Iowa let another close game slip through its Midwestern fingers in Carver-Hawkeye last night, falling 60-58 to Thad Matta’s five-star laden Buckeyes.  The game featured another strong performance from the Talented Mr. Turner, a shooting clinic from former-West Virgina/John Beilein recruit Devan Bawinkel, and several more in a season of questionable calls (or no-calls) by Hightower and Company.  But even in the loss, special recognition is reserved for Jake Kelly.  While ex-Iowa baller Tony Freeman bides his time in Carbondale and incumbent point guard Jeff Peterson’s bad hamstring shackles him to the bench, Jake Kelly has quietly played lead in one of the more compelling stories in the Big Ten. (more…)

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With a belly full of prime beef lathered with Roquefort cheese and washed down by a crisp Old Speckled Hen from the Spotted Pig, Hoopraker will witness the season begin in earnest for Purdue tonight in Madison Square Garden against Boston College, the red-headed step-child of the ACC.  After Wisconsin was rudely awakened to the reality of competitive basketball by UConn, the Big Ten looks to its premier team to Boiler Up. (more…)

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