Wow.  What a great game.  Wow.  My head’s still reeling from Michigan State’s 64-52 dismantling of Louisville. The pride of Lima, Ohio, Travis Walton’s blue collar effort on Terrence Williams was textbook.  The confidence of Durrell Summers to nail big shot after shot in the second half.  Goran Suton continuing his inspired NCAA run with passes, rebounds and huge shots.  The emergence of Draymond Green.  And the game played by Kalin Lucas, who effectively dictated the game to the Cardinals, the beast of east.  As a team, the Spartans broke the will of Louisville.

The gold standard of Big Ten coaches, Tom Izzo had his team prepared and his charges responded with one of the most complete games against a great opponent I can recall.  They played with purpose, confidence, composure and aggression, and that’s not easy to do, especially against a team with the talent of Louisville. The Spartans are clicking.  Congratulations to the pride of the Big Ten, the Michigan State Spartans, who head back home to play for it all.

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The Penn State’s made a deep run in the NIT, advancing to NYC and the Final Four where Mike Brey’s group of underachievers await.  While Ed DeChellis was duly recognized for the success of his Nittany Lions during the regular season when he was named Big 10 Coach of the Year, the work he’s doing in the NIT postseason merits attention.  With 25 wins, a Penn State record, they’ve had a remarkable two week run. (more…)

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The six power conferences (Big East, ACC, Big Ten, Big Twelve, SEC, and Pac10) control the NCAA Tournament with an iron fist.  Those who follow one of the majors rejoice in getting as many teams from their respective conferences into the Tournament as possible.  But there’s no doubt, the Mid-Majors and other Non-BCS conferences conferences are greatly underrepresented, generally getting only one of their teams into the Tournament.  That said, the Tournament wouldn’t be the Tournament without games where  Mid-Majors rise up and bite one of the power schools in the first round.

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The disappointment emanating from Dayton is palpable.  Before a partisan crowd, Ohio State played without purpose and without assertiveness.  They built a quiet 11 point lead but couldn’t hang onto it. They were pummeled on the boards as a rail thin player from Staten Island named Ryan Rossiter outplayed BJ Mullens. With a three point lead and seconds left in the first OT, for some reason, they let Siena take a three pointer to tie it rather than fouling.  A first round NCAA exit for a fifth place Big Ten team leaves a bitter taste for many, including Ohio State beat writer Bob Baptist. Save another strong game from Evan Turner, the Buckeyes offered a listless team performance. (more…)

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Get aggressive out there.  Ohio State, take it to Siena.  Michigan State, gel now and roll over Robert Morris.  Wisconsin, shock the pundits and give Florida State the hammer. Led by three coaches with fire in their bellies, we expect these teams to follow Michigan’s lead and play hard, smart, and tough and hopefully win. (more…)

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March delivers seven Big Ten teams to the doorstep of NCAA Tournament.  By most measures, all but two of these teams (Michigan State and Wisconsin) are in the toddler stages of rebuilding projects. Purdue and Illinois are led by sophomores; Ohio State, on account of successive defections of talent to the NBA, is young; Minnesota and Michigan are being built in the mold of Tubby Smith and John Beilein.  Through smart non-conference scheduling and the strongest and deepest class of sophomore hoopsters in the Country, these teams have earned their invitations to the most prestigious Tournament in the Country. (more…)

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The first round play of the Big Ten Tournament offered no headlines to compete with various upsets in other conference tournaments.  The teams that were expected to win in the first round games won.  In each case, the winners put the finishing touches on their NCAA Tournament resumes while the losers skated into the off-season or into the NIT. (more…)

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On the heels of the last week’s All-Hoopraker teams, our editorial board concocted another excuse to drink a few pints on Sunday night as we devoted the better part of three transcendent hours at a tiny, crowded table in our favorite temple of triglycerides to debate, gerrymander and tabulate the 2008-2009 individual honors: defensive player of the year, Conference player of the year, and coach of the year.

Again, the results below are certified the accounting firm of Monte And Stepson, “Oh, we’ll get your money, don’t you worry ’bout that, providing timely, aggressive results since Monte’s parole in 2002.” (more…)

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As is our tradition, Hoopraker’s editorial board spent the better part of two hours this afternoon sequestered at the corner table on the second floor of The Spotted Pig in New York’s West Village. The board, brows furrowed, ear drums processing the magic of James Honeyman Scott’s guitar, and hearts pounding against the bacon fat and Old Speckled Hen Ale, had a serious job to perform. The 2008-09 Hoopraker All-Big Ten list was due.

Without further delay and in a concerted effort to steal the thunder of the Big Ten Conference whose own list comes out after this one, Hoopraker would like to honor the following individuals as graduating the season with honors. Thanks for the inspired basketball gentlemen.

The results below are certified by waiter Jake and the accounting firm of Monte And Stepson, “Oh, we’ll get your money, don’t you worry ’bout that,” providing timely, aggressive results since Monte’s parole in 2002. (more…)

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