holy Crap.

Alright Forehead, I don't ask for much...

I don't ask Bloomington for much...in fact, I don't think I ask the cream and crimson for anything...but I'm making an exception this evening. Coach Forehead and your band of merry yes-men...Do me this one solid- beat the Spartans.

I know, I know, they're bigger, stronger, faster, more-athletic, more-experienced and much better-coached than you guys...but anything is possible, right? Crean has led IU to improvement-upon-improvement...wins over the always-respectable...uh...OK, nevermind, but wins, none-the-less...too many to focus upon individually right now. Dwayne Wade-type efforts have led to the BTN to remind us about IU's improvement each contest...and the never-say-die attitude so bravely-espoused by the Forehead himself has been the topic of conversation ad nauseum. Now's the time to see how much fight Dumes and Co. really have in them.

It really isn't beyond imagination that IU would beat MSU. I mean, these Hoosiers are a tough bunch...I'm rooting for the underdog, tonight...Go get number two, Hoosiers!!

Granted, none of us here at BS thought a Big Ten championship was in the cards after the rocky start to the BT season, but it's not an impossibility, yet. The only way a regular season banner can be earned in East Lansing this coming weekend for the black and gold is if our rivals to the South step up this evening in Ass Hall.

I warned you guys!!
Sorry for abandoning my post over the past few days...J and Tim did very well without me. But the UM game was predictable and painful. The motivated Wolverines were in control most of the game...and played like their post-season lives depended on it...Too bad they couldn't have played with a little-less-urgency as they did the very next game. Purdue and UM have a long and storied past of urinating in eachother's Fruit Loops; this season is no different, it seems.

aOSU Redux
Not much to say about this one other than, something something best-served chilled. The quote of the post-game goes to Thad Matta. He told his team after the game, "I brought boys to a man's fight." While he's absolutely right, that might not be the best motivational tactic for a bunch of former blue chips who have never been told anything but how great they are...Oh well. The nuts do look like they're in pretty good shape for the NCAA tourney though; you can't say the same for the Wolverines who seem to be the seventh team in line for a six-team gig.

My favorite photo from the game comes from GBI's Tom Campbell:
Green looks as happy as a school boy...what's the story with the one guy in the gray sweatshirt? Did Green steal his girl? Who knows. What we do know, is Buckets and Nemmy better get some love from the Paint Crew on Thursday. Make it happen, yo! Perhaps a smattering of people with buckets on their heads with eyes cut out? Or young co-eds with the Serb flag painted on their upper bodies a la the World Cup? Get creative.

I'm excited about Wednesday night- here's to the Paint Crew making NU pay for even pretending to believe they belonged competing with our Boilers. Hopefully, Senior Night proves to be a decided advantage, because NU has played very well on the road at times this season.

Post-Season Awards
Coach Painter has been named as a finalist for one of the COTY awards. That's good- he's deserving. But, I don't think he'll get the nod. If I was voting, I'd put Painter in third after Brad Stevens and Mike Montgomery...But, I'm not voting.

That leads us to another discussion- Who on this year's squad will receive accolades? I think JJ, Hummel, Smooge and The Ostrich will all get some love...and maybe even LewJack. But, I think JJ will be the only out-right All-Big Ten player. We'll know soon.