Buckeye Blogger NetworkThe Big Ten tournament is in the books and our beloved Buckeyes have won it all. On a roll to close the regular season the Bucks swept into Chicago and took care of Nebraska, Michigan State and Wisconsin to claim the crown. We’ll discuss all things hoops, it’s Wednesday, let’s rumble!
Big Ten tournament CHAMPIONS
B1G Tournament
Another Big Ten tournament has come and gone. Many expected the 2013 version to be a knock down, drag out brawl. Did it live up to the hype and expectations?
As you do the research necessary to win this year’s BBN Bracket Challenge, we here at tBBC are previewing each region to give you just a bit of info on teams not named “Ohio State”. Here’s a gander at Bob Seger’s favorite part of the bracket.
Favorites: You can’t spell “Midwest” without “Meh”- While North Carolina is the top seed, you’ll have to drill all the way down to the #7 slot before you find a team that won it’s conference tournament, and that was an OT victory for St. Mary’s in the WCC final. Sure, Carolina won the ACC, but they couldn’t solve FSU more than once this season, and KU ended up behind Mizzou in what’s left of the Big Integer. There’s really no one who stands out, but there’s no one that looks to be mis-placed, either… You’ve got to think that Roy Williams will have his team ready for the long haul and intensity that is March Madness. Based on their mix of experience and youth, I’m going to go with the Tarheels as the obvious favorite in the region.
Amidst the numerous match-ups over the past weekend that saw the more highly ranked team getting toppled as the 2010-11 regular season draws closer to its conclusion, North Carolina was one team that prevented the upset and picked up another conference win as it seeks to gain momentum going into tournament time. The Tarheels won in rather unimpressive fashion, squeaking by the Eagles of Boston College by a score of 48-46 in the traditionally high-scoring ACC, but a win is a win, and for the young Tarheels team it likely served as one more confidence booster that will help the team in its ongoing development.
The comments about Boston College for this column will be fairly limited for two reasons: 1) The purpose of these articles is to provide impressions about teams that could potentially challenge Ohio State if the stars align in the NCAA Tournament, and at this point it seems fairly clear that BC is not a tournament team, unless they go on a magical run through the ACC Tournament. Therefore, there is essentially no chance that the Buckeyes will be meeting the Eagles in 2011. 2) The impressions from the game were taken between glasses of beer at the pub, and BC isn’t the kind of team that really draws your attention away from contemplation of an excellent Belhaven Scottish Stout.
The Eagles are a decent club, currently carrying a 16-10 record after Saturday’s loss to UNC. They’re a mid-packer in the ACC, and are considered by some to still be on the bubble for a tournament berth. After transitioning from long-time coach Al Skinner to Cornell transfer Steve Donahue, BC is back into building mode, and all things considered the winning record represents a good season for the team. Boston College is a team that is respectable in a lot of ways, but they don’t have any signature characteristic. Their defense is rather porous, and despite playing hard the team doesn’t have the personnel currently to overcome more talented squads, even when the opponent is having an off-night, as seen against UNC. The Eagles didn’t overcome North Carolina, and it was the lowest point total the Tarheels have ever recorded under Roy Williams. Read More
