I think Minnesota will challenge for B10 title

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RichInBunlyGoodness

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Hello from a Badger fan. I think you guys have a very impressive team this year and will challenge for first place. My top 3 in no particular order are MSU, Minnesota and Wisconsin. I don't think Illinois is ready to take a step up--their freshmen aren't ready yet and their seniors have a history of inconsistency. You have to bring it 40 min per game every game and I don't think they can do that. OSU is going to miss the national player of the year more than people realize. Even if Sullinger is first team all conference, I think don't think they will be the same team. When Turner was out last year, their secondary players couldn't get open looks. And I think Purdue is going to miss Hummel and Kramer.

I thought MSU looks very strong and they have a couple of frosh in Payne and Appling who appear to be ready to contribute. I liked the looks of your team in your exhibition game. Tubby has a lot of quality players; he can keep everyone fresh and run the kind of pressure defense that will cause problems for a lot of teams. Obviously your team was hurt by players not being available who might have played.

Our team was also hurt by injuries. I think our team is also going to surprise this year. As almost always happens, Bo's young guys get better without playing many game minutes, so as usual people will be asking "where did this guy come from?" Taylor and Leuer are going to be a fun pair to watch, but our team is going to be much, much more than that.

So I have Minnesota and Wisconsin as the surprise teams, and OSU, Illinois and Purdue not quite living up to expectations. Last year we played all the other top teams twice. This year we avoid the trip to Minnesota, and I think that scheduling advantage could give us a slight edge if we can hold serve at home. Of course every team has a number of games that come down to last second shots going in or missing and that typically plays a big role. Should be a fun year.
 

haha i love it, of all the people who guess the B10 only wisconsin fans give us any credit (katz and you and your friends on the kohl center board). While i do agree that illinois and purdue for the moment are overrated, i still think MSU and OSU will be the top 2 with us, wisco, and purdue fighting for 3-6. Gotta love the minny boys on the badgers, and dare i say it bo ryan is the most underrated coach in america. Look forward to making it a game at kohl as we havent had much in the way of rivalry in football. good luck on the season and thanks for stopping by.
 

Funny how the Badger fan thinks with Wisconsin, players will step up and people will be saying "where did this guy come from," yet OSU (even though they added a national top-5 recruiting class) will have no one who can step up and get the secondary players open shots.
 

Wisconsin is a team that no matter who they lose or got coming in always seem to be there, they are more a system (Bo Ryan's style of play) than any thing else. I'm not sold on these freshman that tOSU got until I see them in action, however I got a feeling they are going to be tough this year...I'll witness them first hand when I make the 2.5 hour drive from Youngstown to C-Bus to see the Gophers own them in January.
 

Well, youngstowngopher, Ohio State has beaten Minnesota the last three years in Columbus, but it's been the other way around here in Minnesota. It should be a good game, but I definitely wouldn't say Minnesota would own OSU.

Also, upon checking the 100% truthful site of Wikipedia, the win percentages of Bo Ryan and Thad Matta are nearly identical. However, it looked like OSU has had top 10 recruiting classes the last 5 years, with nary a 3-star to be seen, as well as 5 or 6 5-stars during that time. Unfortunately, I couldn't find Wisconsin's recruiting classes, but I doubt they had anywhere near the star power that Ohio State has had.

Wisconsin may a rival, but I still have to give them and Bo Ryan some respect. He has done a lot with a little and he doesn't get enough credit for it. He coaches his players up, and probably sort of creates his own sleepers, getting more out of his players than other coaches probably could. Matta, on the other hand, takes a group of guys from the top 50 and gets highly ranked recruiting classes. Matta's players make him look good, whereas I think Ryan makes his players look good.
 


yea, I might be a little wishful on saying we will OWN them :), I will tell you this though, the past couple years going to see them play at OSU was like sitting at a funeral, no atmosphere @ OSU...however I think I read somewhere they are putting students down near the court now like instead of the end zone.
 


The more I think about Ohio St, the less concerned I get about their lack of a point guard. They have 4, 5 legit pieces, they could get an intramural guy to bring the ball up and still be a top 5 team in the conference. Buford is really going to have to step up and be the leader and the go to guy in crunch time. That's a big test.
 

Ohio St.

One would think you could press this team with the lack of a true point guard. But all their guards are tall and have decent basketball IQ's, I don't think it's as big of a deal.
 



I think that there are six teams in the league that have a legitimate shot at the Big Ten title.
 

I would be shocked if we didn't win the Big Ten this year. We are just to deep, to strong, to big, and to tough for other teams to handle us. I'd be suprised if we lose more than a couple games this year. Tubby will win another national championship this year and this time it will be a team that he built.
 

gold04 said:
I would be shocked if we didn't win the Big Ten this year. We are just to deep, to strong, to big, and to tough for other teams to handle us. I'd be suprised if we lose more than a couple games this year. Tubby will win another national championship this year and this time it will be a team that he built.
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Still got last night's buzz on. Huh?
 

The Gophers are definitely under the radar going into the season, which should play to our advantage. They have the ability to sneak up on teams like MSU and Purdue at home or on the road, and you could make an argument that they are the third best team in the conference. Should be an exciting year.
 



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