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Never Forget 31-0
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Around the Big Ten
ILLINOIS
GETTING INSIDE
Whenever Bruce Weber breaks it down, he comes to the same conclusion: He's reliving his first season at Illinois.
Is he right? Well, shooting guard Rich McBride missed the first four games because of suspension in 2003-04 and he had to miss the first four games because of suspension this year.
Three seasons ago, top player Deron Williams sat out a few games with a broken jaw, forcing others to do more in his absence.
This time around, top player Brian Randle has missed all but nine minutes because of a groin injury that eventually required surgery. Top shooter Jamar Smith suffered a high ankle sprain in Illinois' opener that has kept him off the floor for all but 53 minutes. Their absence has given players such as sophomores Calvin Brock and Trent Meacham lots of minutes.
"There's no continuity and it hasn't been very easy," Weber said. "But we can't do anything about it."
Weber clearly hopes his first-year analogy continues to play out. Because once the Illini became whole in 2003-04, they embarked on a huge roll that earned a Big Ten title and a Sweet 16 berth. That might be a little ambitious for this crew, especially with Ohio State and Wisconsin looking so strong.
But when Smith returns to the fold late this week and Randle returns during Christmas break, suddenly Illinois will field a team with five legitimate scorers as well as a group that will be above-average defensively.
NOTES, QUOTES
?Illinois coach Bruce Weber wasn't shy during his preseason analysis: Senior forward Warren Carter, a first-time starter this year, would be the key to the team. If Weber's diagnosis is dead-on, then the Illini should be in good shape when everyone gets healthy.
Last week, when Illinois dropped games to No. 23 Maryland and No. 16 Arizona, Carter produced a double-double in the first half against the Terps (13 points and 10 rebounds) and then followed that with a career-high 24 points and 10 rebounds against the Wildcats. Carter leads the Illini in scoring (13.0 points per game) and blocked shots (1.4 per game) and ranks No. 2 in rebounding (6.9 per game).
?Illinois' other big question entering this season: Who would replace point guard Dee Brown? As it turns out, it shouldn't have been a question at all. Sophomore Chester Frazier, who averaged 1.3 points on 21% shooting last season, has been a mainstay despite playing at least two games because of a painful injury (turf toe) that would have sidelined others.
Frazier, who earned the MVP award in the Chicago Invitational Challenge, averages 10.4 points, 6.4 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game. He's even shooting 41% from the field.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "You're kind of looking for the light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe around Christmas we get everyone back. I still think we can be a pretty good team," Illinois coach Bruce Weber.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
Here's all you need to know about Illinois' play to date: Everyone expected the Illini's top three returning scorers ? senior Rich McBride, junior Brian Randle and sophomore Jamar Smith ? to be the leaders in the wake of Dee Brown's and James Augustine's graduation to the NBA.
Well, that trio has never been on the floor together for anything beyond practice thanks to McBride's four-game suspension, Randle's groin injury and Smith's high ankle sprain. In fact, two of them have been on the court together for only 28 minutes and 59 seconds this season.
PLAYER ROTATION: Usual Starters ? PF Warren Carter, SF Calvin Brock, C Shaun Pruitt, SG Rich McBride, PG Chester Frazier. Key Subs ? C/PF Marcus Arnold, G Trent Meacham, C Brian Carlwell.
GAME REVIEW:
Illinois 75, Bradley 71
Maryland 72, Illinois 66
Arizona 84, Illinois 72
GAME PREVIEW:
vs. UIPUI, Wednesday, Dec. 6
vs. Illinois-Chicago (at United Center), Saturday, Dec. 9
vs. Belmont, Sunday, Dec. 17.
KEYS: Illinois figures to win all three of these games, but it can help itself considerably by avoiding the slow starts that have been a near-constant. Already this year, the Illini have needed to rally from first-half double-digit deficits against Jackson State, Miami (Ohio), Bradley and Maryland.
ROSTER REPORT: Sophomore guard Jamar Smith (high ankle sprain) is expected to return either for Illinois-Chicago or Belmont. Smith, who played against Bradley and Maryland, realized he needed more rehab time before playing again. Junior forward Brian Randle (groin/abdominal surgery) potentially could return for the Belmont game, but it seems more likely he'll shoot for the Dec. 19 game against Missouri or Dec. 21 against Idaho State. Freshman forward Richard Semrau missed the last four games ? two because of the flu and two because of a chest contusion.
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INDIANA
GETTING INSIDE
Errek Suhr has gone from walk-on to cover boy. The hometown kid came to Indiana as a walk-on, but now as a senior, he's featured on the cover of Indiana's media guide and has shown enough competitiveness and guts to crack the starting lineup.
Suhr was inserted into the starting lineup on Dec. 2, only days after he played nearly the entire second half in a close loss to Duke.
"Errek Suhr took his team when they were drowning and picked them all up," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "What a courageous performance by that kid. That's the beauty of the college game. That kid is going to be a banker or maybe something else like that. But tonight he was terrific."
Suhr has a history of making big plays. Last year in the Big Ten tournament, Suhr fouled out Michigan State big man Paul Davis by taking one of his team-high 14 charges. The Spartans first lost Davis, then the game. Without that play, Indiana may have been shut out of the NCAA Tournament altogether.
Suhr had already earned the respect of his teammates, but when coach Mike Davis was fired, he had to start all over again with new coach Kelvin Sampson.
"No matter what I've done in the past, I'm just the 5-8 white kid who can't jump very high," he told the Bedford (Ind.) Times the day Sampson was hired. "I'm just going to get back at it and try to prove myself all over again."
It took exactly five games for that to happen.
"At point guard, you just need somebody to run your stuff," Sampson said. "You don't need Superman at point guard. You need someone who knows how to play. With Errek, we may have found that."
NOTES, QUOTES
?Coach Kelvin Sampson is one of six active coaches nationally to win at least 20 games in each of the last nine seasons. The others are Lute Olson of Arizona, Mike Krzyzewski of Duke, Jim Boeheim of Syracuse, Tubby Smith of Kentucky and Jim Calhoun of Connecticut. Of course, none of those seasons came at Indiana.
?F Lance Stemler has made an immediate impact. The junior college transfer was the early leader in scoring and minutes played while hitting about half of his 3-point attempts.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "You can come up with a starting lineup, but that's in pencil right now. Eventually you'd like to have it in ink." ? Coach Kelvin Sampson, who continues to shake up his starting lineup while searching for the right combinations.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
A.J. Ratliff's confidence slumped to the point he didn't play in the second half vs. Duke. But after a pep talk from coach Kelvin Sampson, Ratliff came off the bench last weekend to score 16 in the first half and finish with a season high 18 points Charlotte.
PLAYER ROTATION: Usual Starters ? F D.J. White, C Ben Allen, G Armon Bassett, G A.J. Ratliff, G Errek Suhr. Key Subs ? G Earl Calloway, F Mike White, F Lance Stemler.
GAME REVIEW:
Indiana 74, Charlotte 57
Duke 54, Indiana 51
Indiana 90, Chicago State 69
GAME PREVIEW:
vs. Western Illinois, Wednesday, Dec. 6
at Kentucky, Saturday, Dec. 9
vs. Southern Illinois, Sunday, Dec. 17
KEYS: The Hoosiers' second marquee game of the year comes Saturday at Kentucky, only one week after they lost at Chapel Hill. Indiana's biggest drawback this year has been its propensity to turn the ball over. That certainly won't work on the road at Rupp Arena.
ROSTER REPORT: G Joey Shaw is in the early running for most pleasant surprise. A redshirt freshman, Shaw has already earned quality minutes with his ability to penetrate and hit shots from the perimeter. G Armon Bassett, like Shaw, wasn't supposed to play major minutes early since he's just a true freshman. But Bassett has quickly established himself as a player who needs to be on the floor. Earl Calloway and A.J. Ratliff are the biggest offenders in turnovers, but most everyone on the roster needs to work on ball control. The Hoosiers were averaging 18 turnovers through the early games, which is about twice as many as are acceptable.
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IOWA
GETTING INSIDE
If you look at Iowa's official schedule, then you see that the Hawkeye Challenge was just played. But if you look closer and think more clearly, then you realize the real Hawkeye Challenge is about to begin.
Starting with Tuesday's visit from Northern Iowa, the Hawkeyes face their three in-state rivals in a 13-day stretch that also requires them to take final exams.
It's an emotional, treacherous stretch that should tell plenty about Iowa's fortunes going forward. Because to this point, the Hawks have struggled to establish anything consistent except senior guard Adam Haluska.
Haluska, the Big Ten's No. 3 scorer at 18.3 points per game, has been the constant in Iowa's climate of constant change.
"I told you at Halloween there'd be times when this team would make you say, 'Wow,'" Iowa coach Steve Alford said after Saturday's win over Coppin State. "And then there'd be times you'd say, 'Wow,' and it would mean a whole different thing. That's what we're getting right now."
Alford has tried multiple lineups in search of the best fit. At this point, he has settled on junior-college transfers Cyrus Tate and Justin Johnson ahead of sophomore Tony Freeman and junior 7-footer Seth Gorney. But stay tuned as developments warrant.
NOTES, QUOTES
?When multi-faceted swingman Tyler Smith signed with Iowa in the spring class, the Hawks had their highest-ranked freshman recruit since Greg Brunner and Jeff Horner showed up in 2002. The 6-foot-7 Smith, ranked as high as the nation's No. 31 recruit by one recruiting guru, was expected to deliver immediately.
The first thing he did, though, was get involved in a retail store burglary that ended with he and senior teammate Mike Henderson pleading guilty to fifth-degree theft.
Smith's on-court performance has been more impressive ? he ranks among the team's top three in scoring (13.5 points per game), rebounding (4.8), assists (3.4) and steals (1.5) ? but coach Steve Alford finds the Tennessee native needs some nudging.
"He's very talented," Alford told the Iowa City Press-Citizen. "But even the most talented have to practice extremely hard and have good practices."
?One of the most pleasing aspects of last year's Iowa squad was its willingness to defend to the death. The Hawkeyes finished as the nation's No. 3 team in field-goal defense (38.0%).
But with most of last year's contributors gone, Iowa coach Steve Alford figured defense would be the last thing to come around for his revamped roster. Sure enough, he wasn't wrong.
Iowa is allowing opponents to shoot 44.1% from the floor and, more alarmingly, a whopping 38.5% from 3-point range. Both numbers rank dead-last in the Big Ten.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I know it may not be pretty and I know he might not be in game shape, but we've got to get him going again. I think he's ready." ? Iowa coach Steve Alford on the eve of Mike Henderson's debut, which featured no points and three turnovers in eight minutes. Senior guard Mike Henderson, a starter on last year's NCAA team, made his debut Saturday after sitting out for a month with a broken finger
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
Iowa coach Steve Alford insisted all along that his starting lineup and rotation would be a moving target, depending on the particular opponent.
While the Hawks have employed several lineups this year and seven different players have started, Alford's changes have been more about performance than match-ups.
After Iowa's 29-point loss to Villanova and three-point loss at Arizona State, Alford promoted juniors Cyrus Tate and Justin Johnson into the lineup and demoted sophomore Tony Freeman and junior Seth Gorney.
Why did Alford do it?
"Just (to have) a better start," Alford told the Iowa City Press-Citizen. "Don't start (down) 13-0 like we did at Arizona State. And I thought we got that."
Apparently so. Alford has kept the same lineup for the last three games.
PLAYER ROTATION: Usual Starters ? F Tyler Smith, F Cyrus Tate, C Kurt Looby, G Adam Haluska, G Justin Johnson. Key Subs ? PG Tony Freeman, F Seth Gorney, G Mike Henderson, G J.R. Angle.
GAME REVIEW:
Virginia Tech 69, Iowa 65
Iowa 62, Texas-Pan American 46
Iowa 83, Coppin State 67
GAME PREVIEW:
vs. Northern Iowa, Tuesday, Dec. 5
vs. Iowa State, Friday, Dec. 8
At Drake, Saturday, Dec. 16
KEYS: For each of Iowa's next three opponents, this game ranks at the top of their wish lists for the non-conference season. That's a lot of pressure, but it can be defused if the Hawks bring more defensive pressure than they have to date.
ROSTER REPORT: Senior guard Mike Henderson made his season debut in Saturday night's win over Coppin State. Henderson, who broke his finger in preseason practice, contributed one point and three turnovers in eight minutes off the bench. Senior guard Adam Haluska suffered a sprained ankle last week against Virginia Tech, but he has fought through it with no visible effect on his game. Expect him to be ready to go this week. Junior-college transfer Justin Johnson checks in at 6-foot-6, but he's not really a guy who hangs out inside the arc. Of Johnson's 51 shots in Iowa's first eight games, 36 of them came from 3-point range. And apparently for good reason. Johnson hits at a team-best 47% clip.
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MICHIGAN
GETTING INSIDE
Michigan players called the 74-67 loss to North Carolina State a lesson learned, but it's probably a lesson the Wolverines could've done without.
The Wolfpack was considered one of the weaker teams in the ACC and dressed only six scholarship players, but it had enough firepower to build a 21-point lead before holding on at the end.
Michigan's defense clearly needs work, but perhaps what was really exposed was an inability to finish, which has to be disturbing considering Michigan's four seniors on the roster. The Wolverines held a commanding 16-4 lead early, but slowly allowed an outmanned N.C. State team to work its way back.
"It was something that we shouldn't have to go through this year because of all the other stuff we've been through," senior Courtney Sims said.
Michigan at least temporarily righted its wrongs by pounding Wofford on Saturday, 83-49, but there is plenty of work to be done before it heads west on Dec. 23 to face UCLA.
"This season we haven't finished strong," senior Dion Harris said. "That's a concern. As a whole team, we've got to really focus on finishing teams out."
NOTES, QUOTES
?Entering Thursday's game against Miami, coach Tommy Amaker is six wins shy of becoming the sixth coach in school history to reach 100 wins.
?Fifth-year senior Lester Abram is once again a captain. He's the first player in school history to serve as a captain for three years. This year, he's the only captain on the team.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's frustrating for our ballclub right now. ... I think they have the makings of something." ? Coach Tommy Amaker.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
Michigan needs to work on its defense and its ability to hold onto leads. Neither should be a problem given the experience on the roster.
PLAYER ROTATION: Usual Starters ? F Ron Coleman, F Lester Abram, F Brent Petway, C Courtney Sims, G Dion Harris. Key Subs ? F Ekpe Udoh, G Jerret Smith, F Jevohn Shepherd.
GAME REVIEW:
Michigan 83, Wofford 49
N.C. State 74, Michigan 67
Michigan 66, Maryland-Baltimore County 54
GAME PREVIEW:
at Miami (Ohio), Thursday, Dec. 7
vs. Delaware State, Saturday, Dec. 9
vs. Northern Illinois, Saturday, Dec. 16
KEYS: These games lead to a big road date at UCLA, which will quickly be followed by the start of Big Ten play, so rehearsal time is quickly running out.
ROSTER REPORT: Seven players are averaging at least 15 minutes a game, led by Dion Harris' 30.3 minutes. Lester Abram, one of three left-handers on the team, is expected to make his 100th start sometime late in the season. He would become the 16th player in history to start 100 games for Michigan. Teammate Dion Harris is already on that list. Roughly half of Dion Harris' career field goals are 3-pointers.
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MICHIGAN STATE
GETTING INSIDE
Former Spartans football coach John L. Smith encouraged Matt Trannon to play his final season of basketball, as he has each of the previous three years.
But Trannon, who battled an assortment of injuries throughout football season and still may be suffering from a small tear in his groin, instead decided he needed the rest. That means Michigan State will play this year without one of its better rebounders.
"He's just not healthy," coach Tom Izzo said. "He just feels like he's got to get healthy, and I respect that."
Izzo might respect the decision, but he certainly doesn't have to like it. Trannon's professional career is much brighter in football than it is basketball, but both Izzo and Smith believed that another season of basketball could help his stock in football.
The concept certainly worked for San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates, who got a shot in the NFL with the Chargers despite never playing a snap of football at Kent State.
"After going three years around-the-clock, I sort of understand," Izzo said of Trannon. "But I still think basketball would have helped (his football stock). But I also respect and appreciate what he's given us over the last three years."
Trannon would have been Michigan State's lone senior had he returned. Instead, a young Spartans team lost what little experience it could've had.
NOTES, QUOTES
?The eight games Michigan State played in November are the most in school history for the opening month of the season. The Spartans went 6-2 in the opening month, losing to Maryland and then Boston College in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
?Michigan State finished November surrendering 52.9 points a game, second in the Big Ten. It also averaged six blocked shots through the first eight games, which also ranks second in the conference.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I think that first half (vs. Bradley on Dec. 3) is the best we've played defensively here ever. And that says a lot considering some of my championship teams." ? Coach Tom Izzo, after the Spartans held Bradley to 29% shooting from the floor.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
The Spartans are young this year, which isn't a surprise to anyone. They start three sophomores and a freshman, but at least in the early games, coach Tom Izzo has them playing well defensively, which is enough to keep them in most games.
PLAYER ROTATION: Usual Starters ? F Marquise Gray, F Raymar Morgan, C Idong Ibok, G Travis Walton, G Drew Neitzel. Key Subs ? C Goran Sutton, C Drew Naymick, G Maurice Joseph.
GAME REVIEW:
Michigan State 82, Bradley 53
Boston College 65, Michigan State 58
Michigan State 71, Oakland 53
GAME PREVIEW:
vs. Indiana-Purdue at Fort Wayne, Wednesday, Dec. 6
vs. BYU (Spartan Clash), Saturday, Dec. 9
vs. Chicago State, Saturday, Dec. 16
KEYS: Michigan State's defense will have to keep it in games until more scoring is established. The Spartans already have an impressive win over then-No. 19 Texas and they really shouldn't be tested again until Big Ten play begins in January.
ROSTER REPORT: Drew Neitzel is 10th on Michigan State's all-time assists list and he's within 30 of ninth place and Kevin Smith. Drew Neitzel averaged only 8.3 points a game last year, but through the first month of the season, he was the team's leading scorer at 17 points a game. Drew Naymick and Idong Ibok combined for 27 of Michigan State's 48 blocks in November. The Spartans are well ahead of last year's pace, when the team blocked only 101 shots in 34 games all year. Matt Trannon has decided not to play basketball this year, instead giving his body the chance to rest and preparing himself for the combine in February and the NFL Draft in April.
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MINNESOTA
GETTING INSIDE
When rumors floated last spring that Dan Monson might be let go at Minnesota, it became clear Monson didn't have much time to turn it around.
The minute-glass ran out on Nov. 30, when Monson unhappily accepted a buyout of his contract and top assistant Jim Molinari took over the program on an interim basis.
Why did Monson need to go at such a peculiar time, when everyone knew he lost six crucial players from the previous year?
Well, it didn't help that Minnesota dropped five consecutive games in a nine-day span ? including home games to Iowa State and Clemson that didn't exactly pack in the fans at Williams Arena.
"After you lose (momentum), it's hard to get the ball rolling in the other direction," Monson said at his post-resignation news conference. "If the stigma of your program isn't going in the right direction, it's a really tough uphill climb."
In Molinari's first game as a head coach since 2002, when he finished an up-and-down run at Bradley, Minnesota took a small step up with a 3-point home win over Arizona State.
But "Mo" knows there are hard days ahead as he tries to mold the Gophers into a winner.
"A lot of people value contentment over commitment," Molinari said. "When they're happy, they get committed. I believe you have to do it the other way. You have to get committed and keep fighting and then you usually get some contentment."
NOTES, QUOTES
?When Minneapolis native Lawrence McKenzie transferred home from Oklahoma, everyone expected plenty from the sharpshooter. The 6-foot-2 junior guard certainly hasn't disappointed.
McKenzie paces the Gophers in scoring (15.9 points per game) as he serves as the team's only legitimate 3-point threat. McKenzie canned 23-of-57 bombs in Minnesota's first eight games (40.4%) while the rest of the team made 27-of-88 (30.7%).
?Sophomore swingman Jamal Abu-Shamala might be the epitome of Minnesota's mixed fortunes to date. Last year, as an invited walk-on, Abu-Shamala quickly earned a scholarship as he became a deadeye threat off the bench. He cashed a team-high 48% of his shots from beyond the 3-point arc.
This year, as a marked man, Abu-Shamala hasn't been able to buy a basket. He hit only 27% of his shots in Minnesota's first eight games, which might explain why interim coach Jim Molinari wants intangibles as much as points from the slender 6-foot-5 sophomore.
"Yes, he can shoot the ball," Molinari said. "But we have him play because he does all those scrappy things."
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We're going to figure out who really cares about Minnesota. This is about Minnesota. It's a privilege to be here, so I want guys who really care about the program." ? Interim Minnesota coach Jim Molinari.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
In his first game as Minnesota's coach, Jim Molinari made a slight adjustment to the starting lineup. He gave redshirt freshman Kevin Payton a start while bringing sophomore Jamal Abu-Shamala off the bench.
It's unlikely Molinari has settled on a solid lineup. After all, eight Gophers started at least twice in the team's first eight games.
Experimentation seems inevitable as only four of Minnesota's 13 scholarship players were eligible to play during the latter half of last season. That's definitely a recipe for mixing and matching, though anybody who intends to play had better play defense. That has been a Molinari staple dating to his debut as a head coach at Northern Illinois in 1989.
PLAYER ROTATION: Usual Starters ? F Brandon Smith, F Dan Coleman, C Spencer Tollackson, G Lawrence McKenzie, G Kevin Payton. Key Subs ? G Limar Wilson, F Jonathan Williams, G Jamal Abu-Shamala.
GAME REVIEW:
Montana 72, Minnesota 65
Clemson 90, Minnesota 68
Minnesota 66, Arizona State 63
GAME PREVIEW:
At UAB, Tuesday, Dec. 5
vs. South Dakota State, Thursday, Dec. 7
vs. Arkansas-Little Rock, Saturday, Dec. 9
KEYS: We'll allow interim coach Jim Molinari to explain what it will take for the Gophers to win at all: "We're going to try to keep people shooting around (or) under 40%. And we're going to try to prevent teams from beating us with 3s."
ROSTER REPORT: Do Minnesota's players miss recently departed coach Dan Monson? After beating Arizona State on Saturday, the players signed the game ball in hopes someone would present it to him (Monson didn't attend the game). Redshirt freshman swingman Kevin Payton didn't arrive at Minnesota with a reputation as a playmaker, but he clearly has developed into a player who puts his teammates first. After producing a career-high nine assists Saturday against Arizona State, Payton owns a team-high 28 assists in 134 minutes. He has taken only eight shots during that time. After averaging 10 minutes off the bench in Minnesota's first seven games, freshman guard Lawrence Westbrook did not play in Saturday's win over Arizona State. That might be a hint as to how much interim coach Jim Molinari appreciates protecting the basketball. Westbrook committed 11 turnovers in his first 70 minutes.
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NORTHWESTERN
GETTING INSIDE
With finals week upon Northwestern's players, this 11-day break represents the calmest portion of the season.
Which is a shame because the Wildcats, picked to finish last in the Big Ten, have been on a roll beyond anyone's expectations.
When Northwestern tipped Miami (Fla.) on Nov. 28 for one of the rare Big Ten wins in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, it seemed like a nice victory. But then it looked even better after the Hurricanes knocked off nationally ranked Georgia Tech in their next game.
And when Northwestern bounced DePaul by 10 on Nov. 14, it seemed like a nice local triumph. But then it looked even better when DePaul took down No. 5 Kansas on Dec. 2.
How are the Wildcats beating the good teams that are beating the even better teams? By not beating themselves.
Because Northwestern's Princeton-style attack chews up most of the shot clock every time ? and because the Wildcats' unique matchup zone forces opponents to work for shots ? every possession in an NU game means that much more.
While the Wildcats recognize that fact and protect the ball accordingly, their opponents usually don't. Northwestern leads the Big Ten by a wide margin in turnovers (9.7 per game) while ranking second in turnover margin (+5.33 per game).
Those traits are important going forward because the Wildcats possess a small margin for error but still have a legitimate chance to go 6-1 over the remainder of their pre-conference schedule.
NOTES, QUOTES
?If it seems as if Northwestern senior swingman Tim Doyle has been playing basketball in the public eye forever, that's not much of an exaggeration. After playing five years of varsity basketball in high school, the 24-year-old is in his fifth year on the college scene.
Doyle has taken Northwestern's inexperienced roster and placed it on his back in the early going. In virtually every category except 3-point shooting and blocks, Doyle leads the Wildcats. He's averaging 11.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.3 steals per game.
"He's a senior who knows how to run things," said Northwestern coach Bill Carmody.
?One of the keys to the Princeton-style offense? Excellent perimeter shooting, which forces defenses to overextend and opens up cuts to the basket.
Northwestern hasn't done a good job shooting from 3-point range this season. But the Wildcats feel a lot better about their 30.5 percent shooting because sophomore Craig Moore, the team's best marksman, has finally come alive. In their Nov. 28 victory over Miami, Moore drilled 7 of 10 3-pointers en route to a career-high 24 points. Moore had made just 6 of 26 3-pointers entering the game.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "He's getting more air under the ball. It was that speedy, line-drive thing (before), so it was good to see." ? Northwestern coach Bill Carmody, on why Craig Moore started shooting better
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
With just 10 non-redshirting scholarship players on his roster, it's not as if Bill Carmody has a million choices for his lineup. But the Wildcats are one of the rare teams that haven't needed to change their starting lineup.
Freshman forward Kevin Coble, a potentially big scorer down the line, solidified the lineup during the preseason. If Northwestern could ask anything more from its nine-man rotation, it would wish often injured fifth-year senior Ivan Tolic was healthy enough to play more than 10 minutes off the bench.
PLAYER ROTATION: Usual Starters ? F Tim Doyle, F Kevin Coble, C Vince Scott, G Sterling Williams, G Craig Moore. Key Subs ? G Jason Okrzesik, F Jeff Ryan, C Ivan Tolic.
GAME REVIEW:
Northwestern 64, Brown 40
Northwestern 40, North Florida 39
Northwestern 61, Miami (Fla.) 59
GAME PREVIEW:
Vs. Western Michigan, Saturday, Dec. 9
Vs. Wheaton (Ill.), Thursday, Dec. 14
Vs. Tennessee Tech (at San Juan Shootout), Tuesday, Dec. 19
KEYS: Northwestern shouldn't have a problem with Division III Wheaton, which will be making a rare appearance against a Div. I foe, but Western Maryland and Tennessee Tech boast hefty post players who traditionally fare well against the Wildcats. They must keep their slender bodies on Western Michigan's Joe Reitz (6-foot-7, 256 pounds) and Tennessee Tech's Amadi McKenzie (6-7, 225).
ROSTER REPORT: Every year, Northwestern hopes it has done enough to address its perennial rebounding deficiency. Every year, the Wildcats learn the same answer. Northwestern is being outrebounded by 9.2 boards per game. That's twice as bad as the only other Big Ten team that's being outrebounded.
Northwestern plans to redshirt its two freshmen from Croatia. That means 6-foot-8, 235-pound Nikola Baran and 6-8, 195-pound Ivan Peljusic will be 23 years old if and when they complete their college eligibility.
Looking for a sign that Northwestern's offense is working how it would like? Senior center Vince Scott ranks second on the team in assists (20) and has accomplished that with just seven turnovers.
PENN STATE
GETTING INSIDE
The Nittany Lions have been inconsistent this year, which is a good thing. It sure beats downright awful, which Penn State basketball has been for too long now.
Penn State has shown flashes, such as in a big comeback win vs. St. Joe's and then last week's 77-73 loss to Georgia Tech in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, when the Nittany Lions gave the Yellow Jackets all they could handle.
Then, of course, there was the embarrassing 67-61 loss to Division II Shippensburg in the exhibition season and the 59-51 loss to Stony Brook, an America East team that won all of four games last year.
While there is still plenty of work to be done, the comeback against St. Joe's, the ability to hang tough with Georgia Tech and the overtime win over Bucknell at the buzzer show that, finally, there is hope in Happy Valley.
"We want to be a program with expectations," coach Ed DeChellis said. "I think that's what we've been working on like crazy for three years to do. We want to be a team that has high expectations. How we handle that will been seen in how the season unfolds."
Penn State isn't near the top of the Big Ten in talent. But it's no longer clearly at the bottom, either. If nothing else, that signifies hope, which is something the Nittany Lions have lacked for quite some time.
NOTES, QUOTES
?Before the loss to Georgia Tech, the Nittany Lions began the year 4-1 for the first time since the 2000-01 team started the year 10-0.
?Penn State trailed by 10 with five minutes left and by eight with 1:20 left against St. Joe's, but managed to rally for the win. It was only the second time in 54 games under DeChellis that the Nittany Lions came back to win after trailing with five minutes left to play.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We can't play the shirt. We've got to play the game and do the things we do and try to do them well." ? Coach Ed DeChellis on Penn State's tendency to either play up or down to the level of its opponent.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
The return of Geary Claxton from a broken hand is a huge boost to the lineup.
PLAYER ROTATION: Usual Starters ? G Geary Claxton, G Ben Luber, G David Jackson, F Jamelle Cornley, F Brandon Hassell. Key Subs ? G Danny Morrissey, G Mike Walker.
GAME REVIEW:
Penn State 80, Morgan State 71
Georgia Tech 77, Penn State 73
Penn State 65, St. Joe's 61
GAME PREVIEW:
vs. Hartford, Wednesday, Dec. 6
at Seton Hall, Saturday, Dec. 9
vs. Long Island, Wednesday, Dec. 13
KEYS: As simple as it sounds, the Nittany Lions need to keep playing. Their aggressiveness will overcome some of their mistakes, but they are still inconsistent. The only way to correct that is by playing more games and learning how not to turn the ball over.
ROSTER REPORT: Team leader Geary Claxton missed the first four games because of a broken knuckle sustained during the exhibition season, but returned to play against St. Joe's and appears to be fine. Forward D.J. Jackson is out indefinitely because of a stress fracture in his leg.
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PURDUE
GETTING INSIDE
In fifth-year senior forward Carl Landry, Purdue has the Big Ten's leading scorer who happens to own the league's last two Player of the Week awards.
In fifth-year senior guard David Teague, Purdue has a sharpshooting leader who's not afraid to defer to his teammates to help them out.
And in sophomores Chris Lutz and Gordon Watt, Purdue has two maturing players who know how to play their roles (Lutz shoots 3's and plays defense, while Watt rebounds with a vengeance).
But if the Boilermakers handle their rough stretch coming up and ripen into an NCAA Tournament-worthy team, then that means junior point guard Tarrance Crump grew into his considerable potential.
Crump has enjoyed some flashy moments, such as the last-second shot that sent previously undefeated Virginia packing in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. But second-year coach Matt Painter and Crump's teammates want him to bring it every second of every game.
"We're constantly trying to help him," Painter told the Lafayette Journal and Courier. "At times, it probably drives him crazy. I always tell him, 'I will leave you alone if you start doing it right.' "
Crump's numbers suggest he's a long way from being left alone. He's averaging 7.1 points, which is enough for Purdue, but he owns a mere 12-to-11 assist-to-turnover ratio with just four steals.
Stay tuned. Crump will face some terrific guards in the weeks to come.
NOTES, QUOTES
?When Carl Landry played just five games last year before choosing to redshirt and rehabilitate his injured knee, some people forgot about him when they evaluated Purdue's potential this season.
Nobody can ignore Landry anymore.
Through the Boilers' first seven games, Landry has been virtually unstoppable. He leads the Big Ten in scoring (19.3 ppg) and ranks fourth in rebounding (7.6 rpg). Oh, and he's shooting 62 percent from the field.
Just as impressively, Landry plays with a previously unseen ferocity. At coach Matt Painter's urging, Landry dives on the floor and generally does all the scrappy things that stars don't necessarily need to do.
"I think I have more team goals this year," Landry told the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette. "This is my senior year. I want to go out with a bang."
?While Carl Landry can't be guarded inside, sophomore guard Chris Lutz shouldn't be guarded inside.
The sharpshooter has drilled 18 of 36 shots from beyond the 3-point arc. Inside the arc, Lutz is 0 for 3. He also has grabbed exactly zero offensive rebounds.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We talk about (the NCAA Tournament) with the players every day. You have to talk about it or you won't get in." ? Purdue coach Matt Painter, in an interview with the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
With four freshmen, four returnees from last year's squad and four veterans who sat out last year, Purdue coach Matt Painter faced a difficult task getting his disparate groups working together.
To this point, Painter has force-fed the process by balancing the minutes as much as any other school in the country. The Boilers' top eight players average anywhere from 20.6 minutes (soph Marcus Green) to 27.9 minutes (David Teague) per night.
That gives Painter lots of flexibility going forward, not to mention lots of depth.
PLAYER ROTATION: Usual Starters ? F Carl Landry, F David Teague, C Gordon Watt, G Chris Lutz, G Tarrance Crump. Key Subs ? G Marcus Green, G Keaton Grant, G Chris Kramer (when healthy), F Johnathan Uchendu.
GAME REVIEW:
Purdue 81, DePaul 73
Purdue 61, Virginia 59
Purdue 62, Delaware State 40
GAME PREVIEW:
vs. Loyola (Chicago), Tuesday, Dec. 5
vs. Missouri, Saturday, Dec. 9.
Vs. Butler (in Indianapolis), Saturday, Dec. 16
KEYS: Casual fans might look at this stretch and peg Missouri (9-0) as the biggest threat, but Loyola defeated Purdue last year and Butler ranks No. 1 in RPI. If the Boilers can maintain an inside-outside balance, while bringing the defensive intensity that limited Delaware State to 40 points, there's nothing stopping Purdue from pulling a sweep.
ROSTER REPORT: Freshman guard Chris Kramer started Purdue's first three games and averaged 6.3 points and 3.0 assists. But Kramer hasn't played since because of a strained ligament in his right knee. He has a chance to work back into the mix this week.
One Purdue downfall during the latter stages of the Gene Keady era was an inability to guard. Matt Painter vowed to correct that, but the shorthanded Boilers still allowed opponents to shoot 44 percent last year. This season, Purdue foes are hitting just 40.3 percent from the field.
This might be the only way to stop Carl Landry: Harass him until he has no choice but to pass the ball. Landry has a team-high 21 turnovers with just seven assists.
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WISCONSIN
GETTING INSIDE
Bo Ryan loves to talk about competitors.
When you try to pin him down for a prediction or to discuss expectations, he'll always return the conversation to what he continues the essence of sport.
The phrase "If you're a competitor," starts more Ryan sentences than perhaps any other words.
He thinks he has a bunch of them on his roster ? none more than All-American candidate Alando Tucker. That's why he builds a tougher non-conference schedule than many of his coaching brethren.
If No. 11 Wisconsin hasn't already learned whether its lofty preseason goals are realistic ? Tucker has couched them by simply suggesting he always looks for a Final Four ? then the Badgers and the nation will discover what they're all about within the next fortnight.
"We can talk about it," Tucker told the Madison Capital Times. "But now we definitely have to show it through our actions."
It doesn't get much more intriguing than to play intrastate rival (and 17th-ranked) Marquette on its home court one Saturday, then face unbeaten (and second-ranked) Pittsburgh the following Saturday.
And did we mention a midweek visit from UW-Milwaukee, Ryan's previous coaching stop, which now happens to be run by former assistant Rob Jeter?
A Wisconsin sweep wouldn't promise a Final Four berth in March. Nor would a 1-2 record suggest the Badgers are fakes.
But the next three games will show whether Ryan has as many competitors on his roster as he thinks he does.
NOTES, QUOTES
?When opposing coaches and national observers scout Wisconsin point guard Kammron Taylor, they invariably come up with the same two insights:
1) It's amazing how the senior's facial features match those of comedian Chris Rock.
2) He's less of a point guard than a scoring guard who happens to handle the ball.
Taylor can't do much to change the first perception, but he's working hard at the second one. After handing out just 1.4 assists per game in Wisconsin's first five outings, he doled out 3.3 assists in the Badgers' next three games.
"I tell my guys to never stand and watch me," Taylor told the Madison Capital Times. "That's one of the things that happened last year. I'd catch the ball and they'd wait and watch to see what I was doing. This year they are moving away from me and trying to get to the open spots."
?Some things never change. Wisconsin, perennially among the nation's best in avoiding fouls, continues to build huge advantages at the free-throw line. Through Monday's overtime victory over Winthrop, the Badgers had made more free throws (167) than their opponents tried (130). Against Winthrop, Wisconson had 34 free attempts, making 24, to 10 for Winthrop, which made six.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "If we're going to be playing well in the Big Ten, we need to be playing well against the quality of teams we're going to be playing next. They are all good teams, and we'll find out some things." ? Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
You can never have too many players, but Wisconsin seems determined to test that theory.
In the preseason, it appeared the Badgers had 12 athletes who deserved legitimate playing time: four returning starters, three key reserves, two other key returnees who didn't get to play the latter half of last year and three highly touted newcomers.
Coach Bo Ryan gushed about his team's depth and hoped it meant the Badgers could play any style they wanted. As it turns out, it's difficult to divide 200 minutes among 12 deserving players.
Nobody's averaging more than 30 minutes per game, but nobody's probably playing as much as they warrant. Starting big men Brian Butch and Jason Chappell, for example, are combining for just 32.4 minutes per night as they mix with Joe Krabbenhoft (19.9 mpg), Marcus Landry (14.9 mpg) and Greg Stiemsma (10.1 mpg).
PLAYER ROTATION: Usual Starters ? F Alando Tucker, F Brian Butch, C Jason Chappell, G Michael Flowers, G Kammron Taylor. Key Subs ? F Joe Krabbenhoft, G Jason Bohannon, F Marcus Landry, C Greg Stiemsma.
GAME REVIEW:
Wisconsin 81, Florida State 66
Wisconsin 79, Florida International 63
Wisconsin 82, Winthrop 79 (OT)
GAME PREVIEW:
At Marquette, Saturday, Dec. 9
Vs. UW-Milwaukee, Wednesday, Dec. 13
Vs. Pittsburgh, Saturday, Dec. 16
KEYS: Wisconsin has enough flexibility on its roster to match up well with Marquette's trio of guards, then turn around and send waves of combatants at Pittsburgh 7-footer Aaron Gray. The Badgers can't allow Marquette's pressure to force an unusual amount of turnovers, and then they need to win the boards against Pittsburgh.
ROSTER REPORT: Seven-foot center Greg Stiemsma has the size and the presence (check out his Mohawk-like hairdo) to be a dominant player inside. But take a look at his stats.
After rolling up a team-high five assists in Saturday's win over Florida International, Stiemsma owned 11 assists for the year compared to eight rebounds and six blocks.
Credit the swing offense and Stiemsma's improved passing touch for those unlikely numbers. He averages one assist for every 6.5 minutes played. Michael Flowers, the team's leading assist man, averages one assist for every 7.5 minutes played.
?Watch this statistic when Wisconsin faces Marquette, UW-Milwaukee and Pittsburgh: The Badgers are allowing opponents to shoot 34 percent from the 3-point arc. That could bite them, particularly against their in-state foes.
?Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan earned his 500th career win in the Nov. 25 victory over Auburn at the South Padre Invitational.
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.J. White6-9F12.7Western Illinois 
