After blowing a home game against Ohio State this weekend, Michigan (13-5) heads into State College tonight to play Penn State (14-5). Both teams are tied at 3-3 in Conference and with February games looming against the top tier of the Big Ten, Penn State needs to protect the Bryce Jordan Center, which will be hopefully stuffed with Lions. Illinois, on the heels of a hard-fought loss to Michigan State, hosts Ohio State in yet another critical, tough game. (more…)

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Six games into the Conference season, here’s an indiscriminate collection of players we enjoy watching without sole regard to their individual numbers.  Some are stars, some will be stars, some are glue.  All make their teams better, which at the end of the day is all that really matters. (more…)

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At 15-2, Illinois is set to play Michigan State, the heir apparent to the Conference title in the Breslin Center on Saturday.  It’s a tall order for any team but expect Illinois to show up and make it a game.  With the series split with Michigan and a huge road win against Purdue in their back pocket, Illinois’ only other loss is to undefeated and #9 Clemson by two points (a game they should’ve won).  The Illini coulda, shoulda been 16-1. (more…)

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A 69-63 overtime win by Illinois over Kent State last night tempered somewhat the pain of three stinging Big Ten losses within 24 hours.  On Thanksgiving, Michigan State was regrettably pushed around by Maryland. On Friday afternoon, with the added burden of a whistle happy officiating crew, Purdue faded against an Oklahoma team it should have beaten.  And for a night cap, despite marked improvement in its offensive execution, Iowa was pummeled by the rough pressure of Bob Huggins’ latest incarnation of tough guys at West Virgina, including the erstwhile former IU commit Devin Ebanks.  (more…)

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