March 3, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

Three Teams Remain in Big Ten Title Chase: Entering the final week of Big Ten play, three conference squads still have an opportunity to claim the crown--Wisconsin (14-2), Purdue (14-2) and Indiana (13-3). In a race that is too close to call, each of the three teams have two games remaining. Purdue tips off the week with a contest at Ohio State Tuesday night before closing out the regular season at Michigan on Sunday. The Boilermakers are 2-0 versus OSU and Michigan. Indiana hosts Minnesota Wednesday evening and travels to Penn State on Sunday to complete the season. The Hoosiers escaped an earlier tilt with the Gophers in January and also defeated the Nittany Lions. Wisconsin hosts Penn State Wednesday night and will travel to Northwestern to wrap up the season on Saturday. The Badgers are 2-0 against the remainder of their opponents.

One, Two or Three Champs?: If Indiana, Purdue or Wisconsin win the title outright, it would mark the sixth straight season that the Big Ten has featured solo champs dating back to the 2002-03 season when Wisconsin took the top honor. Illinois claimed back-to-back titles in 2004 and 2005, while Ohio State has won the last two conference crowns. The last time multiple teams shared the crown was in 2002 when Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin all earned titles. Prior to that season, the last three-way tie for the championship happened in 1979, when Iowa, Michigan State and Purdue shared the top spot and the Spartans went on to win the national title. The last co-championship occurred in 2001 when Illinois and Michigan State shared top honors.

Spreading the Wealth: Over the last 10 seasons, five schools have earned at least a share of the Big Ten Championship. Since the 1997-98 campaign, Illinois leads all Big Ten schools with five titles (1998-01-02- 04-05) while Michigan State (1998-99-00-01) has earned four crowns. Ohio State (2006-07) and Wisconsin (2002-03) both brought home a pair of championships over the last decade while Indiana was part of a tie for the title in 2002. To the right is a list of total Conference crowns by school and the last title by each team.

The Battle for Byes: Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan State and Purdue have clinched first-round byes in the 2008 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament, while Ohio State (8-8), Minnesota (8-8) and Penn State (6-10) are vying for the final spot. Five conference teams will get the first day off at Conseco Fieldhouse, as the top five seeds open play on Friday while the bottom six seeds start on Thursday. While a first-round pass is important, teams have proven that it is not essential as Illinois (1999) and Iowa (2001 and 2002) have all advanced to the finals despite beginning play on Thursday, with the Hawkeyes winning the tourney as a No. 6 seed in 2001.

D.J. is White Hot: Indiana's D.J. White is on track to finish the season averaging a double-double. White currently averages 17.7 points and 11.0 rebounds in conference-only statistics. White is the Big Ten's leading rebounder and second-leading scorer. White would be the first Big Ten player to average a double-double in scoring and rebounding since Minnesota's Kris Humphries did so during the 2003-04 campaign. White has recorded a conference-leading 18 double-doubles this season, 10 during the Big Ten campaign and 21 in his last 31 games. White is the 10th player in IU history to reach 1,350 points and 700 rebounds.

Race for the Scoring Title: With one week remaining in the regular season, the Indiana insideoutside combination of Eric Gordon and D. J. White look to finish the season one and two in scoring. Gordon has led the Big Ten all season, currently averaging 20.5 points per conference game, while White is averaging 17.7 points. The tandem bids to become the first Big Ten teammates to finish one and two in scoring since Michigan's Glen Rice and Gary Grant achieved the feat in 1987-88.

Other Conference Leaders: In other conference game only categories, Ohio State's Jamar Butler is aiming to capture the Big Ten assist title, averaging 6.63, more than two per game than the next player. A title for Butler would make Buckeyes back-to-back champions as Mike Conley Jr. was the Big Ten's stat leader last season. Butler has dished out 106 helpers this season. Purdue's Chris Kramer looks to lead the conference in steals (2.69 per game) while teammate Robbie Hummel is tracking to become the three-point field goal percentage champion. Hummel is shooting .491 from long range. A title for Kramer would make him the first Purdue player to earn the stats title in steals. Michigan's Ekpe Udoh has been a force inside all season and looks to become the conference's blocked shots stats champion. Udoh has blocked 45 shots to date, an average of 2.65 per game. The last Wolverine to earn the title was Terry Mills in 1989, blocking 22 shots during conference games. Northwestern's Craig Moore looks to become the first Wildcat to earn stat champion honors in three-point field goals made. Moore has sunk 52 baskets from behind the arc to average 3.25 per game.

Playing Smart Basketball: Michigan State's Drew Neitzel was named to the 2008 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America second-team. Neitzel, who is an interdisciplinary humanities major, becomes the fifth men's basketball player in Michigan State history to earn Academic All- America accolades. He becomes the 47th Big Ten standout to be honored. To be nominated, student- athletes must be a starter or important reserve and carry a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher.