Separaton Days: Part 1, Big East

On The Plate ... 2/15/06

Separation Days: Part 2 of 5

BIG TEN

"It's about as good as it gets right now in Iowa City." Absolutely GD right, MC Jesus. I know I've said it before but I'm gonna say it again…Carver Hawkeye Arena is one of the classiest joints around. From the parkay floor to the press box stadium seating to the money Hawk head at centercourt, the joint is simply money. And, of course, like the MC Jesus does so often, he brings the noise by saying "these folks are hungry for a Big Ten title" and starts showing clips of Lute Olson and Dr. Tom Davis working the sidelines old school style. Had Roy Marble highlights started rolling I may have wept. MC Jesus, Carver Hawkeye and some reminiscing circa 1988…it'll get ya.

Did you know that this is the first year since 1980 that Iowa has held solo position of first place in the Big Ten? Yea, pretty wild, huh? Roy Marble and BJ Armstrong were never in first place. That amazes me. Whatever. It's of zero consequence today because heading into Tuesday night's showdown with Michigan State Steve Alford's lads were in first place in the Big Ten at 8-3. I can't say I envisioned that when conference play kicked off in January. Actually, I can't say I envisioned that after Iowa got swept by Northern Iowa and Iowa State. But the kids - especially Brunner, Haluska and Horner - have been superb, and beyond superb at home where the Hawks are 14-0 thus far this season.

Anyway, regarding the Dance, the Big Ten is not that hard to figure out…if the top seven teams finish relatively well, they will all be dancing. In my opinion, the top 5 teams are already locks: Iowa, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan State. Who's got to hustle? Michigan and Indiana. Man, remember when this would have been a funny joke? What started off so well in 2005 in Bloomington and Ann Arbor has suddenly turned into another mediocre state of affairs.

Michigan. The Wolverines are 16-6 overall and 6-5 in the Big Ten, but have lost three games in a row. Just two weeks ago Tommy Amaker's gents were the talk of the town after winning back to back games at home over Michigan State and Wisconsin. But losses at Iowa, to Ohio State in Ann Arbor and at Purdue have the Wolverines limping to the finish line. And guess what Wolverine fans? The schedule doesn't get any easier. Starting Wednesday night, Big Blue's final five games look like: Minnesota, at Michigan State, Illinois, at Ohio State, Indiana. If 8-8 is good enough to allow the Wolves to Dance (and I believe it will be, especially because their RPI is #30) the solution for Michigan is simple: win 2 of your final three games at home because winning on the road ain't gonna happen in East Lansing or in Columbus. OK, 2 wins at home, right? Easier said than done when one of those W's will have to come against Illinois or Indiana, who is in the same must-win situation. If the Wolverines do not get to 8-8, they will not dance. Why? Because a 7-9 final conference record means Michigan would have closed the season with a 1-7 record after starting off conference play 6-2. Do you think Tommy Amaker's seat is hot again? Me too.

Indiana. Speaking of hot seats, what the F is Indiana waiting for with Mike Davis? After all of his recent commentary the University should have given him a leave of absence for the remainder of the season. He's f'ing insane. His kids are struggling and he's talking about his own situation with the University? That's all you need to know about how he's wired. Not only is the dude a bad coach, but he's a bad dude. Bad dude or not on the sideline, the Hoosiers need to get their rally caps on, and on right quick. The good news for IU? In their last six games, they get Penn State twice and Purdue once. Bad news? Four of their last six are on the road. Don't think the road is tough? Ask Iowa how their trip to Northwestern was. Or ask Michigan how their trip to Purdue was. Yea. So here's the deal…at 13-8 overall and 5-5 in the Big Ten, the Hoosiers need to get to 16-11, 8-8. How? It starts on Wednesday in Happy Valley. Lose there and kiss the Dance goodbye. Why? Because their following game is in Champagne against the Illini. Then they get Penn State and Michigan State in Bloomington before heading back on the road to new silent killer Purdue and to Ann Arbor in what could very well be a DBD - dance bid decider. The Hoosiers have lost 5 of 6. Wednesday night is the key to getting off the schnide. Is that how you spell "schnide"? Don't know, don't care, neither should Hoosier fans. Just get off of it, and they'll be fine. Well that, and keeping that jackass of a coach's mouth quiet.

Another SOB who I wish would be quiet is Bobby f'ing Knight…how stupid is Knight School going to be? How embarrassed would I be if I were a Texas Tech player? Why the F would I come to Texas Tech if I saw that crazed SOB Knight acting like a goof on national TV every week? Knight's a joke.

Biggin' Big Dime games this week…Wednesday: Ohio State at Wisconsin, Indiana at Penn State; Saturday: Michigan at Michigan State; Sunday: Indiana at Illinois.

Tuesday Night Lights…

Can you hear that? Yea, me too. That was the bubble bursting at Maryland. Un-f'ing-believable how the Terps have absolutely disappointed this season. With or without McCray, they've been awful. And losing a fourth straight game to Clemson is proof that the "Gilchrist headache" that every Terp fan wanted to pin on last year's woes may not in fact be a correct diagnosis. How bout this diagnosis? The Terps flat out suck, Gary hasn't gotten the players that he used to and the team is undisciplined and poorly coached. Does that one fit the bill? More on the ACC Bubble picture coming up in the next column.

Can you hear that? Yea, me too. That was the bubble inflating at Seton Hall and South Carolina. The Hall got their second marquee W of the year by beating the Mountaineers in East Rutherford in front of a half-full crowd of mutants. How xrappy would it be to play in the Meadowlands? Try awfully xrappy. No wonder WVU lost…they just wanted to get the F out of there. As for the Gamecocks, they now have swept Florida, have a W over 'Bama and have won three in a row. At 14-10, 5-6 in the SEC, it isn't out of the question for the CockaBoose to continue rolling into March. More on the SEC bubble picture coming in up in the next next column.

Quick congrats to Steve Alford and Iowa for reverse-punking the Spartans, moving their home record to 15-0 and taking a two-game lead in the Big Ten.

Up next…Tobacco Road chatter.