Author: Coach Z (Page 24 of 38)

For all the naysayers who thought Wisconsin would take a step back due to graduation losses, Bo Ryan has a different take for you. Last night the Badgers controlled Indiana from start to finish enroute to a 62-49 win. Theri containment defense held IU to 34% field goal shooting and limited outstanding freshman Eric Gordon to just 16 points.

Watching them you see an extension of Coach Ryan’s personality. They are tough as nails and team first all the way. From the overall play of Jim Krabenhoft to the gritty determination of Marcus Landry, they embody the blue collar spirit.

Although they lost, DJ White put up another double-double and showed why he is my clear cut favorite for MVP of the league. He finished with 22 points and 17 rebounds. However, with Gordon playing with a sore wrist the Hoosiers were unable to get anyone else to step up in the scoring column.

With the win Wisconsin moved into a four way tie for first place with Indiana, Purdue and Michigan State…

I will have a chance to see Wisconsin in person next week when they travel to Iowa. Join us as the game will be telecast on the Big Ten Network.

Over in Ann Arbor, Tubby Smith collected his 400th career win as Minnesota knocked off Michigan 77-65. The Gophers are now 13-6 and inching closer to an NCAA tournament bid. Congratulations to Coach Smith for his accomplishment! He is one of the classiest guys in the profession.

The Drake Bulldogs are having a season most people only dream about. First year head coach, Keno Davis, led his team to a 75-65 victory over defending champion, Creighton, to stay perfect in the Missouri Valley. They are now 19-1 and have won a school record 18 games in a row.

Tied at 65 last night they ran off the final 10 points of the game to win going away. Drake was 12-27 from the 3 point line and 15-16 from the foul line.

Hats off to Coach Davis and the Bulldogs. They join a couple of other Bulldog team rising from the mid major level. The other two being Gonzaga and Butler. If this keeps up more teams will be changing their nicknames.

It took 24 years for the Kansas State Wildcats to beat Kansas at home, but with the help of three freshman who weren’t even born when the streak started they knocked off the Jayhawks, 84-75 last night. The predicted advantage of the Kansas guards never materialized as freshman Jacob Pullen tallied 20 points and the Wildcats hit 12 three point shots.

Leading Player of the Year Candidate, Michael Beasley, was spectacular once again. Facing a double team everytime down the floor he still managed to score 25 pints and grab 6 rebounds. When the game was in the balance he calmly stepped outside and sank a three point shot (his fourth of the night). I didn’t think it was possible, but he is better than advertised. Also, fellow freshman Bill Walker scored 22 points on 9-18 shooting.

The Cats led almost the entire game and really did a number on the glass. They were able to get key baskets off offensive rebounds all night long. Standing alone at 5-0 in the Big 12 it is a lofty perch for first year head coach, Frank Martin. After last night’s perfomrance I hope he gets the recognition he deserves for molding this team with nine newcomers into a cohesive unit.

For Kansas it is only a bump in the road. However, I am still concerned about the disappearing act that Brandon Rush did. He had opportunities to step up and take over, but never did. For the Jayhawks to win it all Rush will need to put himself front and center just as Beasley has done for Kansas State.

Down in Texas, it seems that Texas A & M has righted the ship as they ripped off their second win in a row with a convincing 80-63 win over Texas. I wonder if Mark Turgeon is getting any credit this morning. As he said in his meltdown news conference last week, “if we win Gillispie will get all the credit.” My response is be thankful for the talent you inherited. You could be like Greg Marshall who inherited your Wichita State team with no players left what so ever.

In Columbia fans are wondering if they will ever escape the off the court problems. Two years ago Missouri had a chance to hire Bob Huggins before he went to Kansas State, but decided the safe choice was Mike Anderson. Now after suspending five players and losing your best player to a bar fight (Stefon Hannah out 4-6 weeks with broken jaw.), I am sure they are second guessing themselves. With the Wildcats headed for the NCAA tournament, Missouri loses at home to last place Nebraska. Could be a long year for the Tigers. The frustrating part is that the majority of players getting in trouble are not leftovers, they are Anderson recruits. Not a good sign of the program moving forward.

Flying under the national radar is Mississippi State. Coach Rick Stansbury has the Bulldogs off to a 5-0 start in the SEC. Last weeks win over #17 ranked Mississippi solidified their arrival onto the scene. Jamont Gordon and Charles Rhodes have led the charge. They have a big game this week at Arkansas.

Over at LSU there is mounting discontent with the Tigers and John Brady. The Tigers are winless in the conference and have slipped mightily since their Final Four run a couple of years ago. This could be a losing season for the Tigers and be the last one for John Brady at the helm.

Florida is maturing rapidly as shown by their twenty point win over #14 Vanderbilt. Billy Donovan has the Gators climbing quickly and could make some noise come tournament time. Vandy on the other hand is quickly becoming this year’s version of Clemson. How do you spell free fall…

Sliding over to the Big 10, kudos to Michigan state who matched their best win total after 20 games (18-2). After beating rival Michigan, who is on track for a losing season, does anybody remember who beat the Spartans in an exhibition game. That’s what I thought…

Duke is back with a vengenance. The Blue Devils escaped with a road win over Maryland. The Terps were coming off a road win over North Carolina lest than ten days ago, but couldn’t manage to hold serve at home. Coach K has the Blue Devils playing faster than ever. Some would say because of his Olympic Association with Suns Coach Mark DAntoni, I say it’s because he has no true post and is playing the best way possible for his personnel. That’s why they are 17-1 and he is in the Hall of Fame..

Matt Painter gets my vote for Coach of the Year. He has led the Purdue Boilermakers to the top of the Big Ten while starting four freshman. The youngest team in Division I pulled off the upset on Saturday of knocking off #11th ranked Wisconsin. I watched them two weeks ago win on the road at Iowa and was very impressed. After watching them on Saturday I am convinced. He has taken this young team and made them tough as nails. His pressure defense is the best in the league. Freshmen Robbie Hummell and Etwaun Moore led the way for the Boilermakers. I wouldn’t want to play them come tourney time….

Another youngster that continues to make waves is Michael Beasley. He put together another double double as he scored 33 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in Kansas State’s route of Iowa State. He has 16 double-doubles and is only six shy of the record set by Carmelo Anthony. Not only is he the best freshman in the country, but his coach, Frank Martin, maybe the best rookie coach in the country. He took over a team with nine newcomers and has got them believing in defense. They are playing with the same type of defensive intensity he learned from his mentor, Bob Huggins. Next up for the Wildcats is Kansas. Better bring your “A” game Jayhawks.