Five Big Ten teams enter the conference schedule with five or more losses, including perennial powers Indiana and Michigan State.
But talk that the Big Ten may be a weak conference this season doesn’t faze Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan.
“That doesn’t concern me from the standpoint of numbers,” Ryan said. “It’s where you’re playing, how your guys are playing, what type of injuries you have and how your young players have responded to this point.”
Ryan’s Badgers won their 22nd straight home game, crushing Indiana 79-45 Tuesday to open the conference season.
“You can lose a few games in November and December and have some players developing that turn out in January, February and March,” Ryan said. “It’s all about how teams are developing.
“When you look at records to this point, somebody could be playing really well and lose some guys. Everybody would like to be undefeated going into the Big Ten but that hasn’t been the case ever.”
Since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, at least five Big Ten teams have qualified each year. But critics argue that could change this season.
READY TO BREAK OUT: lllinois coach Bruce Weber said the Fighting Illini’s conference schedule may not offer the proper motivations to the team’s underclassmen despite the stiff competition.
“It’s hard to explain to the young players how difficult it is to play certain teams,” Weber said. “It’s easy for them to get up for big teams. It’s tough for them to get up for a team that has a losing record or that they don’t respect.”
The Illini had trouble handling Illinois State on Saturday and needed an overtime period to defeat them.
Sophomore guard Deron Williams played for the first time in three games after suffering a broken jaw during the Illini’s Dec. 11 game against Maryland-Eastern Shore. Williams played with his jaw wired shut in the game and led the Illini with 20 points in the overtime win.
Weber will make his Big Ten coaching debut when the Illini host Ohio State tonight. But he’s hardly a stranger to the conference — he served as an assistant for 18 years under Boilermakers coach Gene Keady in Purdue.
Weber said he’s nervous about the conference schedule, even though the Illini had a strong preseason.
“Now it’s like you’re relieved you got through it but now it’s the Big Ten time and you (have) to prove it again,” Weber said.
THE NIGHTMARE CONTINUES: Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said winning conference games this season will be imperative for the Spartans who head in with a 5-6 record.
Izzo said he hopes the Spartans difficult preseason will prepare them for their conference schedule.
Last season Michigan State, who lost in the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament, held an 8-4 record last season heading into the Big Ten season.
Despite his team’s recent struggles, Izzo said he’d like to see it earn 10 conference victories
“It’s been a disappointing run. In no shape or form did I figure we wouldn’t win any of them,” Izzo said of losses to Kansas, Duke, Oklahoma, Kentucky, UCLA and Syracuse. “It’s been a learning experience. It’s been a nightmare in some ways, and yet the last two or three games we’re playing better, especially offensively. Our biggest problem has been our defensive productivity.
“The slate is wiped clean, and we’re going to try to look at the Big Ten season as a new season.”
