I for one think the Big Ten can still win the challenge. Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Minnesota, Northwestern, and Purdue are the best chances to win, in my opinion.

And this news flash: M, MN, and IL all dropped out of the top 25 rankings.
Kindof a relief for us, IMO.

With Ill as potential ncaa bid competition that game at utah becomes pretty critical

Check it out. AA.com now linking to Dylan’s site

http://www.annarbor.com/sports/not-quite-a-worst-case-scenario-for-michigan-basketball-but-close-to-it/

Who is letting all these people in here??

Nice article on Bartelstien. I’ll be rooting for him.

NOW LET’S WIN SOME GAMES!

Speaking of links… Dylan you should have these outside links open new windows, so we stay on UMHoops.com.

I’m not feeling too confident about the Big Ten ACC Challenge again this year after this weekend. I think we’ll take BC down though. A couple days should be enough time for Beilein to make some changes and coach ‘em up.

I 2nd links opening new tabs. Go PSU.

Penn State is straight killing it. With 7 and a half mins left in the game, they’re up 49-41 after trailing 27-21 at halftime.

Talor Battle busted this game open in the 2nd half. PSU about to notch the first win for the Big Ten in the challenge.

Tried to make that as interesting as possible but good win.

What is it they say? “The challenge doesn’t start until the first road win.” Nice job, Nits.

Wow, UVa just wouldn’t die, and for a moment it looked like Penn State wouldn’t kill ‘em. But a W is a W.

My Feerless prediction
(after PSU win)

Big Ten 8
ACC 3

8-3? LOL

I’d be thrilled for 6-5.

I’d be thrilled with 2-9 as long as the other win is Michigan. We need a W pretty bad.

Dylan, I know it’s not the easiest or most fun thing to do (and time is probably the limiting factor), but I’m very interested in plus/minus for the team so far this year. I’d be curious especially to see Gibson’s numbers, since so many people are calling for him to play more minutes. The other question is who are the main culprits on defense? With the full plus/minus breakdown like last year we could see.

I’m actually working on something along with a commenter here. Should be able to figure out what we have soon and try to come up with something.

BigTenGeeks said they were tracking plus/minus for Big Ten teams, though they didn’t say if they would make it available – they published the numbers for Illinois vs. Utah.

Rumors suggest Michigan will be particpating in the 2011 Maui Invitational. Next year Michigan State will represent the big 10. But a posting on a Tennessee website reads as follows:

Nothing is signed, nothing is official, but there’s reason to believe the Tennessee Vols men’s basketball team will play in the 2011 Maui Invitational.

UT coach Bruce Pearl revealed as much at the Knoxville Quarterback Club luncheon Monday.

“They said they’re interested in extending us an invitation,” Pearl said. “Duke will be there, Kansas, Michigan, Georgetown …”

Pearl said Monday afternoon he shouldn’t have spilled at the Quarterback Club, but he was excited about getting the phone call and wanted to share it with the Vols’ fans in attendance at Calhoun’s.

Sounds like a great field if true

Wow, that field would be amazing. I also read that Butler will be in it. It’s usually Chaminade, a mid-major, and a team from each of the six ‘BCS’ conferences. So,

Host: Chaminade
Mid-Major: Butler
ACC: Duke
Big East: Georgetown
Big Ten: Michigan
Big Twelve: Kansas
Pac Ten: ??
SEC: Tennessee

All that’s missing is the Pac Ten team.

I’m actually pretty certain that’s correct. I’ve heard the same thing.