Big Ten: Wisconsin scores early, often to topple Michigan State
Wisconsin’s early scoring burst carries the No. 18 Badgers past Michigan State
Paula C. Weston
Pickin’ the Big Ten: Feb. 3-4
It’s all conference play for the six teams in the Big Ten this week. As always, though, we look at how Drew Claussen and I are doing with our picks. Last week Drew: 2-3-0 (.400) Paula: 1-4-0 (.200) Season Drew: 60-38-13 (.599) Paula: 60-38-13 (.599) The three B1G series this week are all single-site, all … Read more
Pickin' the Big Ten: Feb. 3-4
It’s all conference play for the six teams in the Big Ten this week. As always, though, we look at how Drew Claussen and I are doing with our picks. Last week Drew: 2-3-0 (.400) Paula: 1-4-0 (.200) Season Drew: 60-38-13 (.599) Paula: 60-38-13 (.599) The three B1G series this week are all single-site, all … Read more
Rejuvenated Wisconsin team climbing Big Ten ranks, PairWise Rankings
In this space two weeks ago, I was writing about a No. 1 Penn State team and the challenges it might face against a ranked Ohio State team. The Buckeyes took five points from the Nittany Lions in Pennsylvania and everything seemed to change for Big Ten hockey in a single weekend. Two weeks later, … Read more
Three beatable teams — and one that wasn’t
This may have been the most interesting weekend of the year for Big Ten teams. 1. Wisconsin is tied for first place in the Big Ten. Let that sink in for a minute. With their sweep of Ohio State, the Badgers’ B1G record improved to 6-2-0 and they moved into a two-way tie with Minnesota … Read more
Three beatable teams — and one that wasn't
This may have been the most interesting weekend of the year for Big Ten teams. 1. Wisconsin is tied for first place in the Big Ten. Let that sink in for a minute. With their sweep of Ohio State, the Badgers’ B1G record improved to 6-2-0 and they moved into a two-way tie with Minnesota … Read more
Pickin’ the Big Ten: Jan. 26-28
B1G hockey begins Thursday night! First, the running stats for Drew Claussen and me. Last week Drew: 2-2-2 (.500) Paula: 2-2-2 (.500) Season Drew: 58-35-13 (.608) Paula: 59-34-13 (.618) Kudos to Drew for correctly calling the split between Minnesota and Wisconsin. This week There is a single Big Ten series this week, Minnesota plays in … Read more
Pickin' the Big Ten: Jan. 26-28
B1G hockey begins Thursday night! First, the running stats for Drew Claussen and me. Last week Drew: 2-2-2 (.500) Paula: 2-2-2 (.500) Season Drew: 58-35-13 (.608) Paula: 59-34-13 (.618) Kudos to Drew for correctly calling the split between Minnesota and Wisconsin. This week There is a single Big Ten series this week, Minnesota plays in … Read more
Pickin’ the Big Ten: Jan. 20-21
It was a good week for Drew Claussen and me last week. And isn’t that what’s important? Last week Drew: 5-0-1 (.917) Paula: 5-0-1 (.917) Season Drew: 56-33-11 (.615) Paula: 57-32-11 (.625) This week This week features three B1G series, two with long-standing rivalries and one in which the nation’s top two offenses meet. For … Read more
Pickin' the Big Ten: Jan. 20-21
It was a good week for Drew Claussen and me last week. And isn’t that what’s important? Last week Drew: 5-0-1 (.917) Paula: 5-0-1 (.917) Season Drew: 56-33-11 (.615) Paula: 57-32-11 (.625) This week This week features three B1G series, two with long-standing rivalries and one in which the nation’s top two offenses meet. For … Read more
Big Ten upping its compete level with three teams among top 16 in PairWise
Here we are in mid-January, and the hottest Big Ten match of the weekend is between No. 1 Penn State and No. 13 Ohio State. Let that sink in for a second. Along with the Nittany Lions and the Buckeyes, Minnesota is among the top 20 teams in the nation, ranked No. 7 this week. … Read more
A nearly predictable weekend for B1G Hockey, with more than a few goals
1. All three B1G teams expected to prevail did prevail, almost completely. While the game itself is played on the ice, coming into this past weekend, it was easy to project the winners and losers. No. 4 Penn State hosted unranked Michigan State and won two games. No. 9 Minnesota hosted unranked Michigan and won … Read more
A nearly predictable weekend for B1G Hockey, with more than a few goals
1. All three B1G teams expected to prevail did prevail, almost completely. While the game itself is played on the ice, coming into this past weekend, it was easy to project the winners and losers. No. 4 Penn State hosted unranked Michigan State and won two games. No. 9 Minnesota hosted unranked Michigan and won … Read more
Pickin’ the Big Ten: Jan. 13-14
There are two B1G series this weekend and Ohio State hosts Arizona State for two games. First, though, a look at how Drew Claussen and I have picked the Big Ten so far this season. Last week Drew: 4-0-0 (1.000) Paula: 2-2-0 (.500) Season Drew: 51-32-10 (.602) Paula: 52-31-10 (.613) Kudos to Drew for picking … Read more
Pickin' the Big Ten: Jan. 13-14
There are two B1G series this weekend and Ohio State hosts Arizona State for two games. First, though, a look at how Drew Claussen and I have picked the Big Ten so far this season. Last week Drew: 4-0-0 (1.000) Paula: 2-2-0 (.500) Season Drew: 51-32-10 (.602) Paula: 52-31-10 (.613) Kudos to Drew for picking … Read more
Pickin’ the Big Ten: Jan. 6-7
It’s a light week for B1G teams. Before we get to that, we look at how Drew Claussen and I are doing in picking the league. Last week Drew: 5-2-0 (.714) Paula: 6-1-0 (.857) Season Drew: 47-32-10 (.584) Paula: 50-29-10 (.618) In case you’re wondering, Drew and I picked the entire field for the Great … Read more
Pickin' the Big Ten: Jan. 6-7
It’s a light week for B1G teams. Before we get to that, we look at how Drew Claussen and I are doing in picking the league. Last week Drew: 5-2-0 (.714) Paula: 6-1-0 (.857) Season Drew: 47-32-10 (.584) Paula: 50-29-10 (.618) In case you’re wondering, Drew and I picked the entire field for the Great … Read more
Minnesota uses strong effort, plus some timely bounces, to start second half with Mariucci Classic title
After recording his first collegiate hat trick in Minnesota’s 5-1 win over Mercyhurst in the Mariucci Classic last Friday, Brent Gates, Jr., said, “I feel like if you’re trying to work hard and do the right things, bounces happen from time to time.” Maybe the sophomore forward wasn’t intending to be philosophical, but what a … Read more
Three things, no surprises
Four B1G teams played the last weekend of 2016. 1. Minnesota captured its first Mariucci Classic since 2012. The Golden Gophers beat Mercyhurst 5-1 and Massachusetts 4-1 to take their own holiday tournament — and they should have. Entering the weekend, Minnesota was the strongest team in the tourney’s field and the only team under … Read more
Three things, no surprises
Four B1G teams played the last weekend of 2016. 1. Minnesota captured its first Mariucci Classic since 2012. The Golden Gophers beat Mercyhurst 5-1 and Massachusetts 4-1 to take their own holiday tournament — and they should have. Entering the weekend, Minnesota was the strongest team in the tourney’s field and the only team under … Read more