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Want to know which of the upcoming week's games are worth your time? Here's the scoop from sports editor Jim Rossow, who credits his time on the ESPN GameDay bus for his season-best 9-1 week:

SATURDAY

Minnesota at Penn State

1 p.m., Big Ten Network

Point guard Al Nolen (academic casualty) still practicing with Gophers, but not traveling.

Rossow's pick: Penn State, 56-50

Wisconsin at Michigan

3 p.m., WCIA (CBS)

Wolverines already have beaten two ranked teams (Ohio State, Connecticut).

Rossow's pick: Wisconsin, 65-60

Michigan State at Illinois

8 p.m., ESPN

Illini trying to become first home (men's) team this season to win with GameDay in town (Clemson, Kansas State).

Rossow's pick: Illinois, 75-72

SUNDAY

Iowa at Ohio State

11 a.m., Big Ten Network

Hawkeyes haven't won a road game against a ranked team since beating No. 21 Indiana in 2006.

Rossow's pick: Ohio State, 72-44

Indiana at Northwestern

1:30 p.m., Big Ten Network

True freshmen have scored 742points for the Hoosiers, easily the most in the Big Ten.

Rossow's pick: Northwestern 85-71

TUESDAY

Illinois at Wisconsin

6 p.m., Big Ten Network

Badgers are 13-0 at Kohl Center this season and 132-10 at home under Bo Ryan.

Rossow's pick: Wisconsin 59-52.

Purdue at Michigan State

8 p.m., ESPN

Third of five consecutive games on ESPN for the popular Spartans.

Rossow's pick: Purdue, 69-68

WEDNESDAY

Ohio State at Indiana

5:30 p.m., Big Ten Network

Buckeyes guard William Buford averaging 14.7 points in his last 16 games.

Rossow's pick: Ohio State, 71-60

Northwestern at Iowa

7:30 p.m., Big Ten Network

Hawkeyes' bench has outscored opponents' subs in three consecutive games.

Rossow's pick: Northwestern, 81-56

THURSDAY

Michigan at Minnesota

6 p.m., ESPN

Manny Harris said Tuesday he'll be back for his senior season.

Rossow's pick: Minnesota, 70-59

Jim Rossow's random thoughts

WHO'S GOT NEXT?

Bloomington-based John Althoff worked for years to get Illinois on the GameDay schedule. The Illini's recent success, potential and TV ratings made it possible. So when will Rece Davis & Co. be back in town? "It's difficult for any school to get GameDay back the following year for a lot of reasons," said Althoff, State Farm's collegiate sports sponsorship coordinator. "Conferences put a lot of weight in it, and they have to deal with everyone in their conference." The best bet for a return trip to C-U might be 2013. "The way Illinois projects, they'll have a great shot at hosting again."

HISTORY LESSON

Althoff thought Illinois had a good chance of hosting GameDay in 2005-06, when the Illini were coming off their NCAA runner-up finish and had Dee Brown at point. "But arranging GameDay is like putting together a huge jigsaw puzzle," Althoff said. "It didn't work out." GameDay has made previous Big Ten stops at Michigan State, Ohio State, Indiana and Wisconsin. Saturday marks the second stop in Illinois, the crew setting up at Southern Illinois in 2008. The all-time leader in GameDay appearances: Kansas with three. Kentucky will draw even with the Jayhawks next weekend.

PAIN STATE

One gym GameDay likely won't be dropping in is Bryce Jordan Center, home of Ed DeChellis' woebegone Nittany Lions. At 0-8, it's time to start wondering if Penn State will become the only school other than Northwestern to finish winless in Big Ten play in the modern era (the Wildcats were 0-18 in 1990-91 and 0-16 in 1999-2000). Today marks Penn State's best chance to end the skid as Minnesota visits. The other four home games are against Michigan State, Ohio State, Purdue and Northwestern. Road games remain at Michigan State, Northwestern and Michigan.

Temperature check

who's hot

WILDCATS AT HOME

Last season, Northwestern set a school record with 13 wins at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The hot-shooting, fun-loving Wildcats should have no problem passing that total. At 11-3 – with all losses to Top 25 teams – Northwestern will be favored in its final four home games against Indiana, Minnesota, Penn State and Chicago State.

BILL FRIEDER

Sent packing by Bo Schembechler in a move that spurred Michigan's run to the 1989 NCAA title, the bedraggled coach will be back on campus today for the 25-year reunion of the 1984-85 Wolverines. For all the flak Frieder took for bolting to Arizona State, Michigan doesn't make the Final Four without the talent Frieder recruited. Also expected to show: Gary Grant, Antoine Joubert, Leslie Rockymore, Steve Stoyko, Garde Thompson and Butch Wade.

BADGERS AGAINST THE BEST

Tuesday's beatdown of No. 5 Michigan State marked Wisconsin's third win against a Top 10 team this season (No. 6 Duke, No. 4 Purdue), joining Syracuse as the only team to do it in 2009-10. It's the fourth time in school history the Badgers have beaten three Top 10 teams in a season (1951-52, 1988-89, 1999-2000).

who's warm

ILLINOIS GAME TIMES

And you thought Saturday was the last time Junior had to stay up late to watch the Illini? Turns out there is one more 8 p.m. start on the schedule: March 2 at Ohio State. Tipoff was set this week. The good news is that ESPN will carry the Illini's final true road game of the season.

ZACK NOVAK

He won't make it back to the NCAA tournament, but the Michigan sophomore is standing out on campus. The only sophomore captain in program history, the lefty is doing well on the court (7.4 points, 4.7 rebounds) and off it (on Thursday, he was named an Academic All-America District IV first-teamer).

CHRIS KRAMER

He's been called out by his coach for not meeting defensive expectations, but the Purdue guard still was named a finalist for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. Seniors who meet criteria in four areas of excellence – classroom, character, community and competition – are eligible.

WHO'S COLD

OHIO STATE'S BUDGET

Despite a national ranking and Evan Turner, Ohio State hasn't generated much buzz on campus. Even last weekend's 50th anniversary of the 1960 national championship team failed to produce a sellout. As a result, athletic director Gene Smith said the program could lose more than the $350,000 it did a year ago.

IOWA PART I

Iowa's 8-15 record is the school's worst after 23 games since 1974-75, when the Hawkeyes began 7-16 during Lute Olson's first year. Iowa's 2-8 Big Ten mark ties the school's worst record after 10 league games.

IOWA PART II

How bad is Iowa's shooting? For the first time since the 1945 season, the Hawkeyes failed to reach 50 points in back-to-back games against Illinois. Then again, maybe it's Bruce Weber's defense. In their last four games against the Illini, the Hawkeyes are averaging 48 points. Tom Davis can't be happy.

Gimme fives: This week's rankings, courtesy sports editor Jim Rossow

Big Ten mvp

PLAYER PREVIOUS

1. Evan Turner, Ohio State 1

2. Robbie Hummel, Purdue 3

3. Kalin Lucas, Michigan St. 2

4. Demetri McCamey, Illinois –

5. John Shurna, Northwestern 5

Illinois MVP

PLAYER PREVIOUS

1. Demetri McCamey 1

2. Tyler Griffey –

3. D.J. Richardson 2

4. Mike Tisdale 5

5. Mike Davis 4

Coach of the Year

COACH PREVIOUS

1. Thad Matta, Ohio State 1

2. Bo Ryan, Wisconsin 4

3. Bill Carmody, Northwestern 3

4. Tom Izzo, Michigan St. –

5. Bruce Weber, Illinois –

ALL-PLAYER-TURNED-ESPN

EX-PLAYER SCHOOL

Stephen Bardo Illinois

Hubert Davis North Carolina

Len Elmore Maryland

Adrian Branch Maryland

Jay Williams Duke