Hoos' Returning to the Dance?

  The Hoos-iers, that's who.

After a thrilling and well played game in Raleigh, Mark Crean's squad moved to a perfect 7-0 that also includes a win over Butler.  The Big Ten is solid this year, and IU is not in the class of Ohio State and Wisconsin; but Indiana is a legit contender for an at-large tourney bid this year.

Freshman Cody Zeller gives them an offensive interior presence that they have lacked for several years, and Verdell Jones is a legitimate All Big Ten caliber performer.  They have more strength (evidence of Tom Crean's off-season weight room challenge paying dividends) and depth than they have since the coach's arrival.  Now that they have a per-conference schedule that finally includes some quality (though granted nothing eye-popping yet) wins, if they can battle to 8-10 or 9-9 in a very balanced Big Ten, it should be enough to get Indiana back where Hoosier faithful expect them to be; the NCAA Tournament.

The Maniac's Big Ten Early Bracketeering Glance:

LOCKS:  Ohio State, Wisconsin
IN:  Michigan State
GOOD SHOT:  Michigan, Purdue, Northwestern (yes, seriously this time), Indiana
GREAT SO FAR... BUT INJURY CONCERNS:  Minnesota
POSSIBLE:  Illinois,
Uh... NO:  Penn State, Nebraska, Iowa

Florida's Miracle

I'm sure most of you have already seen it - I just happened to catch it on the radio while running a few errands. Absolutely bananas! Funny thing about it, if I was coaching I would have had the kid miss the second one on purpose... It is still probably the right strategy, but this game at least makes you reconsider it...

Enjoy!



NC State has been good so far this year, but seem like a bubble team to me. It would be a shame if this 70-foot prayer is the bubble burster...but it could be. Florida meanwhile gets another resume win heading into a suddenly wide-open-for-second SEC with Tennessee's Scarface II impression, and looks to be in good position to snap a two year tourney hiatus.

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Tuesday's Picks

The Maniac Pick's Em - Tuesday, January 13th

The SEC may have no ranked teams, but tonight's Kentucky v. Tennessee game is a big one. Rivalry aside, both teams have a lot at stake in the matter. For Kentucky, their spot in the Big Dance is far from sure at this point. Only a ferocious late season run kept their 17 year streak in tact. A road win over conference big boy Tennessee would go a long way to making Selection Sunday joyous rather than anxious.

Maniac's Pick: Kentucky +6.5

This scene last year catapulted the "Cats to the tourney

Poor Indiana gets yet another chance to broadcast their misery natiowide when they visit a hungry Buckeye team that cannot afford to many more Big Ten missteps. Does ESPN not have the option of NFL-esue "flex scheduling"? This is like the seventh IU game already this season...

That said, the number is a big one, and Ohio State is not an offensive juggernaut. They win, but I like the Hoosier Pride keeping in under the number
Maniac's Pick: Indiana +17

Florida State looked like brutal defense socking it out with Blue Devils Saturday. Unfortunatly their offense looked "brutal" as well, and not in a good way. The broadcast team made it sound lik FSU is a sure-fire NCAA team this year. I am not sure how they figure that in a conference wheer they are AT BEST fifth. It is an interesting muddle in the middle; NC State, Maryland, Miami, Boston College, Florida State and Virginia Tech all seem to be fairly even to me. If FSU wants to make good on ESPN's words, they need a big road win tonight. I think they'll get it.
Maniac's Pick: FSU +4.5

TCU travels to BYU is a sneaky-good game tonight. Vegas has the Horned Frogs getting 15. Take the points and enjoy the evening. Let's call this the LOCK of the day.

Maniac's Pick: TCU +15 (LOCK)

Gators Get Close Win Over NC State

Billy Donovan's "Baby Gators" took another big mature step forward holding on for a valuable, if not impressive, home win over the Wolfpack. Nick Calathes threw in 32 for the Gators, a hopeful sign of things to come for the highly touted sophomore as the Gators enter conference play this week.

UP NEXT:

The Gators (12-2) open SEC play next Saturday hosting Ole Miss, then travel to Auburn. The Gators should be havily favored in both, setting up a nice showdown with Arkansas the following weekend.

Calathes is on the short list for SEC P.O.Y.