BTN Communications, August 20, 2013

The BTN bus tour concluded the 2013 trip with this morning?s Hawkeye practice. After returning to home base, the BTN studios, I had the chance to catch up with some of the B1G travelers.

?The tour is always incredible preparation for the year ahead, and this season was no different,? BTN studio host Dave Revsine said. ?Between observing practices and talking to players and coaches, I picked up a ton of valuable information for the season. I can?t wait to kick things off on the 29th.?

Dave, Tom Dienhart, Gerry DiNardo and Howard Griffith spend a lot time throughout the year, and especially during the tour, as guests on sports radio shows across the country. Over the past few weeks listeners may have heard one of the BTN experts on The Jim Rome Show with hosts Randy and Jason Sklar, the Brian Kenny Show on NBC Sports Radio, 670 The Score in Chicago, Detroit Sports 105.1, 1070 The Fan in Indianapolis and many more.

The tour?s final six school-specific preview shows air this week, each at 8 PM ET.

SCHOOLS
PRACTICE
SHOW ON BTN (8 p.m. ET)
Indiana
RECAP | TWEETS | PICS | VIDEO Monday, Aug. 12
Ohio State
RECAP | TWEETS | PICS | VIDEO Tuesday, Aug. 13
Penn State
RECAP | TWEETS | PICS | VIDEO Wednesday, Aug. 14
Michigan
RECAP | TWEETS | PICS | VIDEO Friday, Aug. 16
Michigan State
RECAP | TWEETS | PICS | VIDEO Saturday, Aug. 17
Purdue
RECAP | TWEETS | PICS | VIDEO
Monday, Aug. 19
Northwestern
RECAP | TWEETS | PICS | VIDEO Tuesday, Aug. 20
Illinois
RECAP | TWEETS | PICS | VIDEO Wednesday, Aug. 21
Wisconsin
RECAP | TWEETS | PICS | VIDEO Thursday, Aug. 22
Minnesota
RECAP | TWEETS | PICS | VIDEO
Friday, Aug. 23
Nebraska
RECAP | TWEETS | PICS | VIDEO Saturday, Aug. 24
Iowa
RECAP | TWEETSPICS | VIDEO Sunday, Aug. 25

Big Ten trophyBTN will wrap up its off-season previews with special Legends and Leaders Division shows at 7 PM ET Tuesday, Aug. 27 and Wednesday, Aug. 28, respectively. While school preview shows help fans familiarize themselves with each squad, the division previews shine a light on the big picture: the Stagg Trophy and a trip to Pasadena.

?The division preview shows will examine each team?s biggest question marks including ?Biggest Shoes to Fill,? ?Newcomers to Watch? and what factor will ?Make or Break? each team?s season, but my favorite part is when we force Gerry and Howard to go on the record with their picks to win,? senior studio producer Marc Carman said. ?It provides the footing I need to heckle them each and every week.?

After his time on the tour and with the season opener just over a week away, I was curious to see how Dienhart, our Big Ten guru and BTN.com senior writer felt conference teams stacked up. I rattled off a series of questions and asked Tom to fill in the blanks.

Here are his answers:

Best Pocket Passing QB? Joel Stave, Wisconsin
Best QB on the move? Braxton Miller, Ohio State
Braxton Option

Best overall running game? Wisconsin
Most dynamic receiving corps? Nebraska
Best OL? Ohio State
Best defensive front 7? Wisconsin

B Allen

Best secondary? Ohio State
Best Special Teams? Ohio State

Based on Tom?s responses, Indianapolis may be flooded with red again this December.