Big Ten Basketball

[UMFan83]

Oh, it ain't over! Big 15th win. Most importantly, 4th win vs. RPI top 25. At Purdue and Michigan to finish the season. Should at least finish with 16 wins and a .500 conference record. One win in the BTen tourney, and they're in. This win puts them in the driver's seat for a 5 seed in the conf. tourney. Actually, it would be much better for IU to be the 6th or 7th seed, as a matchup with NW or Purdue in the 1st round is a lot better than a bye and Wisconsin or Iowa in the 2nd round.

 

I wouldn't count on winning one of those - not saying they can't or won't - just that losing both is a possibility. They better win the Purdue game because Michigan will be tough.

 

Agreed. Purdue has been playing better since IU saw them last. And that will be tough on their senior (do they have any?) day. But that's a must win. Can't afford another bad loss. I'm actually not too stressed about the Michigan game. Davis owns Amaker.

 

So did Weber and Izzo

[NCCubFan]

As crazy as the Big 10 has been I don't see how anyone can say any game is going to be a definite win.

I think if it's one of the bottom-feeders (such as Penn State or Minnesota) playing at one of the top teams (such as Illinois), it's a definite win for the top team. Apart from that I agree with you. A team could beat Illinois and lose to Penn State less than a week apart.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

As crazy as the Big 10 has been I don't see how anyone can say any game is going to be a definite win.

I think if it's one of the bottom-feeders (such as Penn State or Minnesota) playing at one of the top teams (such as Illinois), it's a definite win for the top team. Apart from that I agree with you. A team could beat Illinois and lose to Penn State less than a week apart.

 

Penn State went to Illinois and won earlier this year.

[Sweep The Leg Johnny]

As crazy as the Big 10 has been I don't see how anyone can say any game is going to be a definite win.

I think if it's one of the bottom-feeders (such as Penn State or Minnesota) playing at one of the top teams (such as Illinois), it's a definite win for the top team. Apart from that I agree with you. A team could beat Illinois and lose to Penn State less than a week apart.

 

I believe a lot of the "bottom feeder" talk is more perception than reality. A lot of teams carry a good or bad perception and it typically carries weight season to season, espeecially when talking about upsets or underdogs. The Big Ten this season is not as good as everyone talked about early in the season, but from top to bottom, its VERY competitive. I don't think anyone really knows how well the Big Ten will do when it comes tourney time. Its odd - because normally the Big Ten has 2-3 Top Tier teams, then 3-5 really solid teams. This year i'd say they have 7 or 8 solid teams with the last 3 teams being very competitive.

[Bergy92]

As crazy as the Big 10 has been I don't see how anyone can say any game is going to be a definite win.

I think if it's one of the bottom-feeders (such as Penn State or Minnesota) playing at one of the top teams (such as Illinois), it's a definite win for the top team. Apart from that I agree with you. A team could beat Illinois and lose to Penn State less than a week apart.

 

I believe a lot of the "bottom feeder" talk is more perception than reality. A lot of teams carry a good or bad perception and it typically carries weight season to season, espeecially when talking about upsets or underdogs. The Big Ten this season is not as good as everyone talked about early in the season, but from top to bottom, its VERY competitive. I don't think anyone really knows how well the Big Ten will do when it comes tourney time. Its odd - because normally the Big Ten has 2-3 Top Tier teams, then 3-5 really solid teams. This year i'd say they have 7 or 8 solid teams with the last 3 teams being very competitive.

 

that sure if funny even though they have a better out-of-conference winning percentage than any other conference...They will do just fine - several sweet 16's and I would not be surprised to see a few elite 8's.

[Derwood]

Your "bottom feeder" Nittany Lions are 14-12 (6-9...8th place) with a win over Illinois (in Champaign), 2 wins over Northwestern, 2 wins over Purdue, and a win at home against the Hoosiers. If the season ended today, they would play Indiana in the first round (at the not so neutral Conseco Field House) in the Big11 tourney

 

/end defense of much maligned Penn State team

[NCCubFan]

Your "bottom feeder" Nittany Lions are 14-12 (6-9...8th place) with a win over Illinois (in Champaign), 2 wins over Northwestern, 2 wins over Purdue, and a win at home against the Hoosiers. If the season ended today, they would play Indiana in the first round (at the not so neutral Conseco Field House) in the Big11 tourney

 

/end defense of much maligned Penn State team

OK, maybe it wouldn't have hurt if I actually looked at the standings before coming up with an example of a "bottom feeder." :D (Although I think there was a time a couple of weeks ago where they were tied for last in the conference.)

[cubweiser03]

What the hell is going on with this MSU team? Guys on radio are talking about them being on the bubble with Wisc and Illinois coming up. At least those games are home for them.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

What the hell is going on with this MSU team? Guys on radio are talking about them being on the bubble with Wisc and Illinois coming up. At least those games are home for them.

 

The bubble? That's madness.

[Derwood]

What the hell is going on with this MSU team? Guys on radio are talking about them being on the bubble with Wisc and Illinois coming up. At least those games are home for them.

 

The bubble? That's madness.

 

Uh, yeah, I'm pretty sure a Top 25 ranking means you are safely off the bubble.

[rawaction]

What the hell is going on with this MSU team? Guys on radio are talking about them being on the bubble with Wisc and Illinois coming up. At least those games are home for them.

 

The bubble? That's madness.

 

Uh, yeah, I'm pretty sure a Top 25 ranking means you are safely off the bubble.

 

If they lose the last 2, I'm sure they won't be ranked. Of course, they'll still have a top 30 RPI and 19 wins going into the tourney, and a top 5 SOS.

[SouthSideRyan]

MSU could lose its last 3 and they'll still be in. They may drop down to about a 10 seed in that case, but they're definitely in.

[illiniguy]

I still think MSU could win it all. They better be in.

[rawaction]

I still think MSU could win it all. They better be in.

 

If Paul Davis shows up, they can win it. Ager was awesome yesterday. Brown is probably the toughest matchup in the Big Ten with his shooting and athletic ability. Davis showed up for parts of the 2nd half, when MSU was down 16. But he was nowhere to be found (somewhat due to weak foul calls :D ) most of the game. It would help MSU if Neitzel would at least look in the direction of the basket too.

[hawkeyecub]

Michigan State just isn't doing the things that have always made them great. They have 3 first round draft picks, but as a team they don't rebound or defend as well as they always have.

 

That said they're in right now and will probably be a 5 or 6 seed two weeks from now and could make a run like they did last year.

[hawkeyecub]

Lunardi just released his bracketology update. Big Ten notables:

Ohio State as a #2 (2nd best 2 seed on the S-curve)

Illinois as a #3 (top 3 seed)

Iowa as a #4 (top 4 seed)

MSU as a #5 (worst 5 seed)

Wisconsin as a #7 (2nd 7 seed)

Michigan as a #9 (2nd best 9)

Indiana as a #10 (3rd best 10)

 

I'm surprised he still has Wisconsin that low, they're 15th in the RPI, two spots ahead of MSU and ahead of them in the standings. I also think Michigan should be up a line or two.

 

Illinois could move up if they win both games this week, but that's going to be two tough road games. They've got a chance to move up to a 2 and probably won't fall beyond a 4.

OSU should be able to hang onto a 2 seed with their remaining schedule, but let's hope Northwestern knocks them off Wednesday. They probably won't fall beyond a 3.

If Iowa holds serve at home they would probably be a 3 seed next week. I think if they win the two at home plus their first game in the BTT that they'll be a 3, and if they win in the semi-finals they'll be guaranteed a 3 . But if they split this week and don't play well in the tournament they could easily fall to a 5. They could still grab a 2 seed but it would take winning out and getting a little help.

[UMFan83]

Regarding MSU, I've seen worse regular seasons from them that have gotten them into Elite 8 and Final 4's. In fact, the one time they got bumped in the first round, they were a 5 seed I think losing to 12 seed Nevada (I think). They will show up come tournament time, as much as it pains me to say it.

 

If Michigan doesn't beat Indiana on Saturday, they will be in danger of being replaced by IU for the 6th spot :(

[rawaction]

Lunardi just released his bracketology update. Big Ten notables:

Ohio State as a #2 (2nd best 2 seed on the S-curve)

Illinois as a #3 (top 3 seed)

Iowa as a #4 (top 4 seed)

MSU as a #5 (worst 5 seed)

Wisconsin as a #7 (2nd 7 seed)

Michigan as a #9 (2nd best 9)

Indiana as a #10 (3rd best 10)

 

I'm surprised he still has Wisconsin that low, they're 15th in the RPI, two spots ahead of MSU and ahead of them in the standings. I also think Michigan should be up a line or two.

 

Illinois could move up if they win both games this week, but that's going to be two tough road games. They've got a chance to move up to a 2 and probably won't fall beyond a 4.

OSU should be able to hang onto a 2 seed with their remaining schedule, but let's hope Northwestern knocks them off Wednesday. They probably won't fall beyond a 3.

If Iowa holds serve at home they would probably be a 3 seed next week. I think if they win the two at home plus their first game in the BTT that they'll be a 3, and if they win in the semi-finals they'll be guaranteed a 3 . But if they split this week and don't play well in the tournament they could easily fall to a 5. They could still grab a 2 seed but it would take winning out and getting a little help.

 

I'd rather be a 10 seed than an 8-9. A 7-seed shouldn't be too much tougher (if at all) than an 8 or 9, plus you get a 2nd seed in round 2 rather than one of the dominant #1's. As much parity as there has been this year, I think this is gonna be the toughest crop of #1s in some time. Duke, UConn, Nova and Memphis are tough.

[SouthSideRyan]

Regarding MSU, I've seen worse regular seasons from them that have gotten them into Elite 8 and Final 4's. In fact, the one time they got bumped in the first round, they were a 5 seed I think losing to 12 seed Nevada (I think). They will show up come tournament time, as much as it pains me to say it.

 

If Michigan doesn't beat Indiana on Saturday, they will be in danger of being replaced by IU for the 6th spot :(

 

You're being paranoid. Michigan is a lock.

[SouthSideRyan]

I would kill for the current bracketology to be true for Illinois. The easiest of the 7s, easiest of the 10s, easiest of the 3s, easiest of the 6s, and easiest of the 1s. Meanwhile, Duke and Nova's brackets look harsh.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I would kill for the current bracketology to be true for Illinois. The easiest of the 7s, easiest of the 10s, easiest of the 3s, easiest of the 6s, and easiest of the 1s. Meanwhile, Duke and Nova's brackets look harsh.

 

Opposite for me with MSU. Northern Iowa and if we win a matchup against Texas in Dallas? No thank you.

[fiver]

I would kill for the current bracketology to be true for Illinois. The easiest of the 7s, easiest of the 10s, easiest of the 3s, easiest of the 6s, and easiest of the 1s. Meanwhile, Duke and Nova's brackets look harsh.

 

I would kill to remember what bracketology means.....thanks mike d.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I would kill for the current bracketology to be true for Illinois. The easiest of the 7s, easiest of the 10s, easiest of the 3s, easiest of the 6s, and easiest of the 1s. Meanwhile, Duke and Nova's brackets look harsh.

 

I would kill to remember what bracketology means.....thanks mike d.

 

http://www.spartantailgate.com/forums/images/smilies/rumor.gifLatest Bracketology has IU playing Wichita St. as a 10 seed.

[gflore34]

I would kill for the current bracketology to be true for Illinois. The easiest of the 7s, easiest of the 10s, easiest of the 3s, easiest of the 6s, and easiest of the 1s. Meanwhile, Duke and Nova's brackets look harsh.

 

If Duke ends up in a bracket similair to the one predicted, I say it's about time they got seeded in a killer region. I remember many years in which they've gotten seeded in a cream puff East and had a cakewalk to the FF. It's probably been due more to luck than anything nevertheless, I'd love to see them seeded in a loaded region.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

If that is how the brackets ended up, I don't think many Iowa fans would be too upset.