The Big Ten Tournament is nearly upon us, and these particular teams have the most to win/lose with regards to the NCAA Tournament:
The Big Ten Tournament starts this Wednesday, and while the Michigan Wolverines have stumbled to the finish line, there is certainly a lot to play for. However, the Wolverines aren’t the only ones with something to play for.
For some, it’s as simple as improving their resume for seeding purposes. For others, it’s one last-ditch effort at making the NCAA Tournament altogether. For varying reasons, everyone has something play for.
Who has the most to win or lose at the Big Ten Tournament? Let’s find out.
Most to Gain
Purdue
The Boilermakers led the Big Ten for a long stretch of the season, but went ice-cold following its early-February loss in Ann Arbor. Most bracketologists have them as a 4-seed, but they’ve got an opportunity to move up if things go right. It pains me to say it, but they’ve arguably got the most favorable path to the conference title outside of Michigan State .
Purdue is the No. 6 seed and will face the winner of No. 14 USC and No. 11 Rutgers on Thursday. With a win, the Boilermakers would get a free-falling Michigan team that they’d likely be favored against despite being the lower seed. They’d then get an opportunity in the semifinals, where it’s anyone’s game.
Don’t be surprised to see Purdue work its way up a 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament when this it’s all said and done.
Illinois
Illinois is hovering around the 7-seed line at the moment, which is not a great place to be. However, the Fighting Illini are playing good basketball of late having won three in a row against Iowa, Michigan and Purdue.
If Illinois can notch a win or two in the Big Ten Tournament, it would be in consideration for a 6-seed, which would make a world of a difference in the NCAA Tournament. The Illini face the winner of Ohio State /Iowa in the second round of the conference tournament. If they win, they’ll get a chance for revenge against a Maryland squad that blew them out in January.
Most to Lose
Indiana
As it stands today, Indiana is sitting on the right side of the bubble. Joe Lunardi have the Hoosiers as one of the “Last Four Byes” and an 11-seed in the NCAA Tournament.
The Hoosiers will square off with the Oregon Ducks in the second round of the BTT, with the winner taking on Michigan State. Oregon is safely in the field, but it feels like it could be a “win-or-go-home” game for Indiana.
Ohio State
Even more so than Indiana, Ohio State is on the razor’s edge of the bubble. Just about every bracket projection you look at today has the Buckeyes in the “Last Four In” category. One more loss could doom the Buckeyes to the NIT.
Ohio State has gone 4-6 in its last 10, but had a backbreaking loss at Indiana on Saturday. A win or two in the BTT should get Ohio State into the tournament, but that’s no guarantee. The Buckeyes start with Iowa on Wednesday.
Michigan
Sadly, most Michigan fans knew this was coming. Having lost four of their last six, it’s tough to envision the Wolverines making a run in the conference tournament. While a one-and-done certainly doesn’t exclude Michigan from the NCAA Tournament, it could drop them down a seed.
As of now, most projections have Dusty May and company as a 5-seed, but that could vary dramatically based on what the Wolverines do this week. Sadly, it is likely only to hurt them more than help them.