There’s a reason people think baseball players are superstitious and quirky. Guys like Nebraska pitcher Kyle Kubat perpetuate that notion. The Nebraska southpaw put on a show, both inside and outside the lines, in the Huskers’ opening game of the Big Ten tourney Wednesday.

Baseball players don’t forget when an opponent robs them of a potential base hit. And nothing makes them happier than returning the favor. The opportunity doesn’t always present itself, but it did in the first game of the Big Ten tournament Wednesday. Three innings after Illinois’ Thomas Lindauer made a diving grab to retire Minnesota’s Connor Schaefbauer (video above), the latter got revenge in the eighth inning. Both catches were nice, but which was better?

While Round 1 of the Big Ten Helmet Bracket was all chalk, Round 2 featured a couple upsets, including this stunner: No. 4 Indiana over No. 1 Ohio State. Big Ten fans advanced the Hoosiers, in a 54%-46% decision, setting up a Leaders Division final of Indiana vs. No. 3 Penn State.

Nebraska product and longtime Minnesota baseball assistant Todd Oakes was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia nearly a year ago. But that won’t keep him from doing what he loves most: coaching baseball. Oakes, in his 15th season with the Gophers, continues to serve as Minnesota’s pitching coach. The uninformed fan wouldn’t even know about Oakes’ illness – if it weren’t for the surgical mask around his face.

If any school other than Michigan put “Made in USA, Not in Ohio” on a football, it would probably go ignored. But when Michigan does it, you better believe, people will talk about it. Michigan redshirt freshman Bo Dever tweeted the picture above of a football that includes the aforementioned phrase stamped on it.

Gary Andersen continues to win over Wisconsin fans. Today, the first-year football coach was grilling and hand delivering butter burgers at a local Culver’s. It was all part of Wisconsin’s “Day of Giving,” with all proceeds going to Badger Honor Flight, which according to @BadgerFootball, pays to fly vets to memorials in Washington D.C.

This time of year, it’s always fun to look at the rosters and try to pick out the conference’s breakout stars. A year ago, if you had your eye on, say, Venric Mark, Allen Robinson, Jake Ryan or Ryan Shazier, you hit it out of the park. It’s time to go out on a limb and offer my top five candidates for who will go from an under-the-radar player to a household name in 2013.

Is it possible not to like Wisconsin product J.J. Watt? Not after watching the video above. Watt, an NFL superstar who does as much good off the field as on it, recently reminded us how likeable he is. After hearing the story of a local leukemia fan who named the robot that goes to school for him “Watt,” the former Badger defensive lineman paid the boy, Cristian Beasley, a surprise visit.

Nebraska sat through three weather delays before claiming the NCAA Lincoln Regional championship Sunday. So, what was a little more water following the historic 10-5 victory over Stanford? While celebrating the program’s first Super Regionals berth – Super Regionals were adopted in 2005 – the Huskers soaked coach Rhonda Revelle with a bucket of water.

The Sun Belt Conference released its new logo Sunday afternoon. You might be asking yourself, “OK, what does that have to do with the Big Ten?” Nothing, really, other than it looks like the conference may have used the Big Ten basketball tourney logo for inspiration. Everybody loves pinwheels!

It was all chalk in the opening round of our Big Ten helmet bracket. The biggest winner: Michigan State routed Northwestern, 71 percent to 29 percent. Now, it’s time for Round 2. See all of the matchups and cast your votes in this post.

The last time the Indiana baseball team won the outright Big Ten title, Babe Ruth was calling his shot. Eighty-one years later, the Hoosiers are back on top of the Big Ten baseball world. Indiana, which clinched a share of its first title since 1949 on Friday, made it an outright crown in Saturday’s 8-1 victory at Ohio State.

Who doesn’t enjoy a good Harry Caray impersonation? There’s no shortage of examples, from Will Ferrell to Ryan Dempster, but we’re going to go ahead and put Michigan pitcher Kyle Clark’s rendition near the top of the list. Clark showed off his best Caray impersonation while introducing the Michigan lineup prior to Saturday’s game at Nebraska. Watch the entertaining intro here.

Remember this terrific Ricky Stanzi America-themed print from last summer? The artist, Sean Thompson, is at it again. This year, Thompson has a piece that will interest a few Big Ten fan bases; it’s called “Evy,” and it’s of former Michigan player, Michigan State assistant and Iowa head coach/athletic director Forest Evashevski.

Last summer, I compiled a Big Ten football uniform bracket for fans to vote on. Unsurprisingly, Michigan won – although there were upsets along the way. This year, it’s time for a helmet bracket (only primary lids considered).