Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, January 15, 2014
Big win last night for Indiana over unbeaten Wisconsin. BIG win. This was the signature victory that had been lacking from the Hoosiers? resume. It?s also a victory that may spark Indiana in what thus far has been a lackluster season. How big was the win for IU fans? They rushed the court. Seemed a bit excessive, but, what the heck.
I have a feeling young and talented IU is only gonna get better and better.
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I also think this loss by the Badgers may be just what they needed. The pressure of being unbeaten is gone. And Bo Ryan will have the full attention of his players now that they have tasted defeat. No doubt, the focus of Wisconsin will be tighter now that the players know they can be beaten. The Badger defense was spotty, and they looked to be playing not to lose rather than to win.
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Urban Meyer had to make two hires to fill out his defensive staff with Mike Vrabel (Texans) and Everett Withers (James Madison) off and away. And, it looks like he ?done good.? Word broke on Tuesday that Meyer had grabbed Larry Johnson from Penn State to coach the defensive line and be a super recruiter. Fabulous get. Next came word that Meyer was going to hire Arkansas defensive coordinator Chris Ash, a former Wisconsin DC whose area of expertise is the secondary. And anyone who saw the Buckeye secondary in 2013 knows the unit needs help.
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Not long ago, OSU offensive coordinator Tom Herman told me Ash got the better of him when they met in 2012.
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How about this: With a win over Penn State, Michigan is 4-0 in the Big Ten for the first time since 2003. How long ago was that? Here?s some perspective: Wolverines freshman point man Derrick Walton was 7 years old. The next three games will go a long way toward telling us how good this Michigan squad is: at Wisconsin; vs. Iowa; at Michigan State.
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Don?t care how you spin this, but variable pricing for Penn State football games isn?t great news for the school.
Yes, the new price structure introduced by the school will make games more affordable. But if things were going along swimmingly, the school wouldn?t have to do this. Penn State averaged 96,587 in 2013, which was fifth nationally but well below Beaver Stadium's capacity of nearly 110,000.
Remember what Franklin said about attendance during his press conference? If not, watch it here:
VIDEO: All the top moments from James Franklin's presser in one 2:11 clip. Enjoy, @PennStateFball fans! WATCH – http://t.co/A4Il1njXhF
— Penn State On BTN (@PennStateOnBTN) January 11, 2014
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Iowa is pretty good at basketball. Don?t believe me? Check out these stats.
Iowa ranks in the upper half of almost every statistical category that matters in conference play.
- Rebound margin: 1st
- Defensive rebounds: 1st
- Field goal percentage defense: 2nd
- Field goal percentage: 3rd
- Scoring margin: 3rd
- Blocked shots: Tie for 3rd
- Three-point percentage: 4th
- Steals: 4th
- Offensive rebounds: 4th
- Three-point percentage defense: 5th
- Assists: 5th
- Turnover margin: 5th
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Nice feature on Iowa?s Roy Devyn Marble.
This guy is as legit a Big Ten Player of the Year candidate as there is. Marble?s 22-point effort in the win at Ohio State on Sunday was about as fine as you?ll witness. Marble was 7-of-13 from the field and 8-of-11 from the free-throw line, but he also grabbed four rebounds, dished three assists, collected three steals and blocked two shots. Before that game, Marble had a 15-point, six-assist, zero-turnover performance against Northwestern last week.
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Looks like the staff of new Penn State coach James Franklin is starting to fill out, as four of his Vanderbilt assistants could be close to signing on.
It?s important for Franklin to get his group together, because coaches can hit the road recruiting beginning on Thursday with the end of recent ?dead period.?
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Minnesota?s Austin Hollins needs some help. The star senior is struggling in Big Ten play.
Hollins is averaging 7.8 points on 28 percent shooting in four Big Ten games for the Gophers, who face their toughest home game this season Thursday night against No. 11 Ohio State. Yes, Minnesota has had a nice season thus far. But for the Gophers to have any shot to reach the NCAA tourney, Hollins must get on track.
TWEETS THAT MATTER
Wisconsin's total defense in 2012 and 2011: 13th and 15th nationally, respectively. I'd put more stock in that than Arkansas' 76th in 2013.
— Dave Biddle (@davebiddle) January 14, 2014
My take: Yes, don?t judge Ash by his work at Arkansas in 2013. That roster was burned by Bobby Petrino?s horrid recruiting.
If Penn State is going after Vanderbilt commits, it should be open season on PSU's players.
— Graham Couch (@Graham_Couch) January 14, 2014
My take: Fair enough.
Of Indiana's 75 points, 52 came in the paint. Fifty-two.
— Jim Polzin (@JimPolzinWSJ) January 15, 2014
My take: That?s an issue.
Pat Chambers is 6-35 (0-5 this year) in the Big Ten in his third season. Penn State proving it can't win with or without Tim Frazier.
— Ron Musselman (@ronmusselman8) January 15, 2014
My take: Hmmm.
So MSU and Michigan share B1G lead at 4-0. #Badgers and Iowa next at 3-1. Think UW will be jacked for Michigan on Sat?
— Jeff Potrykus (@jaypo1961) January 15, 2014
My take: No doubt.
Crazy how lame the B1G atmospheres can be in football and how wild it can be for hoops. B1G has become a basketball conference!!
— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) January 15, 2014
My take: Kirk said it. I didn?t.
Fans get too caught up in titles. Did you know Ed Warinner is OSU's "co" offensive coordinator? Now you do. #Buckeyes
— Dave Biddle (@davebiddle) January 15, 2014
My take: Titles exist to satisfy egos, for the most part.
Reverse college football coaching migration is upon us: In last 2 weeks, Bama OC to Michigan; Vandy HC to Penn State; Ark DC to Ohio State.
— Tim May (@TIM_MAYsports) January 15, 2014
My take: How about that?
Minnesota doesn't have a bad loss yet. Michigan and Arkansas both could be in the NCAA tournament. Syracuse and Mich St Final 4 caliber.
— Marcus R. Fuller (@Marcus_R_Fuller) January 15, 2014
My take: Gotta be impressed with Richard Pitino.
About Tom Dienhart | BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart is a veteran sports journalist who covers Big Ten football and men's basketball for BTN.com and BTN TV. Find him on Twitter and Facebook, read all of his work at btn.com/tomdienhart, and subscribe to his posts via RSS. Also, send questions to his weekly mailbag using the form below and read all of his previous answers in his reader mailbag section. |
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