| Big 10 Champs 3 Teams, 3 Stories |
| By Vinny Hardy October 14 2011 The Big 10 just concluded one of its strongest seasons ever by having not 1, not 2, but 3 teams tied for the top spot in the Conference. Michigan, Michigan State , and Ohio State all finished conference play at 13-5 and all 3 of them took different routes to get their. This is the first time than any Big 10 regular season championship team has had a total of 5 conference losses, but when you look at the strength of the conference it is easy to see why. The Big 10 ends the regular season with an astonishing 5 teams ranked in the top 20 with both Ohio State and Michigan State being solid top 10 teams through out the year. When you add in the resurgence of Indiana led by Tom Izzo’s long time assistant Tom Crean, and the program Bo Ryan has built in Wisconsin it is easy to see why the Big 10 is rated the best conference this year. Michigan State is clearly the most disappointed of the 3 teams to win the Big 10, because they were the one team that controlled their own destiny. It was pretty simple after Wisconsin beat Ohio State going into the last week of play. Win either on the road at Indiana or beat Ohio State at home and they would claim the out right Big 10 regular season title. It took one fired up Indiana team and an incredible game ending shot by William Buford of Ohio State to create tri-Champions this year. Michigan State can still hold their held high led by their do everything Senior captain Draymond Green, who just cemented his status in M.S.U. lore. Having multiple Final Four appearances and Big 10 titles on your resume qualifies you to be talked about in the same breath as Magic, Skiles, and Mateen. In true Tom Izzo fashion, Green helped lead a team with no clear cut 1st round NBA talent and has molded them into one of the best teams in the Country. Ohio State on the other hand started the season in the front runner position led by All American big man Jared Sullinger, a sure fire N.B.A. lottery pick, and senior captain William Buford. They were the measuring stick for every team in the Big 10 this year and opposing teams always came ready to play them. Ohio State stumbled at the end of the season while providing signature wins for both Michigan and Michigan State. With many Michigan Wolverines saying this was a program defining win after beating them in Ann Arbor with the College game day crew present. Michigan on the other hand is the one team that can really celebrate this as a break through accomplishment. It had been 25 years since their last Big 10 title and the program had certainly gone through its share of hard times. This really validates John Beilein selection as coach and puts the Michigan program back on the national scene.. From this point forward they will be included with those teams who expect to make the tournament every year and the only question is what seed they will get. |
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