The Big Ten: November and December

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SelectionSunday

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A couple weeks ago Blizzard posted a publication's listing of the Big Ten's "15 best nonconference games" for the upcoming season. Now that Northwestern has finally released its complete schedule, I'll offer my two cents on what Big Ten fans have to look forward to in November and December (and a smidge of January).

Here's a list of 20, but my focus is more on the most intriguing games, not necessarily the best. In addition, we'll pinpoint a few potential matchups (in tournaments), as well as the most likely upset trap for each Big Ten team.

20 to Watch (in date order)
1. Nov. 12: Wofford at Minnesota: Gophs not playing a cupcake out of the shoot.

2. Nov. 16: Ohio State at Florida (Global Sports Invitational): The first of two testers in Florida for the Buckeyes.

3. Nov. 18: Illinois vs. Texas (Coaches vs. Cancer Classic): Cory Joseph, anyone?

4. Nov. 19: Iowa vs. Xavier (Paradise Jam): Fran McCaffery's first real test is a big one.

5. Nov. 26: Michigan vs. Syracuse (Legends Classic): Can Beilein's squad avoid getting throttled?

6. Nov. 28: Creighton at Northwestern: The Bluejays figure to be one of the MVC's best.

7. Nov. 30: North Carolina at Illinois: Can the Tan Man win in Champaign/Urbana?

8. Nov. 30: Ohio State at Florida State: FSU has a way of making teams play ugly.

9. Dec. 1: Michigan State at Duke: Arguably the top 2 programs since the new millennium.

10. Dec. 1: NC State at Wisconsin: I was hoping Gophs would get to play 'Pack in the Challenge.

11. Dec. 1: Purdue at Virginia Tech: Has lost some luster with a couple Hokie injuries.

12. Dec. 4: Gonzaga vs. Illinois (Seattle): Weber's crew owes the Zags for last year's loss at the United Center.

13. Dec. 7: Michigan State vs. Syracuse (Jimmy V Classic): Does Boeheim ever leave New York prior to the Big East season?

14. Dec. 11: Indiana at Kentucky: Will Tom Crean start producing like his brothers in law (John & Jim)?

15. Dec. 11: Wisconsin at Marquette: I don't think they like each other.

16. Dec. 12: Penn State at Virginia Tech: If Nitts can compete with Hokies, that'll be a good sign.

17. Dec. 22: Illinois vs. Mizzou (Saint Louis): Quietly one of the best nonconference hoops rivalries there is.

18. Dec. 22: Texas at Michigan State: Perhaps Kalin Lucas will be close to top form by Christmas?

19. Jan. 9: Kansas at Michigan: Does Big Blue have a (Lloyd Christmas) chance?

20. Jan. 16: Purdue at West Virginia: Two top-shelf programs that play with maximum effort.

Potential Tournament 6-Pack, Please
1. Nov. 19: Illinois vs. Pitt (Coaches vs. Cancer): Will Panthers' traditional toughness wear down somewhat soft Illini?

2. Nov. 19: Minnesota vs. North Carolina (Puerto Rico Tip-Off): Let's see where we're at. They're still Carolina despite last season's woes.

3. Nov. 24: Michigan State vs. Kentucky or Washington (Maui Invitational): Sparty-UK re-do preferred.

4. Nov. 27: Purdue vs. Richmond (Chicago Invitational): A potential hiccup for veteran Boilers?

5. Nov. 28: Wisconsin vs. Georgia, Notre Dame or Temple (Old Spice Classic): Old Spice field is very balanced.

6. Dec. 21: Northwestern at St. John's (MSG Holiday Festival): Battle of potential bubble boys?

Be Careful
Illinois: Oakland (Dec. 8)
Indiana: Wright State (Nov. 14)
Iowa: Louisiana Tech (Dec. 21)
Michigan: Oakland (Dec. 18)
Michigan State: South Carolina (Nov. 16)
Minnesota: vs. Western Kentucky (Nov. 18)
Northwestern: at Northern Illinois (Nov. 12)
Ohio State: Morehead State (Nov. 23)
Penn State: Fairfield (Nov. 19)
Purdue: Alabama (Dec. 4)
Wisconsin: at UNLV (Nov. 20)
 


Hopefully it won't have some of the luster taken off by yesterday's (yet to be confirmed) report. Even so, Sparty will have a talented (though possibly diminished) roster when it heads to Durham. Will have the volume turned down for that one, as I'm sure Vitale will be in all his glory.
 


Wofford

They have a lot coming back. Several Minnesota kids, including the younger (Noah) Dahlman (reigning SoCon Player of the Year). Finished 25-9 & gave the Badgers all they could handle in the first round of NCAA Tournament last year. I certainly expect the Gophers to win on their home floor, but this by no means is a typical opener.
 


I thought Duke had a clear edge at home against MSU, even without the recent MSU legal issues. People seem to forget that MSU was a #5 seed in the NCAA tourney last year, aka in the #17-20 range over the course of the season (NOT a top-5 or top-10 team per the Selection Committee), and I think they really got a lot of fortuitous breaks to tie for the Big Ten regular season title last season. They had a nice run in the NCAA tourney, but that doesn't mean they were top-5 great all of last season (and thereby will be top-5 great this year as well). When was the last time MSU actually WON against Duke or UNC? I can't remember it, yet for some reason people seem to think it's a fairly even matchup.

UM has a deeper and more talented team than most expect, and I think they have more potential to be competitive than people give them credit for. I'm not saying they will contend for a conference title or be close to an NCAA bid, but I doubt they'll get "throttled" by Syracuse and I think (once January rolls around) they probably will have a fighting chance against what could be a Josh Selby-less Kansas team.

SS, I do like your list better than the Rivals list, but if I were making the list, I would have put PSU's home game vs. Maryland on there ahead of the game at VT (which is IMO a more likely loss given the location as well as the higher quality of opponent).
 

I'd rather be a titan in NCAA tourney than the regular season

The tone of quite a few of your posts (which I respect) certainly don't hide the fact you're not impressed with MSU's program.

To answer your questions, MSU 78, Duke 68 in 2005 NCAA Tournament, MSU back-to-back wins over UNC in 1999-2000 (in Chapel Hill) and 2000-01 seasons (at Breslin).

In 2005, Duke was a #1 seed, Sparty a #5, but I guess the 22-6 regular-season record and the 5-seed means MSU wasn't that good that season, either? Duke and MSU have met three times in the NCAA tourney, with Duke winning the other two (85-74 in 1994, 68-62 in 1999 at the Final Four).

In truth, it's Carolina that has Sparty's number, much moreso than Duke. The Tar Heels have a long history of knocking MSU out of the the tournament dating all the way back to 1957. Certainly UNC has had the best of it recently with several drubbings of the Spartans, no question.

For the record, I don't think Sparty will win in Durham (when's the last time a non-ACC team won there?), but I don't expect MSU to be overmatched, either. If Duke ends up winning in a rout, I'm guessing I'll get an "I told you so" from you.

I agree with you about Michigan. Though far from a title contender, my inclination is Beilein will have the Wolverines much more competitive than people think.
 

SelectionSunday said:
The tone of quite a few of your posts (which I respect) certainly don't hide the fact you're not impressed with MSU's program.

To answer your questions, MSU 78, Duke 68 in 2005 NCAA Tournament, MSU back-to-back wins over UNC in 1999-2000 (in Chapel Hill) and 2000-01 seasons (at Breslin).

In 2005, Duke was a #1 seed, Sparty a #5, but I guess the 22-6 regular-season record and the 5-seed means MSU wasn't that good that season, either? Duke and MSU have met three times in the NCAA tourney, with Duke winning the other two (85-74 in 1994, 68-62 in 1999 at the Final Four).

In truth, it's Carolina that has Sparty's number, much moreso than Duke. The Tar Heels have a long history of knocking MSU out of the the tournament dating all the way back to 1957. Certainly UNC has had the best of it recently with several drubbings of the Spartans, no question.

For the record, I don't think Sparty will win in Durham (when's the last time a non-ACC team won there?), but I don't expect MSU to be overmatched, either. If Duke wins in a rout, I'm guessing you'll come back here to remind me of that.;)

I agree with you about Michigan. Though far from a title contender, my inclination is Beilein will have the Wolverines much more competitive than people think.
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Sounds more like a mancrush!
 

Sounds more like a mancrush!

Please clarify. I'm missing your point.
 



A couple weeks ago Blizzard posted a publication's listing of the Big Ten's "15 best nonconference games" for the upcoming season. Now that Northwestern has finally released its complete schedule, I'll offer my two cents on what Big Ten fans have to look forward to in November and December (and a smidge of January).

Here's a list of 20, but my focus is more on the most intriguing games, not necessarily the best. In addition, we'll pinpoint a few potential matchups (in tournaments), as well as the most likely upset trap for each Big Ten team.

20 to Watch (in date order)
Click to expand...

Good post!

It won't be long. :D
 

Your incredible info and analysis are still as good as ever, even during the offseason. Yes indeed, Gopher Nation is blessed to have Selection Sunday breaking everything down for us.
 


TheSportsAce said:
Your incredible info and analysis are still as good as ever, even during the offseason. Yes indeed, Gopher Nation is blessed to have Selection Sunday breaking everything down for us.
Click to expand...

Absolutely agree, I use many of SS's breakdowns in my college basketball discussions.
 




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