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2005-06 Official Big Ten bball Thread

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PlainDealer

2/27/06

BIG TEN INSIDER

<H1 class=red>Spartans are long on shortcomings

</H1>

Monday, February 27, 2006

Doug Lesmerises

Plain Dealer Reporter

When the tide was turning against Indiana coach Mike Davis two weeks ago, he wondered why students were revolting against his program when no fans were abandoning ship at a place like Michigan State after a few tough losses.

Maybe Davis was on to something.

After the Hoosiers' 78-71 win against the Spartans on Sunday, Indiana and Michigan State are tied for sixth in the Big Ten at 7-7, but the Spartans lead the race for most disappointing team in the conference.

It's the Spartans who were picked first in the preseason media poll, followed by Illinois and Indiana. It's the Spartans who returned four starters from a Final Four team. It's the Spartans who have two of the Big Ten's five finalists for the Wooden Award in Maurice Ager and Paul Davis, and three of the top five scorers in the conference in Ager, Davis and Shannon Brown.

Health hasn't been the culprit. While the Hoosiers have been without their second-best player, D.J. White, nearly all season, the Spartans suffered their devastating injury, to starting forward Matt Trannon, just last week.

So how have they won just one more conference game than Minnesota?
Well, the absence of Trannon's size and defense killed them this week in losses to Ohio State and the Hoosiers. But even before Trannon got hurt, the Spartans were getting nothing from their bench. While losing four of their past five games, Michigan State's bench has scored a total of 21 points. Ohio State, not the world's deepest team, got 17 points from its three-man bench against Michigan on Saturday.

"We don't have a great bench," Spartans coach Tom Izzo said after Sunday's loss. "I told you that in September. We don't have a great scoring bench, but there are a lot of teams that don't have great benches."

Michigan State is proving it can't overcome its lack of depth. The Spartans had been hoping for a top-four seed in the NCAA Tournament and a chance to play at The Palace of Auburn Hills outside of Detroit in the first round.

Now they have to worry about finishing under .500 in the conference for the first time since going 7-11 in 1992-93. Michigan State finishes with two tough home games this week against Wisconsin and Illinois, and Ohio State proved the Spartans are no longer invincible at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. Michigan State could be forced to play a first-round game in the Big Ten Tournament, and a foe like Northwestern or Minnesota won't be a gimme.


Around the league

Indiana's win will do a lot for the Hoosiers' NCAA hopes. Now 15-10 overall, the Hoosiers finish at Purdue and at Michigan. If they can split those games and win once in the Big Ten Tournament, a 17-12 record with a tough schedule and quality wins against Ohio State and Illinois should send them to the NCAA Tournament. . . . Wisconsin's Alando Tucker helped his cause For being named the league's player of the year with 22 points in Sunday's win over Minnesota. Averaging 19.1 points per game, he's third in the league in scoring behind Northwestern's Vedran Vukusic (19.6) and Michigan State's Ager (19.2).


To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

[email protected], 216-999-4479
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In just 2 short years, Matta has the program on the verge of winning the Big Ten. :biggrin:

Dispatch

2/27/06

Monday, February 27, 2006
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yahoo.com

3/1/06


(10) Illinois 71, Minnesota 65Preview - Box Score - Recap
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Minnesota
March 1, 2006

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- James Augustine doesn't care that he just missed a triple-double Tuesday night. His focus is on a much bigger prize.
Augustine had 16 points, 10 rebounds and a career-high seven assists to lead No. 10 Illinois over Minnesota 71-65, moving the Illini within a half-game of Ohio State for the Big Ten lead.

"Someone told me at halftime I had five assists, but I just laughed at it," Augustine said. "The win's more important."


Illinois finishes the regular season at Michigan State on Saturday. Ohio State has two games left, including one at Northwestern on Wednesday.
"I'm a huge Northwestern fan," Augustine joked. "We're gonna hope they pull it out."

"We haven't made plans yet, but we'll probably all get together and watch that game," said Jamar Smith, who hit a crucial 3-pointer down the stretch.
Dee Brown scored 14 points and Rich McBride had 12 for Illinois (24-5, 10-5), which is looking for its third straight Big Ten title.

Vincent Grier scored 19 points and Moe Hargrow added 17 in their final home game for the Golden Gophers (14-12, 5-10), who have lost 15 straight to Illinois dating back to 1999. Spencer Tollackson and Adam Boone had 10 points each for Minnesota, which finishes its schedule on Saturday at Northwestern.

"We played great in stretches," Grier said. "But, the whole year's been like that, ups and downs."

Grier, Hargrow, Boone, Zach Puchtel and J'son Stamper were all playing their last game at Williams Arena on senior night.

"I thought our seniors' focus and desire was excellent," Gophers coach Dan Monson said. "They put it on the line today, but it just wasn't enough."

Asked whether he thought Minnesota had a chance at the NCAA tournament, Monson was realistic, saying he didn't think a 5-10 record in the Big Ten would get the Gophers in. About the only chance they have is to receive the automatic bid that comes with winning the conference tournament.

"I don't know if we have to win the Big Ten Tournament, but that probably depends on who we play and how far we go," Monson said. "We have to worry about Saturday first."

The game was tied five times in the first five minutes of the second half, before Illinois went on a run. The Illini scored 10 straight points to take a 53-45 lead with 12:02 left.

The Gophers were held scoreless for nearly five minutes and looked out of it until a block by Puchtel on Shaun Pruitt's dunk attempt sparked Minnesota.

Stamper hit a jumper and Boone hit a 3-pointer to bring the Gophers within 60-56 with 4:23 left.

But Smith hit a 3 for Illinois at 2:56 to make it 63-56 and Minnesota couldn't get closer than four points the rest of the way.

"I missed one before and Dee said I owed him one," Smith said. "When we were in the huddle I said to him, 'I got you."'

Grier scored nine points in the first 10 minutes of the game, as Minnesota got out to a 22-14 lead. Illinois scored eight straight over the next two minutes to tie it at 22.

The Illini closed the first half with an 11-3 run, capped by Augustine's fast-break dunk, to take a 37-34 lead into the break. "You live off your seniors and James and Dee, the last couple of weeks, really stepped up," Illini coach Bruce Weber said.
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Great article...

Who Big Ten players love and dislike
Bottom of the second: Around the sports world
Detroit News wire services /
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Dale G. Young/The Detroit News
Davis: Most overrated and biggest crybaby.
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Survey says: Izzo top coach
Judging by the results of a survey published in this week's Sports Illustrated, Big Ten players love Michigan State coach Tom Izzo but are less than enthralled with Spartans center Paul Davis .
The magazine surveyed basketball players from the nation's major conferences to find out who was the best dunker, shooter, biggest whiner, etc.
The magazine surveyed one player from each team, and that player was not allowed to vote for his coach or teammates.
Here are the results for the Big Ten:
Toughest place to play: Illinois, 55 percent. "When their team goes on a run, it gets so loud, the floor starts shaking."
Best shooter: Jeff Horner , Iowa, 27 percent. "When he's on, he can shoot it from anywhere on the court."
Biggest trash-talker : Dee Brown , Illinois, 55 percent. "A little guy with a big, big mouth."
Most overrated player : Paul Davis , Michigan State, 36 percent: "He's supposedly been heading to the NBA draft since he was a freshman (he's now a senior), but he hasn't shown me that much."
Dirtiest player: Graham Brown , Michigan, 27 percent. "He throws his elbows all over the place, and it's not funny."
Team with the most respect for its coach : Michigan State, 45 percent: "You can just tell by the way they respond to [Tom Izzo's] criticism and never talk back." ... "They have a bond with Izzo. He's not only a coach but also a father figure."
Opposing coach you'd least like to play for (tie): Bill Carmody , Northwestern, 27 percent. "I can't stand the Princeton offense."Mike Davis , Indiana, 27 percent. "I don't like his personality--the way he cries on the sideline." ... "I don't think
[Indiana's] guards have much freedom to do what they can do."
Opposing coach you'd most like to play for: Tom Izzo , Michigan State, 36 percent. "He rides you, but tells you good things too."... "I see him at camps a lot, and he'll talk to you about life and basketball."
Biggest crybaby: Paul Davis , Michigan State, 27 percent. "You see that sour face when he doesn't get a call or something doesn't go the way he wants it to."... "Even when he scores, he whines."
Scariest dunker: Brent Petway , Michigan, 73 percent: "It's pretty much all he does. His warm-ups are like a dunkfest."... "He's a human highlight film. I've never seen anyone like him."

More More-Sports Headlines
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My Opinion:

Toughest place to play: Michigan State. The crowd is always howling at you and giving false shot clock advice.

Best shooter: Je'kel Foster, Ohio State, 'nuff said"

Biggest trash-talker: Not sure, so I'll go with Dee Brown since they did

Most overrated player: Paul Davis for the same reasons they gave

Dirtiest player: Graham Brown , Michigan, He was setting moving screens left and right againse us last week.

Team with the most respect for its coach : Tie between Thad and Izzo

Opposing coach you'd least like to play for (tie): Bill Carmody , Northwestern, Mike Davis , Indiana, 27 percent. Same as the reasons they gave.

Opposing coach you'd most like to play for: Tom Izzo , Michigan State, Again, same.

Biggest crybaby: Paul Davis , Michigan State, and Mike Davis, Indiana

Scariest dunker: TD baby!
 
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It seems like the Official Big 10 basketball thread should have a post saying:

Congratulations to the 2005-2006 Big 10 Men's Basketball Champions:

THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
 
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yahoo.com

3/2/06


(23) Iowa 65, Penn St. 38Preview - Box Score - Recap
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Iowa
By LUKE MEREDITH, Associated Press Writer
March 1, 2006

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) -- Iowa has rallied around its defense this season.

On Wednesday, the Hawkeyes gave their best defensive effort.
Mike Henderson scored 16 points and Erek Hansen added 15 as No. 23 Iowa snapped a two-game losing streak by beating Penn State 65-38 on Wednesday night, holding the Nittany Lions to a season-low in points.

Just how bad was it for Penn State? The Nittany Lions had more turnovers (14) than field goals (13), shot 25 percent from the field and scored just 10 points inside.


"We've been awfully good defensively all year, but this might have been our best 40-minute effort," Iowa coach Steve Alford said. "We've been really good defensively in this building all year."

Iowa (21-8, 10-5 Big Ten) took control midway through the first half and led by double digits the rest of the way, as its defensive pressure forced Penn State out of its rhythm and created easy baskets on the other end.

The Hawkeyes typically play a methodical halfcourt offense, relying on their defense to control the tempo. It's a formula that works, Alford says, because his players have bought into the theory that defense wins games.

"We've got a lot of upperclassmen, and they understand the importance of that end," Alford said. "Tonight was as good we've helped all year, and that's what good team defense does."

With the win, the Hawkeyes clinched a first-round bye for the Big Ten tournament and moved one step closer to its first undefeated season at home since 1965-66.

The Hawkeyes, who are 16-0 at home for the first time in school history, finish up the regular season by hosting Wisconsin on Saturday. Ohio State's win over Northwestern on Wednesday means that if the Buckeyes beat Purdue on Saturday they will win the Big Ten title, but Iowa can claim a share of its first conference crown since 1979 with a win and an Ohio State loss.

"It was kind of bad, but we're just hoping for Purdue to (win)," Henderson said.

Iowa buried any hopes the Nittany Lions (14-13, 6-10) had for a comeback by opening the second half with an 11-0 run. Henderson started the spurt with a fast break layup off a steal, a 19-foot jumper and a putback, and Adam Haluska finished it with a long 3-pointer that gave Iowa a 41-17 lead with 15:24 left.

"You're not going to win many games shooting 25 percent," Penn State coach Ed DeChellis said. "I thought offensively we were just really bad tonight."

Iowa's reserves got plenty of playing time the rest of the way, but Penn State was never able to get closer than 18 points in the final 11:55.

Travis Parker scored 13 points for the Nittany Lions. Despite the loss, Penn State finished with its best conference record in five years, coming off a 7-23 mark in 2004-05.

After a slow start, the Hawkeyes used their defense to ignite a 19-2 run.

Hansen converted a three-point play and a basket to give Iowa its first double-digit lead, 23-12. Greg Brunner followed with a block, a save and an outlet pass that Jeff Horner used to bury a 3-pointer, and Haluska hit a 3 on the Hawkeyes' next possession to push the lead to 29-12.

Iowa held the Nittany Lions to two points over a 10:34 stretch during the first half and led 30-17 at halftime. "It excites us when we hold teams under 40 points, and it really does lead to a lot of good buckets on the offensive end," Haluska said.
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yahoo.com

3/2/06


Indiana 70, Purdue 59

Indiana 70, Purdue 59Preview - Box Score - Recap
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Indiana
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Purdue
By CLIFF BRUNT, Associated Press Writer
March 1, 2006

AP - Mar 1, 10:29 pm EST
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) -- Marshall Strickland scored 10 of his 16 points in the second half to help Indiana beat Purdue 70-59 on Wednesday night for its third straight win.
Robert Vaden added 11 points and 12 rebounds for Indiana (16-10, 8-7 Big Ten), which might have saved its NCAA Tournament hopes with the victory.
Gary Ware led Purdue (9-17, 3-12) with 16 points and Matt Kiefer added 13 in the Boilermakers' third straight loss. Indiana shot 71 percent in the second half after shooting 29 percent in the first. A late 3-point barrage by Indiana doomed the Boilermakers. Indiana led 51-48 with 5:30 left, but two 3-pointers by Vaden sandwiched around an NBA-range three by Strickland gave Indiana a 62-53 lead with 1:45 remaining. The Hoosiers went 6-for-9 from beyond the arc in the second half.
The Hoosiers won their fourth in a row in the series. Indiana won the first meeting this season 62-49 in Bloomington.

Purdue made four of its first six shots to take an 8-2 lead and force an Indiana timeout. The Hoosiers responded with a 16-5 run to take an 18-13 lead.
Purdue answered Indiana's surge with an 11-0 run that included three straight buckets by Ware and five points from Kiefer.
Purdue led 27-25 in the closing seconds of the first half, but Bryant Dillon carried. Marco Killingsworth, who was held to 10 points and three rebounds, then missed a 3-pointer as time expired, allowing Purdue to take its lead into the break. Indiana shot 9-for-31 from the field in the first half -- Vaden was 1-for-9 -- and the Hoosiers made 3-of-15 3-pointers in the first 20 minutes.
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Dispatch

3/3/06

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Michigan State handles Wisconsin

Friday, March 03, 2006


ASSOCIATED PRESS

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</IMG> AL GOLDIS | ASSOCIATED PRESS Wisconsin’s Kevin Gullikson shoots over Michigan State’s Delco Rowley during the Spartans’ 74-65 victory.


No. 25 Michigan St. 74, Wisconsin 65 — Paul Davis had 27 points and nine rebounds to lead Michigan State over Wisconsin last night in a Big Ten game in East Lansing, Mich.

Alando Tucker scored 23 points but was the only player in double figures for the Badgers (19-9, 9-6), who had won four of five but lost any shot at a share of the league’s regular-season title.

In his next-to-last home game, Davis was 9 of 12 from the field and 9 of 10 at the foul line.

Wisconsin led 23-13 midway through the first half before Michigan State (20-9, 8-7) got going. A 7-0 spurt late in the first half helped the Spartans go up 35-31 at the break.

Brown’s alley-oop dunk and fadeaway three-pointer jump-started a run early in the second half. The Spartans led 48-36 before Tucker, the Big Ten’s leading scorer, took charge with 19 second-half points.
But Tucker missed two free throws that would have cut the deficit to 59-57, and Maurice Ager answered to help Michigan State hold off Wisconsin. Ager scored 12 of his 19 points in the second half despite being in foul trouble.
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ESPN.COM

3/3/06

BIG TEN

Player of the Year: Dee Brown (14), Illinois. The Minutes was sorely tempted to cast this vote for Ohio State point guard Jamar Butler, whose play has been vital to the Buckeyes' breakthrough season and who misses far fewer shots than Brown. But even Dee's tangible assets (a team-leading 14.9 points per game in conference play, a Big Ten-leading 5.8 assists, a Big Ten-leading 38-plus minutes per game) are not as important as his intangible assets. You can almost feel his will keeping the Illini among the national elite this season.


Coach of the Year: Thad Matta (15), Ohio State. In October, the program slogan should have been "Wait 'til next year," when Greg Oden comes aboard. Today, it should be "the future is now," as Matta's second Buckeyes team stunningly has roared to the top of a very, very tough Big Ten.

Bust of the Year: Michigan State (16). You know the world has gone haywire when Rick Pitino's team can't run and Tom Izzo's team can't guard. Welcome to the new reality. The Spartans were a popular Final Four pick before the season, but now they're an underdog to reach the final four of the Big Ten Tournament.

Minutes Moment of the Year: Mike Davis' calling in sick when Steve Alford came to Bloomington. Indiana even produced a note from his doctor saying the coach was really, truly, honestly sick ... but did anybody check the handwriting on that thing?
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