Random Thoughts: The Big 10

There are a lot of things rumbling around the halls of the Big 10; The ever changing Big 10 Standings, Playing Thursday-Saturday games, and Mike Davis' comment about needing a "Hoosier connection" during his midseason resignation from the Indiana head coaching position. As always, coach Roy has an opinion...

Don't nobody want this thing?

Anyone remember that Michigan State [7-5/19-7] was supposed to win the Big 10 this year, followed by Illinois [8-4/22-4], and then Indiana [5-7/13-10]. The official release from the Big 10 doesn't even mention the present leader, Iowa [9-4/20-7], who is just one game up in the win column as of this morning, or Ohio State, who at 8-4 holds down the #2 spot in the conference.

I'm not sure how the tie breakers will work this year [and I don't really care right now], it seems everybody is beating everybody else, but as we head down the last two weeks, it would appear that Iowa is in a good position to win everything, if, after a week off, they can beat Illinois on the road, then Penn State and Wisconsin at home.

Ohio State has a tough stretch with MSU and Michigan, but then they get Northwestern on the road, no easy win there, and then Purdue at home. The Buckeyes would appear to have much of the rest of the Big 10 in their hands, but still need someone else to beat Iowa, and they have to win their last games.

And it goes on and on - Illinois still has Michigan, Iowa and MSU. Wisconsin has NU, then Minnesota, MSU and Iowa. My personal observation is that Thursday night, at home, the NU Wildcats have a chance at playing spoiler, clearing up some of those Big 10 questions, and maybe even moving up in the standings.

Hey, the Cats have looked good at times against some pretty good teams. It could happen.

Hey Folks, When you get to the "Tournament,"

you play back to back games. OK, you don't have to fly to the 2nd game, but you may as well get ready as we close in on tournament time. It may be tough on the coaches and players, but we all want the TV exposure, right?

So who is the leader for the Indiana job?

Is it Steve Alford? The present coach at Iowa? or Ohio State's Thad Matta, who had been overheard saying that Indiana would be his [shades of Gary Barnett] "dream job."

OK, Alford, a former Indiana star, has been the "odds on" favorite since Bobby Knight was shown the door at Indy. Matta has only worked miracles with somebody else's kids at Ohio State.

So here's the scenario: OSU gets slammed by the NCAA for paying a recruit - even thought the "recruit" was already a pro - and those top recruits who have a "get out of Columbus Free card" start to reconsider playing at a school in a state where roundball will always be #2.

Steve Alford, the "golden boy" of some Indiana Alums OR Thad "Dream Job" Matta, takes the job in Bloomington [where roundball will always be #2, maybe #3] and places a call, checking to see if some of those kids really want to go down in history as Buckeyes or play for the "home" team.

I honestly think its a timing issue - and it would be based on just when the NCAA announces its "sanctions" if any.

There have been a couple other coaches mentioned for Indiana, but even if the Bucks get slammed with another year out of the tournament, Matta is the key to those big time Indiana recruits staying at home.

At least that's how we see it here, but then I'm more excited about the 4 kids expected in Evanston next fall.

-- da Coach

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