Can we now stop talking about how strong the Big Ten is?

[ecompt]

There are maybe -- maybe -- three teams in that conference who would finish .500 in the Big East. Put the leagues together and the Big East would have 10 of the top 13 teams.

[Pakuni]

Better yet, can we stop talking about how weak MU - and specifically the backcourt - is?
Yes, this probably is not a great team and, yes, they'll have their share of struggles in conference play. But maybe we can put to rest the fears of total humiliation at the hands of Xavier and other quality opponents.

[HoopsMalone]

Depends how you think DePaul would do against Iowa or Indiana

[downtown85]

Depends how you think DePaul would do against Iowa or Indiana

I think DePaul would smoke both those teams.

[4everwarriors]

I think my old CYO team could smoke one of them.

[Pakuni]

I think DePaul would smoke both those teams.

Agreed. DePaul looks improved this year. They hung very tight with Tennessee and beat a pretty good Northern Iowa team.

[ecompt]

Iowa or Indiana might have a chance at home against USF or DePaul. In no other games would they be competitive.

[MarquetteDano]

I normally agree with Ecompt but the Big Ten will prove to be pretty good this year.  Trust me, I am no Big Ten apologist.  However, there are a lot of good teams.

If we are going to talk about a weak league how about the Pac Ten?  They are horrible.

[Tom Crean's Tanning Bed]

So much for that...ND just $#!& the bed vs. Northwestern.

[Daniel]

But Northwestern just beat Notre Dame by 14 . . .  

[ChicosBailBonds]

I normally agree with Ecompt but the Big Ten will prove to be pretty good this year.  Trust me, I am no Big Ten apologist.  However, there are a lot of good teams.

If we are going to talk about a weak league how about the Pac Ten?  They are horrible.

I attended a game last night and UCLA is BRUTAL BRUTAL BRUTAL.  They have great size, but no guards, no quicks.  Wow are they bad.  The Pac Ten has been very solid the last 4 or 5 years, but it looks awful right now. 

The Big Ten, I still think at the end they will be the best conference but we'll see.  The Big East is off to a very good start, no elite teams this year but the bottom of the league is better than it has been.  Good to see St.John's, Rutgers, DePaul, USF playing well.  It's going to be a tough league, no question about it.

[bamamarquettefan]

Yeah, I've pretty much given up on Notre Dame ever coming through for the Big East.  Maybe they can make another NIT run or something.  Obviously they are too good to play football in the Big East and be a full fledged member (oh yeah, they are 1-6 against the big East in football the last two years too).

[4everwarriors]

No surprise to me or Augie. This is not your father's Northwestern team. Plus their best player, Kevin Coble, is injured and out for the year. Go Cats'

[ChicosBailBonds]

Portland does it again....just beat Minnesota.  They have now beaten Oregon, UCLA, Minnesota.  They may be ranked this coming week if they win this tournament.

Jack Sikma's kid plays for them.

[GO_MU02]

All of the ranked Big Ten teams that played today lost- Michigan, Minnesota, MSU lost to Florida and IL to Utah. 

[JakeBarnes]

Pretty sad showing by the big ten today.  Who saw that one coming.

[ChicosBailBonds]

For those interested, the Big East is rated 3rd right now, the Big Ten 4th.....but a very distant fourth.

Plenty of golf left to see how it sorts out.

[Silky]

http://kenpom.com/conf.php?y=2010&c=BE

http://www.warrennolan.com/basketball/2010/conferencerpi

[ecompt]

Dano, I agree that by the end of the year the Big Ten will be fine, with at least five teams making the Dance. I just got ticked off on Wednesday when some ESPN analyst actually asked the question, "Is the Big Ten the strongest conference in the country?" I think we've gotten our answer the past two days.