Northwestern in the B1G

[Kelly_32]

Where do you see us finishing?

I think our league has two elite teams in Indiana and Wisconsin. Beyond those two, there are some good teams and some not-so-good teams.

Thought I would throw out my predictions. Feel free to jump in.

1. Wisconsin
2. Indiana
3. Purdue
4. Michigan State
5. Ohio State
6. Northwestern
7. Michigan
8. Maryland
9. Penn State
10. Iowa
11. Minnesota
12. Illinois
13. Nebraska
14. Rutgers

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

I would take sixth! lets see if Derek P is healthy

 

[VBCat97]

Where do you see us finishing?

I think our league has two elite teams in Indiana and Wisconsin. Beyond those two, there are some good teams and some not-so-good teams.

Thought I would throw out my predictions. Feel free to jump in.

1. Wisconsin
2. Indiana
3. Purdue
4. Michigan State
5. Ohio State
6. Northwestern
7. Michigan
8. Maryland
9. Penn State
10. Iowa
11. Minnesota
12. Illinois
13. Nebraska
14. Rutgers

1. Indiana
2. Wisconsin

3. Purdue
4. Michigan State

5. Ohio State
6. Northwestern
7. Michigan
8. Illinois
9. Maryland

10. Penn State
11. Iowa
12. Nebraska

13. Minnesota
14. Rutgers

 

[Medill90]

I think NU could finish anywhere between 8 and 5, and I'd agree right now that if Pardon finishes the year that 6 is a pretty good guess.

Several teams are going to develop significantly over the course of the year. I'm thinking OSU, MSU and PSU. Wisconsin is a finished product and I would not have them in the top 3 (but I am always, always wrong about Wisc).

Again, I repeat myself, about 10 games into the Big Ten schedule there's a stretch of five or six difficult games. NU needs to make a dent in those games. The have to put an end to stringing together five or six conference losses. They need to go on a run (which is facilitated by mindset) in which they win one or more games they're not supposed to. That puts them closer to finishing 5 than eight and has them sniffing the tournament.

 

[ricko654321]

Where do you see us finishing?

I think our league has two elite teams in Indiana and Wisconsin. Beyond those two, there are some good teams and some not-so-good teams.

Thought I would throw out my predictions. Feel free to jump in.

1. Wisconsin
2. Indiana
3. Purdue
4. Michigan State
5. Ohio State
6. Northwestern
7. Michigan
8. Maryland
9. Penn State
10. Iowa
11. Minnesota
12. Illinois
13. Nebraska
14. Rutgers

Wow you guys all seem to be pretty optimistic. 6th place would imply 10-8 in conference. I'd guess 8-10 if I were picking today. Though think there will be lots of close games, if we can find a win to win more than we lose... I don't think there's anyone dominant in the conference, but there are a fair number of very good teams.
1. Indiana- tons of athleticism and offense but still not great on D and plays undisciplined at times
2. Wisconsin- experienced but has looked weirdly disjointed so far, play smart but not overwhelming
3. Purdue- bigs create matchup problems, again a weakness at G (see Louisville last night)
4. MSU- lots of losses against good competition early and young, but it's Izzo, they'll be there
5. OSU- has shown some pretty good flashes, and actually may be more experienced than most
6. Michigan- I think this is a very dangerous team
7. Maryland- I know they have been brutal so far, but... Melo Trimble, and a really easy conf schedule
8. NORTHWESTERN
9. Penn State- program seems to be moving in the right direction
10. Iowa- still talented on offense, defense is inconsistent
11. Illinois- off to a rough start, may have stabilized recently
12. Nebraska- don't think there's too much there this year
13. Minnesota- I don't like Ricky Pitino Jr
14. Rutgers- of course

I think 4 thru 11 is the group of teams that we are competing with in the middle. I think that 4,5,6 are probably better teams than us, and at the moment it looks like 11 is worse than us. I think we're better than 9,10 also but time will tell. Maryland I've watched once and don't know what to make of them- a team with that level of talent should not be playing that poorly.

 

[TheC]

With regards to Rutgers...... did the other teams in the Big10 get together and say that since Northwestern is no longer an automatic win in football and basketball for us, we need a new doormat...?

 

[Sec.112]

I don't think NU is anywhere in the ballpark of:

• IU
• Wisconsin
• Purdue
• Michigan State

I hope they can get one of those six games. Dare I ask for two? But I wouldn't go further than that.

I'm hoping this is the second tier:

• NU
• OSU
• Michigan
• Maryland

I think OSU is the class of this group - probably closer to the first group.

I hope NU can differentiate itself against Maryland and Michigan. I'm not sure I would have said that is possible in the pre-season.

After watching them this week, I'm a bit confused about:

• Iowa

They didn't look bad. The Hawks will go as Jok goes and McCaffery is a nice builder. I hope he's one or two years away from his next tournament.

And then there's:

• Penn State - I won't believe it until I see it. Admittedly, Enabler U and our whining brothers to the south are a notch above the others. I could see them in the Michigan/Maryland group with a good season.
• Illinois - I have no faith in Groce's ability to coach a team and keep it together at this level.
• Nebraska
• Minnesota - See John Groce.
  
• Rutgers

 

[Hungry Jack]

Pardon is probably the one guy we can least afford to lose. Just no depth there that comes anywhere near his skill set.