Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, June 29, 2015
Good piece from Sam McKewon of Omaha.com, who says the Big Ten is hoping for a better non-conference showing early on in 2015 than it had in 2014.
While the Big Ten finished strong last year, it struggled outside the league early in 2014. Remember Sept. 6, when in three high-profile, nationally televised games - Michigan State at Oregon, Michigan at Notre Dame and Virginia Tech at Ohio State - the league took it on the chin with three losses? This year, the Big Ten can score some big credibility points over Labor Day weekend, when there are myriad big games.
Check it out: TCU at Minnesota; BYU at Nebraska; Wisconsin vs. Alabama; Michigan at Utah; Ohio State at Virginia Tech; Stanford at Northwestern.
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The always entertaining Gregg Doyel of IndyStar.com is in quest for the chair Bob Knight heaved across the Assembly Hall floor back in 1985 in a game vs. Purdue. This is fun.
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Ari Wasserman of Cleveland.com is thinking like I am thinking. You know, that D?Angelo Russell will be a star in the NBA. I think he should have been the No. 1 pick.
Wasserman thinks the Lakers got a gem. They got a dynamic player who seems to have the spark so many great college players lack. That NBA spark. Yep. Russell will be a superstar. Just watch.
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The Big Ten hoops race next season should be spirited. And one of the teams surely to be in the thick of the hunt will be Michigan State. Good news: Bryn Forbes has added 15 pounds, and Tom Izzo has been impressed with his improvement.
"Right now, one of the more improved guys we've had has been Bryn Forbes," Izzo said on The Drive with Jack on WQTX in Lansing. "He's gained about 15 pounds, you see his arms now, they're not those noodles that used to stick out of his shoulders."
Forbes is in his first full offseason with Michigan State, after transferring into the program late last offseason. He gained immediate eligibility after that, and averaged 8.5 points per game in his first season in East Lansing. He's heading into his final year of eligibility, and Izzo said he has made strides in his preparation going into it.
"He's done a heck of a job, I'm really excited for Bryn," Izzo said. "He's just stronger, he looks tougher, more confident."
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The 2015 Michigan football freshmen have hit campus.
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Pitt vs. Penn State? In football? Yes, please. The Pitt A.D. is working on it. Gosh, I hope it happens.
?Penn State, for us, we want to play that game as long as we can, home-and-home,? Pitt A.D. Scott Barnes told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. ?We?re working hard to try to move that forward.?
Pitt and Penn State are scheduled to resume their rivalry in 2016 after a 16-year hiatus, and have four games currently on the schedule - two at Heinz Field and two at Beaver Stadium. Barnes said he would like to play the Nittany Lions every year, but conceded that might not be realistic. Too bad.
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Which college football QBs have the strongest arms? Some Big Ten arms make the list from Bleacherrport.com.
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Who can?t wait for the QB battle to ensue at Ohio State? Exactly. It seems Cardale Jones and Braxton Miller often draw most of the headlines. J.T. Barrett? He?s keeping a low profile.
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Iowa lost some key personnel, including recent draft choice Aaron White. Who will replace him? Keep an eye on JC transfer Dale Jones.
"I try to stay versatile and spread the floor out," Jones said to HawkCentral.com. "That's why I chose Iowa; they have that same type of style. Spread the floor out and drive-and-kick type of game.
"I feel like I shoot the ball pretty well, and when I get on the block, I can do damage there too. McCaffery wanted me to come here and do that, especially with Jarrod Uthoff out on the wing and Adam Woodbury in the post, so we'll be a strong stretch team."
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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. |
