B1G Take Ten Podcast: Recent Episodes
Big Ten Network
Hosted by Alex Roux of BTN.com, the Take Ten Podcast is a series of discussions with prominent Big Ten-related personalities. Guests will include current and former players and coaches, as well as influential media members and anyone else with unique insight into Big Ten sports.
Former Creighton and Kansas basketball player Nick Bahe joined the show and shared his journey to becoming a college basketball analyst for Fox Sports, broke down this week's NBA Draft prospects in the Big Ten, projected some surprise Big Ten teams next basketball season and explained the Nebraska/Creighton rivalry. (1:41-40:30)
Then, Big Ten Network Manager of Research Harold Shelton III joined to catch up on all things Big Ten football and basketball during the summer months, including optimism from his alma mater of Michigan State. (41:30-end)
Star Rutgers playmaker Bo Melton joined the Take Ten Podcast to discuss his preparation for the NFL Draft, his career with the Scarlet Knights and more.
Then, Big Ten Network Mgr. of Research Harold Shelton joined to discuss the home stretch of the Big Ten Basketball race.
Northwestern alum Nate Taphorn joined and shared memories from the 2017 NCAA Tournament run by the Wildcats, the years that built up to the “First Dance” season and discussed his current career. (2:35-33:24)
Then, Big Ten Network Manager of Research Harold Shelton joined and broke down the week’s action in Big Ten Basketball. (33:24-end)
Former Michigan State Basketball star Maurice Ager joined and shared his pursuits in the decade-and-a-half since suiting up for the Spartans, his favorite memories as college hooper and his Final Four run reflections from 2005. (2:20-29:40)
Then, Big Ten Network Manager of Research Harold Shelton joined to catch up on the latest in the Big Ten Basketball standings, trends and developments of the past week. (31:10-end)
All-B1G punter Blake Hayes joined and discussed the unique process that led him from Melbourne, Australia to Illinois, the renaissance of the Punter on social media and his favorite moments from his Illini career. (2:02-34:37)
Then, Big Ten Network Manager of Research Harold Shelton put a bow on the college football season, broke down the tweaks to the 2022 B1G football schedule and checked in on the early B1G men’s basketball title and scoring chases. (36:17-end)
Former All-American Michigan TE Jake Butt discussed his post-football life after retiring from the NFL, his career at Michigan, his preview of Michigan vs. Georgia, coming full circle with the 2021 Orange Bowl after 2016 and more. (3:09 - 41:16)
Then, Big Ten Network Mgr. of Research Harold Shelton discussed the upcoming College Football Playoff Semifinal, the B1G's other bowl matchups and a conference hoops update ahead of the new year. (42:15-end)
Former Huskers LB JoJo Domann discussed his favorite memories across six seasons at Nebraska, his prep for the NFL Draft, his charitable work through NIL and more. (2:08-25:30)
Then, Big Ten Network Manager of Research Harold Shelton reflected on Michigan's month, looked ahead to the CFP Semifinal vs. Georgia and assessed the state of Big Ten Basketball a month into the season. (27:22-end)
Sporting News, FOX Sports and Big Ten Network basketball expert Mike DeCourcy joined for his annual Big Ten basketball preview ahead of Tuesday's start to the season. (3:21-41:21)
Then, Big Ten Network Manager of Research Harold Shelton recapped a wild weekend of Big Ten football, took a Spartan victory lap for his alma mater, previewed what lies ahead for the league and looked ahead to Big Ten basketball season.
Former All-Big Ten defensive back Brock Vereen joined the Take Ten Podcast and discussed his path from Minnesota to the NFL to sports media, including his favorite moments in his first year as a B1G Tailgate host for Big Ten Network. (2:20-27:20)
Then, Big Ten Network Manager of Research Harold Shelton previewed a massive weekend of B1G football matchups. (29:00-end)
FOX Sports college football analyst RJ Young joined and shared his path to his current role in sports media, his approach to covering the sport and his takes on Big Ten Football. (2:20-24:35)
Then, Big Ten Network Manager of Research Harold Shelton broke down the strength of Big Ten football in early October and previewed Week 6 matchups. (24:35-end)
The FOX Sports personality and host of The People’s Sports Podcast re-joined the show and shared her experiences on this season’s Ultimate College Football Road Trip, including stops at Wisconsin and Ohio State and an upcoming trip to the Nebraska vs. Oklahoma game. She discussed creating content on the road with co-host Mark Titus and reflected on what she’s learned about the Big Ten so far. (2:53-30:40)
Then, Big Ten Network Manager of Research Harold Shelton joined to discuss Week 2’s developments across the conference, including Iowa’s national contender status and Ohio State’s ability to bounce back before previewing an intriguing Week 3 schedule. (32:00-end)
Former Big Ten Player of the Year Cassius Winston joined and shared what Year One in the NBA was like with the Washington Wizards, reflected on his favorite moments with the Michigan State Spartans and more. (2:20-17:05)
Then, Big Ten Network Manager of Research Harold Shelton III joined and evaluated Illinois’ Week 0 win over Nebraska before previewing a loaded Week 1 schedule in the Big Ten. (18:20-end)
Illinois basketball's third all-time leading scorer Malcolm Hill joined and reflected on his favorite Illini memories, discussed his upcoming opportunity with the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA Summer League and more. (2:06-34:20) Then, Big Ten Network Manager of Research Harold Shelton III helped catch up on eventful summer of Big Ten news, talked last week's NBA Draft and more. (35:40-end)
Former Iowa wide receiver/kick returner and recent Minnesota Vikings draft pick Ihmir Smith-Marsette joined the show and shared his lifestyle since Draft Day, discussed his fit in the League, reflected on some electric Hawkeye memories and more. (2:00-14:15)
Then, Big Ten Network Manager of Research Harold Shelton joined and reacted to Andy Katz’s polarizing list of the Top 5 Most Scenic Big Ten Campuses before pivoting to Big Ten schools’ evolving recruiting advantages in football and men’s basketball. (16:18-end)
Big Ten Network and ESPN reporter Olivia Dekker joined and discussed her career path and how she’s made an impact in a competitive industry, her family ties to the sports universe and navigating life with her husband and former Badger basketball star, Sam. (2:30-44:15)
Then, Big Ten Network Manager of Research Harold Shelton joined and reflected on his Top 5 games he’s attended in both Big Ten Football and Basketball with Alex Roux. (46:00-end)
Former Michigan State Basketball walk-on Jack Hoiberg joined the show and shared what it was like growing up in a hoops family as the son of an NBA and college coach, reflected on his Michigan State memories and more. (0:00-23:07)
Then, Big Ten Network Manager of Research Harold Shelton joined and dissected the week’s schedule announcement from the Big Ten for in-conference men’s basketball opponents. (25:00-end)
Former Wolverine fullback, defensive lineman and special teamer Ben Mason joined and shared what makes his impact on the game unique, described his NFL Draft prep approach, reflected on Michigan memories and more. (1:45-15:40)
Then, Big Ten Network Manager of Research Harold Shelton joined to discuss how the proposed Super League in European Soccer matches sports trends in the US before talking both real and hypothetical Big Ten schedules vs. nonconference opponents. (17:35-end)
FOX Sports host and reporter Jenny Taft joined and discussed hosting Skip and Shannon: Undisputed, her sideline reporting experiences from Big Ten Country to the World Cup, her Midwest roots and more.
Then, Big Ten Network Manager of Research Harold Shelton joined the show and reacted to The Athletic’s list of Top Football Hires since 1999 and shared his own Big Ten Football and Basketball coaching hire rankings.
Former Indiana basketball player Christian Watford joined to discuss the Hoosiers hiring Mike Woodson, his recent visit to Assembly Hall, some unique perspectives on his famous Wat Shot, and more. (1:40-23:40)
Then, Big Ten Network Manager of Research Harold Shelton discussed the new basketball coaching hires in the Big Ten, the end of the road in the NCAA Tournament and more. (26:00-end)
Former Penn State star and Denver Broncos WR KJ Hamler joined the show to talk about what he's learned in a year post-Penn State, his 'Welcome to the NFL' moments, his favorite cartoons growing up and more. (1:41-29:18)
Then, Big Ten Network Manager of Research Harold Shelton joined to analyze why eight of nine Big Ten teams in the NCAA tournament missed the Sweet 16, Michigan's chances to advance and more. (30:30-end)
Purdue's 2015 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Rapheal Davis joined the show to reflect on his role in lifting Purdue from losing seasons as an underclassmen to conference contender. He also discussed taking pride in his defense, holding himself and teammates accountable and what makes the current Boilers team successful. (0:00-33:30)
Then, Big Ten Network Manager of Research Harold Shelton joined to discuss the Michigan/Ohio State instant classic game and its implications, Michigan State's upset of Illinois and the remaining Big Ten Title race and March Madness projections. (35:30-end)
Former Buckeye star Jared Sullinger joins the Take Ten Podcast to discuss his attempted return to professional basketball, his favorite Ohio State and NBA memories and what makes the Buckeye alumni family unique. (0:41-24:00)
Then, Big Ten Network manager of research Harold Shelton joined to share Big Ten Network’s Black History Month efforts and break down the current state of B1G basketball. (25:48-end)
Former Iowa star Peter Jok caught us up on his post-Hawkeye pro career, his connections to this year’s Top 5 squad and his favorite memories from his time on campus. (0:00-26:00). Then, Big Ten Network Manager of Research Harold Shelton broke down the current state of B1G men’s hoops. (28:00-end)
First, Joshua Perry and Kenny Bell discussed their first year working together as “emerging talent” at Big Ten Network while connecting with audiences from their playing days and beyond on TV and social media. The duo also offered insights on the intersection of sports, culture and off-field issues in 2020. (1:48-1:10:54)
Then, Big Ten Network Manager of Research Harold Shelton joined and reflected on how 2020 changed the sports world, broke down the CFP matchup between Clemson and Ohio State and updated other Big Ten football and basketball developments. (1:13:54-end)
Former Michigan head coach John Beilein joined to discuss his return to Big Ten Network, tell stories from his career in Ann Arbor and offer thoughts on this year’s college basketball season. (1:28-30:30) Then, Big Ten Network manager of research Harold Shelton joined to break down the B1G football and basketball seasons. (33:16-end)
Mike DeCourcy of The Sporting News and B1G Network previews the college basketball season, breaks down the tiers within the Big Ten and offers a Final Four prediction. (1:30-36:15) Then, B1G Network Manager of Research Harold Shelton joins to go in-depth on the latest B1G football matchups and implications and concludes with a look at the first week of B1G basketball. (36:16-end)
Former Wisconsin Basketball player Vitto Brown (2013-17) updates us on his pro career since graduating from the Badgers, what life is like overseas during the pandemic and his interests outside of basketball. (1:17-37:00)
Then, B1G Network anchor Mike Hall joined and discussed the launch of his new podcast for the network, On The Bench With Mike Hall. (39:10-1:00:38)
Finally, B1G Network Manager of Research Harold Shelton caught us up on the state of B1G football and previewed Week 4’s must-see games. (1:01:40-end)
Charlotte Wilder of FOX Sports joined and discussed her journey from SB Nation to Sports Illustrated to FOX, shared her perception of college sports as a New Englander and small-college graduate before going through a crash course in B1G mascots and trivia. (1:36-35:04) Then, BTN Manager of Research Harold Shelton joined and discussed what we saw in Week 1 of B1G football and previewed what to look forward to in Week 2. (36:48-end)
SEC Network analyst Cole Cubelic joined and discussed his college football favorites from both the B1G and SEC, shared which B1G programs scare SEC fans the most and analyzed the first month of college football. (1:05-24:30) Then, BTN Manager of Research Harold Shelton chatted about the TV schedule unveiling, basketball schedule updates and more (25:40-end).
Former Ohio State basketball player David Lighty joined and discussed his decade of professional basketball, his memories from a golden era of Ohio State basketball and more. (0:00-34:45) Then, BTN Manager of Research Harold Shelton re-joined for his regular in-season segment to discuss the return of Big Ten football, the schedule reveal and basketball optimism. (36:30-end)
Former Wisconsin and NFL DB Marcus Cromartie joined and updated fans on his career since leaving Madison, shared how he stays active on social media and facilitates relevant discussions, offered some thoughts on the upcoming NFL season and reflected on his Badgers career coming from one of football’s famous families.
Former Rutgers basketball center C.J. Gettys joined and reflected on his graduate transfer year with as a Scarlet Knight during Steve Pikiell's first season. Gettys also provided updates on his hoops career overseas since leaving Rutgers and shared his perspective on the current team as a fan.
Former Michigan State and NFL running back Jeremy Langford joined the show to reflect on his favorite Spartan memories, discuss his NFL career, rank Chicago vs. Detroit pizza and more. (0:00-25:20)
Then, former Northwestern volleyball player, BTN intern and host of Big Ten Volleytalk Emily Ehman joined the show to discuss her sports media and playing career, plus facing the uncertainty of the sports industry as a recent grad during a pandemic. (27:00-end)
Former Purdue guard Ryan Cline reflected on a Boilermaker career that included two Big Ten titles, a memorable NCAA tournament run to the Elite Eight and more before sharing some thoughts on Matt Painter and ranking the skills of his fellow shooting guards during his time in West Lafayette.
Former Penn State star QB Trace McSorley joined and reflected on his first year experience in the NFL, sharing a QB room with Lamar Jackson and RGIII, his favorite moments from his Penn State career and more.
Former Michigan basketball star and NBA vet Nik Stauskas joined and reflected on his professional basketball career to this point, discussed his favorite moments from his Wolverine career and more. (0:40-33:30)
Then, BTN staffers Harold Shelton III and Bill Friedman joined Alex Roux to run through some personal "All-Decade" favorites from the past ten years of Big Ten sports. (35:00-end)
Former Ohio State basketball walk-on Joey Lane joined to discuss his podcast coverage of the upcoming TBT basketball tournament in Columbus and break down the bracket before reflecting on his days as a member of the Buckeye program.
New Illinois Football Director of High School Relations Ashton Washington joined the show and discussed taking on a trailblazing role during an unprecedented time, how the pandemic led to her current opportunity and how Lovie Smith has helped guide her during the first few weeks on the job.
BTN Manager of Research Harold Shelton, BTN anchor/reporter Coley Harvey and BTN football analyst Joshua Perry discuss racial injustice in America, their own personal experiences as black men and Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren's plans to address the divide.
Former Maryland basketball star, ACC Player of the Year and 7-year NBA vet Greivis Vasquez joined to discuss his path from Venezuela to the United States, his love for the Terps and stories from his career.
Former Minnesota star LB and 2020 New York Giants draft pick Carter Coughlin joined the show and discussed getting drafted, getting ready for his rookie year and his favorite moments from his time in the Twin Cities. (2:07-20:00)
Then, BTN Sr. Coordinating Producer Alex Bertsche joined the show and discussed his role at the network, notable experiences from his sports career and what it’s been like to quarantine with his kids. (20:30-end)
Former Iowa star TE and No. 8 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft T.J. Hockenson joined the show and chatted about his favorite memories from his time with the Hawkeyes, his first year with the Detroit Lions and his hobbies during quarantine. (1:40-20:00)
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined the show and discussed the best Big Ten and college sports uniforms of all time. (21:00-end)
Illinois basketball’s Giorgi Bezhanishvili joined to discuss his solo quarantine lifestyle in Champaign, his favorite moments from an exciting sophomore season and his thoughts on potential changes to the Illini roster. (3:00-27:00)
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined and discussed intriguing B1G landing spots from the NFL Draft, a Pistons fan’s perspective on the latest Last Dance episodes and ranked the best sports movies of all time. (28:00-end)
Former Michigan State basketball player Matt McQuaid joined the show to discuss playing in Germany in the year since his last Spartan game, how the pandemic disrupted his professional career and some fond memories from his time in East Lansing. (3:00-15:45)
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined the show to catch up on conference news, preview the NFL Draft, discuss the Last Dance documentary and list the best restaurants at each Big Ten Campus. (17:45-end)
Former Wisconsin basketball player and BTN analyst Ben Brust re-jonied the show and discussed how he’s adjusted his sports media responsibilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Then, Brust reflected on a special season for Wisconsin Basketball. (3:00-16:00)
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined for an extended segment to catch up on Big Ten transfer and roster news before discussing the best Big Ten football and men’s basketball teams since 2000 who fell short of winning the national championship. (18:45-end)
Former Nebraska head coach and current BTN/FS1 basketball analyst Tim Miles joined the show and discussed the pandemic’s disruption to life and basketball before reflecting on his coaching career and favorite moments on the sidelines as the Huskers’ head man. (2:50-36:50)
BTN Senior Coordinating Producer Bill Friedman joined to discuss how his flagship show, BTN Journey, is adapting its programming strategy during a time when live sports don’t exist and how it has embraced a digital rollout strategy over the years throughout the rise of social platforms. Plus, Bill shared his favorite memories across years of production and interactions with coaches and athletes for BTN. (39:30-end)
Former Penn State basketball player Shep Garner joined the show to talk about how he's handling the fallout from the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, how it disrupted his basketball career, what he's been up to since graduating in 2018 and discussed his best memories from his days as a Nittany Lion. (3:00-31:00)
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined to reflect on the craziness of the last two weeks and discussed the new normal of working in the sports industry. Other topics include the ultimate "what-ifs" of the canceled Big Ten and NCAA Tournaments and the impact of transfer news, recruiting and NCAA eligibility rulings since the sports world shut down. (31:45-end)
Michigan State Basketball player Aaron Henry joined the show to discuss how the Spartans are approaching their Big Ten Championship push and how they’re preparing for March Madness. (4:30-11:00)
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined to break down the Big Ten basketball title race and seeding scenarios for the Big Ten Tournament. (11:30-36:00)
Then, BTN On-Campus Producers Cory Pontarollo and Conner Hoke hosted a special Big Ten Wrestling Tournament preview with BTN wrestling analyst Shane Sparks. Sparks breaks down each weight class and everything you need to know for this weekend’s tournament at Rutgers. (36:30-1:32:00)
Sam Vecenie, Senior Basketball Writer for The Athletic, joined and discussed which Big Ten teams might make noise in March, where Big Ten stars could get drafted in June and more. (2:00-27:00)
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined to break down the last week and a half of the conference title race and explained Big Ten Tournament seeding and tiebreakers. (28:00-end)
Former Purdue and current Texas Legends guard discussed how he made the All-NBA G-League team in his second year after graduating from Purdue and how he has elevated his game as a pro. (2:45-16:00)
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined to discuss the head coaching transition for Michigan State football and caught us up on the Big Ten basketball title race. (17:00-end)
BTN wrestling analyst Shane Sparks joined the show and discussed his path from selling cars with a different last name as a 20-something to becoming a prominent figure in wrestling media. Plus, Shane discussed the sport's unique influence in Big Ten country. (3:00-28:00)
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined and discuss last week's Wisconsin basketball news before wrapping up with a reflection on the sudden passing of Kobe Bryant. (29:00)
Former Johns Hopkins lacrosse star Paul Rabil joined to discuss how he co-founded the Premier Lacrosse League and how he has marketed the league in non-traditional and creative ways. He also discussed the rise of Big Ten lacrosse and how the additions of schools like Johns Hopkins and Maryland have boosted the conference. (2:30-28:30)
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined to catch us up on the Big Ten basketball race. (29:30-end)
Former Johns Hopkins lacrosse star Paul Rabil joined to discuss how he co-founded the Premier Lacrosse League and how he has marketed the league in non-traditional and creative ways. He also discussed the rise of Big Ten lacrosse and how the additions of schools like Johns Hopkins and Maryland have boosted the conference. (2:30-28:30)
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined to catch us up on the Big Ten basketball race. (29:30-end)
Former Rutgers WR and Mortell Holder of the Year nominee Cole Murphy joins and talks about how he launched a viral campaign to try and win "the Heisman of Holding." Murphy also discusses his journey from Junior College standout to walk-on at Rutgers to scholarship player for the Scarlet Knights.
BTN reporter Andy Katz re-joined the show to discuss his unique role in covering college basketball all over the country across several outlets and mediums. He also chatted about the importance of embracing social media as a reporter and how he balances his responsibilities covering a sport with 350 teams. (2:30-19:30)
BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined to reboot the podcast in the New Year and catch up on all things Big Ten basketball, including the evolution of the league into the deepest conference in college hoops. (20:30-end)
Chicago sportswriter and author Ed Sherman re-joined the show and discussed the release of his new book - This is B1G: How the Big Ten Set the Standard in College Sports. The book is an all-encompassing history of the Big Ten, and Sherman shared what went into researching, writing and marketing the book throughout the entire process. (2:30-22:30)
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined to discuss the state of what appears to be a very deep basketball conference in the Big Ten this season and how teams have fared through nearly two months and two league games. Harold also previewed the nine Big Ten bowl games awaiting over the holidays. (23:30-1:03:30)
Former Nebraska wide receiver Kenny Bell joined to discuss his post-football pursuits, his charitable work and his time as a Husker star and fan favorite on campus.
Former Ohio State RB MIke Weber discussed his journey since being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys and his time at Ohio State, including his favorite plays in the backfield as a Buckeye, his experience watching Ohio State on the road to the B1G title game and his explanation of why Ohio State is so successful against Michigan. (1:40-21:20)
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined to break down the B1G Championship Game between Ohio State and Wisconsin in-depth and weigh in on the Big Ten's first month of the season in basketball. (22:20-42:00)
Former Michigan State basketball player Kenny Goins joined to discuss his overseas hoops career and his path since hitting the shot against Duke that helped send the Spartans to the 2019 Final Four. He also shared his perspective on how the Spartan family came together to support Cassius Winston during a time of tragedy. (2:45-19:20)
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined to go in-depth on a huge Rivalry Week in Big Ten football, including The Game in Ann Arbor and The Axe matchup to determine the Big Ten East title. The discussion wrapped up with a status update on Big Ten hoops. (20:20-end)
BTN analyst and former college football coach/player Gerry DiNardo joined and talked about his path to the network and his various stops throughout a lifetime connected to the sport. He also chatted about his passion for cooking, his embrace of social media and his friendship with Urban Meyer before previewing the Penn State vs. Ohio State game this weekend. (1:50-37:50)
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined to break down the recent College Football Playoff rankings and how this weekend’s games could affect the committee’s decisions and the road to the Big Ten Championship game. He also evaluated the start of the Big Ten basketball season and what a couple weeks of evidence tells us about teams so far. (39:00-end)
College football writer Nicole Auerbach joined to discuss her latest pieces for The Athletic, including her series highlighting the lighter side of college football. She also discussed the latest College Football Playoff rankings and Minnesota’s historic rise. (2:00-26:00)
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined to discuss where the Big Ten stacks up in the College Football Playoff rankings, the upcoming weekend’s football matchups and went behind the numbers of Big Ten football and basketball. (28:00-54:30)
The founder of college basketball analytics website kenpom.com joined and shared how he transitioned from a career in meteorology to hoops expert and writer. Plus, he explained the processes behind his ranking algorithms and how they relate to Big Ten teams and projections. (3:00-33:30)
BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined to discuss a huge weekend ahead in Big Ten football, including Penn State vs. Minnesota and Iowa vs. Wisconsin. Basketball talk followed with the 2019-20 season getting underway this week. (35:00-1:07:00)
Private quarterbacks coach Quincy Avery trains and is close with Deshaun Watson, Dwayne Haskins, Justin Fields, Sean Clifford and many other QBs across all levels of football. He discussed his unconventional path to the top of a niche industry and shares what makes QBs like Fields and Clifford successful in the Big Ten. (3:00-21:00)
BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined to go behind the numbers of Big Ten football and stepped back for a wider view of the conference with a month of the regular season left to play. He also previewed the opening week of Big Ten basketball. (21:30-end)
Former Illinois wide receiver Mikey Dudek joined the show to discuss experiencing the Illini’s historic upset win over Wisconsin as a fan on the sidelines and what it meant to a rebuilding program. He also reflected on his own football career, which was cut short by three season-ending injuries (.2:30-28:40)
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined for his weekly Stat Head segment to go behind the numbers of the weekend’s results in Big Ten football and project what awaits in Week 9 and beyond in the conference race. (30:00-58:00)
BTN reporter and host Elise Menaker joined the show to talk about her path from college softball star to local news reporter to Big Ten Network. She also discussed her responsibilities at the network in-depth, including the creation of a popular social media segment called "Big Ten's Got Talent" and her weekly role as a sideline reporter during football season. (2:30-40:30)
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined the show for his weekly Stat Head segment for an in-depth breakdown of Big Ten football, including a catch-up of the past weekend's action and analyzing how teams project heading into Week 8. (41:30-end)
Mike DeCourcy of The Sporting News and Big Ten Network joined after Big Ten Basketball Media Day for an in-depth preview of the 2019-20 hoops season. (2:15-51:00)
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined for his weekly Stat Head segment to evaluate Big Ten football's results to this point and project the upcoming weekend's matchups, including a pair of Top-25 games within the conference. (52:00-end)
New Big Ten Network studio host and FS1 sideline reporter Coley Harvey joined the show to discuss his media path from college at Northwestern to eventually landing at BTN, which included several high-profile stops in between. Harvey also chatted Big Ten football and previewed the game he'll be on the sidelines for this weekend - Penn State at Maryland. (2:30-50:30)
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined for his weekly Stat Head segment to evaluate results from past football weekends in the Big Ten and project the games and matchups that await. (51:30-end)
National college football writer Chris Vannini joined the show to discuss his recent pieces for The Athletic and chat about the landscape of Big Ten Football, including how teams stack up in his rankings of all 130 Division I teams.
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined for his weekly Stat Head segment to dissect what happened in Week 3 of Big Ten football and project how teams will fare in Week 4.
Former Ohio State linebacker and new BTN football analyst Joshua Perry joined the show to chat about how he landed and is adjusting to his new sports media role. Plus, he evaluated the first two weeks of the Big Ten Football season and how teams project going forward. (2:30-24:00)
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined for his weekly Stat Head segment to go in-depth and behind the numbers of the Big Ten's recent games and upcoming matchups. (25:00-end)
National college football writer Matt Fortuna joined to discuss his latest projects at The Athletic, including coverage of Hugh Freeze coaching from a hospital bed, the launch of the ACC Network, Illinois' new facility and more. Fortuna also shared his observations of Big Ten football and the national landscape heading into Week 2 of the season. (3:30-32:30)
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton re-joined for his weekly Stat Head segment to provide in-depth analysis of Week 1 results in the Big Ten and project the conference's matchups in Week 2. (33:30-57:30)
The 2019 BTN Bus Tour interviews wrap up at the final three stops on the annual drive around the Big Ten with chats at Iowa, Illinois and Northwestern. Hawkeyes DL Chauncey Golston (2:10-15:10), Illini DL Oluwole Betiku (15:45-28:30) and Wildcats S J.R. Pace (29:20-43:30) sat down with Alex Roux for the post-practice discussions.
Interviews from the 2019 BTN Bus Tour head West with chats at Purdue (Markus Bailey - 2:00-16:00), Wisconsin (A.J. Taylor - 16:20-30:00), Minnesota (Winston DeLattiboudere and Clay Geary - 30:30-43:45)and Nebraska (Jack Stoll - 44:30-55:30).
This is Part 3 of 4 from the Tour, and interviews from the final three stops at Iowa, Illinois and Northwestern will drop in the next episode.
The BTN Bus Tour wraps up the Eastern leg with interviews at Penn State (LB Jan Johnson - 2:00-13:00), Michigan State (S David Dowell - 13:40-26;00) and Michigan (TE Sean McKeon - 26:40-end). The discussions dive into the players' backgrounds, off-field interests and more as they join the show following training camp practice.
The Take Ten Podcast hits the road with the 2019 BTN Bus Tour and interviews a Big Ten Football Player at each stop on the 14-campus trek. The first episode of this year's tour features interviews at the first four stops - Indiana OL Coy Cronk (1:40-14:30), Ohio State DL Jonathon Cooper (14:40-28:00), Maryland LB Ayinde Eley (28:10-41:10) and Rutgers OL Zach Venesky (42:00-53:30).
Reigning women's basketball National Player of the Year Megan Gustafson joined to discuss her time as a superstar at Iowa, her journey with the WNBA's Dallas Wings (including being cut and re-signed after being drafted) and adjusting to life as a professional athlete. (2:30-13:30).
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton re-joined the show to resume his Stat Head segment with a summer college football update before the season gets underway.
Former Nebraska kicker Adi Kunalic and founder/president of Opendorse - an athlete marketing platform - joined the show to discuss the path that led him to becoming the first Bosnian player in the NFL and a successful entrepreneur following his football career.
Joel Klatt (2:30-23:00) and Bruce Feldman (24:00-41:30) of FOX Sports joined the show from Chicago at B1G Football Media Days to launch us back into football season. Klatt caught us up on his summer and stood his ground on some impassioned takes about the state of college football (plus certain types of food), while Feldman offered a peek behind his other job at The Athletic before discussing his annual "Freaks List" and previewing the B1G season.
Then, the show bid farewell to our producer and co-host of the "Coll For the Culture segment, Colleen Degnan. Colleen left BTN to take an opportunity at NBC Sports Chicago, but made sure to deliver one last deep dive into the intersections of sports, pop culture and entertainment before departing the network. (42:30-end)
BTN senior digital producer Brent Yarina filled in for host Alex Roux to interview former Michigan QB Devin Gardner in the BTN studio, and the two touched on a variety of topics. The discussion includes a memorable moment against Ohio State, describing the Big House experience, playing football in Japan and more. (2:50-15:20).
Then, producer Colleen Degnan joined for her weekly #CollForTheCulture segment to chat about the intersection of sports, social media and culture with host Alex Roux. The two talk NBA free agency, viral brand successes and whether certain Fourth of July activities fall under the "yes" or "yikes" category. (16:30-end).
BTN and FOX announcer Lisa Byington joined to discuss her role calling play-by-play for the FIFA Women's World Cup and her career path that led to the prestigious nod. Topics include calling games from a remote studio in Los Angeles, the challenges of prep work and name pronunciations across different countries and what makes the event so special. (2:15-31:30)
Then, producer Colleen Degnan joined for her #CollForTheCulture segment to chat about the intersections of sports, pop culture and entertainment. Topics include dos and don'ts of summertime, best MLB ballparks and sports to watch with the NBA and NHL in the rear-view mirror. (32:00-end)
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With BTN senior digital producer Brent Yarina filling in as an interviewer while host Alex Roux was out of town, former Maryland basketball star Bruno Fernando sat down for an in-studio interview. The All-Big Ten Terps big man discussed his preparation for the NBA Draft, how his home country of Angola and the University of Maryland molded him into the person he is today and shared some cultural and linguistic differences between his home cities throughout the years. (3:00-18:15)
Then, Roux returned for a catch-up session of #CollForTheCulture with producer Colleen Degnan, where the two got back to discussing the intersections of sports, pop culture, entertainment and social media (including NBA/Stanley Cup Finals, B1G developments over the last two weeks and summertime distractions) throughout the recurring segment. (19:15-end).
Former Purdue and NFL defensive standout Rosevelt Colvin joined the show and shared some memorable stories from his Boilermakers days, re-lived his breakout years with the Chicago Bears, discussed what makes the Patriots franchise he played for so unstoppable and updated us on what he's been up to in retirement. (3:30-41:00).
Then, producer Colleen Degnan joined for her weekly #CollForTheCulture segment to discuss the intersection of sports and pop culture, including bidding farewell to her Blazers, addressing Drake's Raptors hijinks, a public transportation etiquette debate and a ranking of best weekend cookout foods. (42:00-end).
Two former Penn State and current NFL players joined the show in Chicago’s BTN studio. First, Chicago Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson discussed how he spends his offseason, how he embraces the Windy City and how he's handling the disappointment of last season’s heartbreaking playoff loss. (3:30-16:20)
Then, Green Bay Packers kicker Sam Ficken chatted about the psyche and lifestyle of a professional kicker, overcoming struggles at the position in college and how former Bears kicker Robbie Gould mentored him through a rough patch in Happy Valley. (18:00-33:30)
Finally, producer Colleen Degnan returned for her #CollForTheCulture segment to discuss the intersection of sports and pop culture, including NBA Draft Lottery comedy and the potential demise of her beloved Portland Trailblazers. (34:30-end)
Eric Ayala sat down in College Park for an in-person interview to discuss his path from a tough area of Wilmington, Delaware, to Maryland Basketball. Ayala also dished some fun facts on his teammates and chatted about the promising future of Terrapin hoops as a rising sophomore leader.
College basketball insider Jon Rothstein of CBS, Sports Illustrated and the College Hoops Today podcast joined to chat about the college basketball offseason, including the transfer market, NBA Draft entrants and an early look ahead at the 2019-20 season. Plus, Jon discussed his background in sports media and his unique Twitter game. (3:15-31:00)
Then, producer Colleen Degnan joined for her weekly #CollForTheCulture segment to discuss the intersection of sports, pop culture and entertainment. Topics include Game of Thrones spoiler culture on social media, NFL Draft fashion, Kentucky Derby weekend and the NBA playoffs. (32:00-end)
In a three-part, NFL Draft-heavy episode, former Nebraska RB Devine Ozigbo joined to discuss Husker football, his prep for the next stage of his career and his NFL aspirations. (3:05-18:20)
Then, Sirius XM and Westwood One radio host Jason Horowitz joined the show to chat about his career in sports media and responsibilities hosting Sirius' coverage of all three days of the NFL Draft. (19:20-49:20)
Finally, producer Colleen Degnan joined for her weekly #CollForTheCulture segment to discuss the intersection of sports, entertainment and pop culture. Topics include the NBA Playoffs and her Portland Trailblazers (before Dame's big shot), Earth Day and the lighter side of the NFL Draft. (50:00-end)
Fresh off a week that saw him call Virginia's National Championship and Tiger Woods winning The Masters, Kevin Kugler re-joined the show to discuss what goes into calling such high-profile events and what sets Augusta National apart as a sports venue. He also describes witnessing Tiger's accomplishment in person and previews the upcoming NFL Draft. (3:00-24:25).
Then, producer Colleen Degnan joined for her weekly #CollForTheCulture segment to discuss everything from her Blazers' early success in the NBA playoffs, an all-time Social Sunday recap, the debate if Coachella is still cool to NHL franchises wildin' on Twitter. (25:00-end).
Two Big Ten head basketball coaches are featured as Penn State's Pat Chambers (2:30-15:30) and Rutgers' Steve Pikiell (16:00-25:35) joined from last weekend's festivities in Minneapolis. Both coaches discussed their favorite Final Four memories, the obligations during the Final Four for the caravan of coaches that comes in every year, their personal backgrounds and more before chatting about the trajectories for their respective programs.
Then, producer Colleen Degnan joined for her weekly Coll For The Culture segment to chat about the lighter side of the Final Four, the intersection of sports and pop culture and to wrap up our March Madness-style bracket of U.S. cities. (26:00-end).
In Part 1 of a three-part episode, college hoops reporter Andy Katz re-joined the show to discuss his travels to all four March Madness regional sites this past weekend and the incredible action he witnessed. Katz also previewed the Final Four and weighed in on Nebraska's hiring of Fred Hoiberg. (3:30-30:10)
Then, Michigan State grad and BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined for his weekly Stat Head segment to reflect on one of the best Elite Eight weekends ever and look ahead to his alma mater's matchup in the Final Four. (31:00-49:00)
Finally, producer Colleen Degnan jumped on for her weekly #CollForTheCulture segment to link the upcoming Final Four to her regular discussions about the intersection of sports and pop culture. Plus: more "U.S. Cities Bracket" reveals as the segment works to determine the best overall city in the country in March Madness fashion. (49:20-end)
First, Illinois basketball Hall of Famer Deon Thomas joined the show from the Big Ten Tournament to discuss his successful career with the Illini and overseas. (3:05-19:48)
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined to break down the March Madness bracket by the numbers and project the best and worst Big Ten paths to the Final Four. (20:30-41:30)
Finally, producer Colleen Degnan joined for her #CollForTheCulture segment to create a bracket of the best cities in the US. (42:30-end)
Big Ten Tournament week is here, and longtime Chicago Tribune sportswriter/author Ed Sherman joined the show to discuss Big Ten hoops history and a piece he wrote in the 2019 Big Ten Tournament official program that details the conference's "list of firsts" in college basketball. The piece aligns with the opportunity to pre-order Ed's new book, This is Big: How the Big Ten Set the Standard in College Sports, on www.BigTenBook.com. The book is scheduled to come out in Fall 2019. (2:30-28:10)
Then, producer Colleen Degnan re-joined for her Coll For The Culture segment to discuss the intersection of sports and pop culture, including must-experience tourist attractions for Chicago visitors during the Big Ten Tournament. (29:30-1:00:22)
Brad Evans of Yahoo! brings the noise to a hoops-heavy episode and drops college basketball knowledge throughout. He discusses the Big Ten's bubble teams and their chances, picks Big Ten and NCAA Tournament sleepers and identifies March's true contenders. (3:00-43:00)
Then, Erik Haslam of haslametrics.com re-joined the show and explained how his self-made algorithm evaluates college basketball, where Big Ten teams find themselves in his website's rankings and what it all means as Conference Tournament week approaches. (44:15-1:08:20)
Former Michigan and Purdue basketball player Spike Albrecht re-joined the show as both of his former schools come down the stretch of the Big Ten title race. Spike shared insight on former teammates, coaches and current players on the Wolverines and Boilermakers and dished on why they're two of the most consistently successful programs in the country. (4:00-29:30)
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton jumped on for the middle segment of a 3-part show for some Stat Head talk, taking us behind the numbers of the Big Ten basketball landscape in the closing weeks of the season. (30:00-50:10)
Finally, producer Colleen Degnan re-joined the show for her weekly Coll for the Culture segment, keeping listeners up to speed on pop culture trends (except The Bachelor) with some sports sprinkled in. (51:00-end).
Former Minnesota basketball star Trevor Mbakwe Skypes into the show from Japan, where he currently plays professionally (2:30-27:30). Trevor shares stories about playing overseas ball, explains adjusting to life in Japan and reflects on his days with the Golden Gophers.
Then, producer Colleen Degnan joins for another #CollForTheCulture segment, where she dives into the intersection of sports and pop culture. Plenty of NBA and Oscars talk accompanies host Alex Roux's podcasting efforts while sick with a cold. (28:10-end).
Former NBA player and current FOX college basketball analyst Dickey Simpkins joined the show and chatted about his experiences winning three titles with the 90s Chicago Bulls, his most memorable stories from playing overseas and his transition to scout and broadcaster. (3:00-26:40)
Then, producer Colleen Degnan joined for her weekly #CollForTheCulture segment to chat about the intersection of sports and pop culture, including NBA All-Star Weekend, the Grammys, Netflix phenomenons and more. (27:30-50:00)
Former NFL and Purdue defensive end Cliff Avril joined the Take Ten Podcast to discuss his Super Bowl experiences--both his time as a champion with the Seattle Seahawks and this past week as a retired member of the media. Cliff shared what it's like to be a Super Bowl champ in the aftermath of the game and described the postgame celebrations before dishing on Purdue Football under Jeff Brohm. (3:45-23:18)
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton jumped on the show for his regular Stat Head segment to break down the current state of Big Ten hoops behind the numbers. (24:24-40:16)
Finally, producer Colleen Degnan hopped on for her third #CollForTheCulture segment, where she fills us in on the latest intersections of sports and pop culture. (41:23-1:00:00)
BTN play-by-play announcer and Minnesota Twins radio voice Cory Provus joined the show and shared stories from his various gigs in sports media. Provus also discussed his path from covering sports in high school to Syracuse University to Major League Baseball and college sports announcer, including favorite sports stops and travel quirks. (3:50-33:30)
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton jumped on for his regular Stat Head segment to go behind the numbers of the current state of Big Ten basketball, followed by a sports/pop culture/entertainment segment with assistant producer Colleen Degnan. (34:45-end)
Former Nebraska and NFL defensive end Adam Carriker joined the show to discuss tweaks he would make to college football's bowl system, his evaluation of the current Huskers program, his favorite stories from his playing days and more. (3:40-34:20)
Then, a new in-house segment was introduced featuring producer Colleen Degnan. The Take Ten Podcast presents Coll For The Culture, where Colleen gets host Alex Roux up to speed on everything happening in the convergence of sports, social media and pop culture. (35:30-end)
Four-year Purdue QB David Blough joined the show and paid tribute to his good friend Tyler Trent, discussed the ups and downs of his development under center with the Boilermakers and gave an inside look at key points in his career. (3:50-46:00)
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined the show for his Stat Head segment to wrap up the 2018 college football discussion and take stock of the 2018-19 Big Ten basketball season. (47:30-end)
As the 50th anniversary of Ohio State's 1969 win over USC in the Rose Bowl approaches, former Buckeyes QB Rex Kern joined the show to reflect on that game and the national championship-winning season it capped. Rex reminisced about his recruiting process that originally led him to Ohio State to play basketball and how his path unfolded in a Hall of Fame football career.
Kern also discussed playing against OJ Simpson, the festivities surrounding the event, how legendary head coach Woody Hayes used unique tactics to prepare for the game and more.
Former Rutgers basketball player and head coach Bob Wenzel joined the show and discussed the most memorable moments from his coaching and broadcasting career, including leading the Scarlet Knights to the NCAA tournament twice and calling iconic games alongside legendary broadcasters. Wenzel also offered his take on the current Scarlet Knights program under Steve Pikiell.
On a bonus episode of the Take Ten Podcast, Corey Wootton joined the show on Championship Saturday in Indy ahead of Northwestern vs. Ohio State.
Three guests joined a B1G Championship Preview edition of the Take Ten Podcast. First, BTN Lead Studio Analyst Dave Revsine broke down the title game matchup, put the regular season in perspective and offered in-depth analysis on both Northwestern and Ohio State. (5:25-33:10)
Then, former ESPN personality J.A. Adande joined and discussed his current gig as Director of Sports Journalism at Northwestern University, reflected on his favorite moments as a member of Around the Horn/PTI and gave his perspective as both a former Wildcat student and current fan/staffer on the latest big-stage achievement in the rise of Northwestern athletics. (34:30-56:37)
Finally, BTN researcher Harold Shelton jumped on for his latest Stat Head segment to go behind the numbers of the latest College Football Playoff rankings and the upcoming B1G Championship matchup between the Buckeyes and Wildcats...plus a little hoops talk at the end. (57:40-end)
On a three-part episode, BTN play-by-play announcer Mike Monaco joined the show and discussed his path to becoming a 25-year-old sports broadcaster on national TV, calling C. Vivian Stringer's 1,000th career win and more. (5:00-32:40)
Then, BTN's Howard Griffith sat down with MIchigan State DE Kenny Willekes for his weekly Loungin' With Howard segment, and we have a portion of the interview here. (33:59 - 37:53)
Finally, BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined for his weekly Stat Head segment to go behind the numbers of Northwestern's division win, the CFP rankings and the Big Ten's strong start in college hoops. (38:50-end.)
National college basketball reporter Andy Katz re-joined the Take Ten Podcast ahead of his second season as a BTN analyst. He discussed the return of his weekly Big Ten Basketball Podcast, reflected on the opening night of college hoops (including an eventful Tuesday night in Indy at the Champions Classic) and previewed the Big Ten's 2018-19 season. (4:00-24:00)
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined for his regular Stat Head segment to go behind the numbers of the past weekend of Big Ten football and look ahead to the upcoming slate of games. (25:00-end)
On a three-guest episode of the Take Ten Podcast, Alex Roux of BTN.com is joined by Andy Staples of Sports Illustrated, former Iowa Hawkeye DL Anthony Herron of Sirius XM's Big Ten This Morning show and BTN researcher Harold Shelton.
First, Staples joins and reacts to Tuesday's College Football Playoff rankings, discusses the impact of this weekend's games and dishes on the best food in the college football world. (3:08-38:40)
Then, Herron joined and discussed his role as host of the new Big Ten This Morning Show on Sirius XM, offered some thoughts on his alma mater and reacted to the current Big Ten and college football landscape. (39:20-57:30)
Finally, BTN researcher Harold Shelton jumped on for his weekly Stat Head segment to go behind the numbers of the past weekend of Big Ten football and looked ahead to a huge weekend in the conference. (58:10-end)
On a three-guest episode of the Take Ten Podcast, special guest and Purdue student sports reporter Tyler Trent joined the show to recap his experiences surrounding Purdue's upset of Ohio State. Tyler's story of his ongoing battle with bone cancer reached the national stage last weekend, and he described the process behind being featured on College Gameday, being interviewed mid-game on ESPN and predicting Purdue's win over the Buckeyes. Tyler also discussed the outpouring of support he's received from around the world and within the sports community. (3:40-22:05)
Then, Yahoo Sports national college football writer Pete Thamel joined the show in-studio to provide a national perspective on last weekend's games and the impact of a wild Big Ten weekend. Thamel also discussed his visit to Purdue practice and previewed Week 9 of college football. (23:00-39:30).
Finally, BTN researcher Harold Shelton jumped on for his weekly Stat Head segment to go in-depth on the Big Ten analysis of Week 8 games and to break down Week 9 matchups behind the numbers. (40:00-end).
Mike DeCourcy of The Sporting News joined the Take Ten Podcast to break down the storylines from Big Ten Baskteball Media Day, preview the conference and national picture, predict which teams will make the biggest leaps and more.
Former Indiana and current Houston Rockets guard Eric Gordon joined on the eve of his 11th NBA season opener to discuss his favorite memories from his time with the Hoosiers, the current Indiana team with Romeo Langford, his college rivalries with Purdue and Illinois, his NBA career, #HoodieMelo and more. (2:20-19:30).
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined the show for his weekly Stat Head segment to go behind the numbers from this past weekend in Big Ten football and look ahead to the Week 8 across the conference. (19:30-end).
Bruce Feldman of FOX and The Athletic joined the show to discuss what he saw on the sidelines at Ohio State vs. Indiana, his column on Dwayne Haskins' historic start, other contenders in the Big Ten Title race and a look at the national landscape as Week 7 awaits. (3:00-29:00)
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton jumped on for his regular Stat Head segment to take a look at Big Ten Football behind the numbers, break down what happened in Week 6 and preview the upcoming weekend's action. (30:00)
Mitch Sherman of ESPN.com jumped on to discuss the significance of Ohio State's comeback win over Penn State, the paths forward for Big Ten and College Football Playoff contenders, the situation on the ground at Nebraska and more. Sherman also chatted about potential chaos in the CFP with Notre Dame and looked ahead to Week 6 in college football. (3:00-49:10).
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined for his weekly Stat Head segment to go inside the Buckeyes' comeback in Happy Valley and what went wrong and right for Penn State, plus MIchigan's win at Northwestern and more from Week 5. He also discussed what to look for in Week 6. (50:20-end).
Max Olson of The Athletic joined the show to discuss the implications of Week 4 in the Big Ten and beyond, his weekly Stop Rate defensive metrics, the new college football transfer rule and how it's impacting transfers, Week 5 matchups (especially Ohio State at Penn State) and more. (3:00-40:10).
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton jumped on for his weekly Stat Head segment to break down Week 4's Wisconsin win over Iowa, regressions and progressions for other Big Ten teams and previewed one of the biggest games of the season between the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions.
National college football writer Chantel Jennings of The Athletic joined the show and discussed her unique piece on the hypothetical 1997 matchup between undefeated Michigan and Nebraska teams that was never played, resulting in a split national title. Then, Chantel broke down the college football landscape in both the Big Ten and nationally, and she offered some lessons on the philosophy behind West Coast, Best Coast. (4;00-38:40)
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined the show for his weekly Stat Head segment to discuss the Big Ten's rough overall weekend, diagnose what went wrong, look at paths forward for conference teams and preview Week 4. (39:50-1:00:00).
Brian Hamilton of The Athletic joins Alex Roux of BTN.com to provide a national perspective on Week 2 of college football and look ahead to Week 3 (2:41-34:31). Topics include Michigan State's struggles, Penn State and Michigan's bounce-back games, Ohio State's outlook against No. 15 TCU and more.
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton joins the show for his regular Stat Head segment to dive behind the numbers of Big Ten football.
The Take Ten Podcast's Football Focus series is back as host Alex Roux is joined weekly by members of the national college football media to break down the past weekend's action and preview the upcoming matchups in the Big Ten and beyond. CBSSports.com writer Tom Fornelli joined the show (3:00-33:00) to discuss who is and isn't worrying him after one week of Big Ten play, which Week 2 games intrigue him at both a conference and national level, players who are must-see TV and more.
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined the show (34:15-46:20) to re-launch the Take Ten Podcast's weekly Stat Head segment, which dives into the numbers behind the games each week.
The 2018 Bus Tour wraps up with player interviews from five schools in the B1G West Division. Alex Roux sat down with Nebraska LB Mohamed Barry (2:26-16:45), Iowa DL Parker Hesse (17:20-29:15), Illinois WR Justice Williams (29:45-41:00), Purdue RB DJ Knox (42:00-55:40) and Northwestern OL Tommy Doles (56:15-1:12:20).
The BTN Bus Tour rolls on as Alex Roux interviews players at each stop on BTN's annual trip across the conference. Interviews include Michigan's aspiring astronaut Noah Furbush (2:50-17:34), Michigan State's star of the Big Ten Kickoff Luncheon Khari Willis (18:06-28:35), Wisconsin's backflipping DL Olive Sagapolu (29:10-39:10) and Minnesota's former walk-on who received a scholarship from parachuting Navy SEALs, Bailey Schoenfelder (40:00-54:20).
The Take Ten Podcast hits the road as host Alex Roux interviews Big Ten football players across the conference throughout the annual BTN Bus Tour.
The first episode from the 2018 Tour features interviews from four different East Division schools: Indiana P Haydon Whitehead (2:08-15:49), Rutgers DB Isaiah Wharton (16:41-27:55), Maryland WR Taivon Jacobs (28:35-41:41) and Penn State S Nick Scott. (42:16-56:00).
Former All-Big Ten tight end Troy Fumagalli joined the show and discussed his career at Wisconsin, his path as an NFL rookie with the Denver Broncos, his Chicago Cubs fandom and more.
FOX College Football analysts and former college QBs Joel Klatt and Matt Leinart joined the Take Ten Podcast from Big Ten Media Days in Chicago. Klatt (2:00-20:00) returned for his second appearance on the show and broke down the first year of the Big Ten/FOX partnership, the flaws in the College Football Playoff system and the season ahead.
Then, Leinart (20:45-30:00) discussed his path from the NFL to FOX, his days at USC and which Big Ten teams intrigue him heading into the 2018 season.
First, former Wisconsin forward Marcus Landry (4:30-25:26) joined the show and discussed his college and professional career, including some funny overseas stories and his journey raising a family at a young age.
Then, Cleveland Cavaliers play-by-play announcer John Michael (26:58-end) jumped on to chat about the departure of LeBron James to the LA Lakers, including behind the scenes insight into LeBron's personality and the mindset of the Cavs fan base following his second decision to leave The Land. .
Blake Lawrence, former Husker linebacker and current Co-founder/CEO of the athlete marketing platform Opendorse, joined Alex Roux in New York City at the Hashtag Sports conference to discuss his path from Big Ten athlete to entrepreneur. Lawrence also shared how connections and experiences playing at Nebraska helped him build a company that has grown from Lincoln-based startup to national leader in the sports industry.
Two former Big Ten Basketball players - Ohio State's Jae'Sean Tate (3:30-33:50) and Michigan's Stu Douglass (34:16-end)- joined the show and reflected on their playing careers, discussed their current hoop lives and previewed their upcoming participation in The Basketball Tournament on a squad with mostly Big Ten players.
A pair of former four-year Big Ten basketball players joined the show as Dakota Mathias (3:30-19:33) and Bryant McIntosh (20:50) discussed their preparations for the pros, their college careers, their mutual training regimen in an Indiana barn and more.
It's an all-Wisconsin episode as former Wisconsin forwards Brian Butch (3:39-42:15) and Duje Dukan (43:09-1:15:30) joined the show to reflect on their respective eras in Madison. Butch hopped on first and discussed playing in the McDonald's All-American Game with LeBron James, his evolution into an All-Big Ten player at Wisconsin, the 2003-2008 seasons, Bo Ryan stories and more.
Then, Dukan joined the show and chatted about his role on back-to-back Final Four teams in 2014-15, that special squad's development as a group, his childhood days as a Chicago Bulls ball boy and some Bo Ryan stories of his own.
Former Illinois QB Juice Williams joined the show in-studio to discuss what he's been up to post-football (3:10), his athletic upbringing in Chicago (13:48), his Rose Bowl run at Illinois(20:52) and more.
Former Penn State defensive back and current Chicago Bears safety Adrian Amos joined Alex Roux in-studio to discuss his upbringing in Baltimore, his career at Penn State, his ascension to becoming one of the best safeties in the NFL with the Bears, his thoughts on the new Avengers movie and more.
Former Penn State lineman and current Arizona Cardinals center AQ Shipley joined the show to discuss some recent big developments in his life, his time at Penn State, his path to NFL mainstay and more.
Former Iowa linebacker A.J. Edds joined Alex Roux to discuss his life since retiring from the NFL - including his current gig with the Big Ten Conference - his experiences playing for one of the best teams in the Kirk Ferentz era, his NFL Draft experiences and more.
University of Illinois alum and media jack of all trades Will Leitch joined the Take Ten Podcast to discuss his many roles in sports and media, his road to success, founding the sports website Deadspin and the current sports media landscape. Plus, plenty of Illinois sports talk, including why Will is optimistic about his alma mater's future in football and basketball.
Former All-Big Ten Nebraska wide receiver Jordan Westerkamp joined the show to talk about his career progression since graduating in 2016, his signing with the CFL's Toronto Argonauts, the Huskers' spring season under Scott Frost and more.
A collection of short interviews from Alex Roux's weekend at the Final Four, including Illinois head coach Brad Underwood (7:33), CBS' Clark Kellogg (14:33) and Bill Raftery (17:15), Michigan walk-on CJ Baird (18:30), The Ringer's Mark Titus (21:05), Big Cat of Barstool Sports (26:20), Charles Barkley (27:36) and reaction from the Michigan locker room following their loss in the national championship (28:45)
Former Michigan guard and star of the 2013 national championship Spike Albrecht re-joined the show to discuss his Wolverines' return to the Final Four and preview the upcoming weekend in San Antonio. (5:18-22:52). Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton jumped on for his regular Stat Head segment to dissect the Final Four--especially the Michigan/Loyola matchup--by the numbers. (23:40-36:52).
Yahoo Sports bracketologist Brad Evans brought the noise to the Take Ten Podcast and helped make sense of the opening weekend madness from the NCAA tournament. He also evaluated Purdue's and Michigan's chances to advance and explained why he has the Wolverines in his title game. And before all that, he explained how he transitioned from a history teacher for at-risk youth in Central Illinois to Fantasy Football expert and bracketologist.
Richard Deitsch of The Athletic and Sportsnet 590 The Fan in Toronto sat down with Alex Roux in New York City to discuss his career path, his one-year fellowship at the University of Michigan, sports media podcasting, his developing career changes and more
A series of short interviews from the stands at the Big Ten Tournament at Madison Square Garden with five influential personalities in sports.
MLB.com and NY Mag writer WIll Leitch (5:15-8:03), Purdue student reporter and cancer survivor Tyler Trent (9:00-11:20), NBA trainer Chris Brickley and House of Highlights founder Omar Raja (12:15-15:25) and Doug Gottlieb (15:50) all joined the show throughout the tournament.
As the Big Ten Tournament heads to New York City, Alex Roux caught up with Steve Lavin (6:10-27:55), who discussed coaching in Madison Square Garden and his time as an assistant at Purdue.
Then, 1997 Big East Tournament MVP and 1999 Big Ten Player of the Year Scoonie Penn joined (29:22-38:30) joined to discuss playing in The Garden and his first year on the Ohio State staff.
Finally, Erik Haslam of Haslametrics.com went behind the numbers to project what B1G bubble teams need to accomplish this week and which teams look poised to perform well in March (41:00-57:55).
Former Indiana guard Verdell Jones joined the show to talk about his career arc, his role in the "Wat Shot", the current state of Hoosier basketball and more. (4:46-37:17)
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton jumped on for his regular Stat Head segment to break down the remaining scenarios for the Big Ten title race, the Big Ten Tournament and March Madness' bubble watch. (38:12-49:45).
Mike Hall - an original Big Ten Network studio host and creator of Sports Lite - joined the show to discuss his career path, including kicking off his career by winning ESPN's Dream Job show. Hall also chatted about BTN and the current state of Big Ten hoops. (3:30-52:00).
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton jumped on for his weekly Stat Head segment to break down the home stretch of Big Ten hoops and all the possible title race and postseason scenarios. (53:00-1:06:00).
Call this The Kevin Episode as two famous Kevins joined the show. First, Tampa Bay Rays center fielder and Purdue Superfan Kevin Kiermaier called in immediately after Purdue's loss to Ohio State to discuss Boilermaker hoops, his Purdue fandom and Major League Baseball. (5:10-37:10)
Then, play-by-play announcer Kevin Kugler joined the show after he called Wednesday's Purdue/Ohio State game to discuss the game of the year in the Big Ten. Plus, Kugler talked Nebraska and the hype surrounding the surprise Husker hoops team and Scott Frost. (38:55-1:05:12)
Six-year NFL veteran and former Illinois DB Tavon Wilson joined the show to discuss his title-winning experience with the New England Patriots during Super Bowl XLIX--from the media frenzy to the game, the flight home and the ensuing parade. Plus, Wilson shares some insight into how Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and the Patriots are so successful. (3:05-22:24).
Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined for his regular Stat Head segment to stay caught up on the unfolding Big Ten basketball season. (23:00-38:15).
BTN basketball analyst and former Penn State guard Jon Crispin joins Alex Roux in-studio to take stock of Big Ten basketball halfway through conference play. (3:23-29:35) Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton goes beyond the box score during his recurring Stat Head segment. (30:15)
BTN and FS1 play-by-play announcer Brandon Gaudin joined the show to discuss the current Big Ten basketball season, plus he went in-depth about his role as the voice of EA Sports' Madden series. Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined the show to go behind the numbers as we reach the halfway point of Big Ten basketball season.
University of Illinois grad and former BTN anchor Taylor Rooks joined the show (4:40-39:45) to discuss her path to her current position at SportsNet New York, her Timeout With Taylor Rooks podcast and the prominent guests she's interviewed, her role as an African-American woman in sports media and more.
Then, former Wisconsin basketball player Ben Brust re-joined the show (41:16) to talk about his experiences playing Lithuanian basketball professionally as hoops in that country continues to grab international sports headlines.
College hoops reporter Andy Katz re-joins the show live in studio to assess the landscape of the sport, especially the Big Ten and where its teams stand as conference play gets rebooted. Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton jumped on for his regular Stat Head segment to recap bowl season and discuss the numbers behind what we've seen in Big Ten basketball.
BTN studio host Rick Pizzo joined the show and led off with some sports media discussion, including his unlikely path to the Network and how he's crafted a personal brand as a broadcaster through sayings and style. Then, some college football bowl talk was bracketed by reflections on 10 years at BTN and the best Big Ten moments of 2017.
Former Michigan and Purdue guard Spike Albrecht joined the show to discuss his time as a part of two extremely successful Big Ten basketball programs. First, he got into how he went from having no offers out of high school to ending up at Michigan (5:41), his breakout game in the National Championship as a freshman (16:36) shooting his shot with Kate Upton (22:00) and shared some fun stories from the rest of his time with the Wolverienes.
Then, Spike discussed his path to Purdue as a grad transfer (35:00) and dished on the current state of Big Ten hoops.
CBSSports.com college football writer Tom Fornelli joined Alex Roux of BTN.com for a College Football Playoff postmortem after the Big Ten was shut out of the fun. He also discussed the impact of Nebraska hiring Scott Frost (34:12) and his thoughts on his favorite college basketball team (Illinois at 43:41). Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton jumped on to chat about the state of Big Ten basketball following a healthy dose of cross-conference matchups and an early week of conference play.
Nicole Auerbach of The Athletic made her long-awaited return to the Take Ten Podcast and joined Alex Roux and Tom Dienhart to help make sense of a wild few days in college football. Then, BTN researcher and resident "Stat Head" Harold Shelton jumped on to break down the numbers and team tendencies behind this weekend's Big Ten Championship Game between Wisconsin and Ohio State. Plenty of College Football Playoff and coaching speculation is included, as well.
Steve Greenberg of the Chicago Sun-Times joined BTN.com's Alex Roux and Tom Dienhart to talk last weekend's results, what lies ahead throughout Rivalry Weekend (especially Michigan-Ohio State) and the best trophies in college football. BTN researcher Harold Shelton also joins the show for a weekly Stat Head segment.
Michelle McMahon of BTN and NBC Sports Chicago joined the show and discussed her career path, her current roles and how she balances covering hockey, football and various other sports. Among other topics, the former Michigan volleyball player also reflected on her time in Ann Arbor and her close friendship with former Michigan State punter Mike Sadler, who died in a car accident in 2016.
Bill Bender of Sporting News joined Alex Roux and Tom Dienhart of BTN.com to discuss the clarity that ensued out of the chaos of Week 11 and the latest College Football Playoff poll, while also looking ahead and trying to find value in a mostly lousy Week 12. Other topics include an Ohio State CFP dream that just won't die, Iowa's Josh Jackson and a Stat Head segment with BTN researcher Harold Shelton.
With college basketball season getting underway Friday, one of the sport's most respected reporters joined the show to preview Big Ten hoops. Former ESPN and current BTN hoops analyst details his new role with the network, gives an update on the ongoing corruption scandal and shares what he expects from Big Ten teams in 2017-18.
College football expert Mike Huguenin of GridironNow.com joined BTN.com's Alex Roux and Tom Dienhart to discuss a wacky Week 10, break down the second CFP rankings and look ahead to a loaded Week 11 in college football.
Play-by-play announcer Brian Anderson joined the show and discussed his many high-profile broadcasting gigs -- including for the Milwaukee Brewers, Major League Baseball playoffs and college basketball for Turner and for BTN -- as well as the path that led to his current career. Anderson also discussed the Brewers and living in Wisconsin for the past decade, including his observations of the sports culture in that part of the country.
CBSsports.com national college football writer Dennis Dodd joins Alex Roux of BTN.com to discuss an epic Week 9 of college football, look ahead to potential letdown games in Week 10 and talk threats to the Big Ten's CFP chances. Plus, BTN researcher Harold Shelton jumps on for a weekly Stat Head segment.
Former Northwestern and Chicago Bears D-Lineman Corey Wootton joined the show to discuss why he stepped away from the sport in his prime years, his new broadcasting career at BTN and behind-the-scenes stories from both the Wildcats and Bears locker rooms.
Nashville-based host of Sirius XM's ESPNU Full RIde show Chris Childers joined Alex Roux and Tom Dienhart of BTN.com to look back at Week 8 of college football and look ahead to Week 9, including plenty of Ohio State/Penn State talk. Also, BTN researcher Harold Shelton is back with his weekly Stat Head segment.
Big Ten Basketball Media Day has arrived, and The Sporting News' Mike DeCourcy joined BTN.com's Alex Roux and Tom Dienhart to preview the conference top to bottom.
Former Michigan and NFL wide receiver Braylon Edwards joined the show to discuss his days with the Wolverines, NFL experiences and his new career as a football broadcaster with Big Ten Network.
Stewart Mandel, Editor-In-Chief of The All-American, joined Alex Roux and Tom Dienhart of BTN.com to discuss the latest events in college football and look ahead to another weekend of action. The guys talked Joe Tiller, went in-depth on Michigan/MSU, answered fan questions and more. Plus, BTN researcher Harold Shelton checked in for another Stat Head segment.
All-around college football guru Phil Steele joined Alex Roux and Tom Dienhart of BTN.com to discuss Week 5's action, look ahead to Week 6 and break down the sport like only Phil Steele can. Plus, we asked Phil about how he finds time to fit the mind-boggling amount of football he watches into his schedule. BTN Researcher Harold Shelton also joins the show for another Stat Head segment at 59:10.
FOX analyst Rob Stone joined Alex Roux and Tom Dienhart of BTN.com to talk the weekend that was in college football, look ahead to Week 5, discuss some interesting head coaches and more. Plus, BTN researcher Harold Shelton drops by for a new "Stat Head" segment.
Alex Roux and Tom Dienhart host the Take Ten Podcast's weekly Football Focus episode, bringing in FOX and Sports Illustrated national college football analyst Bruce Feldman to discuss the events of Week 3 and to look ahead to the start of true conference play in Week 4. Topics include how big of a chance Iowa and Purdue stand against Penn State and MIchigan, how Ohio State and Wisconsin stack up, Michigan State vs. Notre Dame, Nebraska's epic loss and more.
Indiana grad and ESPN College Football Playoff reporter Heather Dinich discusses her path to the Worldwide Leader (including landing an interview as a student at Indiana at Bob Knight's house the day he was fired), how the College Football Playoff process is covered and more, including an explosive internship story -- literally.
Alex Roux and Tom Dienhart host the Take Ten Podcast's weekly Football Focus episode, bringing in national college football writer Ralph Russo of the Associated Press to discuss the implications of Week 2 and look ahead to Week 3. Topics include potential adjustments for Ohio State, Nebraska and Northwestern's struggles, whether Penn State, Michigan or Wisconsin is best positioned to make a run to the College Football Playoff and Baker Mayfield's antics.
On the finale of the four-part BTN Bus Tour series, Alex Roux of BTN.com wraps up at Purdue with running back DJ Knox (3:20) and at Northwestern with safety Godwin Igwebuike (21:00).
Alex Roux and Tom Dienhart of BTN.com host the Take Ten Podcast's weekly Football Focus episode, bringing in a national college football analyst to put the past weekend's events in perspective while looking ahead to next week's action. Bleacher Report's Senior National College Football Writer Matt Hayes joined following Week 1.
It was a special week at BTN as the network celebrated ten years on the air. Dave Revsine joined Alex Roux to reflect on his path to BTN, the struggles the trailblazing network faced early on and his decade as BTN's lead studio host.
The Take Ten's coverage of the BTN Bus Tour heads west, with interviews from Iowa (LB Ben Niemann, 1:50), Nebraska (WR Stanley Morgan, 22:18), Minnesota (DL Winston DeLattiboudere, 38:46) and Wisconsin(LB Chris Orr, 57:40).
The Take Ten Podcast's coverage from the BTN Bus Tour rolls on, with Eastern Leg interviews from Penn State (S Marcus Allen, 2:44), Michigan (LB Mike McCray, 20:50) and Michigan State (RB Gerald Holmes, 38:25).
The Take Ten Podcast hits the road on the BTN Bus Tour for Part 1 of a several part series, featuring interviews with players on stops at the Big Ten schools. This episode features interviews with Indiana WR J-Shun Harris II (3:35), Maryland punter Wade Lees (22:21) and Rutgers OL Dorian Miller (43:35).
Former Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn joined Alex Roux of BTN.com to discuss picking the Irish over Big Ten schools, his NFL experience, his Buckeye brother-in-law and calling Big Ten games for FOX as part of the new TV deal.
Joel Klatt and Jenny Taft from FOX Sports' lead college football crew joined Alex Roux of BTN.com to discuss their athletic and broadcasting backgrounds, their preparation for the first year of FOX owning Big Ten football TV rights and much, much more.
Part Two of a special two-part 2017 Big Ten football season preview to align with Big Ten Media Days, featuring interviews and analysis with writers from Landof10.com. This episode focuses on the West Division, featuring West/Wisconsin writer Sean Keeler (2:23), Iowa writer Scott Dochterman (38:10) and Nebraska writer Erin Sorensen (1:00:40). The East episode was released Monday.
A special two-part 2017 football season preview episode to align with Big Ten Football Media Days, featuring interviews and analysis from reporters from Landof10.com. This episode focuses on the East Division, featuring Michigan writer Rachel Lenzi (1:55), Ohio State writer Ryan Ginn (36:48) and Penn State writer Tyler Donahue (1:04:48), who also dropped knowledge on other Big Ten East teams. The West preview will be released on Tuesday.
Legendary former Illinois basketball coach Lou Henson sat down with Alex Roux to reflect on some of his best memories from his Hall of Fame career in hoops.
On the eighth episode of BTN's Take Ten Podcast, former Michigan State linebacker Darien Harris joined Alex Roux of BTN.com to talk about life in professional football limbo, his sports broadcasting endeavors, his love of Kobe Bryant, superheroes and more.
On the seventh episode of BTN's Take Ten Podcast, former Wisconsin Badger Ben Brust joined the show to talk NBA Draft, Wisconsin hoops, the beginning of his acting career and more.
On the sixth episode of BTN's Take Ten Podcast, Northwestern basketball rising senior and current BTN intern Scottie Lindsey joined Alex Roux to talk setbacks, success, his future NBA Draft wardrobe and more.
On the fifth episode of the newly-named Take Ten podcast, former Purdue basketball star Robbie Hummel joined Alex Roux from Russia to discuss some incredible experiences throughout his hoops career.
In the fourth episode of the BTN Podcast, former Illinois basketball player and current BTN hoops analyst Stephen Bardo goes in-depth about his 10-year career in pro basketball. Stories include sketchy overseas referees, NBA dreams and discovering the one gesture you can't use in Italy.
In the third episode of the BTN Podcast, former Iowa Hawkeye tight end George Kittle joined Alex Roux of BTN.com. Kittle was a 2017 fifth round draft pick of the San Francisco 49ers, and he discussed his transition to the NFL, his time in Iowa City and his love of WWE wrestling among other topics throughout the show.
In the second episode of the BTN Podcast, Westwood One radio and BTN TV announcer Kevin Kugler joined Alex Roux in-studio to talk his best broadcasting experiences, Nebraska football, the Cubs winning the World Series and more.
In the first episode of BTN's new podcast, USA TODAY sports reporter Nicole Auerbach joins Alex Roux to talk Michigan, the sports media industry, Jim Harbaugh and more.