Source: BigTen.org
Posted: Monday, November 24, 2008 4:54:00 PM EST
Published: Monday, November 24, 2008 5:01:59 PM EST
Posted: Monday, November 24, 2008 4:54:00 PM EST
Published: Monday, November 24, 2008 5:01:59 PM EST
Through the first two weeks of the 2008-09 campaign, the Big Ten owns the nation's best non-conference record, dropping only one of its 36 contests to date. The conference is 35-1 versus non-conference foes, for a .972 win percentage to lead the nation.
Ten of the 11 Big Ten teams are undefeated, as Michigan is the only team to suffer a loss. The Wolverines fell to No. 10/5 Duke in the championship game of the 2K Sports Challenge, benefitting Coaches vs. Cancer.
ROAD WARRIORS: With its 69-63 win over Vanderbilt on Thursday, Illinois became the only team from the ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Pac-10 or SEC to secure a road win over a squad from the aforementioned group so far this season. The Illini are off to a 4-0 start for the first time since 2006-07 when they opened 7-0 before suffering their first loss.
HOT STARTS: Minnesota and Northwestern are off to the best starts in recent program history. The Golden Gophers are 4-0, marking their best start to a season since opening 4-0 in the 2002-03 campaign. The Wildcats are 3-0, touting their best debut to a campaign since going 9-0 to open the 1993-94 season.
BIG APPLE, BIG WIN: Michigan knocked off No. 4/4 UCLA on Nov. 20, in the semifinals of the 2K Classic benefitting Coaches vs. Cancer at Madison Square Garden. The triumph was the first Big Ten Conference win over a top-five opponent since Michigan State upended No. 4/5 Texas on Dec. 22, 2007.
MOORE THAN 30: Northwestern's Craig Moore put up 31 points Saturday night against Brown. The senior guard knocked down a career-best nine three-pointers in the contest, sinking eight in the first half. Moore became NU's career leader in three-pointers made with 222, surpassing Vedran Vukusic's 212 (2002-06). Moore's 31 points mark the best single-game performance in the conference this season.
20-20 PARADISE: Wisconsin's Trévon Hughes has posted back-to-back 20-point games, leading the Badgers to two wins in the Paradise Jam in the Virgin Islands. Hughes led all scorers with 21 points in the overtime win over Iona on Saturday. The junior guard again led all scorers, posting 22 in the win over San Diego. The back-to-back 20-point performance was Hughes' first two of the season. Last year, Hughes recorded five games of 20 or more points.
YOUTH MOVEMENT: Accounting for nearly 60 percent of the student-athletes on 2008-09 Big Ten rosters, underclassmen are again leading the conference in statistical categories. Last year, freshmen or sophomores were in the top five of every statistical category. Through games of Nov. 23, the current crop of underclassmen are on top of each category, with the exception of assists. Michigan sophomore Manny Harris leads the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 24.0 points per game. Indiana's freshman forward Tom Pritchard is averaging 10 rebounds per contest to top all players. A quartet of underclassmen lead the charge in free-throw percentage. Sophomores Al Nolen (MINN) and Evan Turner (OSU) are averaging 3.0 steals per game for the conference lead.
CONTINUED BLOCK PARTY: Minnesota's frontcourt was nasty through the first four games of the season, recording 26 blocks in the contests. Freshman Colton Iverson led the stuffing party with nine blocks against Bowling Green and added a single block against Concordia-St. Paul to total 10 for the week. The blocking party did not end with the Gophers as Ohio State's Dallas Lauderdale swatted a career-high seven blocks in 19 minutes of action in the Buckeye's opener versus Delaware State. Not to be left out, Wisconsin's Marcus Landry joined the block party, swatting 15 shots in the Badgers' four games to date, averaging 3.75 per contest. Lauderdale, Landry and Iverson lead the conference in blocks.
PLAYING THE BEST: Big Ten teams have once again scheduled some of the nation's toughest teams for non-conference play, including 13 teams listed in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today preseason polls. Each team will face at least two ranked teams this season, with several having the potential to meet ranked foes in non-conference tournaments. Michigan met the first of ranked opponents when it defeated then-No. 4/4 UCLA in the semifinals of the 2K Classic at Madison Square Garden on Thursday. The Wolverines squared off with No. 10/5 Duke in the championship game of the tournament the follwing day, falling 71-56. Michigan will face the Blue Devils again on Dec. 6 for a regular-reason match up.
COACHING MILESTONES: Several Big Ten coaches are nearing landmark wins or games coached. Ohio State's Thad Matta will coach in his 275th game when the Buckeyes host Bowling Green on Monday. Matta owns a 208-66 overall record and is 106-35 at OSU. Minnesota's Tubby Smith is five games away from coaching in his 575th career contest. Smith is 411-159 in his 18th year as a head coach. In his second season at Minnesota, Smith has compiled a 24-14 record. Northwestern's Bill Carmody is two wins shy of his 200th career victory. Indiana's Tom Crean is eight wins away from his 200th-career triumph.
Ten of the 11 Big Ten teams are undefeated, as Michigan is the only team to suffer a loss. The Wolverines fell to No. 10/5 Duke in the championship game of the 2K Sports Challenge, benefitting Coaches vs. Cancer.
ROAD WARRIORS: With its 69-63 win over Vanderbilt on Thursday, Illinois became the only team from the ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Pac-10 or SEC to secure a road win over a squad from the aforementioned group so far this season. The Illini are off to a 4-0 start for the first time since 2006-07 when they opened 7-0 before suffering their first loss.
HOT STARTS: Minnesota and Northwestern are off to the best starts in recent program history. The Golden Gophers are 4-0, marking their best start to a season since opening 4-0 in the 2002-03 campaign. The Wildcats are 3-0, touting their best debut to a campaign since going 9-0 to open the 1993-94 season.
BIG APPLE, BIG WIN: Michigan knocked off No. 4/4 UCLA on Nov. 20, in the semifinals of the 2K Classic benefitting Coaches vs. Cancer at Madison Square Garden. The triumph was the first Big Ten Conference win over a top-five opponent since Michigan State upended No. 4/5 Texas on Dec. 22, 2007.
MOORE THAN 30: Northwestern's Craig Moore put up 31 points Saturday night against Brown. The senior guard knocked down a career-best nine three-pointers in the contest, sinking eight in the first half. Moore became NU's career leader in three-pointers made with 222, surpassing Vedran Vukusic's 212 (2002-06). Moore's 31 points mark the best single-game performance in the conference this season.
20-20 PARADISE: Wisconsin's Trévon Hughes has posted back-to-back 20-point games, leading the Badgers to two wins in the Paradise Jam in the Virgin Islands. Hughes led all scorers with 21 points in the overtime win over Iona on Saturday. The junior guard again led all scorers, posting 22 in the win over San Diego. The back-to-back 20-point performance was Hughes' first two of the season. Last year, Hughes recorded five games of 20 or more points.
YOUTH MOVEMENT: Accounting for nearly 60 percent of the student-athletes on 2008-09 Big Ten rosters, underclassmen are again leading the conference in statistical categories. Last year, freshmen or sophomores were in the top five of every statistical category. Through games of Nov. 23, the current crop of underclassmen are on top of each category, with the exception of assists. Michigan sophomore Manny Harris leads the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 24.0 points per game. Indiana's freshman forward Tom Pritchard is averaging 10 rebounds per contest to top all players. A quartet of underclassmen lead the charge in free-throw percentage. Sophomores Al Nolen (MINN) and Evan Turner (OSU) are averaging 3.0 steals per game for the conference lead.
CONTINUED BLOCK PARTY: Minnesota's frontcourt was nasty through the first four games of the season, recording 26 blocks in the contests. Freshman Colton Iverson led the stuffing party with nine blocks against Bowling Green and added a single block against Concordia-St. Paul to total 10 for the week. The blocking party did not end with the Gophers as Ohio State's Dallas Lauderdale swatted a career-high seven blocks in 19 minutes of action in the Buckeye's opener versus Delaware State. Not to be left out, Wisconsin's Marcus Landry joined the block party, swatting 15 shots in the Badgers' four games to date, averaging 3.75 per contest. Lauderdale, Landry and Iverson lead the conference in blocks.
PLAYING THE BEST: Big Ten teams have once again scheduled some of the nation's toughest teams for non-conference play, including 13 teams listed in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today preseason polls. Each team will face at least two ranked teams this season, with several having the potential to meet ranked foes in non-conference tournaments. Michigan met the first of ranked opponents when it defeated then-No. 4/4 UCLA in the semifinals of the 2K Classic at Madison Square Garden on Thursday. The Wolverines squared off with No. 10/5 Duke in the championship game of the tournament the follwing day, falling 71-56. Michigan will face the Blue Devils again on Dec. 6 for a regular-reason match up.
COACHING MILESTONES: Several Big Ten coaches are nearing landmark wins or games coached. Ohio State's Thad Matta will coach in his 275th game when the Buckeyes host Bowling Green on Monday. Matta owns a 208-66 overall record and is 106-35 at OSU. Minnesota's Tubby Smith is five games away from coaching in his 575th career contest. Smith is 411-159 in his 18th year as a head coach. In his second season at Minnesota, Smith has compiled a 24-14 record. Northwestern's Bill Carmody is two wins shy of his 200th career victory. Indiana's Tom Crean is eight wins away from his 200th-career triumph.
