Every conference expansion conversation usually centers around football because the pigskin drives the revenue. As a result, there's not as much basketball speculation with expansion.

Until now.

The fine folks at Rush the Court broke down the expansion scenarios for the Big Ten, Big East, Pac-10, Big 12, SEC, ACC and what might happen to the A-10, Conference USA and Mountain West as a result. Specifically, the basketball scenarios.

Normally I'd excerpt several bits, but there's far too much that went into the post – including graphics on what expansion could look like – for anyone not to click on it. So go read it. Here's the link again.

And now, let's hope none of it happens.

Mike Miller's also on Twitter, usually talkin' hoops. Click here to follow him.

Michigan State won two NCAA tournament games by a combined four points, including a buzzer-beating 3-pointer against Maryland.

But if the Spartans are really lucky, we'll know Monday after the results of Kalin Lucas' X-rays.

Maybe, just maybe Michigan State's star point guard doesn't have a torn Achilles' tendon like coach Tom Izzo thinks. And then maybe Lucas will be able to play Friday against Northern Iowa in the Sweet 16.

I know. That's a heavy dose of luck. And Izzo doesn't sound optimistic after hearing the initial prognosis.

"That poor kid, he was devastated," he said. "It's a shame for him. But it's part of athletics and we're just going to have to move on."

Moving on would be turning to the hero against Maryland, sophomore guard Korie Lucious, or perhaps junior Chris Allen, who's nursing an arch injury himself.

"I've got a week to get ready," Allen said Sunday. "I'm about to be in the training room all day, every day. I might sleep in there."

Neither is a very comforting option compared to Lucas, the former Big Ten player of the year. He plays a chunk of minutes, is their best ball-handler, passer and second-best outside shooter. It's the double-whammy of losing your best player and on-court leader.

And it couldn't come against a worst foe.

UNI (30-4) spent all of Saturday making life miserable for Kansas guards Sherron Collins and Tyshawn Taylor. Only Collins had any luck getting his shot off, but he was erratic all game. If the Panthers can get the same kind of defensive pressure on Lucas' replacements, it'll disrupt the Spartans' entire offense.

If there's a potential saving grace, it's Izzo. Few coaches are better at making adjustments during the NCAA tournament. I don't expect Michigan State to shy away from Northern Iowa's inside muscle, but it'll be interesting to see how Izzo adjusts to life without Lucas.

Mike Miller's also on Twitter, usually talkin' hoops. Click here for more.

Purdue doesn't need your sympathy. Not with that defense.

The Boilermakers beat 13-seed Siena 72-64 on Friday, yet were the upset pick for the first round. Nearly 37 percent of voters from ESPN's tournament challenge had them losing, a higher percentage than any 12-5 games. Even President Obama picked against Purdue in his bracket.

Don Ryan/AP

As long Purdue plays defense like this, it'll be a tough out in the NCAA tournament.

Turns out that was a motivational factor.

"The biggest thing for me was when President Obama said he felt sorry for us," guard Lewis Jackson said afterward. "Guys don't want people to feel sorry for us. We want to prove that we still have a lot of talent and can make a big run in the tournament."

Guess Obama lost the West Lafayette vote.

The sympathy started when forward Robbie Hummel tore his ACL during the last week of February. As Purdue's best all-around player and top outside shooter, most – including me – wrote off the Boilers as a Final Four contender.

Since the injury, Purdue is 4-2 and hasn't been the same team on offense. The bottom was an 11-point first half during a loss to Minnesota in the Big Ten tournament.

But the defense remains potent. Dan Hanner from Yet Another Basketball Blog ran comparisons of Purdue pre- and post-Hummel injury and found that the offense dropped significantly – but the defense actually got better. A spot in the Final Four is still a longshot, but this isn't a team that's going quietly.

That was the case against Siena. The Boilermakers held the Saints to .826 points per possession, a performance that would've been impressive even with Hummel.

Never underestimate the power of a perceived slight.

"You can't help but see it," guard Keaton Grant said. "You've got analysts picking against you. You've got the president picking against you. We were very aware. It was just more motivation."

Mike Miller's also on Twitter, usually talkin' hoops. Click here for more.

The 1989 Flyin' Illini weren't a cultural milestone like the Fab Five, but they may have been the best Big Ten team from the last 20 years.

Hmm. Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Indiana will argue with that statement, so let's amend it: That Illinois team was the most versatile of the last 20 years.

It's also the ideal comparison for this year's Buckeyes. Glad Mike DeCourcy finally thought about it.

That Illinois squad featured five starters – Nick Anderson, Steven Bardo, Kendall Gill, Kenny Battle and Lowell Hamilton – who all stood somewhere between 6-4 and 6-7. There weren't any defined roles; everyone was supposed to do a little bit of everything. They finished 31-5, lost to eventual national champ Michigan in the Final Four (I think there were about 7 future NBA players in that game) and remained the touchstone for Illinois basketball until the 2005 squad.

ANYWAY, Ohio State's close. I'll let DeCourcy handle it from here, given he was on hand to watch Evan Turner & Co. outlast Illinois in the Big Ten tournament semis on Saturday.

It's like that with these Buckeyes, as well: 6-8 Dallas Lauderdale, 6-7 Evan Turner, 6-6 Jon Diebler, 6-5 David Lighty and 6-4 William Buford.

"You don't have a lot of height, but there are a lot of guys who do a lot of things well," said Big Ten Network analyst Jimmy Jackson, who was a senior in high school 21 years ago. "That would be the similarity."

Ohio State coach Thad Matta, a native of Hoopseston, Ill., was a student at Butler back then. He had played against Hamilton in their high school state tournament and knew Battle from a summer team. And back in the offseason when he talked to Turner about converting to point guard, Bardo was a model he used to describe how Turner could, at his size, succeed at that position.

It remains to be seen if Ohio State's in the same league as that Illinois team. The Buckeyes will be on the shortlist of Final Four contenders when the seeds are announced Sunday.

They do a little bit of everything, fill in for each other in a pinch and have supreme talent in Turner – Gill with a better jumpshot – who can take over games.

The Final Four? That's doable. But, like those Flyin' Illini, these Buckeyes may find that doing a little bit of everything well isn't enough to win a title.

Mike Miller's also on Twitter, usually talkin' hoops. Click here for more.

Any debate about Evan Turner as player of the year was settled last week. Besides, Ohio State's do-it-all junior is onto bigger things.

Like introducing himself to the masses thanks to some March heroics.

Down 68-66 to Michigan with 2.2 seconds remaining in Ohio State's Big Ten tournament opener, Turner drained a 37-foot jump shot at the buzzer for a wild 69-68 victory. It was exactly what you'd imagine, too. From the AP story:

Turner took the inbounds pass, dribbled upcourt and pulled up barely past halfcourt. The Big Ten player of the year left his arm in the air after the release, confident the long shot would fall.

His attempt was so close to the buzzer that the play was reviewed. When officials signaled the shot was good, the red-clad section of the crowd erupted.

And that was just the very end! Michigan's Manny Harris had already swished an 11-foot jumper to give Michigan the lead. (There's a video of the entire sequence here, but hurry. Not sure how long it'll be up.)

"I guess everyone thought there was no way he would make a half-court shot," Harris told the Sporting News. "I know coach was thinking it would be incredible, crazy, for him to make a halfcourt shot like that.

"Things like this happen in March. It's horrible to be on the losing side of it."

Turner's shot not only prevented a massive upset, but kept the Buckeyes' hopes alive for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament AND gave CBS a killer storyline to hype all next week. I can only imagine how much attention will get lavished on Turner if the Buckeyes make the Sweet 16.

And this wasn't even the only dramatic finish of the week.

Da'Sean Butler saved West Virginia with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer of his own last night against Cincy. Montana's Anthony Johnson scored 42 points – including the game-winner -- as the Grizz overcame a 20-oint halftime deficit to grab the autobid from the Big Sky. And Providence nearly staged a 29-point rally of its own in a loss to Seton Hall on Tuesday.

If the NCAA tournament is anything close to that kind of drama, it's gonna be a good month.

Mike Miller's also on Twitter, usually talkin' hoops. Click here for more.

All's not well in the Land of Lincoln.

After losing five of its last six, Illinois is 18-13 and squarely on the NCAA tournament bubble. Sunday's home loss to Wisconsin hurt their at-large chances, but also showed a team fraying at the edges.

Junior guard Demetri McCamey, the team's best player and leading scorer, was visibly frustrated toward the end of Sunday's game. In one sequence, he took a poor shot, then committed a turnover and was whistled for an intentional foul. It didn't sit well with coach Bruce Weber, who promptly pulled McCamey from the game.

And, as the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported, neither were happy.

Things between Weber and McCamey became intense on the bench briefly after the guard bumped his coach while walking past. Weber grabbed McCamey's arm, pulled him back and gave him an earful.

"Love and kisses," Weber said. "Just trying to teach him how to make good decisions"

You can understand all the frustration. At one point, the Illini were 17-8 and seen as an NCAA tournament shoe-in. Then came the meat of the schedule and losses to Ohio State, Purdue, Minnesota, Ohio State and Wisconsin.

McCamey gets a chance to make amends with Thursday's Big Ten tournament opener – against Wisconsin. If the Illini are going to boost their tourney résumé, what better place to start?

Mike Miller's also on Twitter, usually talkin' hoops. Click here for more.

That'll just about do it.

Evan Turner turned in another fine game – 16 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists – in Ohio State's 73-57 win against Illinois. It wrapped up at least a share of the Big Ten title for the Buckeyes (24-7, 14-4), and may have wrapped up national player of the year honors for Turner.

Terry Gilliam/AP

Evan Turner celebrates winning the Big Ten.

The 6-7 junior wasn't spectacular, just good vs. the Illini. He struggled with his shot early and did have four turnovers, but closed strong. Plus, his presence helped open things up for Jon Diebler, who hit 7 of 15 from beyond the arc.

And, just in case you missed SportsCenter last night, it was a clean sweep from its analysts. Jimmy Dykes, Digger Phelps, Jason Williams et al cast their support behind Turner.

Not sure I can disagree with it, either.

Turner averages nearly 20 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists a game (19.7, 9.3, 5.9) and does it playing a chunk of minutes and with a respectable efficiency rating (110.4). Fact is, he's the nation's best all-around player.

Then again, Kentucky does have two games remaining. If there's an opening for anyone to grab some votes away from Turner, it's John Wall.

The Wildcats' freshman star stumbled a bit during the last few weeks, but he remains the game's most talented and jaw-dropping player. Hey, some writers still think he's the player of the year.

Wall's numbers (16.8 points, 6.2 assists, 4.2 rebounds and a lower ORtg, 107.3) aren't as eye-popping as Turner's, but if he turns in big games against Georgia and Florida this week, don't count him out.

After all, he gets to face the Gators on national TV. Never underestimate what big-time players do on the big stage.

UPDATE: If the latest straw poll of voters from AnnArbo.com is any indication, Wall's gonna need a massive pair of games. Turner now has a huge lead in player of the year voting.

Mike Miller's also on Twitter, usually talkin' hoops. Click here for more.

Purdue was due for some good news. E'Twaun Moore and JaJuan Johnson returning for their senior seasons certainly qualifies.

In the last week, the Boilermakers (24-4) lost do-everything junior Robbie Hummel to a torn ACL, then saw their Big Ten lead evaporate after a loss to Michigan State on Saturday. They dropped in the polls and in NCAA tournament projections.

Cue the good news, via the Indianapolis Star:

Moore said outside the locker room before Monday's practice. "At least speaking for myself. I can't speak for JaJuan."

A few minutes later Johnson echoed the same sentiment.

"That's what it looks like right now for me, coming back to school," Johnson said. "I still have a lot of things to accomplish: a Big Ten

No Robbie Hummel, no Final Four for Purdue. It's that simple.

The Boilermakers (24-3 overall, 12-3 in the Big Ten) were headed for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament until their junior swingman tore his ACL in Wednesday's win against Minnesota.

And, like in-season injuries to title contenders in previous seasons, this one robs Purdue of what could have been a memorable season.

Jim Mone/AP

Without Robbie Hummel, Purdue's Final Four hopes are essentially toast.

Hummel's the team's second-leading scorer, rebounder, top outside shooter and best overall player. E'Twaun Moore is the go-to scorer, but his life is made far easier having Hummel around.

"Rob does something for us offensively and defensively that balances our team," Purdue coach Matt Painter told the AP when Hummel missed time last season due to a back injury. "He's a facilitator. He moves the basketball, he makes the extra pass, he gets the ball inside. ... Some of the basic things that don't show up in a box score is what we miss."

Without Hummel, a spot in the Elite Eight would be a supreme achievement for the Boilermakers. A Sweet 16 finish seems far more likely.

The biggest questions now are: Where will Purdue be seeded in the Big Dance, and who's the best bet for that last No. 1 seed?

The seeding committee will note how the Boilermakers fare in their final three regular-season games and in the Big Ten tournament before making a decision on seeding. If take two of those final three Big Ten games and go out early in the conference tournament, a 1 seed is still possible, though unlikely. It's reminiscent of back in 2000 when Cincinnati lost Kenyon Martin before the tournament. The Bearcats still received a No. 1 dropped to a 2 seed, and was bounced in the second round.

Meanwhile, Duke, Kansas State and Villanova figure to benefit most from Hummel's injury.

K-State (23-4, 10-3) can increase its profile with a win against Missouri on Saturday, and make its best argument with a road win at Kansas next Wednesday. That would be an even bigger boost than winning the Big 12 tournament, which ends hours before the NCAA tournament seeds are announced – which could make the seeding committee more likely to decide K-State's decision before the title game.

Villanova's better positioned to make a run at a 1. The Wildcats (23-4, 12-3) have a massive game Saturday at Syracuse, followed by a game at Cincinnati and a home stand against West Virginia. Sweeping all three would probably make them a lock as the final 1 seed barring a first-round exit in the Big East tournament. Reaching the BE tourney final would clinch it.

Duke (23-4, 11-2) has a slightly easier remaining schedule, but actually could help the Blue Devils. According to Andy Glockner, if the Devils win out and take the ACC tournament, they'd be 30-4 and have an RPI of 2 and the 7^th best strength of schedule.

Villanova has the toughest road, but the most to gain. A stumble would benefit Duke. And if they both suffer a couple of losses, K-State could move into the final spot.

Mike Miller's also on Twitter, usually talkin' hoops. Click here for more.

Everything you read this time of year should be research for filling out that NCAA tournament bracket. And there's nothing like inside info, eh?

To that point, Seth Davis did the legwork to provide the scoop on 19 teams from the ACC, Big East, Big Ten and SEC. It's all from head coaches and assistants, talking off the record about their conference rivals.

So do yourself a favor and read the thing.

Jim Mone / AP

Keaton Nankivil and Wisconsin should be a tough out in the NCAA tournament.

For anyone tired of clicking, I added some snippets below, with the occasional comment. He'll have the dish on the Big 12, Pac-10 and other assorted teams next week.

GEORGIA TECH: The biggest problem with Georgia Tech is that the Jackets invent turnovers. They play faster than they need to play at times, and that's why they turn it over. They're playing [Gani] Lawal and [Derrick] Favors, who are two mountains masquerading as men, but there's not a lot of room when you play those two guys because they're both low post players.

(That seemed to work for Florida in 2006 and '07, but only because Joakim Noah was so mobile. And he was hardly a mountain masquerading as a man.)

CINCINNATI: [Bob Huggins] was playing [Devin] Ebanks at the point early in the year, but they went to Purdue and got whacked and they haven't played him there since.

UCONN: I've got a feeling they're going to go on a run right now. They're the team you don't want to play in the Big East tournament.

(The coach he talked to must've had the same feeling Dave Ommen got before West Virginia's loss to UConn on Monday.)

OHIO STATE: Their main weakness is they only go six deep. I thought they were sucking wind at the end of the Purdue game, and they were at home. I think they play so much zone because they can rest in it.

WISCONSIN: Oh man, I hate the Badgers. That swing offense drives you crazy, but if their guards are not scoring it can really hurt them. They know who they are. They have multiple ballhandlers and scorers, they're a good passing team, a great free-throw shooting team, they have great shot selection.

(The Badgers are the ultimate "respected" team. Coaches and computers love 'em, but fans seem to hate 'em because they play so slow. Tough. Bo Ryan makes it work.)

MICHIGAN STATE: They always seem to get hot in March, but I'm not sure I see that happening this year. I'm a little more leery about this group than I've been the last few years.

KENTUCKY: Nobody gets up and down the floor like John Wall, but when you get into the tournament, the pace tends to slow down. Teams that are averaging 75 points a game are going to get 70 or fewer. If people put a premium on possessions, they are going to have to make perimeter shots.

(We'll hear more about Kentucky's half-court offense in the next few weeks, but a lot of it will be overblown provided DeMarcus Cousins stays out of foul trouble.)

VANDERBILT: Honestly, I don't know that they have a real weakness. I was surprised they didn't beat Kentucky, though you're obviously not going to beat many teams shooting 2-for-20 from three.

(Wow. The 'Dores rate as the SEC's version of Wisconsin.)

Mike Miller's also on Twitter, usually talkin' hoops. Click here for more.

There's no shortage of superlative when it comes to Kansas or Kentucky.

The Jayhawks (26-1) are deep, experienced and "exceptionally good." The Wildcats (26-1) are perhaps the nation's most talented team and have a knack for winning close games.

Yet Purdue – winners of nine straight and all alone atop the Big Ten standings – receives acclaim like this: "Hard-working Boilers winning the right way."

Michael Conroy/AP

Purdue's Keaton Grant goes to block a shot by Illinois's Demetri McCamey.

Seriously? That's the best you got for a team that's now 23-3, is headed for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament and features one of the nation's best starting fives? Beyond the lazy headline – we're lauding effort as the "right way" to win games? -- I feel like I should send Bob Kravitz's story to the guys at FJM so they can take apart such nuggets as these:

• At Purdue, the rule is, there are no rules. No autopsy, no foul. In this place where the fourth-ranked Purdue Boilermakers reside, where they have the Big Ten regular-season title in their hands after Saturday's 75-65 victory over Illinois, it's all about effort and all about grit.
• But nobody outworks and imposes their will on an opponent like Purdue.
• This group, though, is greater than the sum of its parts. Purdue has that old-time college basketball feel, a bunch of kids who came in together and have spent three and four years together, building something special.

It may be hard to pinpoint exactly what makes the Boilermakers so good, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try. The defense would be a good place to start.

Opponents make just 41.8 percent of their twos against Purdue, which ranks among the nation's top 15. Hard to beat a team when you can't get a good look at the basket. The turnover % (29th) block % (33^rd) eFG% (43rd) and are also among the Top 50. Maybe Kravitz was trying to emphasize Purdue's effort as a reason why the defense thrives, but it didn't work.

And I guess lauding the offense doesn't apply when talking about effort and grit. After all, would a team that relies on hard work also feature one of the nation's most efficient scoring offenses? They're fifth in adjusted efficiency. Anyone that doesn't think Purdue can hit shots is in for a rude surprise.

Illinois saw as much on Saturday. Sure, Purdue made just 36 percent of its shots, but it hit 9 of 18 from beyond the arc and was 24 of 28 from the free-throw line. No lauding of free-throw shooting in a throw-back article? Inconceivable!

(shakes head)

No more lauding of Purdue's intangibles. The Boilermakers are way beyond that and capable of tangible results. Like a Final Four.

Mike Miller's also on Twitter, usually talkin' hoops. Click here for more.

Evan Turner can't be stopped.

The Ohio State junior broke two bones in his lower back in early December. He missed just six games. The Big Ten features deeper, more balanced teams (like Purdue and Michigan State), yet Turner's Buckeyes are 20-7 overall, 10-4 in league play, and they just missed getting a big home win against Purdue. A home win tonight against Purdue would give Ohio State a share of that Big Ten lead.

Paul Vernon/AP

Evan Turner averages nearly a double-double.

And now, Turner's the unofficial leader in the race for national player of the year. What did you expect? The guy is good.

A weekly poll of basketball writers had targeted Kentucky freshman John Wall as the front-runner for player of the year since the first poll appeared on Jan. 20. At that time, Wall had 32 of 45 first-place votes. Turner was third overall.

Less than a month later, Turner's snagged 30 of 45 first-place votes and has leapfrogged Wall for the overall lead. (Wall had 13 first-place votes this week. Villanova's Scottie Reynolds, Syracuse's Wesley Johnson and Kansas' Sherron Collins round out the Top 5. )

This was bound to happen. Turner – despite the missed time – has been gaining momentum ever since his return on Jan. 6.

In his third game back, he scored a career-high 32 points in an upset against Purdue. He's been a couple of assists shy of a triple-double in three games. He's averaging 19.5 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5.8 assists on the season and is doing it at a remarkable efficiency rate (his possessions and assist rate is off the charts).

Most importantly, Ohio State is winning. The Buckeyes are 10-3 since his return and are eyeing a share of the Big Ten title.

One other crucial factor: Kentucky center DeMarcus Cousins. Much like Kansas' Cole Aldrich, the Wildcats' star is crucial to his team's success and divides some of the would-be voters for Wall. The better Cousins plays, the more things will continue to swing for Turner.

Mike Miller's also on Twitter, usually talkin' hoops. Click here for more.