Big Ten Preview: Ranking the best 15 non-conference games

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1. Michigan State at Duke, Dec. 1

Comment: The Big Ten-ACC challenge delivers one of the 2010-11 season's marquee regular season games. Defending national champion Duke has been anointed the consensus favorite to repeat, but Michigan State returns everyone but Raymar Morgan and Chris Allen from a Final Four team.

2. Purdue at Virginia Tech, Dec. 1

Comment: It will be loud and hostile in Blacksburg when likely top-five Purdue visits for a marquee Big Ten-ACC challenge game. This is by far the Boilermakers' most challenging game until Big Ten play, so they'll want to make a strong showing.

3. Ohio State at Florida, Nov. 16

Comment: For two programs who rarely meet, Ohio State and Florida have a lot of history. A Buckeyes win would help ease some of the sting of the Gators beating them in the BCS title game in Jan. 2007 and again in college basketball's national title game a few months later.

4. North Carolina at Illinois, Nov. 30

Comment: Illinois and North Carolina both entered last season with high expectations but crashed and burned and missed the NCAA tournament. This rematch of the 2005 national title game is a good early chance for both programs to show the progress that they've made.

5. Michigan State vs. Syracuse (New York City), Dec. 7

Comment: Tom Izzo has traditionally played one of the nation's toughest schedules every year, but this year's is one of his toughest. This matchup with Big East contender Syracuse comes during a month-long strethc in which the Spartans face Duke and Texas and play in the loaded Maui Invitational.

6. Wisconsin at Marquette, Dec. 6

Comment: One of the nation's most rabid in-state inter-conference rivalries will have plenty on the line as usual this season. Both Wisconsin and Marquette are fringe contenders in their respective conferences who could use a big early victory to boost them heading into the meat of the schedule.

7. Illinois vs. Missouri (St. Louis), Dec. 22

Comment: The basketball version of the "Arch Rivalry" may not get the attention of Louisville-Kentucky, but this matchup is always bitterly contested. This year should be no exception with both the Tigers and Illini looking like potential top 25 teams and fringe conference title contenders.

8. Michigan State at Maui Invitational, Nov. 22-24

Comment: The Spartans drew Chaminade in the opening round, but the rest of the challenge will stiffen in a hurry. Either Wichita State or Connecticut await in the semifinals and Kentucky or Washington loom as potential title game opponents.

9. Indiana at Kentucky, Dec. 11

Comment: A good showing in this nationally televised matchup would go a long way toward proving that Indiana's rebuilding process is making progress. The Hoosiers are expected to be better with a healthy Maurice Creek and a more experienced supporting cast, but this will be a good measuring stick for their postseason hopes.

10. Purdue at West Virginia, Jan. 16

Comment: A trip to Morgantown is never a cakewalk, but doing it in the midst of Big Ten play is especially challenging. Even with DaSean Butler and Devin Ebanks having moved on to the NBA, West Virginia is an NCAA tournament caliber team capable of a top-four Big East finish.

11. Minnesota at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off, Nov 18-21

Comment: If Minnesota wants to emerge from the shadow of its more high-profile Big Ten peers, then this tournament is the ideal opportunity. Among the opponents the Gophers could face are North Carolina in the semifinals and West Virginia and Vanderbilt in the title game.

12. Illinois at Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, Nov. 20, 21


Comment: The Illini return plenty of talent and brought in a high-quality recruiting class again this season. They'll have a chance to show they're an improved team right away with a semifinal matchup against youthful Texas and a potential title game showdown against Big East favorite Pittsburgh.

13. Michigan at the Legends Classic, Nov. 26-27

Comment: Michigan crumbled amid high expectations last year, so this is the Wolverines' chance to show they're better than people think a year later. Up first for Michigan is Syracuse, followed by either UTEP or Georgia Tech.

14. Creighton at Northwestern, Nov. 28

Comment: This is the sort of game that Northwestern has to consistently win to make its first-ever NCAA tournament appearance. Creighton isn't a powerhouse, but the Blue Jays are a Missouri Valley Conference contender that is certainly capable of beating the Wildcats on an off night.

15. Purdue at Southern Illinois, Nov. 26

Comment: Purdue coach Matt Painter coached the Salukis when they were a perennial Missouri Valley contender earlier this decade. Now Painter's new team must beat his old one to set up a potentially intriguing title game against Richmond the following night.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basket...on-confere?urn=ncaab-270041#remaining-content
 

Good Comments About PR Tourney

Gophers have an opportunity to get on the NATIONAL stage with 3 W there.
 

Purdue vs. Southern Illinois

That game is not in Carbondale. It's part of the Chicago invitational so it's a neutral site game. Huge difference.

Also, Florida and Ohio State have played each other every year lately. I'm surprised the writer(s) didn't do their homework on this stuff.
 

I'll chime in on this sometime after Northwestern's schedule is released. This looks like a pretty good list. An interesting one not mentioned is the likely title-game matchup of Northwestern @ St. John's in the MSG Holiday Festival. Generally speaking, both squads are being considered as borderline at-large selections, so this could be a huge result for both NW and Lavin's Johnnies.

IMO, no way is Indiana-Kentucky one of the best 15 this season. Most seasons, yes, but not this one, especially considering it's at Rupp Arena.
 

If we can get by North Carolina ..

Among the opponents the Gophers could face are North Carolina in the semifinals and West Virginia and Vanderbilt in the title game.
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I know we can take on West Virginia and Vanderbilt in the final. Turn Trev, Colt, and Big Mo, loose underneath and we're good to go. 10 on 5 ( and a half or six ) .. bring it on!
 


It'll be nice to see the Gophs play North Carolina (Hopefully) and then see the 'heels at illionis a week and a half later.
 

Blizzard said:
6. Wisconsin at Marquette, Dec. 6

Comment: One of the nation's most rabid in-state inter-conference rivalries will have plenty on the line as usual this season. Both Wisconsin and Marquette are fringe contenders in their respective conferences who could use a big early victory to boost them heading into the meat of the schedule.
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The Marquette/Wisconsin game is on Saturday, December 11 -- 1:30pm CT on ESPN2.
 

SelectionSunday said:
I'll chime in on this sometime after Northwestern's schedule is released. This looks like a pretty good list. An interesting one not mentioned is the likely title-game matchup of Northwestern @ St. John's in the MSG Holiday Festival. Generally speaking, both squads are being considered as borderline at-large selections, so this could be a huge result for both NW and Lavin's Johnnies.

IMO, no way is Indiana-Kentucky one of the best 15 this season. Most seasons, yes, but not this one, especially considering it's at Rupp Arena.
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SS - Not sure if it was ever mentioned or discussed here but Lavin hired Gene Keady as an assistant/consultant at St. Johns this year. Not a bad guy to have on the bench.
 

MinnesotaBoiler99 said:
SS - Not sure if it was ever mentioned or discussed here but Lavin hired Gene Keady as an asst. at St. Johns this year. Not a bad guy to have on the bench.
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Good for him. Go coach Keady. Finally, steve can stop the Wendy's story about the coach. Thanks for the news.
 



I guess I missed the "Wendy's story" regarding Keady - what is it?

I would trade 100 regular season losses for a NC win, so a regular season matchup years later is hardly a consolation.

SS, I wouldn't put it past IU to compete with Calipari's club if Kanter is ineligible as he ought to be. I have never seen a college recruit be as widely reported to have been a "pro" (and I'm not talking talent here, I'm talking amateurism) as Kanter. FOT likes to promote UK's compliance officer - somehow he overlooks how Cal obviously slipped one past the goalie with Kanter - clearly there is a lot of evidence this kid has been paid $100K over the years and it's public knowledge, yet he has been admitted to UK. Plain and simple, UK is taking a chance on Kanter, hoping the NCAA will rule him eligible even though they can't say for a fact that he should be eligible given all the reports that he's been a pro. UK has admitted him, so obviously their compliance people want to try to allow him to play.

Without Kanter, UK is fairly ordinary. Brandon Knight is very quick but that's still a very freshman-oriented team with just one top-10 or top-15 recruit.
 

OSUfan said:
I guess I missed the "Wendy's story" regarding Keady - what is it?

I would trade 100 regular season losses for a NC win, so a regular season matchup years later is hardly a consolation.

SS, I wouldn't put it past IU to compete with Calipari's club if Kanter is ineligible as he ought to be. I have never seen a college recruit be as widely reported to have been a "pro" (and I'm not talking talent here, I'm talking amateurism) as Kanter. FOT likes to promote UK's compliance officer - somehow he overlooks how Cal obviously slipped one past the goalie with Kanter - clearly there is a lot of evidence this kid has been paid $100K over the years and it's public knowledge, yet he has been admitted to UK. Plain and simple, UK is taking a chance on Kanter, hoping the NCAA will rule him eligible even though they can't say for a fact that he should be eligible given all the reports that he's been a pro. UK has admitted him, so obviously their compliance people want to try to allow him to play.

Without Kanter, UK is fairly ordinary. Brandon Knight is very quick but that's still a very freshman-oriented team with just one top-10 or top-15 recruit.
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If Kanter was paid a salary, he won't be eligible.

If he was paid $100K over 3 years for expenses (permitted by NCAA), he may be eligible.

How much did Maurice Walker get paid to attend Brewster Academy in NH? Typically Prep school players receive a full (tuition, room & board, books, etc) scholarship to attend and have their travel expenses paid.
 

Wow, look at Michigan St. with 3 of the top 15 non-conference games. I am a bit jealous. Minnesota has to take advantage of the big games they have because they don't have as many chances. Beating North Carolina would be really nice.
 

I don't think MSU (with Lucas likely not 100%) has much of a chance at Duke - not saying it doesn't belong on the list, but I don't think it's as evenly matched as people might think. I would not have put Purdue-SIU on this list or Creighton-Northwestern.

FOT, it isn't just that he received $100K, the word "salary" was specifically used by the pro team rep in the NYT article to refer to the payments to Kanter. Kanter simply is not an amateur athlete, because amateur athletes do not collect a salary. You keep defending UK, but you should stop. I remember when you told me in April that Kanter had already been cleared & it didn't look like you were just talking about academics - don't make me dig that post up and put it back on the front page here. Your blind faith in Sandy Bell is outrageous.
 



OSUfan said:
I don't think MSU (with Lucas likely not 100%) has much of a chance at Duke - not saying it doesn't belong on the list, but I don't think it's as evenly matched as people might think. I would not have put Purdue-SIU on this list or Creighton-Northwestern.

FOT, it isn't just that he received $100K, the word "salary" was specifically used by the pro team rep in the NYT article to refer to the payments to Kanter. Kanter simply is not an amateur athlete, because amateur athletes do not collect a salary. You keep defending UK, but you should stop. I remember when you told me in April that Kanter had already been cleared & it didn't look like you were just talking about academics - don't make me dig that post up and put it back on the front page here. Your blind faith in Sandy Bell is outrageous.
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Like i said above, IF he received even $1 salary, he's ineligible.

If all $ were expenses, he'll get to play. He may lose some games.

And I already posted (recently) the April article WHERE CALIPARI SAID HE WAS CLEARED.
 

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