Potential Big Ten expansion doesn't bother the league's basketball coaches

As the Big Ten considers expanding, many people have weighed in on what schools merit consideration and whether adding schools is a good idea.

The league’s basketball coaches, though, don’t see too bothered by the decision - no matter what happens.

“To be honest with ya, it’s not really my decision,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said. “It makes for good conversation right now. We’ll see in a couple years if it moves past conversation.”

Thus far, the teams that have been most often mentioned are from the Big East: Rutgers, Pittsburgh and Syracuse - although Pitt and Syracuse are unlikely candidates - as well as Missouri out of the Big 12.

One of the teams with perhaps the most to gain by adding an eastern counterpart would be Penn State, which is the eastern-most outpost in the league.

Ed DeChellis, the Nittany Lions coach, has no preference on what team, if any, joins the league. He wondered why some of the Big East schools would consider leaving their league.

“You hear different teams bantered about,” DeChellis said. “I don’t know what team makes sense and what team doesn’t. I think most of it will be television-driven.”

Surprising Wisconsin

One of the biggest movers in the conference early on has been Wisconsin, which has flirted with the Top 25 most of the season and picked up two early conference wins.

Wisconsin's Jason Bohannon (12) dribbles past Penn State's Adam Highberger (14) in the second half of their NCAA college basketball game in State College, Pa., Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010.

AP photo

After dismantling Ohio State in always-tough-to-win Madison, even more important and impressive was winning a game on the road at Penn State on Sunday.

“It always beats the alternative. You look at the schedule some of us have at different times through the year, early middle late, away games versus home games, it’s good to get off to a good start at home and get one on the road,” Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan said. “To get one on the road is something that I think every team in the league is going to struggle to get a whole bunch of them.

“The ones that you do get will help you stay in the race and that’s what everyone’s intentions are, to stay in the race.”

Perhaps the toughest part of Wisconsin’s week - the flight back from Penn State, which Ryan said was difficult due to the wind.

Needing a third option

From watching Penn State this year, much of the Nittany Lions’ offense and defense centers around star guard Talor Battle.

And DeChellis recognizes Penn State needs more than just one star in order to win in the Big Ten and reach the NCAA tournament.

He’s gotten some production from forward D.J. Jackson, but he is second on the team scoring only 8.4 points a game.

Other than that, production has been spotty for Penn State, which plays Michigan on Thursday.

“We just need a third scorer,” DeChellis said. “Need someone to step up and be a third scorer shooting. We need consistent perimeter shooting and more scoring off the bench.”

Northwestern’s Shurna is POY

Northwestern sophomore forward John Shurna was named the Big Ten’s Player of the Week for the second time in his career.

In two losses, Shurna averaged 28 points, 6.5 rebounds and four assists against Illinois and Michigan State. He scored a career-high 29 points against Michigan State.

Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein.