All week, ESPN.com has been breaking down the nonconference schedules of each and every team in a dozen different leagues. On Tuesday, we began with the ACC , SEC and C-USA . On Wednesday, we continued with the Big East , Atlantic 10 and Colonial . We devoted Thursday to the West, with the Pac-12 , WCC and Mountain West . Friday is all about the Midwest. We began with a look at the Missouri Valley and the Big 12 and finish up with the Big Ten … ILLINOIS Toughest : Gonzaga (Dec. 3), vs. UNLV in Chicago (Dec. 17), vs. Missouri in St. Louis (Dec. 22) Next-toughest : Cancun Challenge (Nov. 22-23), at Maryland (Nov. 29) The rest : Loyola-Chicago (Nov. 11), SIU Edwardsville (Nov. 14), Lipscomb (Nov. 17), Chicago State (Nov. 27), St. Bonaventure (Dec. 7), Coppin State (Dec. 11), Cornell (Dec. 19) Toughness scale (1-10): 7 — This is your standard Illinois schedule. The Illini have a couple of legitimate true road and home challenges, one against Gonzaga and the other in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge at rebuilding Maryland, and the addition of two typical neutral-site games — the Braggin’ Rights rivalry game with Missouri in St. Louis and a quasi-home game against UNLV at the United Center — mean the schedule isn’t totally forgiving. The Cancun Challenge doesn’t offer much — Richmond is the toughest opponent in that tournament — but even so, the Illini have a handful of chances to prove themselves in challenging situations. INDIANA Toughest : at NC State (Nov. 30), Kentucky (Dec.
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Nonconference schedule analysis: Big Ten
Filed under Basketball, News by on Oct 7th, 2011. Comment. 
All week, ESPN.com has been breaking down the nonconference schedules of each and every team in a dozen different leagues. On Tuesday, we began with the ACC , SEC and C-USA . On Wednesday, we continued with the Big East , Atlantic 10 and Colonial . We devoted Thursday to the West, with the Pac-12 , WCC and Mountain West . Friday is all about the Midwest. Let’s begin with a look at the Missouri Valley… BRADLEY Toughest : Chicago Invitational Challenge (Nov. 25-26), at Michigan (Dec. 22) Next-toughest : at George Washington (Dec. 15), at Drexel (Dec. 17), BracketBusters (home) The rest : UMKC (Nov. 13), Southeast Missouri State (Nov. 16), North Dakota (Nov. 19), Wofford (Nov. 22), at Wyoming (Dec.
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Nonconference schedule analysis: MVC
Filed under Basketball by on Oct 7th, 2011. Comment.
For the rest of the week, ESPN.com will be breaking down the nonconference schedules of each and every team in a dozen different leagues. On Tuesday, we began with the ACC , SEC and C-USA . On Wednesday, we continued with the Big East , Atlantic 10 and Colonial . We are devoting Thursday to the West, with the Pac-12 , WCC and now the new-look Mountain West … AIR FORCE Toughest : Colorado (Nov. 23), at Gonzaga (Dec. 22) Next-toughest : Cable Car Classic (Dec. 29-30) The rest : All-Military Classic (Nov.
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Nonconference schedule analysis: MWC
Filed under Basketball by on Oct 6th, 2011. Comment.
For the rest of the week, ESPN.com will be breaking down the nonconference schedules of each and every team in a dozen different leagues. On Tuesday, we began with the ACC , SEC and C-USA . On Wednesday, we continued with the Big East , Atlantic 10 and Colonial . We are devoting Thursday to the West, beginning with the Pac-12 and now continuing with the newly expanded West Coast Conference … BYU Toughest : Chicago Invitational Challenge (Nov. 25-26), Baylor (Dec. 17), at Virginia Tech (Jan. 25) Next-toughest : at Utah State (Nov. 11), vs
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Nonconference schedule analysis: WCC
Filed under Basketball by on Oct 6th, 2011. Comment.
For the rest of the week, ESPN.com will be breaking down the nonconference schedules of each and every team in a dozen different leagues. We began with the ACC and will continue later today with Conference USA. For now, the SEC … ALABAMA Toughest : Puerto Rico Tip-Off (Nov. 17-20), Georgetown (Dec. 1), vs. Kansas State in Kansas City (Dec. 17), vs. Oklahoma State in Birmingham (Dec. 21) Next-toughest : Oakland (Nov. 14), VCU (Nov. 27), at Dayton (Dec. 7), Detroit (Dec. 11), at Georgia Tech (Jan. 3) The rest : North Florida (Nov. 11), Alabama A&M (Nov. 23), Jacksonville (Dec. 29) Toughness scale (1-10): 8 — Anthony Grant puts his team in a great position for a big year with this schedule. The Crimson Tide shouldn’t be on the bubble, but unlike last season, if they are then it won’t be because of a cushy nonconference slate. There are more quality opponents than cupcakes, and yet there is not a team the Tide is overmatched against. It all starts in Puerto Rico, where Alabama opens with Maryland and then either MVC co-favorite Wichita State or Colorado. A potential matchup with Purdue or Temple could await in the final. ARKANSAS Toughest : at Connecticut (Dec. 3), Michigan (Jan. 21) Next-toughest : Oakland (Nov. 16), at Oklahoma (Dec. 10) The rest : USC Upstate (Nov. 11), vs. Houston in Little Rock (Nov. 18), Utah Valley (Nov. 22), Grambling State (Nov. 26), Mississippi Valley State (Nov. 30), Southeastern Louisiana (Dec. 17), Eastern Kentucky (Dec
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Nonconference schedule analysis: SEC
Filed under Basketball, Football by on Oct 4th, 2011. Comment.
But that appears to have failed, the sources said.â If that just sounds wrong to you, then… Source: CBS2 Chicago
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Wisch: At The Root Of Sports’ Evils, You’ll Find ESPN
Filed under News by on Sep 20th, 2011. Comment.
Jabari Parker is the real deal. This spring, some buddies and I made a trip to DePaul’s campus gym to see him play in a city tournament game for his storied high school program here in Chicago, Simeon High School, which also produced NBA MVP Derrick Rose. Even as a sophomore with a huge amount of hype, Parker didn’t disappoint: He’s huge (6-foot-8, 220 pounds, and probably still growing), versatile (he dominated in the paint but also stepped out to handle the ball and hit jumpers) and noticeably competitive (I don’t remember seeing him coast on a single possession). As Sports Illustrated’s Seth Davis discovered this summer, Parker is also a fascinating, thoughtful kid with a winning attitude. Like I said: He’s the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2013 for a reason. He’s the real deal. Still, you don’t see this kind of gathering from college basketball coaches all that often. On Tuesday, 40 college coaches — 40! — made the trip to Simeon High to watch Parker play at open gym. As Gary Parrish noted yesterday , Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski even showed up in a limo, because Coach K balls so hard, that [stuff's] crazy . ESPN Chicago’s Scott Powers was on hand for the event , and it sounds a little surreal: Krzyzewski was among 40 coaches who took in Simeon’s open gym on Tuesday. DePaul coach Oliver Purnell, Illinois coach Bruce Weber, Kansas coach Bill Self, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, North Carolina coach Roy Williams, Ohio State coach Thad Matta and Texas A&M coach Billy Kennedy were among some of the other coaches in attendance. “It was crazy,” said Simeon coach Rob Smith of all the coaches. “It’s something I’ve never been around in my years of coaching.” With a few exceptions, that roster is a who’s who of elite college coaches. You know a player is touted when this many guys are willing to take a flight (and a limo!) through the brutal O’Hare traffic to watch a guy who still has two more years of high school basketball in front of him. Yep, everybody loves Jabari. There’s got to be a sitcom pitch in here somewhere.
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Nation’s elite coaches gather for star recruit
Filed under Basketball by on Sep 14th, 2011. Comment.
The first round pick for Chicago from the Texas Longhorns was released by the Bears after two arrests on alcohol-related charges, and it is no surprise he has not been given a… Source: ESPN STAR Sports
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NFL: Bradshaw signs Giants deal
Filed under Basketball, News by on Aug 3rd, 2011. Comment.
Williams was a legend in Texas , a native of Odessa who starred for the Longhorns. But after he was selected seventh overall by the Detroit Lions , he had a turbulent run and eventually was traded to the Dallas… Source: Chicago Bears Blog from The Chicago Sun-Times
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Bears expected to sign WR Roy Williams
Filed under News by on Jul 29th, 2011. Comment.
The Big Ten on Tuesday announced kickoff times and some TV plans for the first three weeks of games this coming season. Details for Penn State’s Week 3 matchup at Temple, Wisconsin’s Week 3 matchup against Northern Illinois at Chicago’s Soldier Field and Indiana’s opener against Ball State at Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium will be announced at a later date. Several of these already have been revealed, but let’s check out the full list from the league. I’ve broken this up by team: ILLINOIS Sept. 3: Arkansas State, 3:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network Sept. 10: South Dakota State, noon ET, Big Ten Network Sept. 17: Arizona State, 7 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network INDIANA Sept. 3: vs. Ball State (at Indianapolis), kickoff and TV plans TBA Sept. 10: Virginia, 7 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network Sept. 17: South Carolina State, 3:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network Sept. 24: at North Texas, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN3 IOWA Sept. 3: Tennessee Tech, noon ET, Big Ten Network Sept. 10: at Iowa State, noon ET, Fox Sports Net Sept. 17: Pittsburgh, noon ET, ESPN or ESPN2 MICHIGAN Sept. 3: Western Michigan, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC (ESPN2 mirror) Sept. 10: Notre Dame, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN Sept. 17: Eastern Michigan, noon ET, Big Ten Network MICHIGAN STATE Sept.
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Big Ten kick times, TV for first 3 weeks
Filed under Football by on Jun 7th, 2011. Comment.
