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(A-P) The Big Ten might not be as good as it has been in recent years. But it sure looks like the conference title chase will be interesting in 2016-17. The conference didn’t have a team ranked in the top 10 in the most recent poll , with Wisconsin, Purdue and Indiana ranked Nos. 14, 15 and 16 respectively. Iowa (8-5) is one of the youngest teams in the country and soon could re-emerge as a top-tier Big Ten team. It likely won’t be this year though.
Teams like Michigan, Ohio State, Minnesota and Northwestern — yes, Northwestern — have a shot at pushing for a top-three finish, and Michigan State can’t be counted out no matter how banged up the Spartans are.
Maryland is 12-1, Illinois has bounced back after losing three in a row and Iowa has somewhat turned a corner after an ugly start. The title picture is very muddled heading into league play, which starts on Tuesday.
Here are some keys to consider as the Big Ten gets set to kick off its 112th season:
Indiana (10-2) might have the conference’s most impressive win so far, knocking off No. 3 Kansas 103-99 in the season opener. But the Hoosiers were snapped back to reality with a 71-68 loss to IPFW just before Thanksgiving, and 13th-ranked Butler beat them by five last weekend on a neutral floor. Indiana has the Big Ten’s best offense and leads the league in rebounding margin though, and James Blackmon Jr., Robert Johnson and Thomas Bryant will be a handful for opposing defenses. Purdue’s only losses came against No. 1 Villanova and 10th-ranked Louisville — and big man Caleb Swanigan might be the Big Ten’s best overall player by early March.
Wisconsin (11-2) has only fallen to North Carolina and Creighton, and Bronson Koenig, Nigel Hayes and Ethan Happ make the Badgers dangerous on the perimeter and in the paint. But after opening Big Ten play by hosting Rutgers, Wisconsin has to travel to Indiana and Purdue before hosting Ohio State and Michigan. The Badgers can establish themselves as the front-runner by the middle of January — or fall behind in a hurry.
Losing to Arizona, Kentucky, Baylor and Duke is understandable. But Northeastern at home ? That was puzzling for Michigan State (8-5), which has been ravaged by injuries, most notably the sprained ankle that forced talented freshman Miles Bridges to the bench. But Bridges will likely be back by early January, and coach Tom Izzo’s teams are famous for finding their stride in league play. The front end of the Spartans’ league schedule is also relatively easy, but they can’t be considered a title threat just yet.
Michigan (9-3, plays Thursday) is holding opponents to just under 61 points per game, though that’s partly a result of its extremely slow tempo. Ohio State (9-3, plays Thursday) has six players averaging at least 10 points per game, and it nearly beat No. 12 Virginia on the road. Minnesota (11-1, plays Saturday) has been impressive defensively, but the Gophers have yet to beat anyone of note. Northwestern’s annual quest for its first-ever NCAA Tournament bid is off to a good start. The Wildcats’ only losses were to Butler and Notre Dame by just six combined points.
Maryland has some nice wins over Georgetown, Oklahoma State, Kansas State. But it’s still way too early to project the Terps as a serious threat. They’ll open with Illinois (10-3), which won six in a row heading into league play. … Rutgers started 11-1 after going 7-25 in 2015-16. But expect the Scarlet Knights to struggle yet again in league play. … Penn State and Nebraska are proving yet again that they were invited to the Big Ten for football, not hoops. They opened the season a combined 14-11.
DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) – Iowa officials say this year’s deer harvest is slightly down this year with a little more than two weeks left in the season. Iowa’s second shotgun season ended last Sunday. Hunters have until midnight Monday to report their harvests. Antlerless deer only may be harvested from now until Jan. 2nd.
Between both shotgun seasons, hunters reported 5 percent fewer deer than last year’s seasons. Andrew Norton of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources says hunters purchased 2,118 fewer licenses, or tags, for the shotgun seasons this year compared to last year.
In total, hunters in Iowa have harvested 87,722 deer this year, which is about 4 percent lower than last year’s count at this time. Hunters harvested 105,401 deer through all of last year’s seasons.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos have historically had a hard time winning in December in Kansas City, where they’re 3-16. A loss today (Christmas Day) to the Chiefs, who won 30-27 in overtime last month in Denver, could erase the defending champs from the AFC playoff picture. (Pre-game tonight at 6, kick-off at 7:30, on KJAN)
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers threw for 347 yards and four touchdowns, Jordy Nelson shredded Minnesota’s secondary for 154 yards and two scores, and the resurgent Green Bay Packers beat the Vikings 38-25 Saturday. The Packers’ fifth straight win set up a winner-take-all showdown next week with Detroit for the NFC North title, while extinguishing the Vikings’ faint postseason hopes.
CHICAGO (AP) — Kirk Cousins threw for a touchdown and ran for two more, and the Washington Redskins gave their fading playoff hopes a boost with a 41-21 victory at the Chicago Bears Saturday. Washington intercepted Matt Barkley five times in the loss at Soldier Field.
CLEVELAND (AP) — Isaiah Crowell rushed for two scores and the Cleveland Browns finally earned their first win of the season by beating the Chargers, 20-17. San Diego kicker Josh Lambo missed a 45-yard field goal attempt as time expired to set off a celebration among the Browns players who stormed the field after improving to 1-14. Lambo also had a potential game-tying kick blocked by the Browns’ Jamie Meder with 3:49 to go.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Matt Ryan threw for 277 yards and two touchdowns to lift Atlanta past Carolina 33-16, allowing the Falcons to clinch the NFC South on Sunday. Ryan torched the defending NFC champions in their two meetings this season, passing for 780 yards and six TDs. Tevin Coleman had 135 yards from scrimmage, including a 55-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown run for the 10-5 Falcons.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — New Orleans damaged Tampa Bay’s playoff hopes while allowing the Giants to clinch their first playoff berth since 2011. Marc Ingram ran for two touchdowns and a game-clinching first down that secured the Saints’ 31-24 triumph over the 8-7 Buccaneers. Drew Brees was 23 of 34 for 299 yards and a touchdown for the 7-8 Saints, who gained 417 total yards.
HOUSTON (AP) — Houston clinched the AFC South as Alfred Blue scored a go-ahead, 24-yard touchdown with 8:41 left to send the Texans past the Cincinnati Bengals, 12-10. Blue’s TD came two minutes after Brandon LaFell turned a short pass into an 86-yard score that put the Bengals ahead. Tom Savage threw for 176 yards and no interceptions in his first career start since replacing Brock Osweiler. The Bengals had a chance to pull out the victory until former Texan Randy Bullock’s 43-yard attempt sailed wide right as time expired.
The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast w/Ric Hanson.
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ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) – The Denver Broncos will be without their top two tight ends and their leading tackler for their game at Kansas City on Christmas night (a game you can hear on KJAN beginning at 6-p.m. Sunday, with the kick-off at 7-p.m.). The Broncos (8-6) could see their playoff hopes evaporate with another loss to the Chiefs (10-4). They’ve only won 3 of 19 December games in Kansas City.
Winning there will be harder without safety T.J. Ward, who leads Denver with 87 tackles, and tight ends A.J. Derby and Virgil Green. All have concussions. Rookies Will Parks and Justin Simmons will replace Ward. The Broncos are down to Jeff Heuerman at tight end and are considering promoting another from their practice squad.
Defensive end Derek Wolfe is questionable after missing practice all week with a neck injury and illness.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Mount Pleasant 70, Harlan 63
IWCOA Class 1-A Dual Team Rankings, 12/20/2016
School Record through 12/17/16 Overall Ranking
Lisbon 14-3 1
Don Bosco, Gilbertville 11-3 2
Sibley-Ocheyedan 9-0 3
Missouri Valley 10-1 4
Logan-Magnolia 12-1 5
Lake Mills 11-2 6
Westwood, Sloan 13-0 7
Wapsie Valley, Fairbank 9-1 8
Dike-New Hartford 5-0 9
Sigourney 9-0 10
MFL MarMac 9-2 11
Maquoketa Valley, Delhi 15-2 12
Central Springs 7-1 13
Southeast Warren, Liberty Center 4-2 14
Alburnett 4-6 15
North Linn, Troy Mills 8-3 16
IWCOA Class 2-A Dual Team Rankings, 12/20/2016
School Record through 12/17/16 Overall Ranking
New Hampton 5-0 1
Solon 8-1 2
Atlantic 7-0 3
Creston 5-1 4
Assumption, Davenport 9-4 5T
Washington 16-0 5T
Sergeant Bluff-Luton 6-1 7
Crestwood, Cresco 9-4 8
Denver 6-0 9
Clarion-Goldfield-Dows 6-0 10
Mount Vernon 4-2 11
West Liberty 7-0 12
Spirit Lake Park 5-3 13
South Tama County, Tama 8-1 14
Central Lyon George Little Rock 7-0 15
Webster City 6-3 16
IWCOA Class 3-A Dual Team Rankings, 12/20/2016
School Record through 12/16/17 Overall Ranking
Valley, West Des Moines 8-1 1
Southeast Polk 6-0 2
Fort Dodge 4-0 3
North Scott, Eldridge 10-1 4
Waverly-Shell Rock 12-2 5
Epworth, Western Dubuque 14-4 6
Indianola 8-2 7
Johnston 3-0 8
Prairie, Cedar Rapids 8-3 9
Dubuque, Hempstead 10-2 10
Glenwood 6-1 11
Waukee 10-3 12
Dowling Catholic, WDM 4-4 13
Linn-Mar, Marion 9-2 14
Ankeny Centennial 8-3 15
Iowa City, City High 6-4 16
Iowa City, West 5-5 17
Norwalk 8-0 18
Cedar Rapids, Kennedy 3-2 19
Cedar Rapids Jefferson 3-2 20T
Clinton 2-2 20T
Council Bluffs, Thomas Jefferson 4-1 22T
Mount Pleasant 7-1 22T
Ankeny 5-3 24
When Iowa plays Florida in the January 2 Outback Bowl the Hawkeyes will be in search of their first bowl victory since the 2010 Insight Bowl. Coach Kirk Ferentz says a post season victory was one of the goals for the senior class.
The Hawkeyes take a three game winning streak into their fifth appearance in the Outback Bowl since 2003.
Ferentz says a bowl victory was one of three goals the seniors set for this season.
Former Miami head coach Randy Shannon will direct Florida’s defense in the Outback Bowl. Former Gator defensive coordinator Geoff Collins is the new head coach at Temple. Shannon had been coaching the linebackers.
That’s Florida coach Jim McElwain who says no decision has been made about a permanent defensive coordinator.
(Radio Iowa/Learfield Sports)
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) – Madison Weekly had 20 points, including a season-high five 3-pointers, Hannah Schonhardt had her second double-double of the season and Northern Iowa beat Number 24 Kansas State 67-59 Thursday night.
Schonhardt had 14 points and 11 rebounds, Mikaela Morgan hit three 3s and added 11 points and Ellie Herzberg scored 10 for Northern Iowa, which made 13 3s and shot 41 percent from behind the arc – both season highs.
Kansas State’s Karyla Middlebrook hit 4 of 4 free throws to spark a 9-1 run that made it 43-all when Kindred Wesemann hit a 3-pointer with 6:51 to play. Weekly answered with a 3 and the Panthers (7-4) led the rest of the way. Shaelyn Martin’s 3-pointer pulled the Wildcats within one with 4:39 remaining, but another 3 by Weekly sparked a 15-7 run that made it 61-52 when Megan Maahs hit a 3, moments after blocking a shot on the other end, with 59 seconds left.
Middlebrook had a career-high 19 points and tied her career best with six assists for Kansas State (10-2), which has lost two of three after starting the season 9-0.
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