The Skinny: Penn State has a lot of reason to be celebrating after having Talor Battle named to first team All-Big Ten. Likewise, Coach Ed

Ed DeChellis

DeChellis was named as co-Big Ten Coach of the year with Tom Izzo, and the Nittany Lions could be approaching the NCAA tournament if they fare well in the Big Ten tournament. But don’t think that the committee is absolutely sold, although there’s not much reason they shouldn’t be. PSU is 21-10 and owns 2 victories against Illinois, wins against Georgia Tech, Purdue, AT Michigan State, and Minnesota. Not shabby at all. Indiana, on the other hand, has a pitiful record but no one takes Tom Crean and crew for granted–this team is all heart and Verdell Jones III has really started to blossom as a scorer. The Hoosiers have had a lot of problems with turnovers and getting things going consistently, but they are basically playing at home in Indianapolis and will bring a large contingent despite being 6-24.

Big Tenet’s Prediction: Penn State 71, Indiana 59

Indiana will hang tough in the first half behind long-range bombs by Matt Roth and inside play of Nick Williams, but Battle, Stanley Pringle, and Jamelle Cornely will take over in the second half and dismantle the Hoosiers systematically. While the Nittany Lions would sure hope to get as much rest as possible for the long tournament, Indiana doesn’t go away that easily.

Tom Crean

Indiana is 6-23. Ouch. They have never had a worse season than this. Double Ouch. But is Tom Crean crying in the corner? Nope. In fact, as a coach who understood exactly what he was getting into when Kelvin Sampson tried to burn the IU program to the ground, even in a loss.

Despite losing to the Big Ten Champs–Michigan State–Crean wasn’t entirely unhappy: “I think we played our best basketball today because our mindset was so right…They’re learning, they’re getting better. They are getting more confident.”

Even though it was senior night and the Hoosiers had many chances to win, they didn’t, but the fact is–they weren’t even supposed to come close to this close of a game. And with that, folks, it shows just what kind of passion and heart the Hoosiers have despite being overmatched in every facet of the game. Yes, they are 6-23, but don’t be surprised that 2 years from now this column is prophetic and that record is reversed. Count on it.

Tom Crean

Indiana has struggled, there’s no question about that. The Tom Crean era was not expected to be good at all, and the W-L record now shows it. Currently the Hoosiers are 1-11 in the Big Ten and 6-18 overall, which is not exactly above expectations but it’s not far from how bad Big Ten and Indiana fans knew it would go (Thanks Kelvin!)

So, I am starting off with Indiana in the predicted finishes because, well, this one is extremely easy.

Remaining Conference Games: 6 (Home vs Wisconsin, Northwestern, Michigan State and away vs. Wisconsin, Purdue, Penn State)

Every game could be a potential blowout in the opposing team’s favor, and IU pretty much only has a standing chance against Northwestern at home, and with the Wildcats battling for their tournament life, this one could get away as well.

Big Ten tournament outlook: One and done. Even though it’s being played in Indy and will bring a large Hoosier crowd contingent, the Hoosiers will more than likely be playing a very tough team in the first round.

NCAA Tournament Outlook: Not a chance in H-E-double toothpicks. Unless they can pull an Illinois from ‘99 when the Illini were the last place seeded team and went to the finals (they still lost), the Hoosiers are just gaining experience and minutes along the way.

Mike Tisdale Illinois Fighting Illini

I went to this game in Bloomington, it was my first visit to Assembly Hall. Some observations:

1) Indiana is going to have a very special program in a couple of years. This team doesn’t have a lot of talent, but the fan support and the heart that the team shows for Tom Crean can only make them greater as they get more recruits and experience.

2) Illinois has no killer instince. Sure, it was on the road, but they were up 17 at half and let the Hoosiers creep back to a six point deficit. This could prove lethal in the Big Ten tournament and NCAAs.

3) Matt Roth can SHOOT. Good lord this kid can shoot. Hands down, one of the most pure shooters in the conference.

4) Mike Tisdale may be the best shooting big man in the conference, and quite possibly may have the most consistent range in the country for his size. He gains any quickness and bulk and retains this shooting ability and he will be collecting NBA paychecks for a while.

5) Indiana fans do not like Bruce Weber. In fact, they HATE Weber. I heard so many off-color comments about the former Purdue assistant and Illinois coach symbolized a bitter disdain for everything he does. I’ve seen some rivalries, but as long as Weber is there, this could be the prime event for IU and Illinois fans for years.

6) Assemby Hall is a truly unique basketball facility, and I know I am not any skinny minnie, but I did not particularly care for the fact that if the person in front of me sat directly back in their chair their head was almost in my crotch. No joking.

7) Mike Davis doesn’t jump in the air, he glides. He was very smooth all game long and grabbed 10 boards–he could have easily grabbed 15.

Indiana fans have to be some of the most rabid I have ever seen. I’d love to go to a game some time in East Lansing, because I have heard how raucous they can be, but all in all these fans love their Crimson and Cream. With vigor.

9) In comparison, Illinois fans have to be some of the most boring I have seen. While the Orange Krush is an awesome student section, the rest of the crowd usually acts like they are just simply unimpressed most of every game unless they are “primed” for a big game, etc. Other than that, it’s just like watching a pick up game the majority of the time.

10) Chester Frazier has NCAA coach written all over him. It may not be now, but rest assured within a decade you’ll see him at the helm of a Division 1 team.

It had been quite a while for Indiana fans, but behind Devan Dumes‘ 27 (a near perfect night from the field as well) and Nick Williams‘ 14 points, the Indiana Hoosiers snapped an 11-game losing streak and beat the Iowa Hawkeyes at Assembly Hall in Bloomington 68-60. The atmosphere was one you wouldn’t expect–no bronx cheers or sarcastic cheering, it was full on party time in Bloomington. Many thought that the fans were extremely disappointed with this season, and while they aren’t exactly happy, they can certainly appreciate a victory like this and take it for what it’s worth–progress.

Congrats to Coach Tom Crean on getting his first Big Ten victory.

I’m afraid–for the Big Ten.

Because what I witnessed tonight in Michigan’s 72-66 OT win against Indiana was really interesting–and a glimpse into the future. The Hoosiers, who are expected to be the doormat of the league this year, streaked out to a 20 point lead early in the second half, only to fold to Michigan’s long bombs and could not make free throws in overtime as the Wolverines did not walk–they ran out of Assembly Hall with an oh-too-close victory.

I am afraid for the Big Ten because of the fact that Tom Crean’s team is just not that good–their experience and talent level at this point shouldn’t even be comparable to many teams in the Big Ten–especially with the improvement the league as a whole has made. But with the heart that this team is already showing, in a couple years you WILL be seeing a return to prominence of this Indiana program–mark my words. By that time, the recruits will be rolling off the top of the heap, the younger players will have matured, and Crean’s system will be fully in place–this is just a foreshadowing of what is to come.

But you also can’t underscore the improvement of the Wolverines either. Manny Harris‘ leadership and DeShawn Sims ability to take over a game when he wants to–along with a slew of three point bombers–may well have this team positioned to finish high in the Big Ten and at the same time grab a good seed in the NCAAs. I realize that this is a bit premature considering the Big Ten season just started, but this team is FOR REAL.

When I started watching the game, I thought-well this one will be over by the half–and it almost was–in IU’s favor. But then the leadership and talent caught up with the inexperience, turning the game upside down. But there’s one thing for sure–this is the reason why I love Big Ten basketball.

In what was probably the biggest mismatch on paper for the Big Ten-ACC challenge, #15 Wake Forest was to play the down-and-out Indiana Hoosiers (I guess it wasn’t a mismatch last year on paper, but this year it was a joke). And the game lived up to the anti-hype, as the Demon Deacons remained undefeated in a 83-58 rout of the Hoosiers.

There’s not really a lot you can say about the game, other than it gave valuable experience and minutes to the young Hoosier squad; the team turned the ball over 25 times, shot 37% from the field, 31% from the arc, and 54% from the charity stripe.

Ouch.

Meanwhile, Wake Forest basically scored at will, shooting almost 62% from the field and had 7 blocks compared to Indiana’s zero. While it would be fun to break down the rest of this game, for a Big Ten fan, this was pretty ugly–not quite as ugly as the Purdue and Michigan State losses, but still not something to really delve to deep into; Indiana is struggling and will continue to do so, and Wake Forest is a darn good team. Thanks for reading.

Indiana has one player on its squad from last year, and he averaged less than 2 points a game. The Hoosiers’ program has been built on excellence, yet even with this stat staring them in the face, the excitement and relief coming from Bloomington is almost palpable. Why? Because the IU faithful don’t have to worry about Snidely Whiplash himself, Kelvin Sampson. The artist formerly known as a cheat threatened to ruin Indiana’s name worse than the days of Bobby Knight, and before it was all said and done, the Hoosiers lost a lot of players and faced a lot of sanctions.

And then Tom Crean arrived.

Crean, which rhymes with clean, has a tough year ahead of him in terms of win-loss percentage, but Indiana fans know that this was an excellent choice in coaching and like Big Ten football fans with Rich Rodriguez, they may enjoy the faltering right now of the respective programs, but you can bet these teams will be back–with a vengeance.

The lone scoring player back is Kyle Taber, and he is decent–at best. There are too many names to list here as far as new players who could make an impact because, honestly, it’s not really known as to the extent the word “impact” should be used. I think that Tijuan Jobe, a seven foot transfer, should make offenses think twice about bringing it in the lane. On offense though, Jobe is awkward and very rough around the edges.

The backcourt should be where the Hoosiers scare a few teams this year. Frosh Verdell Jones III, who Crean picked directly from Bruce Weber’s Illinois backyard in Champaign, is actually one of those guys who on paper is solid, but he looks to be someone who could immediately turn into a leader at the point. Devan Dumes has college experience, having played at Eastern Michigan before dipping down to the juco ranks and now back to the Big Ten (what a journey, eh?) Although he obviously didn’t play for the Hoosiers last year, he will more than likely be expected to take on the scoring for this squad who will probably be extremely inconsistent over the course of the year.

Bottom line: The Hoosiers will not be good this year. That’s no breaking news. Even at the time of this writing, the mighty Big Ten program just eeked by IUPUI, a decent but far inferior program overall. If Indiana wins 10 games, fans will probably be dancing a jig. Have no fear, IU fans–it will be darkest before the dawn, and the alarm clock should be going off in about 2 years. Then–prepare for takeoff.

Alright, that may be a pretty bold statement, but it certainly is at least close. Yes, the Big Ten has a 9-4 record over the Mid American Conference, but when you consider that only 1 of those games was at a MAC field, plus the fact that Michigan and Ohio State barely eeked by Miami OH and Ohio U respectively, it certainly is something to brag about as a MAC fan.

And as a Big Ten fan, if this isn’t evidence that the conference is struggling mightily, I don’t know what is. I’m not downplaying the MAC or totally getting away from the idea of college football parity, but when you consider that a conference that has put a nation title contender in the last two year’s bowls and had Penn State (until today) in the top five, to have a record like that is not certainly anything to write home about or be prood of. It’s not like the SEC versus the Sun Belt which is almost laughable.

Yes, two of those wins by the MAC came against Indiana and none of the “top tier” teams in the conference have lost to the MAC, but when you consider that Ball State is very much in BCS contention and Central Michigan as well as Western Michigan should get bowl bids, that is a great victory for this conference overall and should do wonderfully for recruiting.

On the other hand, the Big Ten needs to look at this as a learning experience and continue to be humble about the performance (or lack thereof) of their teams on this playing level this year. And get better–quick.