What price should one be willing to pay in order to help build a program by getting it national exposure?

That was the question that faced Michigan State coach Joanne McCallie when she was working on the Spartans' schedule for this year. The Spartans had an opportunity to put themselves in the public eye this season by playing Georgia Jan. 5, on CBS.

The problem was that in order to get the game, Michigan State had to rearrange its schedule by playing the contest in the middle of the Big Ten-conference season. Because they did that the Spartans now have to play three games in five days against tough conference opponents.

"We paid a tremendous price for signing on Georgia," McCallie said. "It's kind of an irony because we gained a tremendous amount by our victory over Georgia but we also lost some things to in regards to playing a really tight schedule at certain points in the season. It's just one of the prices you pay to try to build a program."

The results seem to have been worth the price. The Spartans were able to upset a Georgia team that is currently No. 18 in the country and has consistently been one of the best in the nation.

The win has brought much national attention to the Spartans and McCallie said that should help recruiting.

Now the Spartans must face the consequences that come with scheduling that game. They will have to face the two best teams in the conference when they travel to Wisconsin tomorrow and then host Purdue on Friday.

They will then finish the weekend by playing Indiana at Bloomington on Sunday.

Although it will be a tough week, McCallie said that shaking up the schedule was worth it.

"We would do it again in a heartbeat," McCallie said.

Back on top

It may have taken them a while to get there, but the Purdue Boilermakers are once again the premier team in the Big Ten.

Last season's conference champions have established themselves as the most consistent squad this year. At 16-3 overall and 7-2 in the Big Ten, Purdue has reached No. 7 in this week's Associated Press Poll.

Purdue's rise to the top has been helped by the decline of Wisconsin. The Badgers have lost three games in a row after going undefeated in their first seven conference games.

The Boilermakers have been led in part by senior guard Kelly Komara. Coach Kristy Curry said that Komara's influence on the team comes from the way she conducts herself on and off the court.

"She does so much in our community, just getting out and giving back," Curry said. "She is just outstanding in every regard. I think she optimizes how everyone should be like and live like at this level."

Center stage

Indiana center Jill Chapman was selected as the Big Ten Player of the Week after turning in dominating performances in each of her last two games.

The conference's leading rebounder was instrumental in handing then Big Ten-leader Wisconsin its second straight loss.

She scored 30 points and had 11 rebounds against the Badgers. Chapman also had 26 points and eight rebounds in a loss to Minnesota.

Indiana assistant coach Tricia Betthauser said that Chapman was just doing what she had to do to help her team.

"I think Jill felt it was her responsibility to pull this team together, along with our other captain Heather Cassady," Betthauser said.

"Part of pulling a team together is taking them on your shoulders and saying you are going to do anything you can."