Illini are 12-1 (Big Ten Breakdown)

So Illinois finished their non-conference schedule 12-1. If you recall I thought that the Illini would maybe lose to Mizzou and finish 11-2. Before we look forward to the Big Ten season lets look back at the first 13 games.

First it should be noted that Illinois did not have one the hardest non-conference schedules out there, but who gives a shit. I would rather be 12-1 going into a tough Big Ten conference than 8-5, which is what we were in last year's nightmare.

Here is a crazy stat: From 2001-02 season to the 2006-07 season Illinois only lost 8 non-conference games. These are not counting the NCAA tourney. 2005 and 2006 we went undefeated in the non-conference.

Mike Davis has to not only be the surprise of the non-conference, but should probably be the co-MVP along with Chester Frazier. Alex Legion needs quite a few more games before he will look comfortable on the floor. Mike Tisdale is a small forward trapped in Manute Bol's body. Rich Semrau and Calvin Brock won't get enough credit for how hard they play and the difference they make on the floor. Demitri McCamey can take off cupcake games as long as he keeps playing like an All-American during big games. I would still like to see Trent Meacham hit a big shot when the game is close or on the line, I know he scored a ton in the Mizzou game, but that game was never close. I don't think that Dominique Keller will have a shot blocked during Big Ten play, because that guy can shoot from any angle imaginable. If Chester Frazier was a liability on offense, does that make Jeff Jordan a lost cause?

With how good the Big Ten has looked in the non-conference, along with other major conferences like the Pac-10 and Big 12 being a little down this year, I think that their will be 6 bids from the Big Ten, I'm just not sure who gets those bids. 2 are set for sure and the other 4 will be between Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Penn State and Ohio State. Here is my breakdown of the other Big Ten Teams.

-Michigan State and Purdue are locks

-Ohio State looked to also be a lock, but now they have lost Lighty for up to 3 months and Anthony Crater is leaving. With these two loses, it puts a lot of pressure on a young Ohio State team. To be honest, this team reminds me a lot of last years team, especially now that they only have one point guard and Lighty is gone. Lauderdale and Mullens are combining to produce as much as Kosta Koufas did last year. Evan Turner has basically taken over Jamar Butler's scoring, and Diebler is about the same as he was last year. I'm not gonna bet on a team that is playing with 3 sophomores, 2 freshman and a juco point guard.

- Minnesota is the other ranked team in the Big Ten. If it weren't for the win against Louisville, then the Fighting Tubby's might have had the easiest non-conference schedule ever. Since they do have that win, Minnesota has to be reckoned with as a team that does have talent. They start with Michigan State and Ohio State at home. Win both of those, and they are legit, lose them both, and they are who we thought they were, win one lose one, and then we still have no idea how good this team is.

-Every year I want to think that Wisconsin is going to be terrible. Every year they have some tall white guy who annoys the shit out of me, whether it be because he has the dumbest nickname ever (One of them was referred to as "The Polar Bear" last year) or the fact that every game they have to show the tall, goofy looking white guy's even more goofy girlfriend in the band. Seriously, how annoying was that shit when Mike Wilkenson's girlfriend would turn around when he was shooting free throws? Its a goddamn free-throw, not open heart surgery. I hate people who are indirect attention seekers. Wilkenson is the one who should have the attention, yet his idiot girlfriend steals it by doing something completely irrational!! Is she going to pass out if she actually witnesses him miss a free-throw? Does she turn away from the TV when he is shooting free-throws during away games? People like this should be mocked constantly for their lack of intelligence and self-esteem until they really do become clinically insane.
Back to this years team. Every year, Bo Ryan manages keep the Badgers in contention for a Big Ten Title and an NCAA bid. I am hoping that this is the year that Wisconsin shits the bed like they are supposed to. Beating Iona and Idaho State by 2 does not instill a lot of confidence, and Virginia Tech is not a quality win anymore since they lost to Georgia.

- Manny Harris is the best player in the Big Ten. If you think it is Robbie Hummel, then you are an idiot. Manny Harris scores more, has about the same rebounds and has more assists. Michigan has the marquee wins over Duke and UCLA, and have only lost to Duke and Maryland. I think that as far as top 3 players go, they have just as much talent as Purdue or Michigan State. Whether they can contend for the Big Ten depends on if all of them can play consistently every game, and if they can get any help from someone else on the team. I think Michigan will be in the top 5 of the Big Ten, maybe even top 3 and be ranked at the end of the season.

-Penn State does not have any great wins, but they do have a questionable lose to Rhode Island, and "are you fucking kidding me" lose to Temple. Although they are 11-2, they haven't played anyone that would even sniff the Top 25. Look for them to be just like they were last year, and by that I mean they will have some great wins like Michigan State and Indiana last year, but it's Penn State, so they will lose plenty. Unfortunately, PSU loves to play Illinois tough, 4 of the last 6 games against Penn State have been decided by 2 points or less. All 6 have been by 6 points or less.

- I am gonna lump Indiana, Iowa and Northwestern in together, because they are all gonna suck. Iowa and Northwestern won't suck as much as Indiana, but they will do their fair share of playing like shit. Northwestern also hasn't beaten anyone close to the Top 25, and their offense is attempting to set back basketball almost 40 years. I'm talking pre-Pistol Pete basketball. Leave it to a bunch of nerds to create the most boring offense ever (Princeton), and then leave it to another bunch of nerds to also use it. I bet that the creation of the Princeton offense is actually a deleted scene from Revenge of the Nerds. Can't you imagine Takashi drawing up the offense during a timeout of an intramural game between the Tri-Lams and Alpha Beta, and Lamar is setting fruity back picks and prancing around 35 feet away from the hoop as booger is running back door?
Iowa suspended their leading scorer indefinitely, which leaves them with just about nothing, but who really cares about Iowa. Cyrus Tate is Iowa's Brian Randle, except he doesn't foul as much or get hurt as often, he is just a tall, athletic disappointment. Tony Freeman, who led Iowa in scoring last year bolted to Southern Illinois so fast, he may have left behind his pencil thin molester stache.
I am praying that Indiana does not win a Big Ten game. With back to back loses to Northeastern and Lipscomb at home, I think that this dream is a total possibility. Next time you are at a bar, ask your friends where Lipscomb is located, guaranteed no one will know, and most likely they will say on the Internet because they will think it is a porn site. You have a better chance of finding a white cab driver in Chicago than you do finding a Lipscomb alum.

Later I will have a breakdown of Illinois' remaining games and my predictions for the Big Ten.