Ohio State Basketball Ranks As 2nd Best Coaching Job In The Big Ten

Matta is in an enviable position at OSU

Over at ESPN, it's "Coaches Week" and during this week, the writers go through each conference to rank the best and worst coaching jobs, as voted on by 14 of their writers and television analysts.

For a little more on how it works, here's the explanation:

"A few important notes: This is not an attempt to rank the programs or their histories. A school's tradition was taken into account of course, but more emphasis was given to recent years and how hard or easy it is for a new coach to win there. Current recruits don't remember much beyond, what, 2008?

When voting, our 14 panelists were asked to take into consideration facilities, expectation level, athletic budget, wins and losses, recruiting base, fan support/pressure and all of the other factors that go into determining the "best" jobs in the ever-crazy profession of college basketball coaching.

In short: If you were an agent and every single job was open in a particular conference, where would you direct your client? Where would you tell him to avoid if there are better options?"

The Top 5

1. Indiana

2. Ohio State

3. Michigan State

4. Michigan

5. Wisconsin

Join us after the jump to look at the breakdown of each of these jobs.

First Look: Gator Bowl

All of your recruits are mine

It has now been over a week since the announcement Urban Meyer would be taking over as head man in Columbus. The rumors began to fly a week before (H/T @11W!) said announcement and for once in my life, those rumors ended up as fact. I am giddy with anticipation as to how fast Urban can turn things around and what the offense might look like next season. I don’t see how this hire won’t be a slam dunk. Urban also brings some much needed sex appeal to the Big Ten which is often viewed as plodding and slow to the rest of the country. I don’t think that is a fair assessment but once you’re labeled as such it is tough to shed that stigma.

The NCAA recently granted the university permission to expand their coaching staff for the bowl season. Fickell will be concentrating on game planning for the Gators while Meyer hits the road in an effort to salvage our recruiting season. I know the NCAA probably would’ve done this for any school but it felt good for our overlords to do something nice instead of launching more investigations. I still think that the Buckeyes are treated unfairly by the NCAA but such is life as a football powerhouse. I’m not the type of person who delves into the world of conspiracy theories. Well, that’s not entirely true. Who doesn’t like a little mystery in their life to keep the wheels turning? I just have a hard time believing that Urban won’t have any input into the game planning for the Gator Bowl.

Let's See What The Buckeyes Got

Coming To C-Bus

In my last post, prior to the Illinois game, I wrote how important it was for me to have bragging rights (my wife went to Illinois) in my house. Well, the Buckeyes won what it turns out may not have been as big a game (Illinois subsequently lost to Purdue) as we all thought/hoped it would be, but a win is a win and Illinois was ranked so the Buckeyes beat an undefeated ranked team on the road and that is great. Having bragging rights is fun, but honestly my wife could care less, so there was not a lot of residual gloating. Living in Chicago though I can smile a bit brighter around all of the Illini here. This week’s game though is almost as big a rivalry for me as the game against that team from up north (almost, but not quite). 

You see my older brother, my closest blood relative is a 1994 graduate of Wisconsin. He is almost as passionate for his Badgers as I am for my Buckeyes. He shares in season tickets to Wisconsin, has taken me to many a game in Madison. I have been to Madison for ties, wins and losses. For years since the early 1990s we have a “traveling trophy” (a small football) that goes to the winner of the game. Before last season we added to our bet, the loser has to dress in the other’s team uniform for Halloween. Last year on Halloween (my daughter’s birthday) there I was dressed in a Wisconsin uniform, it was a rough and tough night for me (though I did sneak a little Block O on my undershirt to keep OSU closest to my heart).

How Big Of A Game Is This For Fickell?

Can Luke stay with a win?

I really don’t think that our young coach has any shot of hanging on past this season despite the news he finally is coaching under a legit contract until the end of 2012. It’s true that Fickell was dropped into an impossible situation with all of the suspensions and the turmoil surrounding the program but most fans still believe he is in way over his head. Ohio St. is one of the few jobs in America that other coaches pine for and the school should be able to hit a home run once this season comes to an end.

However, if Luke wants to put a HUGE notch under his belt and make the brass at Ohio St. second-guess their impending coaching search, this weekend certainly presents the opportunity. Wisconsin will be a great challenge for this team and its’ coaching staff moving forward.

Will the Buckeye’s be able to throw or even move the ball against a stout Wisconsin defense? Can Braxton escape this Saturday with body intact and all wits about him? Will Bollman dial up some plays that don’t remind us of leather helmets? I don’t really have the answers to these questions but I am dying to find out the answers in person this weekend at the 'Shoe!

Wanted: Forward Pass

OSU went 1/4 passing

It’s amazing what one win can do for your psyche in this kind of a season. Food has tasted better this week, it has seemed brighter outside (which is hard to do considering the amount of rain that has fallen over northern Ohio) and I have generally been nicer to those around me. All of this because of a football game. It’s hard to explain to those outside of our OSU fanatic niche how much a football team can mean but it really is one of the most important things in my life. As long as family, friends and my job are all humming along as expected, football is pretty much the next item on the list. I guess what I am trying to say is.. THANK GOD WE F’N WON A GAME! I was beginning to think I might never feel this way again in 2011.

The Buckeyes had been playing uninspired and sloppy football for the last couple of weeks which added two more losses to the one already collected in South Beach a month ago. If you’re counting at home, that is 3 freakin’ losses only half way through the year. Under normal circumstances that is like two years worth of losses. Unfortunately this season is anything but normal and OSU desperately needed a win in Champaign to get that Herpes B infected monkey off their back (too soon?). I think we all expected some growing pains this year but nobody predicted the horror show err... offensive production witnessed thus far.

Postmortem

Sigh

That's all folks. The curtain has dropped, the seas have un-parted and the fat lady has belted her last note. That last "game" against the Spartans effectively ended the 2011 campaign before it even had a chance to get going. The Miami game a couple weeks back was a tough pill to swallow but many, yours truly included thought that the Big Ten season would offer a new beginning of sorts and allow Ohio St. to play meaningful football this season. That ship sailed in my head after the first 3 offensive series last Saturday. This team is bad. Not average or mediocre... bad. It pains me more than anyone else to type those words but it's time to face reality.

There will still be some good games against inferior opponents in the coming weeks but anyone with a pulse in the Big Ten has to be smacking their chops in anticipation of their game with OSU. I guess "bad" isn't a fair term to bestow on the whole team. I thought that the defense played their collective tails off (per usual) and kept the team in the game all afternoon. They let Cousins get off some decent throws and there were some missed tackles but when the D is on the field that long, the Baltimore Ravens would've given up some yardage. With an offense that pathetic there is no room for error. For OSU to have won that game, the defense would've had to been the unit to put it in the end zone. IS there any other conclusion to be drawn from that contest? Let's take a look at the 3 most glaring problems even though one could write a book on all that is wrong with OSU these days. The quarterback play is just awful right now. Joe Bauserman should never, and I mean never, pick up a football ever again.

Colorado Thoughts/Feelings

Braxton played well, but he's still learning

Well, we are four games into the season, and let me tell you something I have absolutely no idea what to think about this team. I can tell you we are not as good as we thought we were after the Akron game, and we are definitely not as bad as we thought we were after the Miami debacle. This year we have played 2 decent teams (Toledo who got robbed last week and Miami), one incredibly average team (Colorado), and one really really bad team in Akron.

We are 3-1 and we don’t know much. Let’s take a look at the Colorado game. First of all we finally got a true look at our future. We are Braxton’s team now. He played well. He showed the escapability that we all expected. He also showed that as a runner he is more like the QB from That School Up North, then Terrelle Pryor. He doesn't glide as he runs, he doesn’t have the famous stiff arm. What Miller does is fake a defender right out of his socks and then outrun the rest down the field. It appears at this time he is a run first QB with happy feet.

Thoughts On Fickell: My Take

Saving 1 timeout at a time.

First of all let me remind you all I am a 1997 graduate of The Ohio State University. For those of you who may not realize this, 1997 is the same our current Head Coach Luke Fickell graduated from the great university. I did not know Luke Fickell personally, but I went to every home game, a couple of road games, and the 1997 Rose Bowl, a game in which Fickell showed his unbelievable toughness by playing the game with a torn pectoral muscle. He was “the man”. Because of our going to OSU at the same time I can honestly say I feel a kinship to Coach Fickell (though I am sure he does not feel the same way about me), and I hoped he would succeed as a coach, and one day become our head coach, I just don’t think that one day is now. Coach Fickell was a very good linebackers coach and a good co-defensive coordinator. However, he has never actually been in charge of a side of the ball by himself. As co-defensive coordinator he was basically in charge of linebackers, and worked with Jim Heacock on calling plays for the defense. I believe he needs more seasoning as an assistant coach, or if he is going to be a head coach right now or next year, it needs to be at a smaller school, not a school the size of and with the pressures of The Ohio State University.

Let’s take a look at how he has looked so far. Against Akron, he looked like Cooper. I say Cooper because like in the Cooper years we crushed teams that we were supposed to crush. Even with the suspensions Fickell looked to be making all the correct calls (though I thought maybe we would see a little more Braxton Miller in the game). It seemed people began drinking a little of the proverbial kool-aid. Then came Toledo. Make no mistake they are a good team, but elite they are not (look at their Boise State game as proof). We had the same suspensions, nothing new, and we looked awful. In the end our talent and depth was too much for Toledo to handle and we squeaked out an all too close win.

Initial Sugar Bowl Impressions

You're a Wolverine, and you can't hide

We meet again- Ryan Mallet will lead his Razorbacks into battle against the Buckeyes in the Sugar Bowl. OSU fans may remember Mallet as the tall and lanky quarterback who jumped off the sinking Michigan ship after backing up Chad Henne in his final year. It might have been the smartest move in the history of collegiate athletics. Maybe Mallet had inside knowledge as to just how far and fast the Wolverines were about to fall. Maybe he realized the dink and dunk offense that Rich Rodriguez brought with him was doomed to fail in the rough and tumble Big Ten. Whatever it was, kudos to Mallet for getting out when he did.

Since leaving the program, Mallet has evolved into one of the premier passers in the country throwing a whopping 30 touchdowns to go along with his 3000+ yards passing. He hardly looks like the uncoordinated bumbling freshman we knew in Ann Arbor. Mallet figures to be one of the top quarterbacks taken in next year’s draft and will present quite a challenge for the OSU secondary. Although the defensive passing numbers have been fairly good for Ohio St. this season, Torrence and Chekwa have had some tough games. I will lose my mind if Arkansas is able to pick us apart with the short passing game because too much cushion is given to their wide outs. Both corners will need to be at the top of their game come Jan. 4 if Ohio St. wants to leave New Orleans with a victory.


Mark May talking points- The SEC is fast, they play a tougher schedule than us, god is partial to them, Ohio St. is 0-9 against them in bowl games, they are REALLY fast, and the conference is filled with a bunch of money hungry cheaters (that last one is true but never gets the play it should). These are the story-lines that will be visited and re-visited ad nauseum for the next month leading up to the game. I am ecstatic that the Buckeyes will get the chance to square off against the SEC once again but am not looking forward to hearing about how slow and boring the Big Ten is. Hopefully this year, the media assault won’t be as bad as seasons past. There are 3 teams from our great conference in the top 8 of the BCS standings. That is by far the most impressive showing by a single conference this year and hopefully the national pundits will take notice. Las Vegas seems to have noticed as they have made the Buckeye’s an early 3 point favorite for the Sugar Bowl.

Ohio State vs. Florida State - Game Notes

- First things first, great victory for the Buckeyes. Florida State is not ranked, but they are a very tough team to play against. They remind me a lot of Cavs teams from 2-3 years ago, under former head coach Mike Brown. Very, very tough defense, but incompetent at times on the offensive end. They have a lot of big men, and a lot of tall wing players, but the lack of a true point guard hurts them, and can stall movement.

He did very well last night

- When he plays aggressively, Chris Singleton is one of the better players in the ACC. He is already a game changer on defense. He had plenty of blocks, and even had a steal against Aaron Craft. Fran Fraschilla made a point during the broadcast of how the Ohio State big men play into contact, while the FSU big men avoid it. If Singleton can learn to embrace the contact on offense, you will see this guy in the NBA (lockouts pending).

- I would like to single out a player or two after every game that really impressed me, but I have a feeling that will be very difficult this season. I am impressed by every player on this team almost every time they play. I will try to be brief for each guy, so join me after the break:

Referees, BCS Thoughts

Just that stud.
AP Photo/Amy Sancetta

All during the game on Saturday against Michigan, referees were like hawks when it came to unsportsmanlike conduct. This included fighting (which, there was plenty of) excessive celebration, and holding up gloves to the 7th largest crowd for the OSU-Michigan game. Wait, what?

Yes, the referees had the balls to penalize Ohio State players all game long for holding up their hands and with the Nike provided gloves that formed a block "O". Of course, this didn't stop the Buckeyes, because hell, this is THE Game, and nothing was going to stop them from celebrating like they were supposed to. Look, I don't have a problem with referees flagging players for excessive celebration, but holding up your hands and forming a Block O isn't anything against the opposing team. Mr. Jay Z, sir, that is a penalty.

If Nike gives Pro Combat uniforms, and they also hand out the gloves, then the team in question also has to wear the gloves. It's just how it works. So why is that every time they did what they were told, Ohio State was penalized? Obviously it's not Nike's fault. They've done it before, and here, and here, and here. This is a lot of penalty's waiting to happen. There were no flags at all in those games, everyone seemed to think it was the next big fashion statement for the NCAA. Which by the way, I think the gloves look amazing and wish they would wear them every game.

Penn St. Week Baby!

The bye week was good for the team but it sucked for me. It just didn't feel right not watching the Buckeyes on a Saturday afternoon in November. Luckily I had the Browns dismantling of the Patriots on Sunday (Peyton Hillis is a BEAST!!) to pass the weekend but it's time for Buckeye football again!

- After Tom Bradley and Galen Hall… I mean Joe Paterno secured the victory against Northwestern last weekend the coaching legend hit the unthinkable 400 win plateau. JoePa has had a long and illustrious career as the head man in Happy Valley indeed. However, it didn’t look good for the old man early on against the Wildcats as Northwestern built a 21-0 lead behind the solid play of Dan Persa. Once Penn St. remembered that they were playing NU, at home no less, PSU stormed back with 35 unanswered points and iced the game away in the fourth quarter. After a bunch of hugging, crying and a speech that was tough to decipher, Paterno declared that it was time to “go and beat Ohio St.”

OK, now I have solid proof that the guy is going senile. Pandering to the home crowd is always fun and gets the locals all hootin’ and hollerin’. In fact, I imagine there is a lot of hootin’ and hollerin’, moonshine stills and barn raisings in and around Happy Valley. However, he fell just short of guaranteeing a victory against the Buckeyes on the road. OSU has been a near lock in the Shoe all season and Penn St. hardly comes to town with the same caliber team as the 2008 squad. Good luck boys.

BOOM

 •Daniel “Sonic Boom” Herron has claimed the undisputed top spot on the depth chart in preparation for PSU on Saturday. Nobody was really all that surprised at the announcement but this was the first week that Herron and Saine weren’t listed as co-starters. That is big stuff! Tressel loves to go all “Mangenious” on us at times and keep the fan base guessing as to who will get the most carries. Herron has definitely proved that he is the guy to tote the rock for the Buckeyes on a regular basis. I could sit here all day and complain about how Hyde, Berry and Hall aren’t getting enough looks but it wouldn’t do any good. Tressel apparently doesn’t tune in to my mindless rants about the running back position very often. Saine has found a home lining up in the slot and catching passes out of the backfield in recent weeks. Why it took this coaching staff so long to know how to best utilize the talent of Saine is anybody’s guess. I think the title of “Ohio Mr. Football” clouded their judgments for the better part of 2 seasons.

Finally, he is living up to some of the hype bestowed on him at the beginning of his Ohio St. career. Saine has 5 touchdown passes to his credit this season to go along with the 2 he gained on the ground in the opener. It’s not that the coaching staff didn’t know he would be effective in this role, it’s the fact that they aren’t running him up the middle for 1 yard gains anymore. Cheers to JT and co. for getting that one right.

Projected BCS

ESPN came out with their BCS Projections for the first poll. Here's the list

1. Boise
2. Oregon
3. TCU
4. Oklahoma
5. Ohio State
6. LSU
7. Nebraska
8. Auburn
9. MSU
10. Alabama

While I don't agree with the list, I do have to say that MSU is right where they should be. They are a team on the rise, but they can't be in the top 5. I can also understand Oregon being #2, but some things have to change. Here's my personal list:

1. Oregon
2. Ohio State
3. Boise State
4. Oklahoma
5. Nebraska
6. LSU
7. Auburn
8. TCU
9. MSU
10. Alabama/Utah - Utah is undefeated..but Bama is an overall stronger team.

Your thoughts?

MJ Doesn't like LBJ's decision either.

Mr. Air Jordan himself finally gave a comment on the whole Lebron fiasco, telling reporters that

"There's no way, with hindsight, I would've ever called up Larry, called up Magic and said, 'Hey, look, let's get together and play on one team,' " Jordan said after playing in a celebrity golf tournament in Nevada. "But that's ... things are different. I can't say that's a bad thing. It's an opportunity these kids have today. In all honesty, I was trying to beat those guys."

It's obvious to me that Jordan doesn't like Lebron's decision. Maybe not as much as Cleveland fans, but he gets it. There is no doubt that Lebron can never be considered one of the greats. This isn't out of anger, at least, anymore. It's just fact.

Lebron ruined his legacy, because he couldn't win a championship "by himself". He could have easily tried to get someone, Chris Paul, or a rookie even, to come to Cleveland. Instead, he took the easy way out and now is going to pay heavily for it. Sure we can continue to poke fun at him, burn his jeresys and whatnot, but the fact won't change that he set a terrible example for kids trying to be just like him in the future. If the next Lebron James wants to be like Lebron, what is he to do? 

More Expansion Chances.

When Nebraska decided to join the Big Ten, and Colorado and OK State(?) chose the Pac 10, you had to wonder what would happen to the rest of the Big 12, and the college landscape. Here's what I think will happen.



First off, Texas, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and OK State (already there) will join the Pac 10. There, I said it, even though I hate it. Giving Oklahoma and especially Texas to the Pac 10 is like giving a dictator nuclear bombs. The Pac 10 will be strong. The thing that happens next will even it out a bit.

With that, the Big Ten will try to add Notre Dame, seeing the power brewing from the Pac-Whatever. If, and only if Notre Dame accepts, will the Big Ten then take Missouri to even out the divisions again. Everything else will stay exactly the same. I could see Kansas, Baylor, and Kansas State going independent. I don't see any other scenario playing out except maybe Kansas bolting to a weaker conference. After that the divisions of the Big Ten will take place. For more on that, head over to this post from the Rivalry Esq.

So, how do you think it will turn out? Will we get Notre Dame? Or will the expansion stop here for the Big Ten?

Hangover.

We feel the same way right now.

With the hangover of the Game 5 loss looming over me, I couldn't bring myself to do a Spring Finals, so expect the WR's tommorow. The Cavs played so terrible, I didn't think it was possible they were a 1 seed. I think LeBrowns' Town said it best when one of their writers stated that the Cavs think they can turn it on at any point in the game, no matter how much they are down by, and win. Well, we see where that cockiness has gotten them. This venting is feeling pretty good, but I feel like a hypocrite since earlier I thought it was bad that all the Cavs writers were destroying Lebron and the Cavs, and I mean absolutely ripping them. I can understand where they are coming from, and I did just do it, but still. I shouldn't have.

David Lighty broke his left foot. Again. My heart goes out to him, and I hope he will be able to play come this fall/winter. If he can, that would be good news for our championship hopes. How ironic that we are all sitting here pouting over a championship season going down the drains (almost, it's not over till the fat lady sings!) and yet were looking ahead to 2 sports where we could win a Championship. Buckeye basketball and football. How about that?

The Reds are doing pretty well, winning against the Pirates last night in which Johnny Cueto had a 1 hitter. Oh so close. Some writers are saying that they might be able to finish above .500 this year, and try and compete for that NL!

So that's all I've got for you today. Sorry I didn't put a Spring Finals up. I need another writer with me, so if any one's interested drop a comment. Or email us @ insidetheshoe2009@hotmail.com. Thanks!

Some retaliation for Bleacher Report.

For those of you that don't know yet, Bleacher Report came out with a post today, regarding what Mark Titus had said on the Bill Simmons show. Let's break down what he said.

I write this because I am sick of reading the trite Titus has been spewing about Turner. I read his blogs. In most every statement he demeans and insults Turner in an effort to be cheeky. Now I know kidding around when I hear it. Fun is fun; but more and more Titus insinuates negative things about Turner's character and paints him in a less than flattering light.
Let's get one thing straight Mark Titus, the only reason you have access to Mr. Turner is because you are along for the ride.

First off, let's get one thing straight. These guys are buddies, messing around with each other constantly. They have little "tweet" battles, and mess around with each other. That's what friends do..next, again and again, Titus has said that Turner is the best player in the country, and rightfully deserves the Naismith trophy. The reason Mark Titus "has access" is because he walked on, and decided to try and earn a spot playing. Just because he didn't doesn't make him less of a person. He tried, and that's what counts, because he makes the best of it every day.
 
Mark Titus tweets disparaging remarks about Turner as they ride the bus home from a game that Turner has won for them. He invades the privacy and betrays the confidences of his teammates. Let's face it, we all know his blogs are read because he blogs Turner's name in them just so people will hit his site. We all know the deal here.

As I said before, the tweets are normal fun for kids their age, and Turner does it right back to Titus. You don't see anyone getting upset over this, it's a look into superstar life by a regular individual, is that so wrong? The reason his blog is popular is because he's one of the first benchwarmers to ever try blogging in his situation. He doesn't put Turner's name in there to get hits, he started writing because he did it with 2 other guys on his team. They thought it would be a fun project, and it exploded. Not really a bad thing.

I, for one, can understand Turner throwing the ball at him. He rebounded for a guy who will never see any minutes. A guy who takes pride in that fact.

So now it's OK for a freshman to beam balls at another freshman. Titus had an opportunity to play, but he couldn't make it. Doesn't give him any right to make him feel like he is higher than Titus.

What kind of person takes advantage of a triumph he has done nothing, nothing to earn? Then, in the next moment, turns around and disses the tournament MVP in a tweet; "Evan Turner is listening to Lady Gaga..." What is that about?

I do believe that Turner turned right back at him on Twitter saying that Lady Gaga was awesome. They are poking fun at each other. Stars always need a couple of people to bring them back to earth once in awhile. If it was so bad, don't you think Turner would have asked him to stop by now?

In this story, Mark Titus is the villain. In this story the villain doesn't win. In this story the villain loses everything and learn a lesson lesson. Jerks don't prosper.
I implore the fans to boycott this Trillion club. Don't let Mark Titus believe he is bigger than the Buckeye team. Don't let anyone think that one part is greater, than the whole.

Mark has never been considered a Villain, and your the only one who seems to think so. If jerks don't prosper, why are you writing a post on a college kid poking some fun at his teammate, which by the way he said later that Turner was level-headed, and brilliant, and writes a blog with his friends help? We won't boycott Club Tril, and Titus has never thought he was bigger than the Buckeye team.

The Buckeyes won't be losing anything...nothing at all.

Except, maybe, someone that inspires the players, or a friend, but most importantly, a teammate. He has been on this team for 4 years, and no one has had a problem. If you look at your post's comments you will see almost no one agrees with you here, and that you are sadly mistaken if what you think is that this is all real things that Titus says to Turner just to make him mad. Again, Titus has said Turner is an outstanding athlete, and a great person to be around.

Quotes from: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/368607-titus-of-club-trillion-should-be-kicked-off-the-bench

/rant-over

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If anyone is interested in becoming a writer for Football, or Basketball at Inside The Shoe please let me know by leaving a comment, or dropping me an email at icuevas1011@hotmail.com or insidetheshoe2009@hotmail.com

Time for some High Expectations.

Some reasons for that would be next year's football team, known as the MNC team for tOSU, this year's basketball team, and now, the womens basketball team. All of them this year have won the Big Ten, and the las time that happend was in 2006. In 2006, the three teams won regular season championships with the women going on to win the Big Ten tourney, but the men losing to Iowa in the tournament championship game. The football team, obviously lost to Florida in the BCS Championship game, but that's only happend a couple of times. Now that we've done it again, people want results in trophies other than the Big Ten. For the Women's squad, I think they can go the distance, all the way to the final. There, they will most likely meet the Wo-Mans of UConn. They are undefeated, 30-0, and have beated almost all the teams by 20+. The closest someone has come to beating them has been 8 points. That is truly, reDONKulous. I think that would be not only a huge upset, but good for our women's basketball program as well. You don't see us posting nearly anything on the team, and tBBC posts a post done in the FanPosts, and Eleven Warriors posts mildy on them. That match up would do them some good, get exposure, and most likely get on ESPN.

Setting up for a run?

For Men's basketball, They are getting ready to take on their own Big Ten Tourny, as well as getting ready for some Madness in March. They are vying for a 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, but they need to win out, and have Duke lose 1 or 2 more. As far as Big Ten goes, I think it will end up being a re-match in the final with Michigan State, if the seeding complies. For the NCAA tournament, I see us as Sweet 16 potiental, and then maybe Elite 8. If we go to the Final Four, that would be great, as Evan Turner would really shine, (if he hasn't already, your blind). I would love to see us face off aganist John Wall and the Kentucky Wildcats, because ESPN would probably have a fit over it. The two top contenders for the POY trophy, Turner and Wall, facing off aganist each other. On the note of Turner going to the NBA or not, I can't say. I think he would like to stay here, but he want's the money, and I think he's ready, but will he? I don't know. We will most likely find out after the tourny sometime.

Teamwork will be key in both Tournys.

Both basketball teams are really good this year, and the men's, and even women's exeeded expectations already. Question will be is, can they continue it or not.

Inside The Shoe Blog update

You can't say I haven't kept my promise that we would keep making updates to the blog so we can make it easier and better for you, the reader. By now, you may or not have noticed that there are tabs underneath our picture of the Shoe. I will go through each one and explain it. First, though, I added a list of Buckeye Blogs to our Blogroll, and I made our Blog load A LOT faster, so check that out as well. So the tabs are:

Home: This was made for you guys so that when you're done reading, you don't have to go back, or re-enter http://www.insidetheshoe.com over and over again. All it does is take you back to the homepage.

About Us: This tab was just made to make more space in the sidebar. It is also easier to track down for you, the reader. It is just telling how we got started and all about the writers that you talk to.

ITS's Game Picking Center: This was one of our new ideas for the blog. For a little bit of healthy competition, I have moved our record of picking games to this, but also added a list of our writers. They, including me, will compete for fun, by picking who the winner of the next Football or Basketball game is. For Basketball, it will just be Ohio State until the March Maddness tourny, where ITS will have complete coverage (Yes, I will be writing basketball if need be). For Football, all the games that we cover with the national games of the week posts, we will predict the winners. There is no prize involved, but each month, whoever has the best record will get their name and the "trophy" on the sidebar. Here is the big thing though. Fans are welcome to participate!!! All you have to do, is comment on this post if you would like to join football, basketball, or both, and I will put your name in. Then, to send your predictions, just send them to the blog email, which can be found in the Contact Us tab.

Picture of The Week: The POW will still be posted as a regular post every Friday, but in case you ever want to look back on a picture, or want to show your friends something, we will keep links to all those POW's, and have the latest one pictured.

Contact Us: This is for you, the readers, to contact our blog staff to let us know something, ideas, tips, or you just feel like saying good job.

So, we are really excited for this, so we hope to see you commenting below saying you want to join in on the Game Picking Center!

What are the odds...

Oregon got another one. This time it's the sensational running back LeMichael James getting arrested. He was arrested for an alleged domestic violence incident. I think it's intresting that Oregon, who just came off a loss to Ohio State, is falling apart once again. Of course, the first thing to happen was the punch heard 'round the world. Then they cleaned up in time for a Rose Bowl appearance. Now they go back to Jerimieah Masoli getting (almost) jailed, and now James has to step in for more face time. Oregon is making headlines, certainly, but not in the fashion they would have hoped to this offseason. I wonder what Chip Kelly must be thinking..Would he bench the best players on his team? He's a fairly young coach that is willing to take risks, so I don't see why not. If he does, then the NCAA will come a 'callin, just like they are now with USC. I'm not going to sit here and tell you I don't like Oregon. I actually like Oregon a lot. It shocks me what these guys do. The worst part for me, though, is that no one will do anything about it. After their jail time, they will go back to trying to win game and MNC's, and no one will say anything about it. I guess that, more than anything, frustrates me about College Football. These guys are given 5 chances, knowing they have it. Then they go to the NFL, and besides some (See Maurice Clarrett) don't get weeded out. That's the saddest part for me, watching football at the college level. Anyway, just some thoughts to ponder. What do you guys think about all this?