~2017-18 Big Ten Basketball Thread~

[betarhoalphadelta]

PurdUeSA is kicking some tail so far at the World University Games. In group play they're 4-0 with (I believe) 3 of 4 games scoring over 100 pts. One more game against Estonia where as long as Estonia doesn't beat USA by a margin of >=139 pts, they're basically a lock for the championship "tier", i.e. top 8 when they get to single elimination.

For Purdue, the good thing is that these games have had enough margin that they've been able to get the youngsters and JuCo players some minutes. I said before the WUG that I didn't want Purdue to ever jeopardize their chances at winning a gold medal just to give experience to guys who will need it come NCAA season, but I'm certainly happy that Purdue's been able to get those guys minutes without risking a loss.

[ELA]

Good to see the Big Ten represent on this list of coaches who do it the right way, as voted on by other coaches. From CBS:


Who is the high-major coach you genuinely believe does everything by the book and operates completely within the NCAA's rulebook?   

Rank	Coach	School	Vote percentage
1.	John Beilein	Michigan	26.6 percent
2.	Mike Brey	Notre Dame	10.5 percent
T3.	Tony Bennett	Virginia	7.6 percent
T3.	Greg Gard	Wisconsin	7.6 percent
5.	Mark Few	Gonzaga	5.7 percent
T6.	Chris Holtmann	Ohio State	4.6 percent
T6.	Tom Izzo	Michigan State	4.8 percent
T6.	Bruce Weber	Kansas State	4.8 percent

I think it's more or less a vote of which coaches consistently win big without getting comparable recruiting results.  Obviously UM and UW don't have a ton of blue chippers.  MSU has more, particularly very recently, but considering a lot would consider them a basketball "helmet" they rarely pull in at that level.  I think until Miles Bridges they had 2 McD AAs in the previous 13 years since SHannon Brown in 2003.  Kentucky, Duke, Louisville, Kansas, UNC, have at least that many every year.  The few the do get are usually in state, or at least Indiana or Ohio.  I can't think of the last major recruit they got from outside MI or any bordering state (WI, IN, OH).  Chris Allen in like 2008?

[ELA]

Jud Heathcote passes away at 90

[betarhoalphadelta]

Representing USA at the World University Games, Purdue took home the Silver medal.

Notable for the team was that PF/C Jacquil Taylor, who is in his 4th year in the program as a redshirt Jr but has battled injuries every year, was a standout as a backup to Isaac Haas. He looks to be long, rangy, great at blocking shots and a terror on the boards. Still working on the offensive game, but at least looks like a serviceable backup.

The rest of the newcomers (minus Matt Haarms, who was ineligible as a Dutch citizen) got some valuable minutes during group play when Purdue was destroying opponents, but Painter tightened the lineup once they got to elimination play. As expected, Nojel Eastern looks like he'll get some solid PT, but beyond him we'll have to see how they can develop in practice.

Either way, while I'm disappointed the team couldn't bring home Gold for the USA, I think they represented themselves and the country well, and everyone came out of it healthy and with some players getting real competition minutes, so I'm happy for the team. 

[ELA]

Minnesota sophomore F Eric Curry tore his ACL and MCL and will miss the upcoming season.

Averaged 5.5 ppg and 5.2 rpg in 20 mpg as a freshman last season.

[Brutus Buckeye]

Dag, a midnight tip? 

[ELA]

MSU seemingly rounds out their 2018 class with 3* SF Aaron Henry from Indiana.

Chose MSU over Indiana, Xavier, UConn and OSU.

Pretty solid offer list for a kid ranked #154 in the composite rankings right now.

Very intrigued by MSU's 2018 class.  Seems to be full of four year kids.  It's currently ranked as the #3 class in the country, because it's 5 deep.  But only one (#65 Marcus Bingham) is ranked in the composite top 100.  PG Foster Loyer is the one most people who follow this sort of thing can't believe isn't higher.

The other upside is Thomas Kithier transferring to Clarkston means he'll spend his senior year playing with his future PG in Loyer.

[ELA]

MSU seemingly rounds out their 2018 class with 3* SF Aaron Henry from Indiana.

Chose MSU over Indiana, Xavier, UConn and OSU.

Pretty solid offer list for a kid ranked #154 in the composite rankings right now.

Very intrigued by MSU's 2018 class.  Seems to be full of four year kids.  It's currently ranked as the #3 class in the country, because it's 5 deep.  But only one (#65 Marcus Bingham) is ranked in the composite top 100.  PG Foster Loyer is the one most people who follow this sort of thing can't believe isn't higher.

The other upside is Thomas Kithier transferring to Clarkston means he'll spend his senior year playing with his future PG in Loyer.

Also will be interesting to follow the career of Talen Horton-Tucker.  Seems like MSU had one schollie left and it came down to these to similarish players as to who got the offer.

[MichiFan87]

Drake Harris is joining the basketball team. He was a top 100 recruit in high school and committed to Michigan State for both sports, originally. This makes sense because even if he doesn't end up making the rotation, he can still be a graduate transfer after this season. At worst, he's a useful practice player and provides more competition at the 2/3 guard spots behind Abdur-Rahkman, and if he does manage to break in the rotation and play well, he could end up being a starter next year (not that I expect this to happen, of course).

[MarqHusker]

Not directly B1G related, but interesting nonetheless,  today Butler announced that it will sell beer at all Men's/Women's basketball games at Hinkle Fieldhouse.      Hinkle is great by the way.

I'm not sure where the B1G is on selling beer at hoops games (outside the suites).  We know beer is sold at some football venues. (Purdue and Minnesota come to mind).

[ELA]

Drake Harris is joining the basketball team. He was a top 100 recruit in high school and committed to Michigan State for both sports, originally. This makes sense because even if he doesn't end up making the rotation, he can still be a graduate transfer after this season. At worst, he's a useful practice player and provides more competition at the 2/3 guard spots behind Abdur-Rahkman, and if he does manage to break in the rotation and play well, he could end up being a starter next year (not that I expect this to happen, of course).

Might as well get the full college experience and sit on as many benches in Ann Arbor as possible.

[PortlandSpartan]

Might as well get the full college experience and sit on as many benches in Ann Arbor as possible.

LOL

[nuwildcat]

Kinda excited 'cuz da 'Cats will face the Blue Demons @ Depaul's new arena near McCormick Place

- looking forward to attending that contest in mid-December

It's a hell of a lot closer than Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL (aka 'TheBoonies, USA'), where our "home" games will be played while Welsh-Ryan is renovated 

[ELA]

Also will be interesting to follow the career of Talen Horton-Tucker.  Seems like MSU had one schollie left and it came down to these to similarish players as to who got the offer.

And now it seems like Michigan may be his leader.
We'll see, but I think this might be a decision that bites Izzo.
There were some rumors about the teammate aspect of Horton-Tucker, but not any major red flags.