tOfficial B1G Thread

[ericd7633]

Yeah, it's been a very uneven millennium so far. They were on the cusp a few times under Amaker winning 20+ three times in four years from 2004-07, but they couldn't crack the tournament. Finally made it over the hump two years later under Beilein, but I'd say it took another three years for Michigan to return to being a top program and that ran lasted until about 2021. 2022 team was kinda meh, but made it to the Sweet Sixteen anyway. Went to the NIT in '23 and sucked ass last season

It is crazy to me Amaker lasted as long as he did without making the tournament. I get he took over when Michigan was sanctioned, but it's still crazy he couldn't get over the hump, because he's been really good at Harvard and was even decent at Seton Hall. Beilein was such a a stud hire. Howard definitely benefitted from what he left behind.

 

[ericd7633]

I'd definitely put Wisconsin ahead of Purdue and Michigan. Only missed the tournament three times, one of those being the COVID year (they probably would have made it) and another was a 20-15 year

Yeah, they slipped my mind. They definitely would have made it the Covid year. I think they won the B1G regular season that year. Only missing it twice is insane consistency. Plus they have 3 FF's and a shitload of S16's.

 

[Across The Field]

It is crazy to me Amaker lasted as long as he did without making the tournament. I get he took over when Michigan was sanctioned, but it's still crazy he couldn't get over the hump, because he's been really good at Harvard and was even decent at Seton Hall. Beilein was such a a stud hire. Howard definitely benefitted from what he left behind.

I can't tell if Beilein was a bigger stud at michigan or a worse dud with Cleveland. My god was that an awful hire by them LOL

 

[ericd7633]

Probably need to have tiers honestly. MSU probably tier of their own, then OSU/Wisconsin a small notch below them, then michigan/Illinois/Purdue a larger notch below them. Like you said, criteria is the main differentiator.

I think I'd for sure have Wisconsin ahead of OSU, but you're right those two are a tier above the rest in discussion. OSU's 2011 team getting knocked out in the S16 is a killer. IMO that was their best team since 2000.

 

[Across The Field]

Yeah, they slipped my mind. They definitely would have made it the Covid year. I think they won the B1G regular season that year. Only missing it twice is insane consistency. Plus they have 3 FF's and a shitload of S16's.

Three way tie for the conference title that year (would've gone to Maryland if you use overall record as a tiebreaker, oddly enough), but the B1G was absolutely loaded that year. It really is a shame the tournament got cancelled.

 

[ericd7633]

I can't tell if Beilein was a bigger stud at michigan or a worse dud with Cleveland. My god was that an awful hire by them LOL

Yeah, he's not an NBA coach. Lmao. If he wouldn't have left Michigan, I bet he would have came close to winning a title.

 

[Kburjr]

Piece of trivia: Wisconsin and Oregon have exactly the same number of nattys in both basketball and football.

 

[ericd7633]

Three way tie for the conference title that year (would've gone to Maryland if you use overall record as a tiebreaker, oddly enough), but the B1G was absolutely loaded that year. It really is a shame the tournament got cancelled.

Yeah, and the B1G conference tournament would have been absolutely insane. The Gophers finished 12th in the B1G and were a top 30 KenPom team. Lol. Would have likely gotten 9/10 teams in the tournament.

 

[Across The Field]

I think I'd for sure have Wisconsin ahead of OSU, but you're right those two are a tier above the rest in discussion. OSU's 2011 team getting knocked out in the S16 is a killer. IMO that was their best team since 2000.

I forgot our FF with O'Brien was in 1999 not 2000, threw my count off. Again, criteria probably matters here. IMO 2007 OSU probably would have beaten every Big Ten team from this century. Only reason they didn't win the NC is because Florida somehow managed to keep three top 5 NBA draft picks on their roster from the previous season's NC team. 2011 was a great team overall, no doubt, but they didn't have the firepower. Overall I can see giving the nod to Wisconsin just from a consistency perspective. Holtmann killed us.

 

[ericd7633]

I forgot our FF with O'Brien was in 1999 not 2000, threw my count off. Again, criteria probably matters here. IMO 2007 OSU probably would have beaten every Big Ten team from this century. Only reason they didn't win the NC is because Florida somehow managed to keep three top 5 NBA draft picks on their roster from the previous season's NC team. 2011 was a great team overall, no doubt, but they didn't have the firepower. Overall I can see giving the nod to Wisconsin just from a consistency perspective. Holtmann killed us.

The 2007 team definitely had more talent. I just thought the 2011 fit together better (a long with still having good talent). The 2011 team was so far and away the best team that year. It's crazy how much further ahead they were in KenPom than everyone else.

Yeah, the end of Matta and the Holtmann tenure really hurt. Holtmann made the tournament (early on), but couldn't advance.

 

[Across The Field]

The 2007 team definitely had more talent. I just thought the 2011 fit together better (a long with still having good talent). The 2011 team was so far and away the best team that year. It's crazy how much further ahead they were in KenPom than everyone else.

Yeah, the end of Matta and the Holtmann tenure really hurt. Holtmann made the tournament (early on), but couldn't advance.

Yeah that 2011 season ender was heartbreaking, for sure. They should have gone much further than they did for sure. That 07 team though, it's not often you see a team reel off 20 straight wins and only lose one in conference. Hell they only lost once in calendar 2007 before the NCG.

I think we're in way better shape now than we have been in recent years though. Diebler has them playing high end ball, and I think Mobley is going to be a terror on offense for us. Hopes are high for the first time since probably Covid.

 

[ericd7633]

Yeah that 2011 season ender was heartbreaking, for sure. They should have gone much further than they did for sure. That 07 team though, it's not often you see a team reel off 20 straight wins and only lose one in conference. Hell they only lost once in calendar 2007 before the NCG.

I think we're in way better shape now than we have been in recent years though. Diebler has them playing high end ball, and I think Mobley is going to be a terror on offense for us. Hopes are high for the first time since probably Covid.

Mobley looks like an absolute stud. That backcourt might be the best in the B1G along with Thornton and Meechie. Looking forward to seeing how they do against A&M. B1G has to start winning some of these notable OOC games.

 

[Across The Field]

Mobley looks like an absolute stud. That backcourt might be the best in the B1G along with Thornton and Meechie. Looking forward to seeing how they do against A&M. B1G has to start winning some of these notable OOC games.

Friday night is going to be big. I like our chances against A&M. Not sure if Wisconsin has what it takes to knock off Arizona, and same for Maryland vs Marquette, but Purdue needs to get that win against Bama.

 

[ericd7633]

Friday night is going to be big. I like our chances against A&M. Not sure if Wisconsin has what it takes to knock off Arizona, and same for Maryland vs Marquette, but Purdue needs to get that win against Bama.

Yeah, I could honestly see OSU take the B1G this year. I was pretty high on UCLA, but they laid an egg against New Mexico, so I'm sure about them now. I think, out of those games, MD might have the best chance. Just because it's a home game. All 3 will most likely be underdogs.

 

[Across The Field]

Yeah, I could honestly see OSU take the B1G this year. I was pretty high on UCLA, but they laid an egg against New Mexico, so I'm sure about them now. I think, out of those games, MD might have the best chance. Just because it's a home game. All 3 will most likely be underdogs.

I think we'll be dangerous but Purdue has a great scoring trio, and of course they also have another obnoxious Sasquatch under the rim, so they'd still probably be my initial pick. I'm also not sleeping on Rutgers. They have talent and depth like I've never seen them have. Indiana is also really, really balanced and can win in a lot of different ways. It's going to be a very fun season honestly. How does Minnesota look?

 

[ericd7633]

I think we'll be dangerous but Purdue has a great scoring trio, and of course they also have another obnoxious Sasquatch under the rim, so they'd still probably be my initial pick. I'm also not sleeping on Rutgers. They have talent and depth like I've never seen them have. Indiana is also really, really balanced and can win in a lot of different ways. It's going to be a very fun season honestly. How does Minnesota look?

I did like Purdue, but they lost their 7 foot Center for the year, so that hurts them big time. They'll just be so much more limited. Especially on defense. Rutgers has struggled a little bit out of the gate, but Bailey hasn't played yet, so that's a huge asterisk so far for them. I like IU's talent, but they had talent last year and couldn't put it together. I think they'll be better because their guard play will be better, but I think they'll be a fringe top 25ish type of team.

Minnesota looks terrible. Haha. They struggled against Omaha, who's like 300 in KenPom. If I had to guess, we'll likely finish bottom 3 and miss the B1G tournament. But if that happens, they'll likely be a coaching change.

 

[Across The Field]

I did like Purdue, but they lost their 7 foot Center for the year, so that hurts them big time. They'll just be so much more limited. Especially on defense. Rutgers has struggled a little bit out of the gate, but Bailey hasn't played yet, so that's a huge asterisk so far for them. I like IU's talent, but they had talent last year and couldn't put it together. I think they'll be better because their guard play will be better, but I think they'll be a fringe top 25ish type of team.

Minnesota looks terrible. Haha. They struggled against Omaha, who's like 300 in KenPom. If I had to guess, we'll likely finish bottom 3 and miss the B1G tournament. But if that happens, they'll likely be a coaching change.

Oh damn, I didn't see that. Well then that'll definitely play a big part.

Rutgers has so much young talent, I see them getting better as the year goes as long as they stay healthy. Harper already looks like a star, and Sommerville could be a real difference maker. Once Bailey gets in, they're going to be tough to beat.

I like what IU did getting Ballo and Rice in the portal. Their size could be really difficult to deal with but you're right, they have to prove it for once.

Any coaches you think Minnesota could realistically get assuming things go to shit?

 

[Kburjr]

I did like Purdue, but they lost their 7 foot Center for the year, so that hurts them big time. They'll just be so much more limited. Especially on defense. Rutgers has struggled a little bit out of the gate, but Bailey hasn't played yet, so that's a huge asterisk so far for them. I like IU's talent, but they had talent last year and couldn't put it together. I think they'll be better because their guard play will be better, but I think they'll be a fringe top 25ish type of team.

Minnesota looks terrible. Haha. They struggled against Omaha, who's like 300 in KenPom. If I had to guess, we'll likely finish bottom 3 and miss the B1G tournament. But if that happens, they'll likely be a coaching change.

Don't sleep on Illinois. Their 2 international players coming are gonna be studs.

 

[ericd7633]

Oh damn, I didn't see that. Well then that'll definitely play a big part.

Rutgers has so much young talent, I see them getting better as the year goes as long as they stay healthy. Harper already looks like a star, and Sommerville could be a real difference maker. Once Bailey gets in, they're going to be tough to beat.

I like what IU did getting Ballo and Rice in the portal. Their size could be really difficult to deal with but you're right, they have to prove it for once.

Any coaches you think Minnesota could realistically get assuming things go to shit?

I really think Eric Mussleman could have been in play last year, had we made the move then, but that won't happen now.

I'd throw the bag at Will Wade. I get his past is questionable, but all he does is win. But the administration won't do that. Some more realistic options are probably guys like Tony Skinny (George Mason), Alan Huss (High Point), and Brian Wardle (Bradley). Which I think would all be pretty good hires. But who knows what the dumb administration will do. I mean we did hire a failing Xavier assistant last time, so who the hell knows. Lol.

 

[osubuckeye89]

Yeah, I could honestly see OSU take the B1G this year. I was pretty high on UCLA, but they laid an egg against New Mexico, so I'm sure about them now. I think, out of those games, MD might have the best chance. Just because it's a home game. All 3 will most likely be underdogs.

This is definitely the deepest team we've had in awhile. We are gonna need continued growth throughout the year from Bradshaw and Stewart down low, if we get that this team could be very dangerous come march.