By: Greg Kincaid
After a somewhat down year for the Big Ten conference, many people in the media and fans hope for an improvement in the conference in 2009. However, with so many talented players headed to the NFL Draft, how good really will the Big Ten be next year?
Starting this week, the Big Ten Beat will begin its “Big Ten Gridiron Report” taking a look at one football team a week, analyzing what they lost, what is gained, and what the chances are of each school to make a run at the Big Ten title and the Rose Bowl next season. We will start out this week with the Penn State Nittany Lions and then go down the list in order of standings from the 2008 season.
One positive note for the Lion defense is the return of linebacker Sean Lee, who was redshirted his senior year after a knee injury suffered in spring practice last April. Penn State will still have a potent linebacking crew with Navarro Bowman making his return. Bowman, who was a first team All Big Ten selection, should fill in at the middle linebacker position. Also, first team All Big Ten selection Jared Odrik will return at the defensive tackle position, which will be helpful to almost a depleted Nittany Lion defensive line.
On offense, Penn State will be looking to replace three starting offensive linemen. This should be the most difficult task after losing seniors A.Q. Shipley, Rich Ohrenberger and Gerald Cadogan. Stephen Wisniewski will be one of the top returning linemen. The Lions have no concerns at the quarterback position with Darry Clark returning for his senior year at the helm. Additionally, Kevin Newsome, a Virginia native, will back-up Clark and most likely will start the following year. Newsome is a four star recruit at quarterback that the Nittany Lions really have high expectations for. Additionally, Penn State will need to replace the big three receivers in Derrick Williams, Jordan Norwood, and Deon Butler.
Based on what the Nittany Lions have returning and what they have lost, 2009 could possibly be a roller coaster season. However, Penn State has a somewhat favorable schedule, kicking off the season with four straight home games against Akron, Syracuse, Temple and Iowa. Key matchups will come later in the year with trips to Michigan and Michigan State. Penn State’s top game will come in mid-November as the Ohio State Buckeyes make the trip to Happy Valley.
With a favorable schedule, look for the Lions to once again make a run at a Big Ten title. It will be a difficult road, but the Big Ten may not be that strong again. A 9-3 season for Penn State is a fair prediction.
Stay tuned next week as we take a look at the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Big Ten Hardwood
With the Big Ten basketball season nearly halfway over, fans are starting to get anxious to see what these next couple of weeks is at stake. Here is a look at two of this week’s critical games.
Tuesday Jan. 20- Ohio State (13-3, 3-2) @ #25 Illinois (15-3, 3-2)
With the Illini riding high with critical victories over Michigan and Indiana and a close loss to Michigan State, Bruce Weber is looking to make a statement in the Big Ten conference. With the Buckeyes tied with Illinois in the Big Ten standings, a win for either team will put them in second place with Minnesota in the Big Ten.
Probably two of the biggest surprises in the Big Ten this season are these two teams. Michigan had some nice early season wins against Duke and UCLA, but have recently struggled in conference play losing their last two games. The Nittany Lions are flirting with the pack as well. Look for this game to be dominated by guard play led by Michigan’s Manny Harris and Penn State’s Talor Battle.
Big Ten Beat Power Rankings-Men’s Basketball
- Michigan State
- Minnesota
- Purdue
- Ohio State
- Illinois
- Wisconsin
- Michigan
- Penn State
- Iowa
- Northwestern
Greg —
In football, ya gotta think Ohio State has got to be favored to win the conference in 2009. And they should also be hunting nationally in the Top 5. They have more talent than anyone else in the Big 10 … OSU is an absolute recruiting machine … and T. Pryor is a year older. I’ll be amazed if they lose more than one game next season. I know there’s more to it than that, so I’ll await your Buckeye analysis.
Wally-
I know where you are coming from. That is why you will have to read next week! I agree that Ohio State is a talented team, but keep in mind that they lost even more than Penn State. Pryor is a good prospect, needs to work a little bit more on throwing the ball. But don’t worry, Ohio State will be a Big Ten contender as well hint hint 😉
Greg,
Great stuff and love the pictures.
Big10 hoops should be interesting the rest of the way. Especially when you consider the Northwestern Wildcats (or ‘Mildcats’ as Wally likes to refer to his other alma mater) recently knocked off Minnesota. Tubby Smith might still be enduring growing pains with his group as I’m sure John Beilein is at Michigan.
Yes … Northwestern University … they should be “the Duke of the Midwest” but they have this slight problem of not being very good at basketball.
You can call ’em “Northworstern ” … you can call ’em the “Mildcats” … but ya doesn’t haf to call ’em “champeens”.
I have huge doubts about Minnesota. The Louisville game was not a good one for the Cardinals. Samuels looked like a freshman and the Gophers were the beneficiaries. But – Tubby has them at 16-2 and with some top 25 wins. The one glaring loss though is Northwestern, which makes me wonder. I watched Northwestern play Penn State earlier this year and the Wildcats are terrible. Certainly shouldn’t be contending with a top 25 team. I’m calling Minnesota a pretender for now.
Whoa!!!!
Hail to the Mildcats!!! Big win over MSU. Greg – how will this affect the power rankings?
A Mildcats win in East Lansing over #7 MSU can only happen in The World Where Anything Is Possible. Same world where the Arizona Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Steelers (that’s my pick). Where the NY Giants beat the Pats. Hell … where the Chicago White Sox not only make the World Series, but win it. Anything is possible!
Not Northworsten … dare I say Northbesten? I’m giddy … better stop writing and go to bed. Too many celebratory IPAs. Out.
Casey-
With MSU losing, I still believe they are the top team in the Big Ten. You have to remember that Norhwestern is not a bad team. They have beaten teams like Florida State, Minnesota and Michigan State. It was not really a great loss for Sparty, but thats the way college basketball is. What game I see as a killer is looses by Wisconsin to Iowa last night and Michigan losing to Penn State on Tuesday night. All of a sudden Michigan is 3-4 in the Big Ten. So you may see Wisconsin and Michigan moving down the power rankings soon.
I am a fan of Bill Carmody. He did a great job at Princeton. The ‘Cats played an impressive first half against Penn State earlier this year and then laid an egg in the second stanza. Carmody always puts his kids in position to pull off upsets. It’s just that sometimes athleticism wins.
I’ll put my foot in my mouth, especially if Northwestern beats Michigan. But I still don’t think they’re any good. If Thompson and Coble don’t go for 45 together, they don’t win. Izzo’s crew is becoming notorious post-Cleaves era for dropping games like this. In the grand scheme of things, how many Big 10 teams does anyone see getting out of the first round?
I like Illinois. They look young (top five scorers are sophomores) and if they can keep their current pace going, could surprass Michigan State for the title. Wisconsin also seems like a more dangerous team then they’re getting credit for. They’re dropping some very close games.
Have the Badgers won a game in the conference yet?
Wisconsin is 3-4 in the Big 10.
Oh wow! Yeah they have. Guess it’s been so long since they won, I kinda forgot about those other games. 🙂
What? No love for Purdue?
And, yes, ya better watch out for the Fightin’ Illini, as a couple have pointed out above. Bruce Weber is a very good coach.
Casey — your Cardinal mascot is from what school … Ball State?
Plattsburgh State!!!!! 🙂
That is ‘Burghy’ the all-too intimidating mascot from the northern winds of New York state.
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