Weekend Fun: Scarlet vs., um, Red

February 23rd, 2007 | Posted by PostmanE

A quick Weekend Fun today, because this weekend is about one thing: college basketball. More specifically, this weekend is about the Big Ten, which, as they say, is poppin’ off this weekend. The top four teams in the conference - skill-wise, at least - face off against each other this week, games that could have a big say in how the Big Ten tourney is seeded … and how these teams will fare on Selection Sunday.

The first of the two is Indiana at Michigan State at 9 p.m. on Saturday - I’ll be there; say hi! - a game which will most likely fall to the Spartans unless the Hoosiers both kill MSU on the boards and force 15 or 16 turnovers, at least. Without fiesty guard Earl Calloway, that’s probably not going to happen.

The second is a match up of two worthy future No. 1 seeds, the Wisconsin Badgers, who were taken down in East Lansing just after earning their No. 1 ranking Tuesday, and Ohio State, who is likely to become the next No. 1 team if North Carolina is passed over for the honor. As Jeff Shelman writes over at ESPN, the NCAA Tournament implications are the really story here. Bottom line: a Wisconsin loss might jeopardize their No. 1 chances, while an Ohio State win could seal their fate, regardless of what happens in the Big Ten tourney.

Interesting, and applicable, stat of the weekend: Big Ten teams have only won 21 games on the road this year, and 11 of them - over half, for you math majors - have been won by either Ohio State or Wisconsin. What happens when Wisconsin, who is responsible for half of those road wins, goes to Ohio State, who is undefeated at home. What’s gonna give?

I guess we’ll see Sunday. Enjoy this: it’s meaningful college hoops, or as meaningful as college hoops can be in February. Tune in, and we’ll see you Monday.