Big Ten Country

The Curse of '96 Still Haunts

It was November of 1996, and I was still living back in my old hometown of Milwaukee. I was coming out of the gym and stopped with my wealthier friend who had the club membership in the lounge to watch some football and relax. In November '96, Bill Clinton had just been re-elected and Monica Lewinsky was an unknown White House intern. Joe Torre had just finished leading the Yankees to their first World Series title in 18 years. Yup, it seems like ages ago. That football game we watched that November afternoon was a Penn State thrashing of Michigan. It was the last time the Nittany Lions have beaten the Wolverines. Can they end the curse this week with UM reeling and PSU smelling a national title?

Jo-Ann Barnas of The Detroit Free Press reports that Lion fans are still fearful. And the Penn State fan featured in the photo two posts below wrote on his Facebook profile that he's not optimistic (then again this particular fan was probably nervous they wouldn't get past Coastal Carolina). But there really can be no excuses. Even with Ohio State next week. Even coming off a trashing of Wisconsin on the road. This Penn State team is too superior to this edition of Michigan, the game is in Happy Valley (4:30 EST, ESPN) and the UM brand name is still worth getting fired up for. Especially when you haven't beaten them in 12 years.

A better game is Ohio State's visit to East Lansing (3:30 EST, ABC). The beef of the schedule is hitting for Michigan State, but it's also the opportunity part of the schedule. Javon Ringer can break out of the slew of Big 12 quarterbacks currently overshadowing him for the Heisman if he can have a big game. He certainly has the attention of the folks in Columbus, as reported by Bill Rabinowitz of The Columbus Dispatch. But OSU should be able to move the ball on the Spartans. I look for this to be tight into the third quarter, and then for the Buckeyes to start to pull away. I think Tressel's team is too motivated for a chance at redemption and paradoxically, MSU's sound play early in the year has probably removed the "trap" element from the matchup.

                                         *************
In basketball news, Bob Knight told ESPN.com he'd be interested in coaching again given the right situation. Personally I'd love to see the General come back. Hard to see where he might fit into the Big Ten, but it would be great for college basketball if this legend, underappreciate for his soundness of character (as opposed to just his winning teams) got a chance to again coach at a school with a real shot at the Final Four.

Another Opportunity In Madison

Once again, the lights of prime-time shine on Madison as Penn State comes into Camp Randall to play Wisconsin in 8 EST kickoff on ABC. While the Badgers have been consistently good for 15 years now, this type of prime-time exposure is unprecedented and Bret Bielama wants to be sure his program doesn't miss the opportunity.

Missed opportunities are the story of the Wisconsin season thus far. A horrible quarter at Michigan and failure to recover two Ohio State fumbles on the game's decisive drive have turned a dark-horse national championship run into a must-win situation just to stay in contention for a BCS bid.

The fact the Badgers played even-up with a Buckeye team that has superior talent is testimony to their abilty to overcome the disappointment from the previous week. If they can do it two weeks in a row, they can finally get a Big Ten win and put themselves in position for a strong finish to the season. Penn State is very good, but not appreciably better then Ohio State and if Wisconsin simply matches last week's effort the odds would say the ball has to eventually bounce their way. One big bright spot for UW is the play of strong safety of Jay Valai, says Jeff Potrykus of The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

Joe Paterno is having the kind of season he desperately needed, with a university president unwilling to grant him a contract extension. Regardless of what happens Saturday, PSU looks no worse then a 10-2 squad and that means Joe Pa will hold all the cards when it comes to the future of the program. The present is looking awfully sharp, with an offense that has real explosiveness and a defense that stepped up and made a statement against Purdue. It's important to keep a grip on national title hopes until the road trips Saturday night and to Columbus are out of the way. That's tough row to hoe for anyone. But Lion fans can't be blamed if they are having a hard time maintaining that grip, because this may be a game they can even afford to lose, provided a one-loss team will have a chance at the title game and the presumptive loss was very close. Penn State is the one team in the Big Ten that will get respect from voters. Jeff Rice of The Centre Daily Times reports on whether the old coach will still be in the press box for Saturday night.

Michigan State and Northwestern will be in the 3:30 EST slot on ESPN2. This will be a big game for both schools. NU is still undefeated and now has an opportunity to defeat a good team for the first time. MSU can continue to put itself in position for a tough late-season stretch run. C.J. Bacher added some fuel to the fire by saying that based on the last two shootouts the schools have played, this now qualifies as a rivalry. While you can't help but respect the Wildcats and what they've done, State is decidedly the better team in this one. Northwestern's offense hasn't been as explosive as in years past, and while the Spartans have to make some progress on defense, they are considerably more disciplined then previous teams were. And Javon Ringer should have no trouble keeping Bacher on the sidelines.

Notre Dame goes to North Carolina in another 3:30 ESTkick, this one on ABC. The Irish have come along nicely, but I think they are in over their heads in this one. The Tar Heels are one of the elite in the ACC, and in spite of their narrow loss to Virginia Tech, I'm sticking by my preseason pick of them to win their league and go to the Orange Bowl. The Heels are a little more complete, while the ND offense still comes and goes and Clausen is not yet adequately supported by enough of a running game. 

All Eyes On Florida

The race for the Big Ten's New Year's Day bowl bids in Orlando and Tampa looks as wide-open as it will be all season. At the start of the year, I saw the the trio of Ohio State, Wisconsin and Penn State being head-and-shoulders above the rest of the league. The Big Ten can reasonably assume an at-large bid to the BCS will go to its second-place team (for reasons that will be elaborated on when we get into regular bowl projections in a few weeks), so that allows room for a fourth team to jump into the New Year's party. Wisconsin's 0-2 start has knocked them off the pedestal, and while they remain a contender for either Capital One or Outback, they have fallen back into the pack.

Ohio State and Penn State look headed into the BCS, and that holds true even if the Lions falter in Madison & Columbus (can anyone really picture a 10-2 Lion team not getting a major bowl bid?). On the opposite side of the conference, Indiana looks locked into the #11 spot this year. Minnesota has clearly progressed, but it would be a big stretch to put them in Florida on January 1. Northwestern is sitting on 5-0, but against a soft schedule and their season is going to be defined by a scramble to get the extra wins they need just to make any bowl. Iowa & Purdue haven't played at the level that would justify any confidence in their ability to make a major run.  That leaves four teams in a race for two spots. Wisconsin, Michigan, Michigan State and Illinois.

Wisconsin can re-assert itself as the leader of this foursome with a win over the Nittany Lions on Saturday night. The Badgers have only played one bad quarter since Big Ten play started (albeit perhaps one of the worst quarters in the history of Michigan Stadium). If their psyche stays in good shape, they could easily win out, or at least get to 5-3 in the conference (9-3 overall). With their good reputation for travel and what would be a strong finish, they'd be an attractive team to a bowl. But the way they lost to Michigan and Ohio State won't be easily overcome. Jeff Potrykus of The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports that defensive chaos prevented the defense from stopping OSU's winning touchdown.

Illinois has its offense in full gear, an achievment that makes Juice Williams an MVP candidate. With 69 points against Penn State & Michigan, no lead will be safe against the Illini. They have two easy home games against Minnesota and Indiana coming up and can continue the roll they started in Ann Arbor. But they will need to start playing D, or they will fall victim to the kind of unexpected loss that puts a team in the Champs Sports Bowl rather then the Capital One. Herb Gould of The Chicago Sun-Times says the players aren't looking ahead. They have the Gophers on their minds.

Michigan State is taking on the personality of its coach. Mark Dantonio is gritty and hard-nosed, and he's turned the Spartans into the same. The talent base is not yet high enough to avoid losing a few games in league play, but previous MSU teams would have lost in the face of a strong challenge at Indiana and not been able to slug past Iowa. An interesting test case will be when they host Wisconsin (interesting for both teams). Overall, the Spartans have to be consistent enough to outlast a more explosive Illinois team in the race and to finally overcome their problems against Michigan. One team MSU couldn't stop last year was Northwestern. Shannon Shelton of The Detroit Free Press looks at the D's preparation for the rematch on Saturday.

Michigan is only in this group based on reputation, quite frankly. They've played one noteworthy quarter since the season started and still have games with Ohio State & Penn State ahead. If they lose those two, they'd have to sweep the rest to get into the New Year's party. As troublesome as the offense is, given the transition to the spread, I'm waiting to see the defense play a good game against conference competition. They did not play well against Wisconsin, though they made enough key stops to make the comeback possible. And they were blistered by Illinois.

The prediction? I'll say Wisconsin and Michigan State get onto January 1. The Spartans are able to outlast Illinois in a close race for the Outback slot, while the Badgers go Capital One.

Both bowls are Big Ten vs. SEC matchups. If you look at prospective SEC opponents, you can also assume two teams from that league will go to the BCS, and then Cap One and Outback start making their picks. Right now, we can look at LSU, Alabama, Florida and Georgia as being the lead candidates to fill the BCS & New Year's slots. Auburn would be right on the outside looking to break in. Right now, I'd project Florida in the Cap One and Georgia in the Outback.

Key Undercard Games

Three of Saturday's undercard games will have big implications for teams pushing to make a bowl game. For Michigan State & Notre Dame, these are part of a dwindling number of very winnable home games. For Minnesota, it's their best chance to get back on the Big Ten scoreboard with a win.

Iowa goes to Michigan State (Noon EST, BTN).The natives are getting restless  in Iowa, as Kirk Ferentz redirected criticism of his coordinators and took the blame himself. The Hawkeyes have their back to the wall after losing at home to Northwestern, right on the heels of a loss at Pitt. The Michigan State defense showed obvious vulnerablilty last week against Indiana, and the Hawks should be able to move the ball. But the question will be whether they can hold on to it. It was five turnovers that doomed them a week ago, and the Spartan offense is more able then Northwestern's when it comes to making them pay. Javon Ringer's profile is rising nationally and Brian Hoyer will look to build off a strong performance last week in Bloomington.

MSU also needs this game badly. At 4-1, their bowl hopes aren't in jeopardy, but after this game and a road trip to Northwestern next week, Mark Dantonio's squad begins a brutal closing stretch that starts with Ohio State on October 18. They play every contender in the conference, and as such, they need to be 6-1 when the process starts. After last year's overtime loss against Iowa, the Spartans feel as though they have unfinished business, per this report from Shannon Shelton of The Detroit Free Press.

Indiana goes to Minnesota(Noon EST, BTN). The Hoosiers haven't won since starting the season with victories over Western Kentucky and Murray State. Apparently, they plan to continue the quarterback alternation scheme of a week ago where Ben Chappell shared time with Kellen Lewis. I originally thought that was due to a Lewis injury, but apparently not. I think this is a mistake. Lewis is one of the league's most dynamic players and IU needs to put the ball in his hands. As for the Gophs, they badly need this win. If they want to get to a winning season, they must win at least two of three from home games with IU, Northwestern and Iowa and this will be the easiest one on the slate. Minnesota hasn't so much as won a single Big Ten game since showing Glen Mason the door. They should get this one. Rick Brewster tells The Minneapolis Star-Tribune that he wants to see more big plays from his team.

Notre Dame hosts Stanford (2:30 EST, NBC). The Irish have an opportunity to move to 4-1 and keep a positive feeling around the program. This game and a November matchup with Syracuse are the only home dates that ND can really circle and say they should roll to victory. There are winnable road games (notably Washington), but I don't think the Irish are strong enough yet that any road trip can be quickly counted in the win column. Stanford has beaten Oregon State, a win that looks very impressive in light of what happened last Thursday in Corvallis. Although I agree with the conventional wisdom that sees that as more an indictment of USC's weekly focus then anything about Oregon State. And if we can't read too much positive about the Beavers, we are limited in how much we can take positively from the Cardinals beating them. Bottom line: Charlie Weis must have this win.

Spartans Control Irish

Michigan State controlled the line of scrimmage in a methodical 23-7 win over Notre Dame in East Lansing. This was a game into the fourth quarter, as Notre Dame cut the lead to 13-7 and was again in position to cut it to six before a missed field goal with under six minutes left effectively ended their hopes. But in watching this game, there was never a point where a neutral viewer could really feel like the Irish were going to win the game. MSU did everything they had to do and Javon Ringer was dominant, rushing for 201 yards.

The Spartans did show some problems, particularly their inability to finish drives. Given that we know Ringer is an excellent back, this has to fall on the offensive line. Good defenses can focus on one great back in key situations and stop him if he doesn't have a powerful line ahead of him. We will have to see if this problem plagues Mark Dantonio's team as the caliber of its competiton increases. But for today, they are sitting on 3-1 and did what they do in the non-conference schedule. They won their two gimme games and got a split out of Cal & Notre Dame. A .500 conference record will put them back in a bowl, and whatever problems showed up yesterday, they certainly look good enough to do that.

I think Jimmy Clausen does show signs of progressing, albeit not quite as much as the ABC crew made it out to be. His numbers--24/41 for 242 yards are decent, and while the two key picks are a problem, that's typical for a sophomore. And if you place that in the context of him getting no support anywhere else on offense, it means he does deserve a little credit for giving his team the marginal amount of hope it had. Spartans Weblog provides a good breakdown of ND's efforts to throw the ball on Saturday, examining it from the opposing viewpoint.

                              ************
It wasn't pretty, but Northwestern got it done. They turned the ball over five times and got four turnovers of their own back. And here's words you don't hear said very often--they did it with defense. They held Ohio to four rushing yards and slugged out a 16-8 win. The Wildcats got to 4-0. Now it's a question of whether the two more wins they need to become bowl-eligible will actually translate into a bowl invitation (unlikely), or whether they are good enough to steal three Big Ten victories and eliminate any doubt (even money).

Iowa outgained Pitt, and they had an edge in turnovers. After rallying for 14-3 down to take a 17-14 lead, it looked like that might be enough. But the Panthers got a late touchdown and hit the Hawkeyes with a crucial loss. The Hawks must now go 4-4 in conference play to ensure a bowl invitation and that's no guarantee.

                              ************
Ohio State struggled again, needing two fourth quarter touchdowns to put away Troy. The problems with Ohio & Troy are really more alarming then the blowout at USC. But a new era began in Columbus. Terrelle Pryor got the start, and played well. He threw four touchdown passes and none of them were gimme 1 & 2 yard tosses. Two were from downtown, over 30 & 40 yards. But the Bucks were still outgained and had to win the turnover battle to get the edge.

Penn State completed its run through non-conference. The four wins might not be impressive but the style certainly is. The Nittany Lions again rolled up over 500 yards of offense and used a 31-point second quarter explosion to beat Temple.

Elsewhere, Minnesota went to 4-0, although Bowling Green was the only opponent even remotely worthy. Eric Decker caught seven passes for 123 yards in a rout of Florida Atlantic and Adam Weber continued to play well at quarterback. Indiana gets great quarterback play from Kellen Lewis, who went off for 307 all-purpose yards against Ball State. But IU didn't do much else and was beaten handily on their home field, 42-20. No second straight bowl trip out of Bloomington in 2008. And Purdue barely escaped Central Michigan 32-25, on a 46-yard touchdown run by Kory Sheets with a minute that turned a one-point deficit into the win. The Boilermakers were pounded on the ground, giving up 149 yards. The Boilers play the Irish next week in a must-win game for programs trying to find their footing. 

A Rivalry Hard To Understand

The best game of the day in the Big Ten will kick off in the 3:30 ET ABC time slot, when Michigan State hosts Notre Dame. It's a contest between two teams who are hard to get a read on right now. One doesn't want to make too much of the Irish victory over Michigan, given how unimpressive the Wolverines have been and how unimpressive both teams played last Saturday. But conversely, we also ought not read too much into Notre Dame's barely surviving San Diego State. Since Charlie Weis' team bounced back with a win, we can assume their September 6 struggles were a product of it being an opening game and a lookahead all wrapped up into one. Eric Hansen of The South Bend Tribune writes that Mike Turkovich has been the pleasant surprise on the offensive line.

Michigan State's one loss came at Cal, and on the surface the seven-point defeat in Berkely looks pretty reasonable. At least that is, until you consider the Golden Bears were badly outplayed in Maryland, a 35-27 loss not as close as it looks. Since that's the only real test the Spartans have had, understanding Cal is vital to understanding Michigan State. And what we understand right now is that we understand neither. Got all that?

And no rivalry is harder to understand than this one. The road team has won seven straight. It's hard to see where this particular edition of the Fighting Irish is good enough to buck the odds and make it eight in a row. Particularly when the one thing we do understand about either team is that the one legitimate Heisman candidate is in the Spartan backfield. Javon Ringer's a darkhorse for New York City, and he's the early frontrunner in the conference MVP sweepstakes. Shannon Shelton of The Detroit Free Press reports that quarterback Brian Hoyer isn't envious of his teammate's success.

                              ************
There's one night game on the Big Ten slate this week and that's when Indiana hosts in-state rival Ball State, from up the road in Muncie. This one could be interesting, though it won't be on television. The Cardinals are pretty good, off to a 3-0 start that includes a win over Navy. Jason Whitlock at Fox Sports, a proud alum, had speculated prior to the season that Ball State would be the BCS party-crasher this year. That sounds like a pretty huge stretch and we'll find out Saturday night how big a homer Whitlock was.

Three of the Big Ten's marquee programs are off this week. Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin all have a bye on Saturday. 

A Rough Opening Week

It was a rough opening week for the Big Ten. The league went 1-3 in four key intersectional tests. Michigan fell to Utah. Michigan State lost at Cal. Illinois came up short against Missouri. Only Northwestern's 30-10 win over Syracuse provided any solace, and I'm probably stretching it by calling the Orange a "key intersectional test." On top of it, the premier Heisman candidate in Chris Wells is now uncertain, down to a foot injury in Ohio State's otherwise easy win.

Any hopes that Michigan would latch on to Rich Rodriguez's system quicker then expected, or that the defense might carry them were quickly dashed by Utah. Ute quarterback Brian Johnson shredded the secondary for 305 yards. And offensively, Michigan got nothing at quarterback from either Nick Sheridan or Steven Threet. The completion percentages weren't bad, but it was mostly rinky-dink stuff. And the running game was appalling, netting only 36 yards. Michael Rosenberg of The Detroit Free Press calls the game a reality check for R-Rod's supporters.

Michigan State's 38-31 loss at Cal wasn't quite as bad. The Spartans do have people to replace and they were on the road against a good program. And they did a lot of good things, particularly in the air. Mark Dell showed he's ready to step in for Devin Thomas by producing an astounding 202 yards receiving. But the defense's inability to stop the run was alarming. Given that running games typically take longer into the season to find their stride, this surely is going to tick off the hard-nosed Mark Dantonio. And quarterback Brian Hoyer adds that he's sick of losing the close ones.

Illinois' 52-42 loss to Missouri was hardly anything to be ashamed of. The Illini tried to rally from a 45-20 deficit in the third quarter, but couldn't quite close the gap. How one reacts to this game will largely depend on how high one was on Ron Zook's team to begin with. Those expecting a repeat of last year and seeing this game as a benchmark will walk away disappointed. Those expecting a completely matured Juice Williams will not be happy with his overthrows and interceptions. But those who expected a rebuilding team saw a team that will be ready to compete and play with most Big Ten teams, and those who were skeptical of Williams saw a quarterback keep his cool and ring up a stunning 451 yards against a defense that brought back ten starters. He still needs a running game to help him out, as the loss of Rashard Mendenhall was apparent last night. But still, not a bad outing against a national championship contender and Herb Gould of The Chicago Sun-Times adds that Illinois now knows where it stands.

Northwestern actually trailed Syracuse by a point into the second half, before reeling off three touchdowns to take the win. Tyrrell Sutton produced 144 yards on the ground and C.J. Bacher was efficient in the passing game. The Wildcats need to sweep their non-conference games to have a good shot at a bowl game. Duke was the only game beyond this that NU was likely to lose. They are halfway home.

                                        ************
The three conference favorites--Ohio State, Wisconsin & Penn State--all took care of business in their tuneups. The news reports are abuzz with speculation about Wells' foot injury, but as of now all we know is that the MRI was negative. Until we get more information, I'm not going to assume he's going to miss the Southern Cal game in two weeks. Buckeye fans also got a look at Terrelle Pryor, who apparently will be a contributor as a role quarterback in his freshman year. Pryor ran 9 times for 52 yards and hit 4/6 passing. He's a new variable that could shake up the equation in Los Angeles on September 13.

Wisconsin overpowered Akron on the ground. P.J. Hill rushed for 210 yards. Given Hill's history of nagging injuries, it was also good news for UW that they didn't skip a beat when Zack Brown or John Clay stepped in. Penn State cruised past Coastal Carolina 66-10.

                                          ************

Kellen Lewis set the Indiana career record for touchdown passes in leading his team past Westerk Kentucky. Lewis also got it done with his feet, scampering for a 75-yard touchdown run that got the scoring underway.

Iowa blew out Maine 46-3, but seeing the Black Bears rush for 137 yards is enough to make one raise an eyebrow. Big Ten Country will be watching Iowa's rush defense carefully in the coming games before conference play starts. And Minnesota showed it has problems on pass defense. The secondary was vulnerable all night long against Northern Illinois, coughing up a 24-13 lead before Adam Weber's offense bailed them out with a last-minute drive that pulled out a 31-27 win. Weber's 24/37 for 298 yards and zero picks is a major shot in the arm for those who hoped that the sophomore's second season as a starter would see greater consistency.

The Land of Missed Opportunity

Wisconsin and Michigan State each exited the tournament in the round of 16 on Friday night. Each team can look back on their defeat as a missed opportunity, both for different reasons.

If anyone had said prior to the season that Wisconsin would break the 30-win barrier, capture the Big Ten title, win the conference tournament and then survive the first weekend of the NCAA, they might have been fitted for a straitjacket. The Badgers were rebuilding after the loss of Alando Tucker, and an early blowout loss at Duke, followed by a home loss to archrival Marquette seemed to validate that belief. But UW turned it on and enjoyed an outstanding season. Had they lost to #2-seed Georgetown in a hard-fought game on Friday, there would have been no reason for regrets.

But even giving Davidson all the credit they deserve after their wins over the Hoyas & Badgers, followed up by a near-miss yesterday against Kansas, it's still a major disappointment when you play a 10th-seeded team from a non-BCS conference in a regional semifinal and don't cash it in. It's an opportunity that means the bracket is breaking your way. And Wisconsin not only missed the chance to do so, they didn't even show up. Davidson beat UW to loose balls and long rebounds from the outset, and even had Stephen Curry not shot the lights out with an unconscious performance from downtown, the Badgers did not look ready to step up and take this game. Michael Hunt of The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel writes that Davidson was simply better, but while such is gracious, it's not necessarily accurate.

When the dust settles on this season over the next couple weeks, Wisconsin's extraordinary achievments will be what ultimately shines forth. But at least for a little while, Badger fans can't be blamed if they suffer a little melancholy depression over the lost opportunity.

Michigan State had its doors blown off by Memphis. Getting beat up by a #1 seed that's lost only one game and who put another whipping on Texas yesterday, isn't cause for shame per se. What the Spartans have to be upset about is that no one around the country was particularly surprised that it happened. This was a year of great expectation in East Lansing, as they were the top-heavy favorite in the Big Ten and expected to compete for the national championship. And they didn't exactly collapse, winning big non-conference games and staying on the outskirts of the conference title race, including a huge thumping of Indiana when the Hoosiers were still a viable contender. But at every point when they could have fulfilled their legitimate expectations, they couldn't seal the deal. Bad losses at Iowa & Penn State cost them a conference title. They dropped a tough one to Wisconsin in the league tournament semis. And on Friday they completed the trifecta by missing a chance to oust a #1 seed and restore themselves to glory.

Drew Sharp of The Detroit Press says that by any reasonable measurement, Tom Izzo still has an elite program. And Sharp is right. MSU missed an opportunity for a big year this year, but it would be foolish to write them off for 2009, when the Final Four comes to The Motor City.

Regional Preview: Midwest & South

The Big Ten gets center stage--or at least close to center stage starting Friday night, when both Michigan State and Wisconsin look to move on to San Antonio. Wisconsin is at the Midwest regionals in Detroit's expansive Ford Field, while MSU is down in Houston where the South championship is being settled.

Wisconsin seems to have the sea opening up in front of them, as they get to play 10th-seeded Davidson in the 7EST time slot. When the Badgers made their 2005 run to a regional final they cashed in a similar break at this round of the tournament. Top-seeded Kansas awaits on the other side, but the Jayhawks have to deal with 12th-seeded Villanova first. The 'Cats are a team that's stronger then their seed, although I think UK should survive it. Kansas coach Bill Self has done an outstanding job here, and in his previous jobs at Illinois & Tulsa, but there is one common thread--he's lost regional finals at all three places and has yet to get to the Final Four. His team is not an overwhelming #1 seed to begin with, and if Bo Ryan's team turns a potential Sunday game into a bump-and-grind battle, it could add to the tension the Jayhawks may be feeling.

While the rest of us watch the games, the players still have to study. Mark Stewart of The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel takes a look at how the kids are adapting to the twin pressures.

Michigan State is also looking to recapture the spirit of '05. That year saw the Spartans march all the way to the Final Four. They did it in the South bracket and they had to take out a #1 seed (Duke) in the Sweet 16, and a #2 seed (Kentucky) in the final to get there. A similar path awaits, as they face off with top-seeded Memphis in Friday's late time slot and a potential date with second-seeded Texas would lie ahead on Sunday. Don't sleep on Tom Izzo's team. Memphis is young and doesn't shoot its free throws well, and the Spartans have already beaten Texas this year. If MSU finds its December form, they will be returning to the Lone Star state next weekend. The Detroit Free Press has a brief transcript of radio comments from Izzo's on Friday's game.

                                       ************

Congratluations to Ohio State! The Buckeyes beat Dayton last night and will advance to the semifinals of the NIT at Madison Square Garden. Ohio State will play Ole Miss next Wednesday. And if they win? Then we can't seem to escape Ohio State-Florida championship showdowns. The Gators are in the other semi against UMass.

Wisconsin & Mich State Advance

Wisconsin & Michigan State will carry the banner of the Big Ten the rest of the way, as both schools put on impressive displays this past weekend to earn their way into the regional round. Michigan State took out both ends of the state of Pennsylvania. They got the tournament started with a 72-61 win over Philadelphia-based Temple. And they followed it up with another eleven-point win, this time over highly regarded Pittsburgh in the second round.

There was a different hero for Tom Izzo each night. Raymar Morgan led the way with 15 points in the opener, while Drew Neitzel opened up against Pitt and knocked down 21, including a 5-for-8 performance from treyland, an area the Spartans held a decisive edge. Kalin Lucas added 19 to key a backcourt-dominated win. But the MVP of the weekend may have been center Goran Suton. The big man quietly grabbed nine rebounds in each game and ensured that MSU had the rebounding edge both times. Suton was the constant, as the stars took turns in the spotlight.

Michigan State moves on to Houston, where the South regional championships get underway on Friday. They play top-seeded Memphis next. According to Shannon Shelton of The Detroit Free Press, Izzo is saying the Tigers remind him of Magic Johnson's Laker teams.

Wisconsin got a little scare from UC-Fullerton in the opening round, before asserting themselves in the final ten minutes and pulling away to a 71-56 win. Height was expected to be key in this game, and that proved to be the case. The UW frontline outrebounded their counterparts by a huge 30-13 margin, and blocked seven shots. The decisive edge up front was more then enough to overcome a noble effort by Fullerton's Josh Akognon, who poured in 31 points.

On Saturday, the Badgers ousted Kansas State and star freshman Michael Beasley. This time, Bo Ryan's team flipped gears and used the backcourt to win. In spite of the frontline being dominated in both points (43-13) and rebounds (21-9), the UW guards carried the day. Trevon Hughes scored 25 and Michael Flowers kicked in 15, and the Badgers had this game well in hand through most of the second half.

A sidenote on Wisconsin: Shortly before the tournament, this blog argued that the obsession over where one was seeded was an overrated issue, that in a tourney with no homecourt advantage and no re-seeding after rounds, it was impossible to tell where favorable bracket position would be. Perhaps the biggest seeding discussion surrounding Big Ten teams was whether Wisconsin could get a #2 spot. They did not, that honor going to Georgetown in the Midwest. What happened? The Hoyas were upset on Sunday, and UW now plays 10th-seeded Davidson in the coming regionals. And even had Georgetown won, the worse that would have happened is that the Badgers would have played using their road jerseys rather then their home ones. It's probably too much to think the media will notice this and stop the seeding obsession, but once again, this proved to be an irrelevant issue. Bill Glauber of The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel takes a look at the unknown entity who stands in Wisconsin's way on Friday night.

                                        ************
Ohio State kept moving forward in the NIT, ousting Cal and advancing to the quarterfinals on Wednesday night. The Buckeyes will meet Dayton in an in-state war to see who gets a ticket to Madison Square Garden next week. While it's not the stage Jamar Butler preferred to be in his final March, there are certainly worse ways for a college kid to leave the game then an all-expenses paid trip to New York. Bob Baptist of The Columbus Dispatch says the team is having fun.