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You know the season is close when the schools start holding their individual media days. The media days have gotten under way this week as Ohio State, Illinois and Iowa all held their media days the past two days. All three schools will be looking for a NCAA bid and to compete in the Big Ten race, with Iowa set for their best season in quite awhile. Besides the media days, both Iowa and Penn State have shown off their new uniforms and James Blackmon Jr. set a decision date for his commitment.
Several Big Ten schools hold their media days
Ohio State, Iowa and Illinois have held their media days this week. All three schools will be looking forward to the upcoming season as they all project to finish in the upper half of the Big Ten. While Ohio State and Illinois both made the NCAA tournament last season, Iowa hasn't been dancing since 2006. That looks to change, though, as the Hawkeyes are primed for their best season since Steve Alford was their coach. Links for all three schools are below.
Ohio State Media Day Links:
- Ohio State basketball: Media day takes center stage
- Ohio State Basketball: Media Day Notes
- Matta begins 10th season at Ohio State with solid defensive team lacking proven scoring threat
- Matta Unveils His 10th OSU Team
- Starting Five: Media Day Observations
- Hoops Media Day: Everything is Phenomenal
- McCaffery wants results to match expectations
- McCaffery’s pledge changes culture of Iowa basketball
- Hawkeye Basketball Media Day (KWWL)
- News and notes from Iowa media day
- Birds of prey: Hawkeyes hungry for success
- Harty: NCAA Tournament is ultimate goal
- Hawkeye Hoop Dreams
- McCaffery Meets the Media
- Video: John Groce Media Day Press Conference
- Media Day notes: Starks, Rice, Paul & more
- Young Illini team looks to quiet Abrams to lead
- Illini coach Groce faces task of molding strangers into team
- Illinois basketball team have nine new players learning ropes for coach
- Illini adapt after roster turnover
Iowa and Penn State Unveil New Unis
Both Iowa and Penn State have unveiled new basketball uniforms for the 2013-14 season. You can view Iowa's new uniforms over at Black Hears Gold Pants and the new Penn State unis can be seen here. Both teams uniforms are made by Nike and follow the Nike template where the back of the uniform has a faded team logo towards the bottom. Neither uniform is a drastic change but I definitely like both of them.
James Blackmon Jr. decision coming October 22nd
James Blackmon Jr. originally had committed to the Hoosiers before reopening his recruitment. Now the class of 2014 recruit has his list narrowed to Michigan, Indiana, Michigan State, Kentucky and Kansas, with Kentucky and Michigan thought to be the front runners. As of now it looks like Blackmon will announce on the 22nd, though he said it's not an officially set date (but the currently expected date as of now). Recently Tbeindit took a look at Blackmon's recruitment and the potential effect it could have on Michigan and Indiana, though it seems like a lot of people believe Blackmon will be heading down to Kentucky.
More Links:
- Tom Izzo and John Calipari exchange verbal barbs
- Purdue men's basketball seeks help from outside
- Meet the Boilermaker ... Errick Peck
- 30 Days To Purdue Basketball: Neal Beshears
- Purdue's Simpson aims for Big Ten surprise
- Is Adam Woodbury Iowa's Most Important Player in 2013-14?
- College basketball countdown: No. 23 Iowa
- Ohio State recruiting: State Secrets, 10/9
- 2013 Basketball Preview: Aaron Craft
- 2013 Basketball Preview: Amadeo Della Valle
- 2013-2014 Player Profile: Luke Fischer
- 2013-2014 Player Profile: Peter Jurkin
- Five-star Jayson Tatum talks USA Basketball, Indiana
- Career Retrospective: Trey Burke
- Glenn Robinson III Video Scouting Report
- Mailbag: Most indispensable, guard minutes, go-to guy, more (UM Hoops)
- 2013-2014 Season Preview: No. 20 Wisconsin Badgers
- Running Ryan's hill a steep tradition at Wisconsin
- Looks Like University Of Illinois – Peter Cvijanovic
- MSU Basketball Recruiting Round-Up (10/10/13)
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