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The Big Ten wasn't the big winner in the preseason Associated Press poll, but just like Ohio State, it finished as the runner-up.

The Buckeyes finished No. 2 in the poll, behind only Alabama, as the B1G placed five teams in the early Top 25. Only the SEC had more. (The Pac-12 also had five teams on the list.)

If you were hoping for a few surprises in the poll, you probably came away a bit disappointed.

The Big Ten rankings mirrored the preseason coaches' poll, so at least there's a consensus. Michigan came in at No. 17, with Nebraska trailing one spot later. Northwestern found itself at No. 22, with Wisconsin at No. 23.

The biggest surprises likely came in the "others receiving votes" category. Michigan State received the most votes of the teams outside of the top 25, and even Penn State came away with two points.

The big question now is whether the Buckeyes can parlay this kind of respect into an appearance in the national title game. They received a single first-place vote and were one of just two teams not named "Alabama" to earn such a nod.

OSU couldn't compete for a title last year because it was ineligible due to NCAA sanctions. But this year? The AP sure thinks Braxton Miller is poised to lead this team far.

Illinois assistant coach Jamall Walker has received a two-game tournament suspension and a public reprimand from the Division I men's basketball committee for his misconduct following the Illini's loss to Miami in the NCAA tournament last season.

The NCAA's release said Walker made "inappropriate contact" with a game official and "verbally confronted" the game officials and a police officer following the game March 24.

Read the entire story.

Northwestern finally shredded the monkey Jan. 1 and won its first bowl game since the 1949 Rose, recording its 10th win in the process. Pat Fitzgerald's crew returns the core pieces from that team, but faces a tougher schedule featuring the likes of Ohio State and Wisconsin.

Can Northwestern take the next logical step and reach the Big Ten title game, or will it backslide in 2013?

NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS

Coach: Pat Fitzgerald (50-39, seven seasons at Northwestern and overall)

2012 record: 10-3 (5-3 Big Ten)

Key losses: G Brian Mulroe, OT Pat Ward, DT Brian Arnfelt, LB David Nwabuisi, DE Quentin Williams

Key returnees: RB Venric Mark, QB Kain Colter, C Brandon Vitabile, TE Dan Vitale, DE Tyler Scott, S Ibraheim Campbell, CB Nick VanHoose, LB Chi Chi Ariguzo, K Jeff Budzien

Newcomer to watch: Redshirt freshman cornerback Dwight White had an excellent spring as he makes a push to start opposite Nick VanHoose. White, a 5-foot-10, 178-pound speedster, has good ball skills and brings a playmaking threat to a secondary that, while improved, needs more difference-makers. White will push Daniel Jones and others for playing time this fall.

Biggest games in 2013: The Wildcats face plenty in Big Ten play, starting with the league opener Oct. 5 against Ohio State. If Northwestern and Ohio State both come in undefeated -- a good possibility -- it'll be Northwestern's biggest home game in Fitzgerald's tenure. Another big game follows Oct. 12 at Wisconsin, and Northwestern opens November with three Legends division tests, as it visits Nebraska (Nov. 2) and hosts Michigan (Nov. 16) and Michigan State (Nov. 23).

Biggest question mark heading into 2013: Northwestern must shore up its line play on both sides of the ball after losing valuable veterans to graduation. Three starting spots must be filled on the offensive line, including right tackle, as Jack Konopka is expected to slide over to the left side. Several likely starters missed spring ball after offseason surgeries, which gave players like Shane Mertz and Ian Park added reps.

Northwestern also must find a space-eater or two on defense after losing Brian Arnfelt. The team has better depth at defensive end than tackle, where it needs more from veterans Will Hampton and Sean McEvilly.

Outlook: The arrow is definitely pointing up in Evanston after Northwestern recorded just the second 10-win season in team history and could have easily won more games. Many of the building blocks remain, including the dynamic backfield of Mark and Colter, who executed the zone-read game to perfection last fall. Northwestern has upgraded its recruiting efforts, especially on defense, and should boast more speed, athleticism and depth than it did in 2012.

So why is there a hesitation to buy into the Wildcats, who most are picking to finish third or fourth in the Legends division?

There's the Northwestern factor, as some still can't separate the program's current state from its pathetic past in the 1970s and 1980s. A more valid reason for concern is the schedule, as both Ohio State and Wisconsin return, and Northwestern skips the Indiana schools. There won't be many easy games during Big Ten play, and getting back to 10 wins will pose a significant challenge.

Northwestern once again will employ a quarterback rotation of Colter and Trevor Siemian, a big-armed junior who can spark the passing game. The receivers had a somewhat underwhelming season, but could be a bigger threat this season as almost everyone returns. Tight end Dan Vitale blossomed down the stretch in 2012 and will attack the deep middle along with wideout Christian Jones.

The defense generated 29 takeaways in 2012 and hopes to continue its playmaking ways with more explosive athletes at all three levels. Campbell is one of the Big Ten's best defensive backs, and VanHoose made a huge difference when healthy. Northwestern needs linebacker Chi Chi Ariguzo to continue smothering the football, and for speedy down linemen like Dean Lowry to complement Tyler Scott on the pass rush.

Special teams was a huge factor for Northwestern's success in 2012, and must continue its upward trajectory. The Wildcats also hope to stay healthy after losing only five starts to injury -- the fewest in the Big Ten -- last season.

"To have the number of young men we have coming back in '13 from a starting standpoint," Fitzgerald said, "gives us great confidence we'll hopefully be able to take the next step."

On paper, this is a better Northwestern team than the 2012 version, but the tougher schedule will make it difficult to match or exceed last season's win total.

Daytona State College (Fla.) sophomore forward Rashaun Stimage, a Chicago native, has committed to DePaul. Stimage will play at Daytona State in 2013-14 before joining the Blue Demons in 2014-15.

Stimage, a 6-foot-8, 215-pound forward, starred at Farragut Academy in Chicago’s Public League. He attended Blinn College in Texas as a freshman and averaged 15 points and 7.9 rebounds in 15 games. He was an ESPNChicago.com all-area selection as a high school senior and averaged 20 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks for the Admirals.

“This was the best fit for him,” Farragut coach Wolf Nelson said. “I don’t care who else was looking at him. This was the best situation for him.

“He’s the most versatile player I’ve had since Kevin Garnett. He can run the floor; he can shoot; he can pass; he can block shots; he can rebound. I think he brings a lot with him to a team.”

(Read full post)

Preseason practice is in full swing, and kickoff is just around the corner. To get you ready, we're analyzing every Big Ten team's complete 2013 schedule.

Northwestern is up next in the rundown ...

Nonconference opponents (with 2012 records)

Aug. 31: at Cal (3-9)
Sept. 7: Syracuse (8-5)
Sept. 14: Western Michigan (4-8)
Sept. 21: Maine (5-6)

Legends Division games

Oct. 19: Minnesota
Oct. 26: at Iowa
Nov. 2: at Nebraska
Nov. 16: Michigan
Nov. 23: Michigan State

Crossover games

Oct. 5: Ohio State
Oct. 12: at Wisconsin
Nov. 30: at Illinois

No plays

Indiana
Penn State
Purdue

Gut-check game: Ohio State will be the measuring stick for a veteran Northwestern team trying to legitimize itself as a Big Ten title contender following a 10-win season in 2012. The Wildcats will be favored in all of their non-league games, so there's a good chance both teams enter Ryan Field at 4-0, setting up the most anticipated home game of Pat Fitzgerald's tenure. Ohio State hasn't just dominated the series (59-14-1); the Buckeyes have pulverized Northwestern in many of the games. The teams meet for the first time since 2008.

Trap game: After opening league play with Leaders Division heavyweights Ohio State and Wisconsin, Northwestern returns home to face Minnesota. The Wildcats have won three straight and five of the past six against the Gophers, but Jerry Kill's squad should be improved in Year 3, especially along both lines. Northwestern needs to secure a win at home before heading back out on the road for consecutive games.

Snoozer: Northwestern has a decent non-league schedule, but Maine doesn't do much to move the needle. The Bears have had losing records in three of the past four seasons. Their only win against an FBS opponent came against Mississippi State in 2004.

Noncon challenge: It's between Syracuse and Cal, and while the Orange were the better team in 2012, Cal could be the trickier game. Northwestern must visit Berkeley and play a late-night contest (9:30 p.m. CT kickoff) against a Bears squad that is somewhat of a mystery under first-year coach Sonny Dykes. Although Cal is extremely young, Jeff Tedford left some talent behind and Dykes' up-tempo offense could test Northwestern.

Telltale stretch: There are really two of them, although the second carries more weight in Northwestern's quest to reach Indianapolis for the Big Ten championship game. The Wildcats open Big Ten play against Ohio State (Oct. 5) and Wisconsin (Oct. 12) -- at least one has held a share of the Big Ten title every year since 2004. They then open November with division challenges against Nebraska (Nov. 2), Michigan (Nov. 16) and Michigan State (Nov. 23). After blowing late leads in close losses to Michigan and Nebraska last season, Northwestern will seek a different result in games that could decide the division champion.

Analysis: Northwestern's Big Ten schedule undoubtedly gets tougher in 2013, as Ohio State returns for the first time since 2008 and Wisconsin is back for the first time since 2010. The Wildcats don't play Penn State, but they miss both Indiana and Purdue, two of the league's weaker teams last season. There are few gimmes in league play, which makes games like Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois virtual must-wins if Northwestern intends to reach the next level it referenced throughout the offseason.

The non-league schedule is similar to last year's, perhaps a little weaker as both Cal and Syracuse -- along with Western Michigan -- went through head coaching changes. If Northwestern can at least split its first two Big Ten contests, it should enter November with a chance to make noise in the division. Fitzgerald's teams typically perform much better in November (15-9) than October (12-17), so a good start to league play is critical.

More schedule analysis

Legends: Iowa | Michigan | Minnesota | Nebraska

Leaders: Purdue | Penn State | Illinois | Ohio State

 

An ongoing rumor that Duke is the leader for the recruiting package of No. 1-ranked senior Jahlil Okafor and No. 3-ranked Tyus Jones is ruining the process for the two players, Okafor's father said on Friday.

Read the entire story.

Summer Shootaround: Big Ten
Catching up on news and notes from the Big Ten offseason while looking ahead to 2013-14 with predictions and analysis. Read

Greenberg: 2013-14 Big Ten Power Rankings
Seth Greenberg provides his power rankings for the Big Ten, a conference that could produce eight NCAA tournament teams. Read

We're counting down our rankings of the Top 25 players in the Big Ten for the 2013 season. This list is based on past performance and potential for the upcoming season only. We do not consider NFL potential for purposes of these rankings.

Coming up next is the ultimate Swiss Army knife of a quarterback ...

No. 14: Kain Colter, QB, Northwestern, senior

2012 postseason ranking: No. 23

2012 numbers: Completed 67.8 percent of his passes for 872 yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions. Carried 170 times for 894 yards and 12 touchdowns. Caught 16 passes for 169 yards.

Why he's here: Colter needs to start returning kicks.

OK, so it would be insane for Pat Fitzgerald to put his starting quarterback on the kickoff or punt return teams, but that's pretty much the last area where Colter could make an impact with the ball in his hands. He's done it everywhere else. There's no one in college football quite like Colter, and as I wrote on Tuesday, his lasting legacy for Northwestern might well be his utter unselfishness in giving up snaps at quarterback.

Colter could still improve as a passer and just might as he gets farther and farther away from his shoulder injury. He's already part of the most dangerous and versatile 1-2 backfield punch in the Big Ten with tailback Venric Mark. There's almost nothing that duo could do that would surprise us anymore. Well, unless Colter suddenly starts returning kicks.

The countdown

No. 25: Jonathan Brown, LB, Illinois
No. 24: Mark Weisman, RB, Iowa
No. 23: James White, RB, Wisconsin
No. 22: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
No. 21: John Urschel, G, Penn State
No. 20: Tyler Scott, DE, Northwestern
No. 19: Jack Mewhort, OT, Ohio State
No. 18: Deion Barnes, DE, Penn State
No. 17: Kenny Bell, WR, Nebraska
No. 16: Jared Abbrederis, WR, Wisconsin
No. 15: Ra'Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota

Chicago Cubs prospect Eric Jokisch threw a no-hitter against Jacksonville on Tuesday in a 10-0 victory for the Double-A Tennessee Smokies.

Jokisch struck out eight and walked four, improving to 9-10 on the season and lowering his ERA to 3.53.

Jokisch, 24, was an 11th-round pick out of Northwestern in 2010 after attending Virginia High School in Virginia, Ill. He has a career 31-22 record in four seasons in the Cubs organization.

Also on Tuesday, top prospect Javier Baez was 4-for-6 with three RBIs in the victory.

Illinois coach John Groce and his staff have narrowed their recruiting focus for the class of 2014. Here's a look at the players the Illini are recruiting:

Curie (Chicago) power forward Cliff Alexander: Alexander, the nation's No. 2-ranked senior by ESPN, is the priority for Illinois. He would be the biggest recruit in the program's history since the Illini landed Marcus Liberty and Deon Thomas in the late 1980s. Alexander would likely only stick around one season, but he could do wonders for Illinois on the floor in that one year and off the floor in recruiting, especially in Chicago, for many years to come. Groce was glued to Alexander's club games in July. Alexander, his parents and his coaches are said to be in communication with Groce and his staff often. Sources have indicated Alexander is high on the Illini, and those around Alexander are pleased with Illinois' constant contact.

Whitney Young (Chicago) center Jahlil Okafor: Okafor, the nation's No. 1 recruit, hasn't cut Illinois from his list, and Illinois hasn't stopped recruiting him, but his coming to the school likely won't happen. Okafor and Tyus Jones have been adamant about wanting to play with together, and Jones isn't interested in Illinois, and Illinois isn't recruiting Jones. The math is simple. Illinois' hope has to be for Okafor and Jones not to end up somewhere in the Big Ten. They're considering Michigan State and Ohio State.

White Station (Tennessee) power forward Leron Black: Illinois feels as good about its chances with Black as anyone it's recruiting in the senior class. Black, who is ranked No. 36 in the country, has other schools, including Florida, Indiana and Louisville, after him, but the Illini have been pursuing him for some time now and have built a relationship. If Illinois received a commitment from Alexander or Black, it wouldn't mean the Illini would lose out on the other player. Illinois believes Alexander, a big-bodied power forward, and Black, a more slender and high-motored power forward, could play perfectly together and have been trying to sell them on that.

Ballard (Kentucky) point guard Quentin Snider: Snider, who is ranked No. 28, recently de-committed from Louisville and re-opened his recruitment. Illinois has already been in touch and offered him a scholarship. Groce is still looking for his point guard of the future, and Snider could be that. A lot of schools, including several in the Big Ten, are reaching out to Snider, so it may be some time before he creates a list and figures out whether he'll consider Illinois.

Morgan Park (Chicago) power forward Josh Cunningham: Illinois has expressed some interest to Cunningham and his high school and club coach Nick Irvin. The Illini have invited Cunningham to come on campus for a visit. Cunningham has drawn some Big Ten interest from Iowa, Minnesota and Northwestern and has also been recruited by DePaul, but he's still likely a long shot to get an offer from Illinois. If things fall through with Alexander and Black, Cunningham could be Plan C. Cunningham has said he's going to take his time with his recruiting, so that could play into Illinois' favor down the road. Either way, the Illini are covering their tracks in case they want to pursue Cunningham harder at some point.

Other notes:

• Illinois has been in contact with the father of Marian Catholic (Illinois) senior point guard Tyler Ulis, but the Illini haven't picked up their recruiting of him.

• The Illini put a lot of time in July following their 2015 targets, especially St. Rita (Chicago) guard Charles Matthews, Stevenson (Illinois) guard Jalen Brunson, Simeon (Chicago) forward D.J. Williams and La Lumiere (Indiana) guard Jalen Coleman.

• Another Simeon player could be on the verge of getting a scholarship offer from Illinois. The Illini have been closely following class of 2016 guard Zack Norvell, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard.

Also, Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald talks to Colin Cowherd about rebuilding the Wildcats, the recent success of his program, recruiting, the state of the Big Ten and more. Listen to the podcast

Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald says that Mike Greenberg will be an honorary captain for the Wildcats' home opener against Syracuse on September 7.

Listen to the podcast

Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase talks about adapting to a new offense and the season ahead

Northern Illinois's offense played the pumpkin in the Orange Bowl last season. Can Lynch & Co. retrace their run as BCS Cinderellas?

Read the Grantland.com story here.

We're in the midst of our preseason countdown of the top 25 players in the Big Ten for the 2013 season. This list is based on past performance and potential for the upcoming season only. We do not consider NFL potential for purposes of these rankings.

Up next is the guy who had more sacks last season than any returning Big Ten player ...

No. 20: Tyler Scott, DE, Northwestern, senior, 6-foot-4, 265 pounds

2012 postseason ranking: Not ranked

2012 numbers: Collected 42 tackles, including nine sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss, and forced three fumbles.


Why he's here: Scott tied Ohio State's John Simon for the most sacks in the Big Ten last year. Like Simon, Scott is a high-effort player who excels in the weight room almost as much as on the field.

And on the field, he was pretty darn good. He had two sacks and three tackles for loss in the Gator Bowl win over Mississippi State, a key forced fumble late in the win over Vanderbilt, a pair of sacks and a forced fumble against Minnesota and a sack and pass breakup in the narrow win at Syracuse. He was named the Wildcats' defensive MVP for the season.

Scott needs eight more sacks to finish in the top 5 in school history in that category. He has made tremendous improvement throughout his career, thanks largely to a great motor, work ethic and physical strength. If that continues this year, he should once again be one of the toughest players to contain off the edge in the Big Ten.
The countdown

No. 25: Jonathan Brown, LB, Illinois
No. 24: Mark Weisman, RB, Iowa
No. 23: James White, RB, Wisconsin
No. 22: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
No. 21: John Urschel, G, Penn State