Stream-of-consciousness about Big Ten Network awards show

Giddy with anticipation, at 6 p.m. we begin to learn the winners of the third-annual Big Ten Network awards.

I'll be updating the results with extraordinarily well-intentioned comments.

IT'S SHOWTIME!

The award: Breakout Performer of the Year

Nominees include: Adrian Clayborn and Jamie Printy of Iowa, Evan Turner of Ohio State, John Shurna of Northwestern, Draymond Green of Michigan State, Kelci Bryant of Minnesota. Bryant is a diver, Clayborn a football. The others play basketball.

The winner: Turner.

My reaction: Wasn't Evan Turner on the preseason John Wooden Award watch list? Yes, he was. That's a "breakout" performer? Bogus.

Darn good player, though. He'll make the Philadelphia 76ers happy, or at least happier than they are now.

The award: Most Courageous Performance

The winner: Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State quarterback, vs. Oregon in the Rose Bowl.

There were no other nominees. Looks like an excuse to get Pryor and Buckeye football featured on the hour-long show. You could probably come up with dozens of other candidates, including Iowa QB James Vandenberg in the Hawkeyes' overtime loss at Ohio State.

The award: Most Dominating Performance

The nominees: MIKE KAFKA in the Outback Bowl – Northwestern Senior Quarterback

RYAN KERRIGAN vs. OSU – Purdue Junior Defensive Lineman

ROBBIE HUMMEL'S FIRST HALF vs. OHIO STATE – Purdue Junior Forward

ANGELA BIZZARI AT BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS – Illinois Senior Cross Country

KATE FESENKO – Indiana Senior Swimmer

DAVID BOUDIA Big Ten Tournament – Purdue Sophomore Diver

The winner: Boudia. He won the 1-meter and 3-meter NCAA titles and was National Diver of the Year.

My reaction: Seems fair to me. Kafka was excellent, but Northwestern lost to Auburn in that Outback Bowl. So how was that dominating? Hummel made eight first-half 3-pointers against Ohio State. But the Buckeyes won. So how was that dominating?

Good for Boudia and the BTN.

The award: Women's Team of the Year

The nominees: Penn State Volleyball, Northwestern Lacrosse, Purdue Golf, Michigan Gymnastics, Ohio State Basketball, Michigan Softball

The winner: Penn State volleyball.

My reaction: An easy spike. Three straight national-titles for the Penn State volleyballers.

They never lose. Ever.

The award: Men's Team of the Year

The nominees: Michigan State Basketball, Michigan Gymnastics, Ohio State Football, Iowa Wrestling, Iowa Football, Ohio State Basketball

The winner: Iowa Wrestling

My reaction: I'm a little surprised they gave this to the Hawkeyes, but good for the BTN. The team had an awesome year in rolling to a third-straight national championship.

Tom Brands just said it's too early to call his program a dynasty. He'll probably say the same thing three years from now.

The award: Women's Coach of the Year

The nominees:

RUSS ROSE – Penn State Volleyball

KELLY AMONTE-HILLER – Northwestern Lacrosse

JIM FOSTER – Ohio State Basketball

LISA BLUDER – Iowa Basketball

CAROL HUTCHINS – Michigan Softball

ROLF van de KERKHOF – Michigan State Field Hockey

The winner: Rose

My reaction: Bluder had a stellar year of work, but that third-straight national-title of Penn State's makes Rose an impeccable choice.

The award: Best Finish

The nominees:

Michigan vs. Ohio State - Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament

Iowa vs. Michigan State - Football

Michigan State vs. Michigan - Men's Basketball

Michigan State vs. Maryland - NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament

Michigan State vs. Minnesota - Men's Basketball

Michigan vs. Michigan State Football

The winner: Turner's 38-footer at the last second to beat Michigan in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten tourney.

My reaction: It was a great finish, especially since Michigan had gone ahead with two seconds left. But no last-second play meant more in any Big Ten game last season than MSU's Korie Lucious making a 3-pointer to move the Spartans into the Sweet 16 of the NCAAs.

Stanzi-to-McNutt at East Lansing was a keeper, though, wasn't it?

The award: Men's Coach of the Year

The nominees:

KIRK FERENTZ – Iowa Football

JIM TRESSEL – Ohio State Football

THAD MATTA – Ohio State Basketball

TOM BRANDS – Iowa Wrestling

TOM IZZO – Michigan State Basketball

JUSTIN SPRING - Illinois Men's Gymnastics

The winner: Izzo

My reaction: Tough, tough call. The Spartans shared the Big Ten regular-season title and went to the Final Four. That's good stuff. But Brands, Ferentz and Tressel would all have been understandable picks, too.

The award: Game of the Year

The nominees:

Iowa vs. Indiana - Football

Iowa vs. Ohio State - Football

Northwestern vs. Auburn (Outback Bowl) - Football

Illinois vs. Ohio State - Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament

Ohio State vs. Purdue - Men's Basketball

Texas vs. Penn State NCAA Championship - Women's Volleyball

The winner: Iowa-OSU football

My reaction: That was my pick. To me, it's a classic. Lots of heart on both sides, and a roller-coaster of a game with a Rose Bowl berth on the line. OSU won in overtime after a fourth-quarter the Hawkeyes should always remember with pride.

Good night, everybody!