Legend Jim Turpin updates his blog frequently. For updates, click here.

 

The schedule

Want to know which of this week's games are worth your time? Here's the scoop from sports editor Jim Rossow, who is confident in his Super Bowl pick (Steelers, 24-23) after an 8-2 week raised his record to 31-7.

SATURDAY

Michigan at No. 16 Purdue

Noon, WCIA (CBS)

Wolverines, 1-4 on the road this season, play six of their next 10 away from home.

Rossow's pick: Purdue, 80-64

Ohio State at Indiana

3 p.m., ESPN2

Past stars from Indianapolis (Ohio State's Greg Oden, Indiana's Eric Gordon) will team up during NBA's 2009 Rookie Challenge on Feb. 13.

Rossow's pick: Indiana, 64-63

Wisconsin at Northwestern

7 p.m., Big Ten Network

Badgers have dropped five straight games for the first time since 1997-98.

Rossow's pick: Northwestern, 58-53

SUNDAY

Penn State

at No. 9 Michigan State

11 a.m., Big Ten Network

Spartans in a stretch that includes five games in 13 days.

Rossow's pick: Michigan State, 75-64

Iowa at No. 19 Illinois

1 p.m., Big Ten Network

Illini have won seven in a row – and 18 of 19 – against Hawkeyes in Champaign.

Rossow's pick: Illinois, 67-51

TUESDAY

No. 16 Purdue at Ohio State

6 p.m., ESPN

Buckeyes have won nine of last 10 vs. Boilermakers.

Rossow's pick: Purdue, 69-66

WEDNESDAY

Iowa at Indiana

5:30 p.m., BTN

Hoosiers have outrebounded every Big Ten opponent.

Rossow's pick: Indiana, 37-27

Chicago State at Northwestern

7 p.m., no TV

Fans slow to catch on to league's best story: Wildcats averaging Big Ten-low 4,132 fans.

Rossow's pick: Northwestern, 69-59

Minnesota

at No. 9 Michigan State

7:30 p.m., Big Ten Network

Gophers haven't won (officially) in East Lansing since 1990.

Rossow's pick: Michigan State, 60-59

THURSDAY

Penn State at Michigan

6 p.m., Big Ten Network

Nittany Lions have won three straight Big Ten games for the first time since 2001.

Rossow's pick: Michigan, 70-67

No. 19 Illinois at Wisconsin

8 p.m., ESPN2

Ninth ranked opponent for the Badgers, tops in the nation.

Rossow's pick: Wisconsin, 65-60

Jim Rossow's random thoughts

SEEING RED

In the Big Ten, only Michigan State has a longer NCAA tournament streak than Wisconsin (the Spartans have made the field consecutively since 1998, the Badgers '99). But the question isn't whether the Badgers can rally to make it 11 in a row – that probably won't happen; in fact, their current five-game drought could easily stretch to eight before Iowa visits on Feb. 11 – but instead, will next season be worse? The youngsters look wobbly, and Marcus Landry and Joe Krabbenhoft will graduate.

FEELING BLUE

Not long ago, Michigan was in the Top 25 and on the way to its first NCAA tournament berth since 1998. That's before Manny Harris went cold, Zack Novak lost his cool and the Wolverines dropped four of five. The schedule says it will get worse: Purdue, likely new No. 1 Connecticut and Michigan State are on tap in the next 10 days. Hard to believe every Big Ten team except Northwestern has been to the NCAA tournament since Michigan last made it. It might take John Beilein another season to end the drought.

TAKING IT ONE TICKET AT A TIME

Illinois always seems to make a long run at the Big Ten tournament. But if you're nervous about the Illini's chances and don't want to chance all-tournament tickets, the single-session route might be your best bet. Those go on sale at 9 a.m. Monday (www.ticketmaster.com or 317-239-5151) and range from $30 to $75 depending on session and seat location. Illinois seems likely to earn no lower than a No. 5 seed, assuring a first-day bye at the March 12-15 event in Indianapolis.

Temperature check

Who's hot

KEVIN COBLE

He scored his 1,000th career point against Indiana and continued his push for the Big Ten scoring lead (conference games only). That doesn't happen often in Evanston. Ray Ragelis was the last Wildcat to pull it off, averaging 19.8 in 1951. Coble (18.0) trails only Michigan State's Kalin Lucas (18.8) for the top spot. Did we mention Coble leads the Big Ten in steals, too?

PENN STATE'S MARKETING DEPARTMENT

Last week, the Nittany Lions let their fans pose with the Big Ten football championship trophy. When Wisconsin visits on Feb. 8, they're upping the ante. Bryce Jordan Center doors will open 30 minutes early so folks can hang out with the Phillie Phanatic and the World Series trophy, which will remain on display until the 10-minute mark of the first half.

OHIO STATE COACHES VS. MICHIGAN

Jim Tressel isn't the only one on campus who owns the Wolverines. Wednesday's win upped Thad Matta's record against Michigan to 9-1. Women's basketball coach Jim Foster is even better, going 9-0 against Michigan. Tressel is 7-1.

Who's warm

JOE KRABBENHOFT

Burly Badger is catching flak for the hard pick he set on reigning N-G All-State Player of the Year Lewis Jackson on Tuesday. Jackson needed smelling salts to recover. But at least one person inside Kohl Center had to be impressed: former Badger and current Baltimore Ravens safety Jim Leonhard, who floored a Big Ten opponent or two on the football field.

IOWA AND TICKETS

The Hawkeyes still aren't drawing many fans, but they're having fun trying. According to the Iowa City Press-Citizen, the Hawkeyes visited sororities to drum up support in advance of Thursday's game against Michigan State, in which students were allowed free entry. "We asked who's coming, and most of them raised their hands," freshman Matt Gatens said.

MANNY HARRIS

One-time Big Ten MVP candidate is scoring less but rebounding more. With back-to-back 12-rebound efforts, the sophomore has bumped his average to 7.8, tying DeShawn Sims for the team lead. His next rebound will be No. 300 in his career.

Who's cold

VERDELL JONES IN HIS HOME STATE

The two-time News-Gazette All-Stater from Champaign Central has had trouble with turnovers in his two games in Illinois. Against the Illini, the freshman had six turnovers. That was a season-high before he made seven against Northwestern on Wednesday. For the season, Jones is averaging 3.4 turnovers per game.

PENN STATE AT THE LINE

At 65 percent, the Nittany Lions rank last in the Big Ten. No surprise considering Penn State hasn't made 70 percent of its free throws since the 2002-03 season.

BADGERS

They're streaking in the wrong direction: consecutive losses at Kohl Center for the first time since 1997-98, Bo Ryan's first five-game losing streak since 1984 (when he was at Wisconsin-Platteville) and four straight losses to Purdue, tying Illinois' streak from 2005-06 for the longest by a Wisconsin opponent in the Ryan era.

Gimme fives

This week's rankings, courtesy sports editor Jim Rossow

Big Ten MVP

PLAYER PREVIOUS

1. Kalin Lucas, Michigan St. 2

2. Robbie Hummel, Purdue –

3. Kevin Coble, Northwestern 1

4. Talor Battle, Penn State 3

5. Evan Turner, Ohio State –

illinois MVP

ILLINI PREVIOUS

1. Seniors –

2. Mike Tisdale 2

3. Demetri McCamey 3

4. Mike Davis 4

5. Dominique Keller –

Coach of the Year

COACH PREVIOUS

1. Tubby Smith, Minnesota 2

2. Bruce Weber, Illinois 1

3. Ed DeChellis, Penn State 3

4. Bill Carmody, Northwestern 4

5. John Beilein, Michigan 5

All-6 foot and under

TINY TOT (HT.) TEAM

Lewis Jackson (5-9) Purdue

Michael Thompson (5-10) Northwestern

Jeff Peterson (6-0) Iowa

Talor Battle (5-11) Penn State

Lawrence Westbrook (6-0) Minnesota