By CLIFF BRUNT ISL Editor The Big Ten was a powerhouse during the non-conference season and a dominant force in the national rankings throughout January and February. Now, it’s hanging by a thread. Michigan is the conference’s only hope in the Final Four. Yes, Michigan. The same team that needed an out-of-this-world second-half performance by national player of […]
ISL’s Collin O’Connor lists five keys to tonight’s Michigan-Indiana showdown. 1. Shutdown corner Indiana’s Victor Oladipo has been, up to this point, one of the best defenders in the Big Ten. That can become very critical on Saturday night against Michigan’s potent offensive attack, especially from the wing. Trey Burke, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Nik […]
By DOUG GRIFFITHS ISL Assistant Editor You don’t need anyone to tell you that tonight’s matchup between No. 1 Michigan and No. 3 Indiana should be every college basketball fans’ dream matchup. After all, it’s being dubbed the “Game of the Year” and for good reason. The Wolverines and Hoosiers are a combined 39-3, are […]
By SAM KLEMET ISL Correspondent It’s nearly impossible to beat arguably the best team in the country when you don’t play a complete game. Purdue learned that the hard way Thursday in Ann Arbor, falling 68-53 to second-ranked Michigan. Purdue (10-9, 3-3) came out playing fearlessly, led by senior captain D.J Byrd. The Crawfordsville native scored […]
By SAM KLEMET ISL Correspondent With all due respect to Penn State, Nebraska, and West Virginia, wins against those programs for a young Purdue team were solid, but more in the category of taking care of business. Thursday, the evolving Boilermakers can make a statement with a win at second- ranked Michigan. Purdue is playing […]
By DOUG GRIFFITHS ISL Assistant Editor As North Carolina prepares to play IU tonight in Assembly in one of the biggest games of the young college basketball season, you have to wonder if we’ll see the Tar Heels more frequently in Big Ten country in the very near future. There’s plenty of legit talk circulating […]
By DOUG GRIFFITHS ISL Assistant Editor There’s plenty to be determined as we enter the final weekend of regular season Big Ten play. We don’t know who is going to represent the Legends Division in the Big Ten Championship Game or if five, six or seven teams from the league are going bowling. On Friday, […]
By DOUG GRIFFITHS ISL Assistant Editor As we enter the home stretch of the regular season in the Big Ten, a few things could be decided on Saturday. A win at Wisconsin would give Ohio State the outright Leaders Division championship. The Buckeyes are guaranteed no worse than a share of the title after Penn […]
By DOUG GRIFFITHS ISL Correspondent The nightmare scenario that many feared this summer could become reality in the Big Ten. Once Ohio State and Penn State were both declared ineligible for the post-season, people who follow the Big Ten began to ponder the possibility of which remaining four teams from the Leaders Division had a shot […]
By DOUG GRIFFITHS ISL Correspondent Just when you think you have the Big Ten football somewhat figured out, last week happens. Michigan appeared ready to solidify itself not only as the favorite to win the Legends Division, but take a stranglehold in doing so. Nebraska, though, had other ideas and now the Cornhuskers control their […]
By CHUCK SAMPLES ISL Correspondent What we learned from our latest weekend in college football. 1. Alabama is free and clear for the BCS title game. With Oregon likely to win out and Kansas State hitting its stride, one fan base is going to be severely disappointed come early December if current trends continue. 2. […]