The non-conference season for the Big Ten has to be considered a success at this point. The combined record of all the teams is 106-25 as of December 30, 2008, with Indiana (5-7) being the only team below a .750 winning percentage. Because of the hot start, I decided to hand out some awards before the Big Ten gets basketballs deep into conference play.
Best Team
Purdue gets the slight nod over Illinois, Ohio State and Michigan State despite losing to Oklahoma and getting crushed by Duke at home. A lot of times, teams that have a dominant player are able to win tough games because they have someone to rely on in crunch time. Even though Davidson was a decent team last year, they only made it to the Elite 8 because their best player, Stephen Curry, caught fire and was able to carry them. Robbie Hummel is good enough to do that, which makes Purdue more dangerous than the other Big Ten teams.
Worst Team
This season was over before it started for Indiana. The effects of the Kelvin Sampson era to Indiana basketball is similar to what a Navajo teepee goes through when simultaneously getting hit by a hurricane, earthquake, napalm and a forest fire. Nothing can really be expected of a team who’s highest scoring returning player, Kyle Taber, averaged 1.3 ppg last year, but this team would struggle in the Ivy League.
The “Archbishop Don Magic Juan Award” for the Big Ten’s biggest baller
Also the winner of the “Devin Harris Award” for the player who out of nowhere has morphed into an absolute beast on the court goes to Manny Harris of Michigan. He’s currently second in the league in scoring, sixth in rebounding and fifth in assists. He’s also had a 30 point game (second highest in league), a 15 rebound game (second highest) and a 13 assist game (highest in the league). This guy is playing his ace off. He’s spent the first 11 games of this season doing his best Oscar Robertson impression.
The “Old Spice Bodywash/ Ford F-150/ Miller High-Life Manly Man Award” for the team with the toughest schedule
Michigan has played No. 4 UCLA, No. 5 Duke twice and Maryland on the road. When you play three of your first eight games against top five teams and win two of them, that is what is called "Manning Up."
The “Bromance Award” for the team with the softest schedule
Penn State hasn’t played a ranked team and their only BCS conference game was against Georgia Tech by way of the Big Ten-ACC Challenge. Anytime you have NJIT on your schedule, you are as soft as a cotton ball wrapped in wet Kleenex.
The “Paul Shirley Award” for the best blog from a 12th man on a basketball team
Club Trillion is a blog written by Ohio State benchwarmer Mark “The Shark” Titus. Basically, he documents how he and a couple of his buddies on his team (who are also benchwarmers) pull pranks on each other and while remaining nonfactors in the Ohio State basketball program. It’s quite hilarious.
Best Win
December 6, 2008: Michigan 81, 4) Duke 73 – Anytime Duke loses a game, I get a little extra hop in my step that day. Anyhtime Duke loses to an unranked team, as MSNBC’s Chris Matthews says, “I feel a thrill going up my leg.”
Worst Loss
December 28, 2008: Lipscomb 74, Indiana 69 – I know this team is a teepee that has recently undergone mass destruction, but come on. I really wanted to give this award to Michigan State for getting their aces handed to them by UNC, but I mean… Indiana blew a 21-POINT LEAD TO LIPSCOMB AT HOME.
The “FEMA Award” for person most responsible for picking up the pieces of an epic disaster
Indiana coach Tom Crean should be doing anything in his power (within the rules of course) to get the best possible recruits for the next couple of years. He should be visiting high schools more often than Matthew McConaughey does in “Dazed and Confused.”
The “Steve Smith Award” for most common name in the Big Ten
PJ Hill – Ohio State, as opposed to PJ Hill – Wisconsin. Considering my name is ChiChi, I’ve always had a soft spot for interesting names. Here are a couple more deserving award winners in the name department…
The “Reggie Cleveland Award” for the white guy with the best black name
Colton Iverson – Minnesota
The “Troy O’Leary Award” for the black guy with the best white name
Dallas Lauderdale – Ohio State
The “Jrue Holliday Award” for the craziest spelling of a common name
Wquinton Simth – Wisconsin (pronounced QUINT-ton). As of now, Wquinton is the leader in the clubhouse for my future second son’s middle name.
That was fun, now back to the “regular” awards.
The “Grey Beard Award” for the top senior
Craig Moore of Northwestern gets the nod in a pretty weak senior class thus far.
The “Muff Stubble Award” for the top freshman
Tom Pritchard – Indiana
The “Manning-Tyree Helmet Catch Award” for the best play
Durrell Summers’ 3-pointer to beat Texas on December 20, 2008. ONIONS!
The “Kim Kardashian Award” for best recovery from a potentially career-crippling embarrassing moment
Stanley Pringle from Penn State wins in a landslide. Just read this…
The “New York Mets Award” for the team off to a hot start that is most likely to collapse
I wouldn’t be too excited about Minnesota’s 12-0 start just yet. Tubby Smith is a great coach that has his team playing well, but wins over Concorida, High Point, North Dakota State, South Dakota State and my beloved Cornell doesn’t automatically make you a contender. The win against Louisville is very sweet though.
The “Jason Biggs in American Pie Award” for the team that may have peaked too soon
Michigan is the only team in the nation that has beaten two top-5 teams already and somehow they remain unranked. Hopefully for them, that wasn’t the high point of their season. They need to continue the strong play throughout the Big Ten season to get an NCAA tournament bid. Those big out of conference wins would be a huge trump card come Selection Sunday if they’re on the bubble.
The “Tom and Jerry Award” for the most lopsided rivalry
Our final award goes to the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. Since its inception in 1999, the ACC is now 10-0 in the challenge. Even this year, with the Big Ten teams dominating their out of conference schedules, they were only able to win five out of 11 games. This year’s most damaging blow was when each conference’s most storied programs played (UNC v. Mich State) and the Spartans got completely decimated. It’s too bad because I think the Big Ten is as strong as the ACC this year. They can only prove it with a strong in-conference showing and by putting some teams in the Big Dance this year.
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ChiChi Madu
ChiChi was born in New York City and instantly became a fan of the Giants, Knicks and Yankees. More
Comments
Really now, a kim kardarshian award? Thanks for the laugh. I couldn't agree more though with your selection, Stanley Pringle I thought was done after that but turned things around. Well done Stanley!
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