Notes on the Big Ten Shootaround Preview at ESPN

ESPN went over the preseason storylines for the Big Ten Conference earlier this month. Here are some of the “Cliff Notes” to ESPN’s awesome coverage of the conference preview. Andy Katz, Reggie Rankin and Doug Gottlieb always do a great job investigating, so if you get a chance, check out the preview right here at ESPN’s archive.

  • Another Final Four At Home - Last season the Final Four was in Detroit, and although the MSU Spartans couldn’t take advantage of their huge home town crowd, the Big Ten, if they send another team to the Final Four, will get to enjoy games played in Indianapolis. Michigan State and Purdue are licking their chops, as they look like the class of the Big Ten this season.
  • Michigan Moving Up the Ranks? - The Wolverines will enjoy some early-season hype this year, as they return just about all of their major contributors from last year. Michigan went 21-14 overall and 9-9 last year, earning a trip to the NCAA Tourney with some nice late-season play. Everyone’s anxious to see this program return to prominence.
  • Penn State Looking for Revenge - The Nittany Lions didn’t make the NCAA’s last season, much to the chagrin of their fans, who assumed a 10-8 conference record and 27-11 overall record would get them more than a birth in the NIT. This year they return their energetic PG Taylor Battle, but they’ve lost some bigger players. Will Penn State get its vengeance?

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Posted in General on September 30, 2009

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