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Awards up for grabs
By Mark Ambrogi, special to CNNSI.com The Big Ten Player of the Year voting will likely be divided between Michigan State's Jason Richardson, Illinois' Frank Williams and Indiana's Kirk Haston. The Big Ten Coach of the Year has some top candidates, too: Michigan State's Tom Izzo, Illinois' Bill Self, Indiana's Mike Davis and Ohio State's Jim O'Brien. O'Brien's team has perhaps been the most surprising. Losing Scoonie Penn and Michael Redd, the Buckeyes were picked to finish in the bottom tier of the Big Ten. But Ohio State will finish no worse than a tied for third. The Buckeyes are 19-9 and 10-5 heading into the regular-season finale at Penn State. A panel of media voters picks the top coach, but some of his colleagues support O'Brien. "I think without question coach O'Brien has done the best job in the league,'' Iowa's Steve Alford said. "He's really gotten some things out of his team that might have been a year away from happening.'' Self agreed. "Jim's done as good a job as anybody in our league,'' he said. "So much of those awards go to who finishes highest. They've had a really nice year, and Jim's deserving of a lot of that credit because he's done a fabulous job with that team."
Badgers seniors disappointedWisconsin had plenty of motivation against Michigan State Tuesday night. First, the Badgers were coming off a 30-point loss at Indiana. Second, it was the final home game for Andy Kowske, Mike Kelley, Maurice Linton, Mark Vershaw and Roy Boone. Third, the Spartans had won seven consecutive games, including knocking the Badgers out in Final Four duel. "Michigan State has been the one thorn in their collective side,'' coach Brad Soderberg said. Said Izzo: "We're probably not on their favorite-people-in-America list because of the last few years.'' The third-ranked Spartans still aren't as they won again 51-47 "We've been fortunate enough to win a lot of the close games [against Wisconsin],'' Izzo said. This time the Badgers closed the gap to two points late. The Spartans went with their veteran players. "The last couple of weeks we've been playing our best defense,'' said Izzo. "We just went with our money players down the stretch.''
Four in a row?Michigan State (23-3) and Illinois (22-6) are tied for the Big Ten lead at 12-3 going into the weekend. They should end that way as the Spartans host a floundering Michigan team. The Illini play wounded Minnesota squad in Minneapolis on Sunday. The Spartans are seeking their fourth consecutive title. "We're so hungry right now,'' senior David Thomas said. "To have an opportunity to win it at home on senior night is a great feeling.''
Davis still waitingEveryone has been waiting to see whether Indiana's new athletic director would opt to keep interim coach Davis. Apparently the suspense will continue. San Diego Chargers executive Michael McNeely was hired Thursday to replace Clarence Doninger. He said he will be a contributor to a committee, which will make the decision. "Mike Davis is most obviously a contender with the good work he's done so far,'' IU president Myles Brand said. "But you handle these searches differently from the way you handle an academic search. It will be a smaller committee and we will act quickly [after the season is over].'' Former Hoosiers standout center Kent Benson doesn't know why there should be a wait. After the Hoosiers improved to 18-11 and 9-6 on Wednesday night by whipping Minnesota 89-53, Benson addressed the crowd after being named to the Hoosiers' all-century team. First Benson criticized the way the administration handled the firing of Bob Knight last September. Then he said: "I just hope the administration won't compound their previous errors by not hiring Mike Davis and his staff. They deserve the job. Give him a three-year contract and let him show what he can do.'' A smiling Davis sitting on the bench and raised five fingers, signally a five-year contract. "OK, I guess Mike would prefer five years over three,'' Benson said. Earlier the crowd chanted, "We want Davis.'' when Davis approached the microphone. "I want this job next year,'' he said. "But if I'm not here, I want you to know I'll always be a Hoosier and I just appreciate the opportunity.''
Iowa's slide continuesIowa lost its sixth game in the last seven outings with a 78-73 loss to visiting Penn State on Thursday night. Now, beating No. 24 Wisconsin on home on Saturday seems crucial to getting an NCAA tournament bid. "We've got to win Saturday,'' said Alford, whose team dropped to 7-8 in the Big Ten and 18-10 overall. "If we don't win Saturday, our backs are pressed awfully hard against the wall.'' The Hawkeyes are without top scorer Luke Recker (fractured kneecap), who hopes to be back for next week's Big Ten tourney.
Worth notingMichigan cured a lot of ills for opponents in its last two games, both at home. First, Purdue broke a six-game losing streak on Saturday with a 78-59 rout. Then Northwestern ended a 23-game road losing streak (18 in the Big Ten) with a 75-70 victory on Wednesday. Winston Blake matched his career high with 23, set earlier in the season against the Wolverines. "The main thing is they usually have a big guy guarding me so I have the opportunity to shoot 3-pointers,'' said Blake, who made 12 3-pointers in the two games against Michigan. ... Purdue center John Allison, who suffered a fracture in his right foot early in February, now may return for the Big Ten tournament. He said he definitely feels he can play if the Boilermakers make the NIT as expected. "I'm optimistic I'll play again this season,'' said Allison, who is averaging 10.9 points and 5.6 rebounds. "They [doctors] say I'm healing a lot faster than expected.'' Purdue forward Rodney Smith, who suffered a broken bone in his right foot on Feb. 7, is still unlikely to return. ... Minnesota coach Dan Monson had his best weekend in a while this past one. "Nobody got hurt and we didn't lose a game,'' he said. "So we're feeling pretty good about our weekend.''
Mark Ambrogi covers the Big Ten for The Indianapolis Star. Check back each Friday for his latest CNNSI.com Insider.
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