B5Q Blogopean Union: CHAMPIONS! CHAMPIONS! CHAMPIONS!

Good morning! This is going to be a daily(ish) post that discusses the goings on of the rest of the Big Ten Conference, and the country as needed. Much like the European Union, the Big Ten is a loosely confederated group of entities that sometimes have the same goals (like free movement of people between countries or not winning national titles in football or basketball) and sometimes accept new members that they later regret (Estonia or Rutgers).

We hope that you will use this post to comment on things happening around the conference and also as a sort of daily open thread to discuss breaking news or argue about Spotted Cow.

• A Reddit user compiled an interesting list of the “top” teams of the KenPom era (since 2002). You’ll note that the 2015 Wisconsin Badgers are ranked No. 6! That’s pretty good.

/u/bogadi on Reddit /r/cbb

You’ll also note that the 2015 Kentucky Wildcats are ranked No. 1 (LMAO) and the 2015 Arizona Wildcats are ranked No. 15. 2015 champ, Duke, is ranked No. 14. What a BRUTAL gauntlet the Badgers went through and still probably, could’ve, maybe, should’ve (?) won the national title that year.

A commenter on the post notes that comparing teams from different years isn’t the way KenPom intended his rankings to be used, but this is still an interesting look at, generally, who the best teams have been over the last 17 years.

• The women’s soccer team beat Illinois 1-0 on Thursday night via another Dani Rhodes goal and THEY CLINCHED A SHARE OF THE B1G REGULAR SEASON TITLE!

Per the Big Ten’s press release: “The victory gives the Badgers 25 points in conference play this year, three more than Michigan and Rutgers — Wisconsin has two games remaining in the regular season, while Michigan and Rutgers each have one to play.”

• Check out those red pants!

• Maybe the voters didn’t see the Illinois game?

I’m kidding! Paul Chryst is a good coach who deserves to be on this watch list.

• Doesn’t have a big enough head to be a Manning, but congrats to Jack Coan nonetheless.

• As a multi-year men’s hockey season ticket holder when I was in school I’d like to wish Phil a speedy recovery.

PHIL! PHIL PHIL PHIL! PHIL PHIL PHIL! PHIL PHIL PHILLLLLLLLLLLL!

• Tough loss for the Badgers lethal power play heading into the series against Clarkson.

Are more people sick? Whose fault is this?? WHICH ONE OF YOU DIDN’T WASH YOUR HANDS??????? IT’S FLU SEASON!!!

• Speaking of lethal power plays. Hoo boy!

• Man, people plan ahead to get out of Nebraska.

• On the other hand, some people overstay their welcome.

• I don’t think A.J. Epenesa should be allowed to play against Northwestern’s offensive line. There has to be a rule about that somewhere.
• Penn State grabbed a 2020 3-star JUCO big man to round out their class.
• Dude couldn’t even make it three weeks before de-committing from Nebraska.
• I...did not know that the preseason college basketball Coaches Poll came out on Thursday. The Badgers received six votes!

Michigan State is still No. 1, Maryland is No. 8, Ohio State is No. 16, Saint Mary’s is No. 20, Purdue is No. 22, Auburn is No. 23 and Tennessee is No. 25.

• Why is the Rutgers football job appealing? Well, because you won’t have high expectations.
• A whole host of blue-chip recruits will be at the Ohio State/Wisconsin game on Saturday. It would certainly be a shame if...something happened to the lights and they couldn’t finish the game, thus allowing the Badgers to declare victory.
• Land-Grant Holy Land breakdown of the Badgers/Buckeyes matchup.
• Roundup of Minnesota’s local basketball media day. The Gophers should look pretty different than last year’s squad.