Chicago Sun-Times: Rock-solid Big Ten basketball starts with the guys in the suits

[BleedGopher]

per the Sun-Times:

Like Northwestern, which believes Chris Collins can improve its situation, Minnesota has taken a flyer on a young coach, Richard Pitino, who brings a surname buzz. If both need to prove themselves, both have served quality apprenticeships.

They’ll need to recruit, and mold their talent, to be successful. That won’t be easy in a league with proven masters such as Izzo, Ryan and Matta and several top-notch coaches capable of elbowing their way into that group.

But that’s why the Big Ten is well-positioned for a big year.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/2460...etball-starts-with-the-guys-in-the-suits.html

Go Gophers!!

 

[fan of Ray Williams]

Man, what a great opportunity for Pitino. 31 years old and head coaching in the B1G. Ryan was what, 55 or so, when he scored the Badger job?

 

[OSUfan]

Hell, I'm just hoping for the "Bo Ryan in the discussion for best coach not to make the F4" talk to even start. All we hear about Bo is how great he is at having a consistently good team and finishing in the top-4 of the B1G annually, but never is there a discussion of him on that list of great coaches to not make the other four - the Final Four. And certainly he is no spring chicken and clearly is in the twilight of his career.

You can look at it as a great opportunity for Pitino, and it is, but it's a really tough time to be starting out in the Big Ten. The programs at the top of the B1G are as strong as they have ever been. Certainly with four Sweet 16 teams each of the past 2 years, a high water mark for the league in it's history, there are a handful of programs in the league that are in really strong position right now and it's a big challenge to try to build up one of the other programs to match them.

 

[fan of Ray Williams]

Hell, I'm just hoping for the "Bo Ryan in the discussion for best coach not to make the F4" talk to even start. All we hear about Bo is how great he is at having a consistently good team and finishing in the top-4 of the B1G annually, but never is there a discussion of him on that list of great coaches to not make the other four - the Final Four. And certainly he is no spring chicken and clearly is in the twilight of his career.

You can look at it as a great opportunity for Pitino, and it is, but it's a really tough time to be starting out in the Big Ten. The programs at the top of the B1G are as strong as they have ever been. Certainly with four Sweet 16 teams each of the past 2 years, a high water mark for the league in it's history, there are a handful of programs in the league that are in really strong position right now and it's a big challenge to try to build up one of the other programs to match them.

Yep, you're right. Needs to string together a couple of stellar recruiting classes to make a leap up the B1G food chain.

Collins, at 39, is the closest age wise to Pitino.