2014-2015 B1G Men's Basketball

[ScriptOhio]

Big Ten moving to 14 team, 5 day format for 2015 tournament

Thanks to the addition of Maryland and Rutgers, the Big Ten Tournament is about to get a lot bigger.

You probably know that the Big Ten Basketball Tournament is a 12 team affair that runs from Thursday to Selection Sunday. You probably also know that next year, the Big Ten will add Rutgers and Maryland, moving the conference to 14 teams. There were some questions about what would happen next. Would the league stay at a 12 game tournament, potentially leaving say, Penn State and Rutgers at home? Would they move to 14? If so...how?

Well, we have some answers to those questions now. Per Indiana blog Inside the Hall, the Big Ten has decided that everybody will make the tournament, making the Big Ten Tournament a 14 team affair that will start on Wednesday, instead of Thursday.

Big Ten Senior Associate Commissioner for Television Mark Rudner told Inside the Hall on Thursday afternoon that the conference tournament will now begin on Wednesday with two games.

From there, the tournament will follow its current format: four games on Thursday, four quarterfinals on Friday, two semifinals on Saturday and the championship game on Sunday.

Rudner said the league has not decided on how seeding will work for the expanded tournament.

"We haven't determined the times, we haven't determined the seeding," Rudner said. "All we know is that we go from 11 games to 13 games.
.
.
.
Next year's Big Ten Tournament will be in Chicago.

Entire article: http://www.landgrantholyland.com/20...ten-tournament-moving-to-14-team-5-day-format

and as the article points out.....Here's hoping Ohio State never knows what it's like to play in the Big Ten Wednesday game.

 

[Buckeye737]

Credit to the BIG on keeping everyone in the conference tourney. This year for example, I think every team in the conference deserved a shot. I like the inclusiveness of it even if there is a terrible bottom-feeder team.

On a separate note, I'm already projecting how the BIG will shake up next year. Does is make more sense to wait until after this season and the NBA draft entrants are announced? Yes, but I love speculating on this stuff.

1. Wisconsin - I believe they only lose Brust, could be a serious powerhouse assuming they don't lose Dekker.
2. Michigan - I think they lose Stauskas and Robinson, but McGary should be back from his cheerleading duty.
3. Ohio State - tempted to put them at #2. I think next year's team could be very strong.
4. Nebraska - should be similar to this year, but probably better. I think they only lose one significant player.
5. Illinois - not losing much and bringing in some talent. They turned it on a bit at the end of this year.
6. Iowa - tough to replace Marble, but they've got a roster full of pretty good players.
7. Maryland - this is if Dez Wells leaves. If he stays, I'd put them at #5.
8. Michigan St - I'm assuming Harris & Dawson leave. Izzo doesn't seem to be reloading like the past.
9. Minnesota - I expect a team of similar strength as this year
10. Indiana - lose Vonleh & Sheehey. I know they have some decent young talent that might prove me wrong.
11. Purdue - I'm basing this on Hammons going NBA (just a guess). If he stays, maybe up to #8.
12. Northwestern - lose Crawford but have some pieces so I think they'll be similar strength to this year.
13. Penn State - Newbill's back, Frazier's gone. I think PSU & NW share the basement with Rutgers.
14. Rutgers - I don't know much about them, but I think they'll be in the PSU/NW range.

 

[buckeyesin07]

Credit to the BIG on keeping everyone in the conference tourney. This year for example, I think every team in the conference deserved a shot. I like the inclusiveness of it even if there is a terrible bottom-feeder team.

On a separate note, I'm already projecting how the BIG will shake up next year. Does is make more sense to wait until after this season and the NBA draft entrants are announced? Yes, but I love speculating on this stuff.

1. Wisconsin - I believe they only lose Brust, could be a serious powerhouse assuming they don't lose Dekker.
2. Michigan - I think they lose Stauskas and Robinson, but McGary should be back from his cheerleading duty.
3. Ohio State - tempted to put them at #2. I think next year's team could be very strong.
4. Nebraska - should be similar to this year, but probably better. I think they only lose one significant player.
5. Illinois - not losing much and bringing in some talent. They turned it on a bit at the end of this year.
6. Iowa - tough to replace Marble, but they've got a roster full of pretty good players.
7. Maryland - this is if Dez Wells leaves. If he stays, I'd put them at #5.
8. Michigan St - I'm assuming Harris & Dawson leave. Izzo doesn't seem to be reloading like the past.
9. Minnesota - I expect a team of similar strength as this year
10. Indiana - lose Vonleh & Sheehey. I know they have some decent young talent that might prove me wrong.
11. Purdue - I'm basing this on Hammons going NBA (just a guess). If he stays, maybe up to #8.
12. Northwestern - lose Crawford but have some pieces so I think they'll be similar strength to this year.
13. Penn State - Newbill's back, Frazier's gone. I think PSU & NW share the basement with Rutgers.
14. Rutgers - I don't know much about them, but I think they'll be in the PSU/NW range.

I think McGary's gone. He is really old for his class--he'll be 22 and a half at the beginning of next season. I'm not sure how that's even possible for someone to turn 22 at the end of his sophomore year of college, but it's true.

 

[bigdog3300]

Credit to the BIG on keeping everyone in the conference tourney. This year for example, I think every team in the conference deserved a shot. I like the inclusiveness of it even if there is a terrible bottom-feeder team.

On a separate note, I'm already projecting how the BIG will shake up next year. Does is make more sense to wait until after this season and the NBA draft entrants are announced? Yes, but I love speculating on this stuff.

1. Wisconsin - I believe they only lose Brust, could be a serious powerhouse assuming they don't lose Dekker.
2. Michigan - I think they lose Stauskas and Robinson, but McGary should be back from his cheerleading duty.
3. Ohio State - tempted to put them at #2. I think next year's team could be very strong.
4. Nebraska - should be similar to this year, but probably better. I think they only lose one significant player.
5. Illinois - not losing much and bringing in some talent. They turned it on a bit at the end of this year.
6. Iowa - tough to replace Marble, but they've got a roster full of pretty good players.
7. Maryland - this is if Dez Wells leaves. If he stays, I'd put them at #5.
8. Michigan St - I'm assuming Harris & Dawson leave. Izzo doesn't seem to be reloading like the past.
9. Minnesota - I expect a team of similar strength as this year
10. Indiana - lose Vonleh & Sheehey. I know they have some decent young talent that might prove me wrong.
11. Purdue - I'm basing this on Hammons going NBA (just a guess). If he stays, maybe up to #8.
12. Northwestern - lose Crawford but have some pieces so I think they'll be similar strength to this year.
13. Penn State - Newbill's back, Frazier's gone. I think PSU & NW share the basement with Rutgers.
14. Rutgers - I don't know much about them, but I think they'll be in the PSU/NW range.

I'd keep OSU 3 but I'd move MSU up - MSU reloads, they don't rebuild. 8th will never, ever happen. Izzo took over in '95 and they've never finished that low. Payne & Appling will hurt but they were without Payne for a decent stretch this year already and kept moving.

Completely agree with Nebraska in the top 5 though, they are young and building.

I'm more confident in next years OSU team than I was this years, I'll say that.

 

[LitlBuck]

I'd keep OSU 3 but I'd move MSU up - MSU reloads, they don't rebuild. 8th will never, ever happen. Izzo took over in '95 and they've never finished that low. Payne & Appling will hurt but they were without Payne for a decent stretch this year already and kept moving.

Completely agree with Nebraska in the top 5 though, they are young and building.

I'm more confident in next years OSU team than I was this years, I'll say that.

Plus MSU has a lot out of underclass on their roster. I would not sell them short by any stretch. Plus, I do not know if Dawson or Harris will declare for the NBA.

I would not have Northwest so low. They have some nice talent coming in as does Maryland. I know Indiana also has a nice backcourt player coming in but do not know how much the loss of Vonleh will hurt them. I will be shocked if Hammons declares but even if he stays I think they will be in the bottom six.

I totally agree regarding Nebraska. They will be in the top 5 with everyone coming back. I think that Ohio State got a big boost today with the commitment from Lee and they should be in the top five also. Hard to tell about TSUN without knowing who is going to declare but I do think that Robinson is history and probably McGary and Staukas.

 

[Jake]

Credit to the BIG on keeping everyone in the conference tourney. This year for example, I think every team in the conference deserved a shot. I like the inclusiveness of it even if there is a terrible bottom-feeder team.

It's all about the Benjamin$.

 

[Buckeye737]

It'll be interesting to see if I'm way off base on my MSU prediction. You all and one of my BIG friends seem to have similar opinions. I realize it would be a heck of an anomaly for Izzo. Usually they do reload, but it seems that their underclassmen are weaker than usual. I don't think Trice is anything but a steady player and Valentine is a pretty good player overall but not really a star. Will guys like Kaminski and Schilling step it up?

I think Harris leaves just because he's projected so high that it makes sense. Dawson has really turned it on during the tourney. It seemed like he had been really passive since his injury late in his freshman year. He went crazy against Harvard and finally showed some of that high upside.

 

[buckeyesin07]

I totally agree regarding Nebraska. They will be in the top 5 with everyone coming back. I think that Ohio State got a big boost today with the commitment from Lee and they should be in the top five also. Hard to tell about TSUN without knowing who is going to declare but I do think that Robinson is history and probably McGary and Staukas.

Nebraska loses Gallegos I'm pretty sure.

 

[Onebuckfan]

Its funny. Iwas talking with some Iowa and Illinois fans about this ..I really didnt have a good feel for what we had coming back(though as a homer I was leaning to #3). My Illinois and Iowa friends had us at 7 before Ross left..they felt Ross Scott and Thompson were still inconsistent, Williams Nothing, and Craft and Lenzelle did all the dirty work. They pointed out Smith out rebounded Williams a lot. I said we had some freshman that would help.and they said the chemistry between the frosh and our returnees had yet to be seen. Conversely they all love Matta and would take him in a minute.

 

[buckeyesin07]

Its funny. Iwas talking with some Iowa and Illinois fans about this ..I really didnt have a good feel for what we had coming back(though as a homer I was leaning to #3). My Illinois and Iowa friends had us at 7 before Ross left..they felt Ross Scott and Thompson were still inconsistent, Williams Nothing, and Craft and Lenzelle did all the dirty work. They pointed out Smith out rebounded Williams a lot. I said we had some freshman that would help.and they said the chemistry between the frosh and our returnees had yet to be seen. Conversely they all love Matta and would take him in a minute.

Honestly, it's hard to argue with what your friends had to say. It doesn't appear that they're taking into account the great recruiting class OSU has coming in (or Lee's transfer). I think how far OSU goes next year will depend on what they get out of the freshmen (Kam included) and Lee.

 

[Onebuckfan]

Honestly, it's hard to argue with what your friends had to say. It doesn't appear that they're taking into account the great recruiting class OSU has coming in (or Lee's transfer). I think how far OSU goes next year will depend on what they get out of the freshmen (Kam included) and Lee.

Some of them had seen KBD and were impressed with him...but the consensus Scott was overated and Thompson was basically a dunker..but we will see. I would think the returnees would be highly motivated because its their team now not ACs.

 

[Buckeye737]

Definitely valid points on the rebounding of Smith & Craft. Rebounding - both were good to great for their position, both were very good taking the ball to the basket, and both were bad to below average outside shooters. Both were very good leaders, but if that can be made up for, then the loss will be made up for.

I think Shannon Scott could be a BIG POY candidate next year if he puts it all together.

 

[Bulls-Eye]

Definitely valid points on the rebounding of Smith & Craft. Rebounding - both were good to great for their position, both were very good taking the ball to the basket, and both were bad to below average outside shooters. Both were very good leaders, but if that can be made up for, then the loss will be made up for.

I think Shannon Scott could be a BIG POY candidate next year if he puts it all together.

I appreciate your optimism, but I don't think that is anywhere in the realm of possibility. I like Shannon, but he's very passive offensively. If Scott can do what Craft did consistently, I will be extremely happy. Unless he completely changes his offensive makeup, I think Scott could average somewhere in the area of 10 pts, 6 asts, and 4 rebs. If he does that, along with his defensive prowess, it means he has had a wonderful senior season. But, that is nowhere near POY material in the B1G.

 

[Bulls-Eye]

It'll be interesting to see if I'm way off base on my MSU prediction. You all and one of my BIG friends seem to have similar opinions. I realize it would be a heck of an anomaly for Izzo. Usually they do reload, but it seems that their underclassmen are weaker than usual. I don't think Trice is anything but a steady player and Valentine is a pretty good player overall but not really a star. Will guys like Kaminski and Schilling step it up?

I think Harris leaves just because he's projected so high that it makes sense. Dawson has really turned it on during the tourney. It seemed like he had been really passive since his injury late in his freshman year. He went crazy against Harvard and finally showed some of that high upside.

I do agree with you more on this point, though. MSU has really no one of note coming in next season. IF Harris and Dawson leave, they will have a completely new lineup and rely on Trice (he's really little more than a shooter) and Valentine to score. Valentine is a really good complementary piece, but not sure he's a go-to scorer. Kenny Kaminski is a shooter. Everyone else are just guys at this point and no one to be relied upon to produce consistently.

I'd put them in the top half of the league, but just barely. Somewhere in the 6-7 range. If Dawson does return, then 5 is a possibility too. But, MSU could have a season similar to this OSU team - bereft of any consistent scoring threat.

 

[DZ83CK]

'15 will be another interesting year in the B1G. The league will be deeper in terms of NCAA tourney teams compared to '14 - at least it should be since they are adding Maryland and Illinois is going to be better.

Maryland and Illinois are the two teams that I think will make the biggest turn-arounds from 2014 and go from not far over .500 to making the NCAA tourney. I'm going to give UW, OSU, MSU and UM the benefit of the doubt in terms of expecting them all to make the tourney at this point. Nebraska has their best 3 players coming back (Petteway, Shields and Pitchford), so they probably should be a tourney team again. That is seven teams that I project to make the NCAA tournament. Iowa, Minnesota and IU all look like bubble teams to me. Purdue will blow again. Of course PSU, NW and Rutgers will be awful.

But since the league will have added 2 more teams, getting 7 in the NCAA tournament is only half the teams, and so now that should be the normal expectation for the league.