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Doyel's Big Ten Predictions

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harrydangler

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Here's Gregg Doyel's Big Ten Predictions at Sportsline.



http://sportsline.com/collegebasketball/story/9019661

Ohio State was not a fluke last season, won't be a fluke this season and will be among the top 10 programs in college basketball by next season.
Get used to it.

The Big Ten has been waiting for someone to fill the vacuum created in recent years by the slides of Indiana and Purdue, and Ohio State is doing just that. It began last season when the Buckeyes won 20 games and probably would have received an NCAA Tournament bid had they not been on a self-inflicted postseason ban after the firing of Jim O'Brien.
Ohio State ought to win another 20 games this season and go to the 2006 NCAA Tournament. And then next season, when center Greg Oden and one of the best recruiting classes in recent history arrives, it'll be fun for Ohio State fans. Heck, this season will be fun for Ohio State fans.
It'll be fun for most Big Ten fans. The league has seven or eight teams capable of reaching the NCAA Tournament, though the top-to-bottom balance will take its toll. Put it this way: Minnesota won 21 games, returns Vincent Grier and gets back former starters Adam Boone and Maurice Grow from redshirt years. And we've got Minnesota finishing eighth.


Predicted Finish Team Postseason 1. Ohio State NCAA 2. Michigan State NCAA 3. Indiana NCAA 4. Illinois NCAA 5. Iowa NCAA 6. Wisconsin NCAA 7. Michigan NIT 8. Minnesota NIT 9. Northwestern None 10. Purdue None 11. Penn State None

Ohio State

Top three: C Terence Dials, PF Ivan Harris, G Sylvester Mayes.
NCAA or bust: Out of nowhere, Ohio State was good enough in March to go to the 2005 NCAA Tournament in Thad Matta's debut season. The Buckeyes didn't go, however, because their administration had already decided to withdraw from postseason consideration to head off severe NCAA sanctions in the wake of the O'Brien mess. All in all, it wasn't a bad choice. The Buckeyes ought to be NCAA-eligible this season -- and with a team that can do a lot more damage in March. Look for Ohio State to win the league thanks to the return of every important frontcourt player, and the addition of transfer guards Ron Lewis and Sylvester Mayes. Lewis was Bowling Green's leading scorer two years ago, while Mayes was an offensive force of nature in junior college. And please, please, don't overlook Dials. He's one of the best five centers in America, whether or not you know his name.
Click to expand...
 
I think we've got a great chance of competing until the end. We are good enough to beat any team at home, and if we can beat the middle-of-the-packers on the road, we could be looking at 12-4 or 11-5, which if it doesn't win, would be very very close. This season should be great.
 
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If Ivan Harris is one of our top three players this season we have a great chance at the title. But this is the first I have seen anyone say we would win the title or that Harris would star. Both would be very pleasant surprises - but surprises nonetheless.
 
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I like the guy's enthusiasm, and it's refreshing to see a preview saying something other than tOSU is just a 'fringe' team, but honestly? This guy needs to put the pipe down. Put it down, and walk away. Michigan State has us in spades right now. I'm not saying we can't beat them straight up, but they will win more games this year, and I'd give odds to anyone who wanted to bet they won't win the Big Ten. Neitzel, Ager, Brown, Rowley and Davis? With Trannon and Ibok off the bench? They'll win twenty-eight games. Don't get me wrong, I really, really like our team (obviously), and I think they're capable of big things. Expecting a conference title, though...well, we'd just have to hope MSU lays an egg in the tourney. But then, I knew the guy was crazy when he said Ivan Harris is our second best player. :slappy:
 
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