Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, February 21, 2014
"Nebrasketball" rolls on. This time, the victim was Penn State. So, if you are keeping count in places like Gretna, Beatrice and Scottsbluff-and I know you are-that?s four victories in a row for the Cornhuskers. I think the Huskers are going to make the Big Dance. Wow. Can?t believe I just typed that. Is Tim Miles the Big Ten Coach of the Year? Yep. He is right now. By the way: Don't you think Miles looks like Sheldon Cooper with glasses?
Remember when Michigan State was struggling? No more. Not after destroying Purdue in West Lafayette, fueled by torrid shooting that saw the Spartans drain-Are you ready for this?-a school-record 17 three-pointers. It was nice to see Keith Appling and his famously injured wrist look so good.
Yep, this is just what the Spartans needed as they prep to play that humongous game at Michigan on Sunday.
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Wanna ticket to the Michigan State at Michigan game on Sunday? Be prepared to pay up, Bub.
According to numbers provided by SeatGeek, a search engine that aggregates and consolidates all secondary market tickets available online (StubHub, eBay, TicketsNow, etc.), Sunday's game is the most expensive Michigan home game since at least 2009 when the service began monitoring the secondary ticket market.
Want more? The $269 price tag is more than four times that of an average Wolverine home game this season ($61 average ticket price).
Oh, and in the fall, Michigan?s home football tilt with Ohio State generated a secondary market average of $228 per ticket. The only Michigan home football game in 2013 more pricey than Sunday?s $269 price tag was the contest vs. Notre Dame ($330).
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If you blinked, you missed that nanosecond Purdue had some mojo after it thumped Indiana last weekend. The pounding the Boilermakers endured vs. a Michigan State club that was 3-4 in its last seven games refocused reality in W.L. This isn?t a good team.
The last five Purdue games: at Nebraska; vs. Michigan; at Iowa; at Wisconsin; vs. Northwestern. Are you thinking what I?m thinking?
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Interesting read here: A first-round grade from the NFL draft board probably would have caused Braxton Miller to turn pro.
I hate to break this to Braxton: But he?s probably not going to be a first-round pick in 2015, either. Regardless, Miller will be back in 2014 to try to become the first Big Ten player to win the Chicago Tribune?s Silver Football award three times.
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Wisconsin?s Gary Andersen says, ?This is where I want to be.?
Of course, this alludes to the recent news that Andersen took a call from the Cleveland Browns about their head coaching job. Andersen isn?t sure how then-Browns CEO Joe Banner and his top lieutenant, Mike Lombardi, got his cell number because they didn?t contact his agent, Kenneth Vierra, or go through his boss, Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez.
?I have no idea where it started or where I even got into the mix,? Andersen said.
Honestly, it?s not that hard to get a cell phone number.
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Interesting story from SBNation.com that analyzes the blue-chip ratio of schools, seeing who has championship-grade recruiting.
Turns out, there are 11 blue-chip programs. Alabama is No. 1. Ohio State is No. 2. Michigan is the only other Big Ten school in the rankings.
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Michigan begins spring football practice next week. Really. I?m not making this up. Want proof? OK. Here?s a preview.
And, let me be the first to say that this promises to be a very interesting 2014 season in A-squared. The top priority: the offensive line.
Who am I kidding? The defense also is an issue. To that end, Jake Ryan is moving from outside to inside linebacker.
Good move. Get this guy in the thick of the action.
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Before leaving BTN.com to check your Glide account, check this out: Jay Paterno-yes THAT Jay Paterno-is going to run for Lieutenant Governor in Pennsylvania. Talk amongst yourselves. Oh, and what exactly does a Lieutenant Governor do, anyway? Ah, forget it.
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TWEETS THAT MATTER
Guys…I really like Petteway. He has been awesome! But it could be tough to snub one of Harris, Stouskas, Marble, Craft or Harris 4 all B10
— Nick Bahe (@NickBahe) February 21, 2014
My take: Petteway isn?t going to be first-team All-Big Ten. Don?t worry about it.
The Huskers held Penn State to 34.9% shooting from field, marking its third straight opponent held under 35%.
— Robin Washut (@RobinWashut) February 21, 2014
My take: Great defense.
Keith Appling said the Spartans will enjoy this win tonight and tomorrow get ready for "the team we play Sunday."
— Joe Rexrode (@joerexrode) February 21, 2014
My take: Oh, I love this.
Izzo said Branden Dawson was to get the pins out of his hand either tonight or tomorrow morning. Won't have any news for day or two
— Matt Charboneau (@mattcharboneau) February 21, 2014
My take: Hurry back.
A court storming at the Dean Dome? Never thought I'd see the day.
— Andy Garman (@GarmanSports) February 21, 2014
My take: These times ? they are a-changin?.
Palm has Oklahoma St, Tennessee, Providence and Minnesota as his last four teams in the NCAA tournament field right now.
— Marcus R. Fuller (@Marcus_R_Fuller) February 21, 2014
My take: Hanging by a thread.
Hard to believe but Nebraska has a chance to finish 10-8 in the Big Ten. Still plays PUR, IL and NW and is already 7-6 after 4 W's in a row.
— Marcus R. Fuller (@Marcus_R_Fuller) February 21, 2014
My take: Yep, Nebraska is chugging toward the NCAA tourney.
Might be time for everyone in the B10 to learn how to pronounce Terran Petteway. It's tur-RAHN PET-eh-way, not PET-way. Spelled out: scorer
— Mike Lucas (@LucasAtLarge) February 21, 2014
My take: Got it.
Announcers calling Duke-NC brickfest a great game. If it were two Big Ten teams, they'd be ripping the league & calling for rules changes.
— Tom Oates (@TomOatesWSJ) February 21, 2014
My take: Amen, brother!
Barry Alvarez on Chris Borland–"He's another Russell (Wilson) except he plays Linebacker." High praise
— Mike Heller (@HellerSports) February 20, 2014
My take: Sounds about right.
Penn State loses 80-67. Attempted 20 more shots, made 3 more baskets, only turned the ball over six times. Nebraska shoots 48 free throws
— Ben Jones (@Ben_Jones88) February 21, 2014
My take: Sigh.
If MSU gets Dawson and Appling healthy by the B10 tournament, that is a Final Four team. Why Harris picked MSU, not Purdue or IU.
— Jeff Washburn (@JeffWashburnJC) February 21, 2014
My take: I?m not gonna argue with any of this.
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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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