Week of Reckoning Power Rankings

Let's be honest- there's a lot riding on the next seven days. The Forces of Good have a chance to right some wrongs and place themselves in an enviable position. J and I have a conversation about how we feel about the team every week to seven days. Right now, I feel good. Moore still isn't playing his best possible basketball, yet he's scoring around 20, rebounding well and doing the little things that make him valuable to the team. While the media doesn't think JJ's sexy-enough to be considered a legit contender for Player of the Year, those of us who really watch him find him to be a sexy beast. He's doing it all...and even though he's soft spoken, he's digging deep to try to be a vocal leader. Let's not forget about the fellows surrounding the Big 2.

LewJack is playing with a tempo that's tough to match and is helping turn defensive stops into quick points. It's not by luck or coincidence that the Boilers just scored 54 points...in a half...on the road. That's because Matty has this team playing faster basketball, and The Adorable Midget (ref. BTN's Journey) is executing like a henchman for John Gotti back in the go-go 80s. Let's not forget about his taller counterpart KBar. Barlow sees the court well, but has really been impressing me with his ferocity on the glass. Perhaps yesterday, we saw a glimpse of what's coming in '12- LewJack at the point and Barlow on the wing slicing and dicing defenses as he continues to create difficult match-ups for flat-footed and shorter guards.

Byrd, Smith and TJohn are the next level of defense. All of them quietly await their turn, playing hard-nosed defense, diving for loose balls, guarding guys who think they can beat them and awaiting the defense to make the foolish mistake- discounting or forgetting about them. When that happens, when they're given space, they tend to capitalize and make the opposition pay. When these three aren't forcing things on the offensive end is when they're most dangerous. When they wait, the game almost always comes to them.

Bade, Marcius and Carroll may have quiet roles, but their importance isn't lost on Matty. The time will assuredly come in either the BT tourney or NCAA tournament in which JJ needs a few minutes or Purdue runs into a team like UConn a few years ago...and one or two of these guys will have to play important minutes. Sure, they aren't called to play a ton right now, but I like the fact that both Bade and Carroll have played with confidence and both can play better.

I'm not forgetting about Hart...and I don't think he's forgotten how to shoot in the last few months. But, he's gotta get his eye and his confidence back before he can be expected to do what he was doing back in December. There's still time for it to happen.

I've always said I like Painter's teams when they are playing with a chip on their shoulder...when few believe in them and when they have a score to settle. They've got two to settle in the very near future.

The Composite Computer Ranking is hovering right around 10, and I'd expect the human polls to be similar later today. And speaking of rankings, this is where we see the BT as of today:

1. an Ohio State Institution of Higher Learning

There's no shame in losing to Wisconsin in the Kohl. But, I think we saw some tarnish on their gleaming armor on Saturday. While no one will question a loss at Wisconsin, everyone will question a high-caliber team that loses a 15 point lead in a half...even those in their locker room. Here's to hoping they're doubting everything right about now.

2. Wisconsin

'Sconny is playing good ball. Did any of you doubt Ryan would have them in this position right now? We didn't...and the formula is still magic: Great point guard play + big white goons= Success. Mix in a killer high-top fade, a SideShow Bob mop and the Birdman chewing on the officials, you have a can't miss high seed for the NCAA tourney. They're not going to be here for long though.

3. The Purdue University

A week ago, I'd say the BT regular season title was a pipe dream...and while it's still a dream, it's not the impossible dream. Let's sit back and enjoy the next three weeks...this could be really fun.

4. Michigan

The gap between 3 & 4 is a chasm right now.

I like the way the Wolverines are playing. This has been an up and down season...but they have a legit opportunity to make it to the NCAA tourney. An angry Illinois team on the road will show us how seriously we can take UM.

5. MSU

The sizable win over Penn State showed me that Sparty still has a pulse. I put Izzo's squad here mostly because I'm trying to give them confidence.

"You guys are good! Yay MSU! Now go beat Ohio State, damnit."

6. Illinois

Losing 6 of 10 is not something a team with that many Seniors and that much talent should ever do. Let's not forget, they lost to IU and Northwestern during this cold spell their under.

7. Minnesota

Tubby's club has weathered a ton of adversity. But they're in big trouble at this point. It's very possible that they could lose their next three. Like Illinois and MSU, they're fighting for their tournament life.

8. Penn State

If they get hot again, they could seriously damage the teams battling Purdue for the conference lead.

Love ya, Lions. (It's a Valentine's Day note)

9. Northwestern

So much hope...so many dreams...No tournament, yet again. John Shurna's ankle injury has absolutely killed the Cats. They could win their next two, but that'll be it for them. And that means they won't even be invited to Penn State's Invitational Post-season National Title Tournament.

10. IU

The battle for 11th will be brutal!! Here's to the Cats thumping the Forehead...and the Hoosiers losing out. Wouldn't that be a shot to the confidence of those who tell me IU's making strides. We'll keep an eye on how it plays out.

11. Iowa

If they have the same record, the Hawks get the tie-breaker...Remember, they swept IU. We don't forget.

We love you, our readers, more than we love sweet confections, flowers and mylar balloons. We think about you when we're out of town on business...hoping that you'll be impressed with our most-recent musings, observations, analogies and anecdotes. Please be ours.

We'll anxiously await your response.

Happy VD to you all.

See you at Mackey, Bo.

Bo Ryan's teams have won a lot of BT championships and have the best home court winning percentage in the nation the last few years for a reason- they're a tough team. But, they're now where near as tough as Shon Morris and Wayne Larrivee are to listen to. Holy crap, those two morons make me nuts. I bailed on having volume while watching with about 10:00 left. But, J kept me updated as they dynamic doofuses talked about Boilermaker Pete and other points of interest to blowhards that like to hear themselves talk.

I guess I'm saying I was annoyed. Sure, it wasn't their fault that the Ostrich and JJ used their super-powers to completely disappear offensively in the second half...nor was it Morris and Larrivee that caused Purdue to miss 11 of 18 free throws (Hummel was 6-6...everyone else was awful). But, those two shills, like most of their counterparts in the business, simply reveled in the Madison energy as they sopped up cheese and crappy beer during timeouts, along with their heaping scoops of Bo Ryan adoration.

Bo Ryan celebrates Wisconsin's win over Purdue

But, Ryan is worthy of a ton of credit.

If you tuned into the Handsome Hour a few weeks ago, you heard J and I debate this very game. Before Purdue had reached a record-tying 14 wins, I saw this as a stumbling block. Wisconsin is simply too good and too defensive-minded to be owned at the Kohl Center.

Keaton Grant called the Wisconsin series a growing rivalry earlier in the week...and I gotta agree with KG...for a lot of reasons. As IU has languished on the vine, the Wisconsin series seems to have take some of that intensity in its stead. Much like IU, Wisconsin fans wear red sweaters, over-react to every foul called at their homecourt and seem to be super-classy! Yeah, I like 'em a lot. Also like the IU of yore, Wisconsin has a coach that seems to be able to control officials like marionettes. A few exchanges, specifically come to mind- both Moore and Hummel had two fouls (on separate occasions) within a twenty-second period. It seems the Birdman had planted an idea in the head of the officials that they simply had to make a reality.

Don't get me wrong, Purdue didn't lose because of the officials. If they were able to hit free throws or turn up the intensity on the defensive end or have ANYONE other than Smooge step up offensively, Purdue have been able to get inside 9 points before the waning minutes of the game. But, much like Purdue typically does, Wisconsin took Purdue out of their offensive flow and deserves credit for that...But Moore deserves credit for being the only guy who could consistently create chances to score.

With the 73-67 loss, the record-tying Boilers move to 14-1 and are in a cluster of one-loss teams...and will probably drop 15 or 20 spots in the polls as they are deemed unworthy of any mention with the three undefeated teams and of course, the two-loss Blue Devils, who will take Purdue's spot in the top-4. At the same time, if you follow WVU's model, Purdue should skyrocket to the top of Pomeroy's computer poll...right?

There seemed to be a confluence of "inevitabilities" coming together in Madison on Saturday afternoon. But the good news, is Painter's team comes back home for the next contest in just three days and can start a new streak...even better, they get to play Wisconsin in just 21 days. Like the Paint Crew, I'm sure the players are already excited about that game.

Notes:

-There was a 10:00 stretch in the first half in which Purdue had Wisconsin complete confused and frustrated. Usually, they save such a period for the early second half.

-JJ had an OK-looking line (7/10/2), but Wisconsin dared Purdue to shoot from the perimeter, and it paid off greatly. They collapsed not only on Johnson, but anyone else who posted up and gave Purdue room on the outside. Matty's boys simply didn't make them pay.

-Not only is Hummel not shooting as well as he has in previous seasons behind the arc, his shot selection made it look like he was well-aware of the stats. On numerous occasions in the second half, he seemingly passed up good looks in favor of passes...and on the occasion that he decided to shoot, he air balled.

-Moore's gumption kept this game much closer than it could have been as he seemed to be the guy that was willing and able to beat Wisconsin's defense.

-Purdue's defense that has confounded very good this teams was simply not up to snuff today...and because of that, the offensive opportunities weren't as plentiful as they had been in the last 7 or 8 games. Purdue seemed lethargic at times, especially in the second half. there is no doubt that if this becomes the norm, Purdue will struggle to compete for the BT title (I don't think it will, by the way).

Bo Ryan's Evil Plan

Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan continues his evil plot to put so many miles on Robbie Hummel and his balky back by playing him this summer for Team USA.

Hummel contributed eight points and several key rebounds (details are sketchy) in the USA's 67-63 victory over the Russkies.

Coach Bo Ryan was said to be clearly daydreaming about how to best neutralize the Boilermakers next season and win the Big Ten title, when he remembered that Hummel was on his roster for Team USA. Ryan was then seen making the face as pictured.

"It's like Christmas morning for me," a delighted Ryan told the mostly non-English speaking media. "I get to run Robbie Hummel into the ground and with the nearly nonexistent media coverage this event gets, nobody will even blame me. It's brilliant, if I do say so myself."

Ryan then drank a glass of blood, saying it made him feel "more peppy."