The Final Four Is Not On The Schedule - A Podcast Discussing Michigan State Basketball.

October 6, 2022: After an impressive year finishing first and 15-5 in the Big Ten, Illinois followed that up with a first round exit in the Big Ten Tournament and then second round exit in the NCAA tournament. Now, head coach Brad Underwood will attempt to pick up the pieces for a disappointing postseason with an almost entirely new team.

Only four scholarship players return to this years team with only one playing significant minutes on last year's roster. Illinois will be relying on transfers and freshman to compete this year. Rod also goes into detail about what he REALLY thinks about Andre Curbelo and whether he believes Underwood is really the man to move Illinois up to the next level.

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October 3, 2022: If you look at preseason expectations last year, Michigan massively underperformed in Big Ten play. From erratic point guard play to terrible 3 point shooting, only dominant offensive play by Hunter Dickinson kept Michigan competitive last season. Coach Juwan Howard managed to right the ship late to sneak the wolverines into the NCAA tournament where they had a nice run to the sweet 16.

However, off court shenanigans once again found their way into the season. Juwan Howard got suspended after getting in a heated argument in Madison for an altercation with a Wisconsin coach. There was also the very strange situation where UM canceled the home game against the Spartans right before tip when they 'discovered' they had too many players out with COVID. The game was later rescheduled (along with a few others) crammed into the busy schedule which Michigan won.

This year, many of the players the helped the Wolverines go are no longer on the team and they will be relying again on a transfer point guard. Like most of the teams we've discussed, there are questions galore and how Michigan answers them will determine their final position in the Big Ten.

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September 29, 2022: Last year the Purdue Boilermakers were everyone's pick to steamroll through the Big Ten especially after their perfect non-conference start. They had the #2 offense in the country, a generational talent in Jaden Ivey, and a coach who had proven to be solid defensively. However, the cracks to the Boilermaker facade showed up early with the surprise upset to Rutgers early in the Big Ten schedule. The cracks in the foundation of a great team were exposed - and never corrected.

The loss to St. Peter's in the NCAA tournament left Purdue fans wondering how this juggernaut got derailed so easily despite everything they had in their favor. But the defensive liability proved to be too much to overcome and now they are left without all that firepower. Through departures the question remains whether others can step up and keep Purdue in the mix for another NCAA tournament berth or perhaps a Big Ten championship.

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September 26, 2022: We are approaching the midpoint of our Big Ten Previews with number 7 Iowa. Iowa surprised the league last year mostly on the back of emergent superstar, Keegan Murray. Murray went from a relatively unknown bench player on the previous Hawkeye team to the number 4 pick in the 2022 NBA draft. With his departure and that of Jordan Bohannon, will Iowa have enough in the tank to compete for a title? Can Kris Murray, twin brother to Keegan, fill in for his brother and provide the Hawks a scoring punch?

Rod and Eric discuss the fate of the Hawkeyes and what they think of this year's team. Iowa is Eric's second favorite team and Rod's second LEAST favorite adding to the discussion. Eric also pranks Rod on the air.

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September 22, 2022: Aside from the emergence of first round pick Johnny Davis for Wisconsin was their ability to win close games. Many of those games were won at the free throw line - their opponents which constituted an above average amount of luck. Certainly, the Badgers were able to close out games but despite their abysmal offensive stats (#63 in KenPom) with atrocious shooting (#310 in 3 pt% and #215 in 2 pt%) they managed to score just enough to win a lot of Big Ten conference games.

However, Davis is gone as is long time starter, Brad Davison. The Badgers will be relying on an untested twin brother, Jordan Davis, and a number of transfers and bench players to fill in for their personnel losses. Rod and Eric discuss this Wisconsin team and what France thought of Badger basketball this summer.

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September 19, 2022: What Steve Pikiell has accomplished at Rutgers since taking over has been impressive. He has taken a team that was the doormat in the Big East and then Big Ten and made them a real pest. Pikiell created a culture toughness which turned them into the team that they are today - a perennial borderline NCAA tournament team.

But the questions abound in New Jersey as transfers and a questionable recruitment class add to the uncertainty about not only where this team is - but where it is going. Will Rutgers challenge for the conference title, or will it remain stuck in the middle of the pack? Rod and Eric discuss this year's Rutgers squad

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September 15, 2022: Penn State found itself with a coaching change last year as long time coach Pat Chambers was shown the door after a fairly lackluster record for Nittany Lions and allegations of player abuse. New coach Micah Shrewsberry scrambled to put together a team as many members decided to depart with the coaching change. He managed to keep a few and produce a nucleus to leave a partially competitive team.

Unfortunately for Shrewsberry, the Big Ten was extremely competitive last year making it very hard for his depleted squad to rack up many wins. However, it seems the winds are changing and there is an inkling that something may be building in Happy Valley. Decent recruiting classes and an identity of toughness that emerged last season should give the dozen or so Nittany Lion fans hope.

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September 12, 2022: Last year was a strange one for Maryland as their coach for over a decade, Mark Turgeon, abruptly resigned after only 8 games into the season. He was replaced by interim coach Danny Manning who provided only a lackluster finish for the season with the Terps finishing 7-13 in the Big Ten.

In a story repeated more often nowadays, there have been a lot of departures from Maryland as well as incoming transfers to try and shore up the program. It appears that Willard has been able to make a little headway in recruiting for the 2023 season but he will have problems this season cobbling together a team to be competitive in the Big Ten.

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September 8, 2022: As we continue our march through the Big Ten we land on #12 Northwestern. The Wildcats peaked under coach Chris Collins in the 2016-17 season with their first NCAA tournament berth and win but haven't even been close since. Unfortunately, after key departures from Pete Nance and Ryan Young, this year isn't looking too good either for Northwestern.

Rod and Eric discuss the trajectory of the program and what is holding back Chris Collins from making Northwestern an annually competitive team.

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September 5, 2022: We continue our march through the Big Ten previews with #13 Minnesota. After cobbling together a team of transfers last year, second year coach Ben Johnson looks to improve on their season with another largely rebuilt roster.

Losing star Eric Curry and a bevy of transfers, the gophers will again try to piece together a team while also adding some of their own high school recruits. Rod expects Minnesota to turn the corner soon but not this year.

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