October 29, 2007 at 9:29 PM
Big Ten Basketball Media Day was held Sunday in Chicago, and Penn State was picked to finish seventh in the conference by the media. Here's the complete poll:
1. Michigan State
2. Indiana
3. Ohio State
4. Wisconsin
5. Purdue
6. Illinois
7. Penn State
8. Michigan
9. Minnesota
10. Iowa
11. Northwestern
I didn't get to vote in this poll, but I would have put Penn State in the same spot. I think they can definitely finish seventh, but any higher will require upsets and won't permit slip-ups against lesser teams, two things that are never guarantees with Penn State basketball.
The coaches only voted on the top three teams in the conference, and their top three was identical to the media's. They did, however, name the pre-season all-conference team.
Geary Claxton was named to the pre-season All-Big Ten team, along with Michigan State G Drew Neitzel, Ohio State G Jamar Butler, Indiana F D.J. White and Illinois C Shaun Pruitt. Neitzel was named player of the year.
You may have thought you'd seen the last of former Purdue coach Gene Keady's comb over when he retired in 2005, but the coach is back. The Big Ten Network announced its studio broadcast team for the upcoming season, and it includes Keady, former Ohio State player Jimmy Jackson, former Northwestern player Tim Doyle and studio host Dave Revsine.
-Steve Comments
October 26, 2007 at 5:18 AM
Welcome to the CoQuestioner!
This blog will be devoted to Penn State Lady Lions Basketball.
Us three writers who so faithfully cover the Coquestadors will be blogging from Lady Lions home games. We also will be bringing news from Coquese's press conferences and other interesting tidbits regarding the Lady Lions.
Brian Eller, Andrew Wible and myself, Tom Copain, will be the writing triumvirate this season covering the Lady Lions, as well as bringing the inaugural CoQuestioner to life when it so desires.
Now that the formal introductions are complete ... one quick item to officially kick off the blog.
Washington announced Thursday that freshman walk-on Nicole Arcidiacono was officially added to the 07-08 roster. Arcidiacono was on the Penn State club basketball team last season and was a tri-captain her senior season at Archbishop Wood High School in Philadelphia.
This was pretty much expected since Washington had a small roster to begin with, and she said she only had about eight healthy players entering the season on top of that.
What should be interesting is that she might get some playing time early in the season � especially with some of the injuries the team has right now. Comments
October 25, 2007 at 5:57 PM
Find CoQuestioner, the women's basketball blog, at www.collegian.psu.edu/blogs/coquestioner
While most of Nittany Lion Nation is focused on football this weekend, the wonderful winter diversion that is Penn State basketball is starting up for another go-round.
So as the Nittany Lion hoopsters have begun practice, we too are launching a blog devoted to the Penn State basketball program.
We intend to make this blog similar to the Footblog that covers the football team. We plan to use it to cover anything we can't get to in our newspaper coverage, as well as provide live updates from games. We would also like it to be a place for the readers to provide feedback as well.
We assume most of you are aware of Penn State's football game with Ohio State this Saturday. Many of you probably don't know that the basketball team will be making its first public appearance of the season, as they will hold a 40 minute intrasquad Blue-White scrimmage at 4 PM Saturday afternoon before the game.
The idea is to generate fan interest by making it convenient for the tailgating masses to poke their heads inside the Bryce Jordan Center for an hour or two and get a look at this year's basketball team.
The scrimmage is not without some intrigue, as it will be fans' first chances to see highly touted freshmen Talor Battle and Jeff Brooks, as well as redshirt-freshmen Andrew Jones and David Jackson and junior college transfers Stanley Pringle and Schyler King.
The real question will be if people will be willing to give up their tailgating to come watch the scrimmage.
We're betting that people won't be.
If you don't want to miss out on the tailgating and you still want to get a look at the team, they will be holding an open practice on Wednesday Nov. 1 that will feature a 3-point and slam dunk contest. However, this event is only open to students and season ticket holders. Comments
October 18, 2007 at 1:34 AM
I'm too tired for an opening rant, so let just get started.
1. Ohio State (7-0)
The Buckeyes keep on winning and winning. But their first test will be their trip to Happy Valley. As T.O. would say, "Getcha popcorn ready."
2. South Florida (6-0)
The Bulls are this year's Cinderella team. But the clock may strike midnight when the travel to play last year's Cinderella, Rutgers.
3. Boston College (7-0)
This week's bye means the Eagles can only move up, but most likely won't. A season definer in Blacksburg, Va., next Thursday against Virginia Tech.
4. Oklahoma (6-1)
The Sooners showed up in a big game against Missouri, and are a good bet to play in the BCS Championship game. Boomer Sooner, OK-U.
5. LSU (6-1)
The Bayou Bengals lost a good game to a good team last week, so we won't kill them in the rankings. But LSU better run the table, if they want a BCS bowl invite.
6. Kentucky (6-1)
Sooner or later this team will get the respect it deserves. Why not start here? Andre' Woodson is a possible No. 1 overall pick. 'Cats better hope they win the SEC title game or the voters will show them no love.
7. Oregon (5-1)
The Ducks just hang around the top 10. They're like the TV show Law & Order -- nobody realizes they're still here, until they show up next week.
8. South Carolina (6-1)
The Gamecocks won't last long because the SEC is too tough, but credit the Ol' Ball Coach for getting the team back to relevance.
9. West Virginia (5-1)
Despite the loss, the Mountaineers are still the most dangerous team in the Big East. If any team should slip, WVU will gladly snag the BCS bowl bid.
10 tie. Kansas (6-0), Arizona State (7-0)
If you are undefeated halfway through the season and you play in a power conference you deserve to be on this list. The Jayhawks WILL win the Big 12 North. Write that down. The Sun Devils and the Pac 10, not so much.
-- By Mark Myers and Joe Dolan Comments
October 10, 2007 at 8:07 PM
Huh... er... what? What's that?
I have to do a top-10 blog you say? Bollocks!
I'm too busy listening to Radiohead's new album! Do I haaaaaaaave to?
Oh, all right. But I'm going to have Radiohead help me!
1. LSU (6-0) (2 votes)
"Life in a Glasshouse"
We'll give it up for LSU. The Tigers are now, with USC's loss, easily the class of the nation. But playing in the SEC... well, that's like playing catch in a glass house. Something's bound to break -- or come close to it -- eventually. Starting this week, LSU has a brutal three-game stretch. At Kentucky, vs. Auburn, and at Alabama. Better reinforce those windows.
2. California (5-0)
"Paranoid Android"
After years of waiting and disappointing, Cal is finally atop the Pac-10, looking down at USC. But the Golden Bears haven't yet played the Trojans. Nor have they played Arizona State. Or Washington. They've gotta be nervous, despite their comfy position.
Oh, and Nate Longshore: 104-163, 1137 yds., 7 TD, 2 INT
Efficient, if nothing else.
3. Ohio State (6-0)
"You and Whose Army?"
We've been saying it week after week, we really don't think the Buckeyes are that great. But they keep winning, and it doesn't look like any Big Ten team is prepared to take them down. They have a tough contest at Penn State coming up, but Penn State can't score and Ohio State doesn't give up points.
So who, really, is going to beat them?
4. Boston College (6-0)
"How to Disappear Completely"
Does ANY undefeated team get less hype than this one? Does anyone actually know the Eagles are undefeated? And Matt Ryan, gaining some hype as a Heisman frontrunner, still isn't a household name. Tragic, I say.
5. Oregon (4-1)
"In Limbo"
We really love the Ducks, a lot more than the polls do, apparently (No. 9 AP, No. 8 Coaches). They can score with the best of them, and they hung tough with Cal. But it's going to take a couple more quality wins/upsets for Oregon to leap into BCS contention.
6. Oklahoma (5-1)
"Bulletproof... I Wish I Was"
OK, OK. Oklahoma actually lost two weeks ago to unranked Colorado. But it's a bigger problem now, since the Sooners once again managed to top Texas in the Red River Shootout. It always seems as Oklahoma doesn't take one opponent too seriously every season, and it comes back to kill it. It was Oklahoma State a couple years ago, and Colorado this year.
Other than that tragic beatdown, the Sooners have looked like legitimate title contenders -- almost invincible.
They wish.
7. South Florida (5-0)
"Electioneering"
USF is totally legit, but it struggled with Florida Atlantic last week. And though it's the clear-cut favorite in the Big East, it's going to have to do some major electioneering to garner enough votes to move into the top three and a possible National Championship Game berth. Some impressive wins against Louisville and Rutgers could help, but the teams in front of the Bulls will need to drop off drastically.
8. South Carolina (5-1)
"Lucky"
OK, grasping for straws here. The Gamecocks sure are lucky that Steve Spurrier picked them instead of going back to Florida.
Amirite?
As an upset pick, they'll need to be lucky to beat Butch Davis and UNC this week.
Amirite again?
9. West Virginia (5-1)
"Let Down"
One loss in the Big East, and you're done. West Virginia has seen that happen the last couple years, and it happened again now. Major letdown. The Mountaineers would be very fortunate to sneak into the BCS this season.
10. Missouri (5-0)
"Climbing Up the Walls"
Another reach here, but it's kinda true. Missouri has been rising slowly each week, and this week it has a chance to climb ever more, as it takes on Oklahoma in one of this week's major games to watch.
Until next week, enjoy In Rainbows!
-- Joseph Dolan and Mark Myers Comments
October 4, 2007 at 12:59 AM
Absolute major shakeups this week at the top of the polls. And so ours, especially, is shaken up (after last week's has mysteriously disappeared from all public record).
And since upset weeks when 5 top-10 teams lose are so popular with college football fans (pause for terribly awkward transition), we've decided to present each of this week's MAKE PLAYS' top-10 teams with a popular song!
1. LSU (5-0) (2 votes)
"You're the Best" - from Karate Kid
One of the greatest montages to describe college football's elite. But frankly, the Tigers look absolutely unbeatable right now, and with Florida falling to struggling Auburn at home, it's going to be tough to find any team that knock them from their perch.
2. USC (4-0)
"You Get What You Give" - New Radicals
USC gave our voters a long, hard look at what it can do against a decent opponent, and its 27-24 squeak-by victory against Washington was relatively unimpressive, and certainly not enough to keep them above LSU in the polls.
3. California (5-0)
"Respect" - Aretha Franklin
ATTN: Everyone looking at USC
WE'RE HERE TOO! AND WE'RE PRETTY GOOD. SO PAY ATTENTION TO US.
K LOL THXBAI.
LOVE,
CAL GOLDEN BEARS
It seems that the Bears may not get the respect they deserve until they match up with the Trojans in Berkeley on Nov.10. We're already pumped.
And Nate Longshore is still pwning. Like we said he would.
4. Ohio State (4-0)
"The Best of What's Around" - Dave Matthews Band
The Buckeyes have been less than impressive, but they are certainly the top club in the beyond laughable Big Ten. We suppose their massive victory against Northwestern is a quality win, as the Wildcats gave Michigan absolute fits this past Saturday.
5. South Florida (5-0)
"Hey Jealousy" - Gin Blossoms
Lookie here, lookie here. Only one program from the state of Florida is in the MAKE PLAYS top 10. It ain't the Gators. It ain't the 'Noles. It ain't even the 'Canes. Nope, it's Jim Leavitt's baby Bulls, who continue to make absolutely monstrous strides even in their youth as a football program. Last week's convincing upset of West Virginia has solidified USF as a legitimate BCS contender -- if not favorite.
All of a sudden, one of those classic powerhouses doesn't look like such a great stop for recruits. Jealous, much?
6. Boston College (5-0)
"Who Are You?" - The Who
Five weeks in, and does anybody YET know who these guys are? Matt Ryan, a legit pro prospect at quarterback, might not even get recognized on his own campus. But no matter, this team is nasty good.
7. Oregon (4-1)
"Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" - U2
The Ducks are good. Really good, actually. They proved it when they absolutely steamrolled Michigan, which doesn't look that bad these days. But they are stuck in neutral behind USC and Cal, and probably won't be moving past them this season.
Oregon kept it close with Cal, however, so it may be able to make some BCS noise if it can pull off some upsets.
8. Oklahoma (4-1)
"The Sound of Failure" - The Flaming Lips
We were really beginning to look at the Sooners as a legitimate threat to unseat LSU or USC this season atop the polls. They looked downright dominant. Then old rival Colorado -- which has fallen on harder times -- came along.
Well, Oklahoma failed to live up to its hype.
9. Wisconsin (5-0)
"Hangin' Tough" - NKOTB
You can't argue with results. Though unimpressively, the Badgers have managed to stay undefeated. But we suspect, that like the song that represents them, they really aren't as tough as they try to be. Look for them to be upset in the upcoming weeks.
10. Kentucky (5-0)
" Be Prepared" - Jeremy Irons
We'll start and end with movie favorites. It's Andre Woodson's coming out party, and you're invited. The Heisman candidate might have jumped Brian Brohm as the potential No. 1 draft pick in June. Be prepared for the Wildcats to make some serious noise in the despicably good SEC.
Until next week, hopefully this post doesn't get misplaced.
- Joseph Dolan and Mark Myers Comments