Big Ten Hopes Hoops Make Up for Football
After a brutal bowl season, the conference boasts several NCAA tournament contenders – but few standouts.
By DARREN EVERSON
Wall Street Journal
The focus of college sports fans (and this column) is transitioning from football to basketball, and none too soon for the nation's oldest major-college conference. The Big Ten suffered a miserable December and January. Its prospects for March seem much healthier.
Two weeks into the conference season, it's perfectly plausible that any of eight Big Ten teams could reach the NCAA tournament. All eight won't, in all likelihood, given the cannibalistic nature of conference play. But seven seems possible, which would tie the record for the Big Ten's best representation ever.
But could all of those bids add up to yet another postseason debacle? Depends on the definition of failure.
The Big Ten boasts an uncommonly balanced collection of good-but-not-great teams. None ranks higher than 17th in Ken Pomeroy's ratings, a predictive rating system. But only post-apocalyptic Indiana ranks lower than 78th out of 344 teams. The league ranks second nationally in the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI), a hair below the mighty Atlantic Coast Conference. Then again, Duke pounded Purdue and North Carolina mauled Michigan State in December – both in the Midwest – suggesting the gap between the best of both leagues remains much wider.
(More here.)
By DARREN EVERSON
Wall Street Journal
The focus of college sports fans (and this column) is transitioning from football to basketball, and none too soon for the nation's oldest major-college conference. The Big Ten suffered a miserable December and January. Its prospects for March seem much healthier.
Two weeks into the conference season, it's perfectly plausible that any of eight Big Ten teams could reach the NCAA tournament. All eight won't, in all likelihood, given the cannibalistic nature of conference play. But seven seems possible, which would tie the record for the Big Ten's best representation ever.
But could all of those bids add up to yet another postseason debacle? Depends on the definition of failure.
The Big Ten boasts an uncommonly balanced collection of good-but-not-great teams. None ranks higher than 17th in Ken Pomeroy's ratings, a predictive rating system. But only post-apocalyptic Indiana ranks lower than 78th out of 344 teams. The league ranks second nationally in the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI), a hair below the mighty Atlantic Coast Conference. Then again, Duke pounded Purdue and North Carolina mauled Michigan State in December – both in the Midwest – suggesting the gap between the best of both leagues remains much wider.
(More here.)
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1 Comments:
For me, the Big Ten is still a Football Conference … in fact, I haven’t been sad in 1,881 days … that’s the last time that the “team up North” bested The Ohio State University as some of us believe that there is a pre-season, The Game, and then the post-season … as long as we beat Michigan it’s a great year. Yes, the bowls were ... to say it kindly … a disappointment with one victory and the Buckeyes losing in the last 16 seconds.
The author is correct to consider the Big Ten-ACC Challenge which I believe the ACC won six and lost five … it’s not which teams won … its how did the cream of each conference fare. North Carolina beat Michigan State 98-63; Duke beat Purdue 76-60; and Maryland beat Michigan 75-70 (the second loss for Michigan to an ACC opponent). The fact that Minnesota beat Virginia and Ohio State beat Miami does not matter … Let’s return to the author’s speculation on March 16th when the tournament invitations are announced.
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