Big Ten basketball Update and Power Rankings

Pudrue on top this week

The annual ACC/Big 10 challenge revealed how much of a gap there is between the ACC’s best and the Big 10’s best. When No. 4 Duke wins at No. 10 Purdue by 16 points (76-60) and No. 1 North Carolina dismantles No. 12 Michigan St. in Detroit by 35 points (98-63), it shows the talent disparity. The Boilermakers and Spartans will be contenders for the conference title. But each team was felled by quick starts by the Blue Devils and Tar Heels. It’s no disgrace to lose to these teams, but the margin was glaring. Purdue students had been camped out in chilling weather for 36 hours before Tuesday’s game, but they never really could get into the game, because the Boilermakers were outrebounded 44-26. Robbie Hummel led Purdue with 15 points. Duke led by eight at the half and just gradually pulled away. Duke is now 11-0 all-time in this challenge. The Spartans were without their top front court players in Goran Suton who is out with a sprained knee. He is expected to miss two more weeks. Raymar Morgan, a Big 10 player of the year candidate, and Chris Allen accounted for 21 and 16 points respectively. Overall, the Big Ten had a better showing as Penn St., Ohio St. and Wisconsin picked up close road wins. The conference went 5-6, but the ACC has never lost this event. It is 11-0 against the Big Ten.

How Good Is Minnesota?

Minnesota coach Tubby Smith has much better talent on his team than the Gophers ever had under former coach Dan Monson. The Gophers 7-0 start is the best in about 34 years. They are doing it with great defense. They forced 19 Virginia turnovers in last Tuesday’s 66-56 win at Williams Arena. Defense is going to have to get it done for the Gophers because their offense is still a little inconsistent. They have two pretty solid guards in Al Nolen and Brian Westbrook and freshman big man Colton Iverson moves pretty well and is likely a Big 10 Freshman of the Year candidate. But there needs more offensive firepower from senior forward Damian Johnson. Minnesota has really been pushed only twice in non-conference play, a 72-71 win at Colorado St. and Virginia. The Gophers get another test Dec. 20 against Louisville. The reality is that the Gophers will be a NCAA bubble team, but they aren’t a Big 10 title contender yet.

Former Indiana Players Won’t Play

More fallout from the Kelvin Sampson debacle. The NCAA denied former Hoosier guard Jordan Crawford and Eli Holman their appeals to play this year after transferring when coach Kelvin Sampson was forced to resign in the wake of his recruiting scandal. Crawford transferred to Xavier. Holman went to Detroit. The players were angling for leniency due to the scandal, but to no avail. They can continue to practice but cannot play until 2009-2010.

Kevin Lonnquist’s Big 10 Power Rankings

1. Purdue
2. Wisconsin
3. Michigan St.
4. Ohio St.
5. Michigan
6. Minnesota
7. Illinois
8. Penn St.
9. Iowa
10. Northwestern
11. Indiana

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