Comments on: Back-of-the-envelope, way-too-early 2008-09 Big Ten basketball conference preview

By: Spartans Weblog » Izzo planning on a smaller lineup

Spartans Weblog » Izzo planning on a smaller lineup — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 21:44:13 +0000

[...] do expect we’re going to see smaller lineups across the conference this next season, as most teams are shallow at the post positions. Based on that, you can make an argument either way: MSU should go small to keep up with the [...]

By: Ron

Ron — Sat, 24 May 2008 16:46:23 +0000

KJ, nice early preview of the conference. Purdue and Wisconsin are likely to be on top, and my Illini are likely to be somewhere in the middle of the pack.

By: kj

kj — Sun, 11 May 2008 23:37:43 +0000

We’ll take that under advisement, Mr. NU. I certainly hope the new guys help Carmody win some games next season. His style of basketball adds something unique to the conference. I’d hate to see him leave.

By: It's not the same NU anymore

It's not the same NU anymore — Sun, 11 May 2008 16:09:25 +0000

I know Northwestern is easy to ignore, and who cares whether you get things right about them anyway, but you need to revise you summary. Northwestern brings in perhaps its best recruiting class in history and one the better ones in the conference. The Cats add:

1. Kyle Rowley 7-0 280, who turned down offers from Wisconsin, Indiana and DePaul among others to sign with NU

2. Luka Mirkovic 6-10 225, ranked as the 4th best Indiana prospect by IndianaHoops, who received offers from Marquette, DePaul and allegedly Louisville among others

3. John Shurna 6-8 205, ranked as top 5 Illinois prospect by two Illinois recruiting gurus; first in slam dunk competition in big school divisiion; won sectional 3 pt competition hitting 13 of 15. Ranked in ESPN Top 150

4. Davide Curletti, 6-9 225 — ranked 9th best prospect in Michigan, 2nd team All State, ESPN ranks as 34th best center prospect in nation

5. Nick Fruent 6-5 — 1st team all state in Illinois and one of the leading scorers in the state since his freshman year; selected to attend NBA Camp for high school players last summer.

Nick Fruendt — 6-5 1st team all state Illinois
John Shurna — 6-8

By: Ky Fox

Ky Fox — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:04:28 +0000

oops forgot about Neitzel’s departure..so the spartans lose 2.

By: Ky Fox

Ky Fox — Fri, 09 May 2008 06:26:25 +0000

4. Wisconsin-reason- Bo Ryan will somehow get his reserves from last year accustomed to playing his “systematic” bigten style of play, and will win some games. I just do not see enough talent/experience to crack the top 2.
5.Minnesota- reason- A pretty good recruiting class for Tub coming in. Still young and might take a month to settle in.
6.Illinois-reason- could be 5th but i am not quite sold on Weber yet! What has he done since Self’s players?? Anyone? What a difference a coach can make!
7.Michigan-reason- If Epke would have stuck around I would be putting the wolverines neck and neck with the gophers. Now that hes gone it does indeed give them a very thin frontcourt! We will soon find out how good these leathal gaurds are that JB brought in. If they catch fire than UM could be a suprise!
8.Iowa-reason-todd lickliter
9.Penn State-reason- decent young player could leapfrog Iowa, but I just like Todds ability to extract talent.
10.IU-reason- hell on earth in Bloomington, IN. Give Crean about 3 years!
11.NW

By: Ky Fox

Ky Fox — Fri, 09 May 2008 05:56:13 +0000

I honestly do not see Purdue acheiving more than they did last year! Teams will figure out how to stop the hummel craft, and they have little post action. And wisconsin….wow…i dont even want to talk about Bo Ryan aka(sleezy used car salesman). I just dont see how you lose two seniors out of your frontcourt, and your best perimeter defender, and are slated to finish second!? Im not arguing Bo’s ability to wheel n deal…but thats a lot to rebuild…im mean whos theyre replacement for Butch(not that he was amazing anyway)? Gavinski i think! Lol..ok. Heres my pics..
1. MSU-reason- they get better at PG. Everyone comes back..except Naymick..you add Roe to the mid/frontcourt. KNOCKS- shooting…if MSU can shoot a higher percentage from mid to threepoint range than they will be tough to stop.
2.Purdue-reason- Painter has just put the finishing touches on Duke north!
3.OSU-reason- I almost picked the bucks 2nd but Matta just had to much leavin columbus. But what they have coming in is why they are 3rd!

By: Devin

Devin — Thu, 08 May 2008 20:31:02 +0000

Nicely done. I almost entirely agree with you, but I do think it’ll have to be Matta’s coaching genius that gets the Buckeyes to the Big Dance, I just don’t see a cohesive team with that roster.
Also, I think you under-rate your Spartans. Not that I blame you, but last season Kalin Lucas was clearly your point guard for the future, and you return your two best players in Suton & Morgan. I bet replacing Drew Naymick’s presence will be a bigger question for MSU than replacing Nietzel, unless Marquise Gray finally, finally steps up.

By: Travis

Travis — Thu, 08 May 2008 19:06:03 +0000

A very accurate assessment. I know most Purdue fans are thinking Big Ten title or bust, and some publications have had us as high as top 5 nationally. I think that’s awfully high, but if JuJuan Johnson and Nemanja Calasan get better we suddenly have some size too.

Lewis Jackson is supposed to be our answer as a true point guard as well, but he is just a true freshman.