Around the Hall is recommended reading from the Inside the Hall crew. Send us your links to tips@insidehthehall.com.

+ Chris Korman writes that signing day went off without much excitement in Bloomington. (The Hoosier Scoop)

+ Tom Izzo is excited about his four man class — Adrien Payne, Keith Appling, Russell Byrd and Alex Gauna — in East Lansing (Detroit Free Press)

+ Michigan signee Evan Smotrycz penned the first entry in his diary at our favorite Michigan hoops site. (UM Hoops)

+ Matt Painter calls his recruiting class “great for our needs.” (Purdue Official Site)

+ Bruce Weber received Letters of Intent from three top 100 recruits in Champaign. (Chicago Tribune)

+ Ohio State’s class is being touted as No. 1 nationally and it’s headlined by Jared Sullinger and Deshaun Thomas. (Ohio State Official Site)

+ Adam Hoge writes that as the Big Ten gets stronger, Bo Ryan’s recruiting is putting Wisconsin in a hole. (Bucky’s 5th Quarter)

+ Jody Demling wrapped up the first day of the early signing period with a live blog. (Louisville Courier-Journal)

+ Dave Telep breaks down signing day from a national perspective. (Scout.com)

Here is the audio of Tom Crean’s appearance on the weekly Big Ten coaches teleconference, courtesy of the Big Ten Network:

Related:

• Tom Izzo teleconference audio
• Bruce Weber teleconference audio

Indiana coach Kelvin Sampson addressed the media this morning on the weekly Big Ten coaches’ teleconference. Here is the audio, courtesy of the Big Ten:

You can listen to the rest of the teleconferences over at the Big Ten Network.

The Hoosiers are finished with their cupcakes and the New Year is nearly upon us, which can mean only one thing: It’s Big Ten Preview Time! Here’s a look at the teams that will challenge the Hoosiers for the conference crown … or fall under the weighty boot of crimson dominance. Probably the latter. Today: Wisconsin.

Besides being the only Big Ten coach to pull off a rendition of the Soulja Boy, (Can you imagine Kelvin Sampson cranking that Soulja Boy? I can’t.) Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan also owns the most impressive win for a conference team this season: a 67-66 thriller at Texas.

Despite losing conference player of the year Alando Tucker and second teamer Kammron Taylor, the Badgers have positioned themselves to challenge for the conference crown. And once again, the staple of Ryan’s teachings is defense. According to Ken Pomeroy’s adjusted defensive efficiency rankings, the Badgers are first in the country. They’re surrendering just 54.1 points per game and holding opponents to a 37 percent mark from the field.

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