Badger fans are looking to Sparty to hand d'OSU another conference loss today. Need Nietzel to get a hot hand from beyond the arc.

Yeah! Our curse is over, finally!

Glad to have been of help...

Nice upset prediction. Iowa looked pretty good against the Hoosiers (and thank god they hit their free throws!). Haluska and Tyler Smith definitely were up for this one.

I had a feeling they would be, although I wasn't aware that Iowa, except for the Wisconsin game, is undefeated in its last 19 games at home versus ranked opponents. That's a pretty impressive stat. That was a big game for Iowa, as it keeps them in the hunt for the NCAA tournament and a top three seed in the conference tournament.

Exactly. And except for a trip to Madison, Iowa has a shot a winning their remaining Big Ten games.

So looks like d'OSU, Wisconsin and Indiana will make the tourney.

Iowa, like ChiAthlete said, should if they win out after Saturday (except their rpi is not so good and may need a good Big ten tourney showing)

What about Illinois and MSU? Following the rule-of-thumb that one has to finish .500 in conference to make it, seems like Illinois has a better chance.

I think Michigan is on the downward slope -- two games each vs. d'OSU and MSU plus a visit from Indiana. Certainly Amaker finally has to be out, dontcha think?

Seems like Wisconsin and Ohio State are the top teams in the Big 10. Can't wait for the re-match between both teams in Columbus.

I'd love to seem them both at 13-1 in conference play heading into the game -- but more likely d'OSU will be there alone. Wisconsin has its work cut out for them -- an improving Iowa comes into Madison on Saturday with Haluska hotter than ever. Then a visit to The Barn for our rivalry matchup.

Also, of course, worried about the visit to East Lansing. But, man -- not if last night's MSU team show up. What happened???? 14 points total in the second half?? Yikes.

Adam Haluska was named Big Ten AND National Player of the Week:
http://hawkeyesports.cstv.com/sports/m-bas.../020507aab.html

He followed this with a 34 point performance @ Minnesota. He's on quite a roll, as is Big Ten Freshman leading scorer Tyler Smith.

Too bad Iowa is only a two-man team. Still, they have been playing much better lately and have won their last 4 Big Ten games. Although Wisconsin will win Saturday in Madison, Iowa is certainly playing them 'away' at the right time. I'm hoping the Hawkeye's make it respectable.

Bad news out of Illinois: Brian Carlwell is in critical condition after a car accident last night. Hopefully he will have a speedy recovery.


Well it was respectable -- but Wisconsin does seem to have Haluska's number.

I still can't tell if the Big Ten is going to get 4 or 5 bids in the tourney and which teams besides WI, d'OSU and IU. Iowa and Illinois have the upper hand with its upcoming schedule -- but then face off in the last game of the season. Sparty's had a bad stretch, but those were on the road and/or against the Buckeyes.

Yeah, Jamar Smith was apparently driving the car around midnight last night and skidded into a tree. It had been snowing for a few hours and was starting to pick up at that point, so I'm guessing that was the cause. Smith is out of the hospital but Brian is still in critical condition. A very scary day here indeed.

Carlwell's condition has been upgraded to serious this afternoon.

My prayers go out to Jamar Smith and the other player.

While there were some terrific games (and upsets) last night (TX Tech over A&M, VaTech over unc) -- we watched the clunker of the evening: Michigan at Michigan State. Pee-uuu. Never saw so many shot clock violations in my life. Michigan is wonderfully the most disappointing team in the league. They start 4 seniors, by god.

To quote the old State coach Heathcote at the beginning of one of his seasons: "I've got good news and bad news. The good news is we have all our players returning from last year. The bad news is we have all our players returning from last year."

Bunch of top teams upset in the last couple of days -- hopefully Wisconsin doesn't catch that bug up against the Goofs. They should be OK

Smith is out for the year "to sort everything out"

Carlwell may return before the Big 10 tourney.

Yeah, the fact that Smith hired a lawyer and isn't coming back is really starting to worry me. I'm starting to think alcohol or (God forbid) some illegal substance was involved in the crash. Man, I sure hope not.


In other news, Iowa is getting an arse kicking in Lansing right now. ESPN doesn't even have the Hawkeyes on the bubble right now, this isn't going to look good on their tourney resume.

That was the nail in the coffin for Iowa. What a horrible showing!! They are now forced to win the Big Ten Tourney, which won't happen.

On Wisconsin to #1 in the AP.

Can't wait for Wisconsin vs Ohio State!

Me either -- but Badgers still need to get past MSU tonight.

This would be the way that I'd have it go...

State beats Wisky (close game til the end)
Wisky gets fired up mad and kicks the crap outta d'OSU

It may be a dream world, but it's my dream world!

GO STATE

*sigh* Bye-bye Jamar.

Nice showing for the Spartans tonite! That win pretty much seals a Tourney bid...
GO STATE!!

hmmm...looks like the Red Cedar Messageboards crashed tonite after the win....

Geez Sparty, I hope you're not just going to bed after the win. It's 4 a.m. where you are, that's a long time to be celebrating!

Congrats to Michigan St. on the win, although that could possibly bump Illinois from the bubble. Tomorrow is going to be huge against Michigan at home. I hope all this Chief nonsense doesn't ruin the atmosphere on Senior Night.

Really outstanding defense. Shut down Tucker in the 2nd half -- forced Wisconsin to take too many outside shots and not get anything in the post.


Didn't like your dream yesterday -- but I'll cosign today!

I think that 10-6 is a must. With Jamar out for the rest of the year, winning the last 3 games would erase the "injury" question. If the Illini get to 10-6 in conference (and 3rd either alone or tied), there's no sweating. Lose tonight, and it's meltdown city.

Pretty much. I keep hearing 9-7 and a conference tourney victory, but I agree that the Illini can't lose any of the remaining three games, especially not tonight. I've got a ticket to the game tonight (V-Day gift from the bf), but I'm a little anxious about attending. I'm 0-1 this season while seeing games in person, I hope I'm not going to curse the team.

reach .500? or did you chicken out?

One down, 2 to go. Going into Carver's going to be a toughie, especially the way Iowa defended the home court against Purdue tonight.

Haha, I reached .500 and managed to survive the Chief performance while maintaining strict indifference. Gotta get through PSU before we can worry about Iowa, the Lions nearly beat OSU (again!).

Had my fingers crossed about that PSU-d'OSU game -- kept watching the score scroll at the bottom of the screen with the Lions winning for much of the game. Too much to ask.

The middle of the Big Ten is jammed up:

Indiana (8-5) (at MSU, at NU, PSU) -- I'll give 'em two wins

Illinois (8-6) (at PSU, at Iowa) -- one win

Iowa (8-6) (at PSU, Illinois) -- two wins

Michigan State (7-6) (IU, at Michigan, at Wisconsin) -- tough games -- one, maybe two wins

Michigan (6-7) (at Minnehaha, MSU, d'OSU) -- again tough -- one win? -- but I'll pray for a win over the Buckeyes

Purdue (6-7) (at NU, Minnehaha, NU) -- 3 wins

Whoops! I was thinking Penn St was a home game, for which the revenge factor of last year would've been enough.

Great win today in Happy Valley, PSU's frontline just didn't have an answer for Pruitt/Carter/Arnold. Big game going right now, Sparty versus Indiana. I'm rooting for MSU tonight, if they beat Indiana, Illinois has a shot at third in the Big Ten.

Great physical defensive game between #1 and #1 yesterday. A UW win was oh so close but no cigar. I want a rematch! maybe in Chicago.

You're being kind... we didn't have an answer for anything. This team just sucks this year, and you can tell they've basically given up.

What happened to PSU this year? I know they've had some injuries, but they shouldn't have been this bad.

Big Ten to move to a full round robin season? They're at least gonna discuss it after the NCAAs. Bo Ryan wants a full 20 game conference sked. Sampson likes it as it is at 16 -- sound like he wants his cupcakes in December and doesn't want 2 or 4 more league games. But Jim Delaney says: Texas ... ucla ... "If you bring in Little Sisters of the Poor, that raises issues.”



I too thought going into the season they'd compete for an NCAA berth. But the proof was in the pudding.

Michigan may have put themselves in the NCAA fray tonight with the win over Sparty, setting up their finale against OSU as a potential marquee win. It didn't seem like too long ago that people were wondering if the Big 10 could get a 4th team in. Now if the chips fall right for Illinois, Purdue, and Michigan, could the Big 10 get SEVEN?

Even if Michigan followed this win with another against OSU, they would be on the bubble at best.
The fifth spot from the Big Ten will most likely come from Michigan St, Michigan, or Purdue, whichever has the strongest run in the Big Ten Tournament. I would be surprised if they had any more than that going to the Big Dance.

We have no quality guards up to the task. Help is coming in the form of recruits and redshirts. But the jury is out until they prove themselves next year. There's controversy over one of the redshirts, considering how bad we have been, and how much help we needed at that position. But no one inside the program is talking, so we have to assume this was a bigger picture move, sacrificing this year for the long term health of the program and development of the players. Either that, or it's one of the biggest bonehead moves ever.

Big game tomorrow involving Michigan State @ Wiscomsin. I'm sure Tucker and co. what revenge after losing in East Lansing.

Conference tourney starts today and if Illinois, Purdue, or Michigan want to go to the NCAA's a semis appreance (or a final in Michigan's case) is a necessity. Of course if all 3 do that, then it could get interesting.

Another match-up with Michigan State vs Wisconsin is upon us...I wonder who will win.

Fun quote this a.m. from the Detroit Free Press about Michigan and Michigan State

I like pizza rolls. Anyway, I think that quote is overlooking the fact that MSU beat Wisky and Michigan does not have that really big win.

Damn Xavier and Nevada!

Even though we took out IU today, those losses still don't have me completely warm and fuzzy about a bid. Take out Bucky tomorrow, and then there will be warm fuzziness.

But Indiana lost and Illinois won, it's still something to celebrate!

No go on the fuzziness. Badgers won down in Assembly Hall in January -- should pull out another one at Assembly Hall North today. I think UW's bench is deeper -- which should help when fatigue sets in. Illini might be trying the catch their breath moe near the end of the game, esp. after a tough OT game.

I still think Illinois is in the dance regardless.

Considering the 8-2/7-3 finish we'll have in the last 10 games, I think that should do it. Still there are 3 spots that could go away (Houston winning C-USA - but Memphis is pulling away, N.C. State in the ACC, and anyone but Florida in the SEC).

Another great Wisconsin/Ohio State battle will take place. I can't wait!