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 I held out no hope that we would be spared from the usual laughinstock Big Ten bowl season.  Now I'm getting a bit tired of this whole "conference" thing in the first place, as if one is genetically superior because they live in SEC country, for example.  Still I can't help but feel relieved that I don't have to explain anything to anybody this year.  Here were my shameful predictions before the bowls started:

CHAMPS SPORTS BOWL- WI vs. UMiami - Please.  Does anyone seriously think Wisky will be ready to play at the same pace as Miami?
Obviously anyone who did seriously think Wisky would be ready were absolutely right.  I was way off.

INSIGHT BOWL-  MN vs. Iowa State-  This might, just might be a close one, but I have to take a 6-6 Big 12 team over a 6-6 Big 10 team (especially one that didn't even show up in their last game). I was right on this and only this.

CAPITAL ONE BOWL- PSU vs. LSU-  PSU can't beat the top tier in the Big 10.  How are they going to beat a top tier SEC team? They're going to beat them by having Joe Paterno as their coach.  And apparently the top tier of the Big 10 is better than I thought.

ROSE BOWL-  OSU vs. Oregon-  This might, just might be a close one, if OSU doesn't get blown out in the first half.  They just won't be ready and will have to play catch up, count on it.  Ok, I was wrong, and I'm glad I was.  That doesn't change the fact that Buckeye fans are among the most paranoid and irrational I have ever seen from any team.  Just ask Jim Tressell.

OUTBACK BOWL-  Northwestern vs. Auburn-  Please, please.  Northwestern beating an SEC bowl eligible team? Please, please, I was an idiot for saying this would be a "please, please" game.  Northwestern coulda and shoulda. 

ALAMO BOWL-  MSU vs. Texas Tech-  MSU shouldn't even be wasting anyone's time after 10 players were dismissed. This was the biggest surprise to me.  Yeah, MSU lost, but they wasted no one's time.  Let's get that straight.  Couldn't have looked like more of a COMPLETE MORON on this one.

ORANGE BOWL-  IA vs. Georgia Tech -  I thought Georgia Tech looked very good against Clemson in the ACC title game.  Iowa is reeling even though they beat MN in their last game.  Tech's secondary is darn good, and Stanzi, even top form and healthy, won't be able to avoid INT's. I was right about Stanzi not avoiding bonehead INT's, except it was only 1, and except Stanzi threw some brilliant TD's.  Couple that with an Iowa defense that absolutely dominated, and by golly Iowa was not nearly the pretender I thought they were. 

I was so wrong.  And I am so glad I was.

I was reading an article today by Tom Davis of the Fort Wayne, IN News Sentinel.  Apparently Larry Bird is being criticized for too many white guys on the Indiana Pacers.  The NBA average is 76% black, while the Pacers are now 50% black.  I don't even know where to begin.  ESPN analysts Doug Gottleib and Dan Patrick, for starters, should be ashamed of themselves for even bringing this to the table.  The Indianapolis Star is not far behind on the shame list.  Where, may I ask, is the threshold for complaints to stop when it comes to racial percentages?  And does anyone seriously think Larry Bird is willing to put players on the floor that won't help him save his job, not to mention have a better chance at winning?  Davis said "anyone who knows Bird can tell you that first and foremost he is the ultimate competitor.  He wants to win, period.  If that involves fielding a roster filled with green guys with pink polka-dots, then so be it"

Good for Davis for defending Larry Bird, and pathetic for ESPN for once again stirring up the race hustlers to have a grievance where none exists.

 Has anyone checked out the graduation rates of the NCAA tournament teams?  http://thesportsspectator.com/?p=403 UConn is by far the worst of the Final Four at 33%, and overall Maryland was an absolute travesty at 10%.  The graduation rates are determined by bachelor degrees earned within 6 years of enrollment.  Obviously the traditional 4 year rate would be much worse.  In a way, and I hate to admit it, this makes me admire highly accredited universities like UNC, Duke, etc. for graduating their players.  You can't graduate from either of those universities unless you are indeed among an academic top tier nationally.

Any team below 50% should be ashamed, and Gary Williams should get his knuckles rapped with a nun's ruler for the program with the worst graduation rate of all major universities.

We are starting to see some things come into focus now with Big Ten basketball.  The influx of coaching talent is starting to turn this conference back to being a perennial powerhouse.  Let's take a look at those who have just come on board the last several years:

Tubby Smith-Minnesota-  Can anyone argue against Tubby Smith not being a perfect fit for the Golden Gophers?  I don't see national championship on the horizon, but I do see a competitive and NCAA tournament worthy team year in and year out with Smith's leadership.

Matt Painter-Purdue-  Painter has Purdue playing like the old heydays of Gene Keady, if not better.  Unlike Gene Keady, Painter seems to be one who actually bring a championship to Purdue in the coming years.  Perhaps it could even happen this year.  Nah, North Carolina is just too much.

Thad Matta- Ohio State-  Nearly a national champ last year, Matta's system and recruiting prowess will get one in the coming years.

John Beilein-Michigan- Anyone who doubted his system last year can eat crow this year.  This man knows how to coach, period.  Unless Michigan upgrades it's ancient facilities, however, you are not going to see ultimate marquee's signing up.  Still, Beilein can coach regular Big 10 talent better than most anyone else.

Todd Lickliter- Iowa-  Who wants to go to Iowa to play major college basketball?  Probably not marquee's who would rather play at Duke or North Carolina, but anyone else who wants to be part of a winning tradition will think twice about Iowa.  The jury's still out on Lickliter, but I believe the guy will produce better than Alford.  That may not be enough for Hawkeye faithful, but it isn't bad either.