Big Ten Buckets

Who else is ready for some college hoops action? Well the exhibition season is starting to tip off, and real buckets are a little over a week away. This will finally be the year that the Big Ten takes down the ACC in their annual challenge. It is like the Big Ten finally grew up enough to beat their older sibling. Numerous conference teams have stacked their preseason schedules with road tilts, tournaments, and home and home series with some major conference foes. The Big Ten has the opportunity to ascend to the top of the college hoops world, and I think they will seize the day.

The top of the conference begins with last year's national runner up, Michigan State. They have as much or more talent along the roster than anyone. Kalin Lucas is the cog in the engine and will take this team far throughout the season. I feel that the loss of Walton and Suton is understated for their leadership, toughness, and defense. Those losses could be filled by guys like Morgan and Roe, but that remains to be seen. The other front runner is Purdue which returns its top 6 scorers from the Sweet 16 team a year ago. This year marks the Boilers' best run at a league title since the late 90s with balance across the roster. Watch for JaJuan Johnson to beat out Evan Turner for conference player of the year.

The next tier is still an outstanding bunch of top 25 squads led by Illinois and their influx of backcourt talent. McCamey and Legion will certainly be pushed by the likes of Paul and Richardson this season. Davis and Tisdale will need to take control in the paint for this to be a special season. The Buckeyes are once again stocked with talent, but we're all watching for the basketball version of Ron Zook to do some coaching of that talent. This squad is overrated in my opinion and it starts with William Buford. Minnesota will come after a lot of teams this year with the constant pressure applied by Tubby. They brought in the two best recruits in the conference to help an already deep lineup from last season. Michigan also will compete for a Sweet 16 berth based on some three point shooters and the best 1-2 punch in the league in Harris and Sims.

Moving on down the line, Wisconsin is a gritty group led by Trevon Hughes. We'll see if Hughes is finally ready to deliver on all his potential. Northwestern will put on a full season of basketball in the north suburbs and look to gain their first ever entry into the big dance. Coble and Thompson lead a veteran squad, but the Naperville kid must replace the shooting from Moore. Penn State also falls in this next block, but Talor Battle just doesn't have enough help to make a serious run.

Indiana falls in their own tier as the Hoosiers have a whole new roster again with Rivers transferred in from Georgetown and a bounty of new recruits. These 3 and 4 star players will be the body of Tom Crean's work for the next three years. There will certainly be enough firepower to compete in conference play this year, but the wins are likely few and far between given the only relevant returnee is Verdell Jones.

Iowa rounds out the conference and I won't waste another second talking about a team that will not win a conference game.

Dear Mr. Fantasy

The fantasy football season is in full swing, and this week you need to start deciding if you're in buy or sell mode in your keeper leagues. It is time to start adding Cards, Saints, and Pats for the playoff run. The key is setting up your defenses for the next few weeks and the playoffs. Good defenses are not better than good matchups this year given the weakness of some teams. Some new guys I like now are Malcolm Floyd and Kevin Walter. These two should fill the voids left by Chambers and Daniels. Shonn Greene is not a decent play unless the matchup is spectacular. He's barely a breather for T. Jones, who should be a primetimer the rest of the way. I'd sell my way out of New York if I could in all leagues. They're both headed south. Matt Leinart is a guy to keep an eye on given the condition of the Cards O-line and the favorable matchups down the road. At some point, you've got to be able to get the ball downfield to Fitz. Speaking of downfield, I don't know how much impact Megatron makes the rest of the way. Detroit seems content with their single victory. No more Browns, Redskins, or Bucs on fantasy teams. Josh Freeman takes over in St. Pete this weekend, and it should be a disaster of epic proportions. Not just because of the old creamsicle jerseys either. He's the bastard child of JaMarcus Russell and Sherri Shepard. Hell he went to K-State. How'd that work out for Raheem Morris and Michael Bishop? Poorly, that's how, poorly.