The Wild Wild (Mid)-West: Big 10 Round Up

In paying attention to Big 10 Men's basketball this season let me just say this: it has been nuts. Just to give you an idea of how things have played out I've listed below the top fours teams and their AP Rank, their place in the Big 10, and their pre-season Big 10 ranking. The Big 10 only lists the top three in their pre-season poll. Ohio State was third and is not included below.

AP Rankings (Big 10 Place) - Pre-season Big 10
10. Michigan State (4th) - 1st
13. Indiana (2nd) -2nd
15. Wisconsin (3rd) - N/R*
19. Purdue (1st)- N/R*

Last night Purdue beat Michigan State. That makes the Spartans a three loss team in the conference. This is a team who beat ranked BYU and highly ranked Texas. Their Big 10 losses have come against Purdue, Penn State, and Iowa. Against Iowa they were held to 36 points. Penn State has played most of the season, including against MSU, without their best player.

Indiana has arguably the best freshman in the country in the form of Eric Gordon. They are tied (at 1) in the loss with Purdue, they just have two fewer wins. Their sole Big 10 loss came at Wisconsin. However, the Hoosiers have just hit the meat of their schedule. After two close games against Ohio State and Illinois (a game that IU should have lost), Kelvin Sampson and his troops are headed into the gauntlet. In the next six days, started tonight, the Hoosiers play host to Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Purdue all right in a row. Add to that the Hoosiers are headed into some major NCAA turmoil over recruiting calls. Could be a tough week for Sampson and his boys.

Wisconsin has played above expectations this season. Their only two conference losses have both come against Purdue. They have good wins against Indiana and Texas. Add to that their only losses have come at the hands ranked teams (Purdue x 2, at Duke, and Marquette). Truly Wisconsin has played well all of this season, especially at home. While the Badgers don't have the best record they certainly are battle tested. They played six games against ranked teams and that kind of experience can be very valuable come tournament time.

Purdue has recently solidified its' status as the Rodney Dangerfield of the Big 10. The Boilermakers are 11-1 in the conference and have just one game left against (at Indiana) the other top four teams. Their sole Big 10 loss came against Michigan State in East Lansing. However, last night the Black and Gold took care of the Spartans ate home and swept Wisconsin this season. The Big 10 season has truly been a proving ground for the Boilermakers after they started the season 7-4. The start included a win against a ranked Louisville teams and losses against (at Clemson, at Missouri, and back to back losses against Iowa State and Wofford?) Who the hell is Wofford? Regardless, if the Boilermakers can win at Indiana on the 19th Purdue is in the driver's seat. With games remaining against Minnesota and Northwestern.

However this saga ends, it sure has made for one heck of an interesting season so far. I for one can't wait for the big 10 tournament. It should be one interesting week when you add in teams like Ohio State who has steadily been improving, Iowa who has pulled some upsets, and Penn State and Illinois who have both shown spots of brilliance amongst otherwise mediocre seasons.