SelectionSunday
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Only 1 Final 4 contender (unfortunately it's Wisconsin), but that makes for an interesting & white-knuckling fight for the Big Ten's other (likely) 5 or 6 NCAA bids. The Big Ten has performed decently vs. the other power conferences, but man, some of those ugly losses. Who do you buy, sell, and hold as a NCAA qualifier? My snapshot at this point in time:
Illinois (hold): Still like potential here, but struggling with Mizzou concerns me.
Indiana (hold): This team can score and is getting better. However, not ready to call 'em a NCAA squad.
Iowa (sell): Can't figure this team out. There's enough talent, but looks like still in fog from last season's late nosedive.
Maryland (buy): Arguably has conference's best non-con win (vs. Iowa State), and will get better when Dez Wells returns.
Michigan (sell): They'll get better, but it's gonna' be a Herculean task to overcome the dreadful non-con performance.
Michigan State (buy): Resume is quite suspect, took a rare night off (especially the guards) vs. Texas Southern, but when Branden Dawson returns they'll be fine. Post guys (Costello and Schilling) actually improving.
Gophers (hold): Have avoided the dreaded bad loss in non-con slate, now need to take advantage of favorable Big Ten schedule. Anxious to see how they respond when they take a punch in a hostile environment vs. Purdue and/or Maryland.
Nebraska (sell): Didn't like their chances of repeating last season, now even more so.
Northwestern (sell): Not ready for prime time but will knock a team or 2 off in Evanston.
Ohio State (buy): Matta should be embarrassed by his non-con schedule, but like Ryan and Izzo's squads always will be there in the end.
Penn State (hold): Nitts are quietly 11-1. Will know a lot more after Big Ten opener in Madison.
Purdue (sell): There are signs things are improving, but still the Boilers shouldn't be getting their doors blown off by Notre Dame. A year away.
Rutgers (sell): 4 or 5 wins probably Scarlet Knights' ceiling.
Wisconsin (buy): If they play to their ability, which the Grinch's teams usually do, they'll win the league by 3-4 games.
Illinois (hold): Still like potential here, but struggling with Mizzou concerns me.
Indiana (hold): This team can score and is getting better. However, not ready to call 'em a NCAA squad.
Iowa (sell): Can't figure this team out. There's enough talent, but looks like still in fog from last season's late nosedive.
Maryland (buy): Arguably has conference's best non-con win (vs. Iowa State), and will get better when Dez Wells returns.
Michigan (sell): They'll get better, but it's gonna' be a Herculean task to overcome the dreadful non-con performance.
Michigan State (buy): Resume is quite suspect, took a rare night off (especially the guards) vs. Texas Southern, but when Branden Dawson returns they'll be fine. Post guys (Costello and Schilling) actually improving.
Gophers (hold): Have avoided the dreaded bad loss in non-con slate, now need to take advantage of favorable Big Ten schedule. Anxious to see how they respond when they take a punch in a hostile environment vs. Purdue and/or Maryland.
Nebraska (sell): Didn't like their chances of repeating last season, now even more so.
Northwestern (sell): Not ready for prime time but will knock a team or 2 off in Evanston.
Ohio State (buy): Matta should be embarrassed by his non-con schedule, but like Ryan and Izzo's squads always will be there in the end.
Penn State (hold): Nitts are quietly 11-1. Will know a lot more after Big Ten opener in Madison.
Purdue (sell): There are signs things are improving, but still the Boilers shouldn't be getting their doors blown off by Notre Dame. A year away.
Rutgers (sell): 4 or 5 wins probably Scarlet Knights' ceiling.
Wisconsin (buy): If they play to their ability, which the Grinch's teams usually do, they'll win the league by 3-4 games.
