Author: Nils Hoeger-Lerdal

Big Ten Notebook: The Big Ten is Down? Not So Fast . . .

Who says the Big Ten is down? Through the first few weeks, the conference has one loss as a whole, and that loss was to Duke.

I admit, the competition isn’t of the highest level, and most of the games have been on Big Ten courts, but there aren’t the Division II losses or stunner upsets that have shown up this time of the season in years past. Does this mean the Big Ten will be represented heavily in the polls or send seven teams to the dance? Obviously not.

Big Ten Preview

Big Ten Conference 2008-09 Preview by Nils Hoeger-Lerdal The formula of recent years in the Big Ten has been as follows: Step One: Start with two very good, potentially elite teams. Step Two: Add another couple tournament-ready teams to the mix. Step Three: Blend in a few average, borderline tourney-bound […]

Big Ten Notebook

Big Ten Conference Notebook by Nils Hoeger-Lerdal It’s Big Ten Tournament time. Let the games begin. First Round Game 1: No. 8 Iowa (13-18, 6-12) vs. No. 9 Michigan (9-21, 5-13) Season series: Tied 1-1 Analysis: Both teams won on the opposing team’s home court, a rarity in this conference, […]

Big Ten Notebook

Big Ten Conference Notebook by Nils Hoeger-Lerdal At this point in the Big Ten season, only four teams remain in contention for the league title. We expected Indiana and Michigan State to be there, and it’s no surprise to see Wisconsin in the running, but Purdue is a stunner. Let’s […]

Big Ten Notebook

Big Ten Conference Notebook by Nils Hoeger-Lerdal Now the season begins. At the midpoint of the conference season, we can begin to see the eventual shape of the league, which teams have postseason life, and the players to keep an eye on down the stretch. With that, a look at […]

Big Ten Notebook

Big Ten Conference Notebook by Nils Hoeger-Lerdal We’re two weeks into the Big Ten season, and there are some things I can definitively say now, and things I soon expect to say in the future. These I know, beyond a doubt Eric Gordon is the best player in the league. […]

Big Ten Notebook

Big Ten Conference Notebook by Nils Hoeger-Lerdal It’s tough to win on the road in the Big Ten. It was tough, last year. But in the first week of the 2008 conference season, road teams went 5-4, and Penn State nabbed wins at both Illinois and Northwestern. PSU had two […]

Big Ten Notebook

Big Ten Conference Notebook by Nils Hoeger-Lerdal We’re a month into the season, and things are beginning to shape up in the Big Ten. Let’s take a look at the expected, unexpected, and peculiar aspects of each team’s early resume. Indiana Hoosiers (8-1) What we knew: Eric Gordon is the […]

Big Ten Preview

Big Ten Conference 2007-08 Preview by Nils Hoeger-Lerdal Big Ten, we hardly knew ye. Gone are last season’s leading scorer, rebounder, assist man and shot blocker. Gone are Greg Oden’s husky beard, Adam Haluska’s sweaty brow, Alando Tucker’s ugly free throw form and Mike Conley, Jr.’s flawless game management. Gone […]

Big Ten Recap

Big Ten Conference Season Recap by Nils Hoeger-Lerdal Regular Season Recap As expected, the Big Ten was (ugh!) down again this season, housing two of the best teams in the country, a handful of very average squads, and more than its share of forgettable rosters. The result: a conference season […]