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Official 2006 Big Ten Tournament Discussion Thread

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I really like our draw with Penn State, Northwestern, Indiana, and Wisconson in our half of the bracket. I would love another shot at Indiana, I am still pissed about us losing to them. They had DJ White, but still should have never beat us.

I would rather play Penn State in our first game. I think NW is a quality team, that poses a lot of defensive mis-matches. We have already played them twice in the last month, I think they really are a threat playing them for the third time. Penn State has also improved, I just feel we match up better with them.

I hope our guards take the Big 10 tournament as an oppurtunity to tune up their shooting for the Dance. Dials has been solid, but we need to shoot better against teams that are in the field of 64.
 
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I don't want to play IU in the tournament, and I'll tell you why.

The game is in INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA! I've been to Big Ten tournaments before (4 Women's, 1 Men's) and there are de-facto home teams. We would have far less of a crowd then IU, and they would have a decided home-field advantage. One just has to look at the women's tournaments, and OSU's losses to Purdue- mainly because of the home crowd.

Wisconsin would definitley be more of an even game, fan-support wise... and yeah, I'd like PSU again... maybe we'd be able to break 100 again... and Illinois would be tough, but that's the game we'd want.
 
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toby34a said:
I don't want to play IU in the tournament, and I'll tell you why.

The game is in INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA! I've been to Big Ten tournaments before (4 Women's, 1 Men's) and there are de-facto home teams. We would have far less of a crowd then IU, and they would have a decided home-field advantage. One just has to look at the women's tournaments, and OSU's losses to Purdue- mainly because of the home crowd.

Wisconsin would definitley be more of an even game, fan-support wise... and yeah, I'd like PSU again... maybe we'd be able to break 100 again... and Illinois would be tough, but that's the game we'd want.
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very good point but even with that I still say we would take them
 
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Dispatch

3/6/06

Monday, March 06, 2006
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bucknuts44820 said:
Dispatch

3/6/06
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The upper semifinal game should be at 1:40 p.m. on Saturday, and the lower semifinal game should be at 4:05 p.m. on Saturday. (Not sure what the Dispatch was thinking there).

That means if the Buckeyes take care of business their first two games, they will get more rest than their opponent, which cannot be overstated in this kind of format, where the teams play a lot of games close together.
 
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Dispatch

3/7/06

CHICAGO VS. INDIANAPOLIS

No more back and forth with venues

Big Ten looks to keep tournament in one city

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

Bob Baptist
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH




The Big Ten men’s basketball tournament this week in Indianapolis could be the last one the city hosts, if not for good, at least for a good while.

The conference plans to locate the tournament at one venue for five years, possibly more, beginning in 2008. Next year, it will be in Chicago, which played host to it the first four years and has alternated with Indianapolis since 2002.

One or the other will become the permanent site. An announcement is expected in May or June, a Big Ten spokesman said.

Coaches were mixed yesterday on which city they prefer. Some said they don’t mind the current setup, playing in one of the two every other year.

But more said they think it is important for the tournament to find a home, if for no other reason than knowing where it is every year.

"I think it would be helpful that we anchor it for a period of time. We could build up some kind of brand loyalty and recognition for where our tournament is located," said Michigan coach Tommy Amaker, who coached in the Big East, which anchors its tournament in New York, and played and coached at Duke, which has rotated its tournament among a number of sites for 30 years.

"Sometimes that’s been a little bit of a confusing part of our conference tournament: ‘Well, where is it?’ " Amaker said. "I know there have been moments when I’ve been asked that question, I have to stop for a minute and remember, ‘Is it here or is it there?’ "

Big Ten athletics directors met with representatives of the cities last week at conference headquarters in suburban Chicago. Each city pitched its positives.

Chicago is the largest city in the Midwest, a major media market, easily accessible by air or ground, has a vibrant downtown with plenty of hotel rooms and the United Center can seat several thousand more fans than Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

"Obviously, we are biased. We have great fan support there," Illinois coach Bruce Weber said. The Fighting Illini have won the tournament the past two times it has been in the United Center and reached the championship game two other times there.

"But — and this is coming from the Big Ten — the number of alumni from each school in Chicago is astronomical," Weber said. "Each school has a fan base there, which they probably don’t have quite as much in Indianapolis."

What Indianapolis has is a homier feel with the arena being downtown and within walking distance of hotels, bars and restaurants. The United Center is 4 miles from the center of downtown Chicago, forcing most fans to pay for transportation to and from the game. Some coaches said it is less expensive for families of players to spend a weekend in Indianapolis than Chicago.

"I think Indianapolis for players and coaches just has a little bit more of a tournament feel, (like) this town is here for us this weekend," Minnesota coach Dan Monson said. "There’s not quite as much going on" as in Chicago.

Ohio State coach Thad Matta said he prefers Indianapolis even though this will be his first Big Ten tournament there. Last year in Chicago, he said, "You didn’t really feel you were in a tournament because of the distance we had to travel" from downtown to the arena.

Despite the advantages each city can offer, however, the decision could rest on one thing.

"The extra number of seats (in the United Center could) play a big factor," he said, "because when it comes down to it, money is huge in college athletics."

[email protected]
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DDN

3/8/06

Coaches' feelings mixed about Big Ten tourney

By Doug Harris
Dayton Daily News

COLUMBUS | Although Michigan State reached the Final Four last year after dropping its opening Big Ten tournament game, coach Tom Izzo wouldn't recommend that approach for everyone.

Izzo still can't see any merit in the first-round embarrassment, although many believe the forced hiatus gave his team the rest it needed to muster a postseason push.

"I'm not a big believer in that," Izzo said. "I didn't think there was any plus in losing."

But Izzo can think of at least one example where winning the Big Ten tourney was detrimental.

Ohio State's reward for sweeping three games in three days in 2002 was a trip to Albuquerque for the NCAA tourney as a four seed — the depleted Buckeyes were quickly eliminated — lending credence to the theory that the selection committee is under too much duress to complete its brackets to factor in the late-finishing Big Ten final.

"That was awful," Izzo said of OSU's treatment. "In that respect, it would have been an advantage to lose."

That's why at least a few coaches are approaching the conference tourney in Indianapolis this week with ambivalence.

While the event is crucial for Indiana and Michigan, who need to beef up their RPIs, and represents a second life for Minnesota, Penn State, Northwestern and Purdue, the Big Ten teams that have already locked up NCAA berths may have trouble finding motivation.

Asked if he's a fan of conference tournaments, Ohio State coach Thad Matta admitted: "Not really. I've always said, I take so much more pride where we finish throughout the two months of going through the Big Ten.

That, to me, is far more important than four days in one city.

"What I do like about it, though, is just the atmosphere and rejuvenation for teams and kids. I wouldn't say I'm against the conference tournament. But I know at this stage of the season, kids are wearing down. And knowing you're in the NCAA tournament, you'd like to keep some freshness and try to do the best you can."

Hoosiers come to life

Indiana (17-10) appeared destined for an inglorious finish before winning its final four regular-season games — including an impressive road victory at Michigan — to revive its NCAA hopes.

With an RPI of 35, the Hoosiers may still be a bubble team. But they probably will make the field for the first time in three years by beating Wisconsin in the quarterfinals.

"They're having fun again," coach Mike Davis said of his players. "There's no pressure on them. That's one of the reasons I stepped aside. ? They had so much on their minds about me. Now, since there's no uncertainty, they're having fun.

"If you watched them play the last four games, you can see it on their faces. We've been behind at some point, and the team that wasn't having fun may have folded during that stretch. I'm enjoying it, and they're definitely enjoying playing right now."

Michigan on bubble

Michigan finished 8-8 in the Big Ten — which has the best overall RPI in the nation — and coach Tommy Amaker believes that alone makes his team NCAA-worthy.

After all, Michigan State finished 8-8 and "no one's talking about them not being in," Amaker said.

The Wolverines, who face Minnesota in a first-round game Thursday, are 18-9 overall and have an RPI of 37, meaning they probably still have some work to do.

Contact Doug Harris at 225-2125.

BIG TEN TOURNAMENT

Thursday-Sunday
At Conseco Fieldhouse
Ticket information

Passes for all three first-round games Thursday are available through Ticketmaster (228-2323 or ticketmaster.com). They cost $25 and $45, plus a $7 handling fee.

Only $45 tickets remain for the afternoon quarterfinal doubleheader Friday involving Ohio State, while both $25 and $45 tickets are available for the evening games.

Only single tickets priced at $30 and $60 are left for Saturday's semifinals, while $75 tickets for Sunday's championship are still on sale.

Directions

Take I-70 west to Indianapolis. Get off at Ohio St. (exit 83A) and continue west to Pennsylvania St. Turn left and go three blocks to Conseco Fieldhouse.
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Toledo Blade

3/9

Winning in Indy not the only concern of Buckeyes
BIG TEN TOURNAMENT At Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis

FIRST ROUND (today)

• Penn State vs. Northwestern, noon (TV: ESPN2)
• Michigan vs. Minnesota, 2:30 p.m. (TV: ESPN2)
• Michigan State vs. Purdue, 5 p.m. (TV: ESPN2)

QUARTERFINALS (tomorrow)
• Ohio State vs. Penn State-
Northwestern winner, noon (TV:
ESPN)
• Wisconsin vs. Indiana, 2:30 p.m. (TV: ESPN)
• Iowa vs. Michigan-Minnesota winner, 6:30 p.m. (TV: ESPN Plus)
• Illinois vs. Michigan State-
Purdue winner, 9 p.m. (TV: ESPN
Plus)

SEMIFINALS (Saturday)
• Iowa—Michigan-Minnesota
winner vs. Illinois—Michigan
State-Purdue winner, 1:30 p.m.
(TV: CBS)
• Ohio State—Penn State-
Northwestern winner vs. Wisconsin-Indiana winner, 4 p.m.
(TV: CBS)

CHAMPIONSHIP (Sunday)
• Semifinal winners, 3:30 p.m. (TV: CBS)
By MATT MARKEY
BLADE SPORTS WRITER

INDIANAPOLIS - The Big Ten tournament joins diverse forces for four days of seemingly endless basketball.
The 11 combatants arrive here with three distinct agendas. There are those like the top-seeded regular season champion Ohio State Buckeyes who would kinda, sorta, probably like to win this thing. But they are most concerned with leaving here in decent shape for next week's start of the NCAA tournament, since they are already a lock to play in that prestigious event. Then there are the bottom feeders like Purdue and Minnesota and Northwestern, who know the only way they make the NCAA show is to string together four days of improbable upsets and win the Big Ten's automatic bid, which goes to the conference tournament champion. And the rest are the 'tweeners, like Michigan and Michigan State, who likely need a win here to enhance their NCAA tournament stock, and two or three wins to make it bullish. Ohio State coach Thad Matta is cautiously fond of the conference tournament, where his Buckeyes will play tomorrow at noon at Conseco Fieldhouse against the winner of today's first-round matchup of Penn State and Northwestern. "I have always said I take so much more pride in where we finish in the two months of going through the Big Ten," Matta said. "That to me is far more important than four days in one city. Now, I do like the atmosphere here and chance for rejuvenation for teams and kids." Michigan coach Tommy Amaker tried not to make the Wolverines' first-round game this afternoon against Minnesota appear to be a must-win in the NCAA tournament context. "I don't think one win or one loss puts you in or takes you out," Amaker said. "I really don't believe it works that way. I think the thing that is helpful for us and healthy for us is to focus on what's in front of us. If we can somehow put together a terrific effort and win that first game, then I can say it doesn't hurt our chances for making the NCAA tournament field." ●No. 1 seed Ohio State: The Buckeyes wrapped up an outright Big Ten championship by beating Purdue on Sunday, and seemed physically and emotionally spent in the aftermath. "Everybody needs a rest on our team," Ohio State senior guard Je'Kel Foster said. The Buckeyes have the horses to win the tournament, but even doing that does not guarantee they will move up from a likely second seed in the NCAA tournament to a No. 1, so they might subconsciously work to keep as much fuel in the tank as they can for the weeks ahead. Playing three straight days here will also test Ohio State's thin middle, should the Buckeyes make the final. Senior Terence Dials is outstanding, but things fall off precipitously when he needs a rest. And it got worse yesterday when backup center Matt Terwilliger had an appendectomy. He will miss the Big Ten tournament but is expected to be OK for the NCAA tournament. ●No. 2 Iowa: If the seeds hold up, the savvy Hawkeyes meet the Buckeyes in Sunday's championship game. ●No. 3 Illinois: The Illini have battle-tested veteran leaders, and have won this thing in two of the last three seasons. ●No. 4 Wisconsin: Junior forward Alando Tucker is a perpetual motion machine who has the energy to carry his team. ●No. 5 Indiana: The Hoosiers gave Ohio State its first loss, and are fighting for their lame duck coach. ●No. 6 Michigan State: The Spartans have a solid post-season pedigree, but have lost five of their last seven games. ●No. 7 Michigan: The Wolverines stumble in to Indy, after losing six of their last eight. The likely return of junior Lester Abram, who has missed 10 games with a bad ankle sprain, should provide a lift, but Amaker is concerned about expecting too much. "Maybe I've been cautious with him, but it's in all of our best interests," Amaker said. "I don't know what is realistic, but one thing we've seen is that these kids are not the same when they first come back from an injury. I think it takes a while." ●No. 8 Penn State: The Nittany Lions go for their third win of the year over Northwestern in today's first round. ●No. 9 Northwestern: A lot of people beat the Wildcats this season, but nobody seems anxious to face them again. ●No. 10 Minnesota: There hasn't been much golden about the Gophers' play. ●No. 11 Purdue: Next season can't get here soon enough.
 
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