Yesterday was a big day for my almost 6-year-old daughter, Talia. She took the bus for the first time on the first day of "real" camp. So, my wife and I drove her a couple miles away to the bus stop and see her off.

I'm ready to drive back home, but my wife wants to follow the bus to the camp to make sure our only child is alright. It's against my better judgment, I voice my opinion, but come up short and we trail the bus for a few miles.

We get to the camp just before the bus pulls up and my daughter gets off the bus - without her backpack (which includes everything she needs the day). So, mom bolts into action and probably could have beaten Darren Collison in the 100 yards or so from our car to the bus, where she grabs the backpack and gives it to a counselor to give to my daughter.

Just goes to show you that moms are usually right.

Also, forgot to mention yesterday that we saw Hangover on Saturday night. It was one of the funniest movies I've seen in a while. If you like dumb comedies (Something about Mary, American Pie, etc.) that are targeted for teenagers, go see it. You won't stop laughing.
 
Here's a Big Ten rundown. Please e-mail me at jngoodman@aol.com with any additions or corrections.

Illinois - The Illini will play in the Las Vegas Classic on Nov. 27-28 along with Utah, Oklahoma State and Bradley. Bruce Weber's team will play non-conference games at Clemson (Dec. 2), against Gonzaga in Chicago, against Missouri in St. Louis and Vanderbilt at home.

Iowa - The Hawkeyes will host a pod in the CBE Classic with Duquesne and UIC. Todd Lickliter's team recently returned from a trip to Italy and Greece in May and will also play Virginia Tech in a non-conference game on Dec. 1 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Four players left the program - Jeff Peterson (Arkansas), Jake Kelly (Indiana State), David Palmer (Southern Indiana) and Jermain Davis (Minnesota State-Mankato).

Indiana - The Hoosiers will play in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off (Nov. 19-22) and also have non-conference games against Maryland at home (Dec. 1) in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge, against Pittsburgh (Dec. 8) at Madison Square Garden and also against Kentucky. Two players - Malik Story (Nevada) and Nick Williams (Ole Miss) transferred out of the program.

Michigan - John Beilein & Co. will play in the Old Spice Classic down in Orlando and also have non-conference games against UConn (Jan. 17), at Kansas (Dec. 19), at Utah (Dec. 9) and Boston College (Dec. 2) at home. Kelvin Grady left the team and will play football at Michigan.

Michigan State - The Spartans will host a pod in the Legends Classic which will include Valparaiso and Toledo. Tom Izzo's team will also play Gonzaga at home, at North Carolina on Dec. 1 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge and at Texas (Dec. 22).

Minnesota - The Golden Gophers will play in the 76 Classic in Anaheim and also will play at Miami (Dec. 2) in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge and against St, Joe's, Stephen F. Austin and Morgan State in other non-conference games. Two players - Travis Busch (Colorado State) and Kevin Payton - has transferred out of the program.

Northwestern - Bill Carmody's team will play in the Chicago Invitational - along with Notre Dame, Iowa State and St. Louis. Other non-conference games include at home against Butler (Nov. 18), against Stanford at home (Dec. 19) and at N.C. State (Dec. 1) in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.

Ohio State - Assistant coach Archie Miller left to join his brother, Sean, at Arizona and was replaced by former Akron assistant Jeff Boals. The Buckeyes will host a pod in the Coaches vs. Cancer event which includes FIU and James Madison and also play non-conference games against Florida State (Dec. 2), at Butler (Dec. 12) and at West Virginia.

Penn State - The Nittany Lions will play in the Charleston Classic and also have non-conference games at Virginia on Nov. 30 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, on the road against Temple and at home against Virginia Tech.

Purdue - The Boilermakers will play in the Paradise Jam and also have non-conference games against Wake Forest (Dec.1) in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, at Alabama (Dec. 12) and in the Wooden Tradition against an opponent yet to be determined.

Wisconsin - The Badgers will play in Maui from Nov. 23-25 and also have non-conference games at home against Duke (Dec. 2) in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge and Marquette (Dec. 5).