STF Conference Report - Big Ten

Oh the difference a week makes - sort of. The top three teams in the Big Ten (Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan State) are all still atop the conference standings, but they decided to just switch around some spots this week, presumedly for some added excitement. The Boilermakers of Purdue are still hanging around waiting for their chance to strike, while it seems Minnesota has succumbed to playing the mediocre style of basketball that we've all come to enjoy over the years. Nonetheless, the Big Ten remains up for grabs, and not a single team (without maybe, just maybe, the exception of the Badgers) has shown any signs of domination.

And this, my friends, is why they play the game.

Team with the Best Week - Wisconsin. It hasn't been pretty for the Badgers...at all. But they're getting the job done nonetheless. Since its loss to Purdue, Wisconsin has reeled off four straight wins to improve to 19-3 overall and 9-1 in conference play. They have also bumped up to #8 in both national polls and ahead of the Hoosiers and Spartans in the conference standings. Again, it hasn't been pretty for the Badgers - but Bo Ryan's slowed/methodical offense mixed with hard-nosed defense has always been effective, despite looking ugly as hell.

Player of the Week - Joe Krabbenhoft, Wisconsin. I had to give it to this guy, I just had to. Krabbenhoft is just one of those guys that you hate to play (because he works his tail off) and you also hate to have on your team (because he tries WAY too hard in practice and makes you look lazy during games). His numbers aren't pretty (7.7 pts, 6.5 reb and 3.0 ast) but it's the cliche "little things" that he does that are key. He finds a way to snag the loose ball, he tortures the opponent's marquee big man with his flailing-armed defense and he cheers his ass off from the bench. All of this has contributed to the Badgers #8 national ranking and their 1st-place standing in the conference. Yes, I know, I'm taking Steve Lavin crazy pills - but to paraphrase the great news anchor Wes Mantooth: "I hate you Joe Krabbenhoft, but God dammit, I respect you."

Team with the Worst Week - Indiana. At one point the Hoosiers appeared invincible. They cruised through an easy, breezy non-conference schedule and into the early portion of Big Ten play. But recently, the Hoosiers have hit a skid. Yeah they picked up a win against Northwestern (who easily could have garnered this award), but the Hoosiers' loss to Wisconsin was simply demoralizing. The Kohl Center is an extremely difficult place to play in, but this was a game that IU needed to win to re-establish themselves atop the Big Ten. Now, it's still anybody's game, but it appears the Badgers are out in front. Honorable mention also goes to Michigan State for losing to Penn State.

Bruce Weber Moment of the Week - ESPN, 8:00 CT, tonight. Eric Gordon vs. The Orange Krush. Kelvin Sampson vs. Bruce Weber. Oh boy, will Bruce get upset.

Games to Watch - 2/7 Indiana @ Illinois (What will likely be Gordon's only appearance ever in Champaign should be an interesting one)

2/9 Purdue @ Wisconsin

2/12 Michigan State @ Purdue

2/13 Wisconsin @ Indiana