Thought we might get some things cleared up in the middle of the pack this week but if anything, things just got more murky. Start off the week with a couple of big games, as first, Illinois could possibly secure a bid if they were somehow able to go into Columbus and knock off OSU. Don't think it will happen but at worst for the Illini they will likely end the week at .500 in the conference as they close the week home against Iowa, so things will probably still be unsure for them. In the other Tuesday game a big bubble game in MSU-Minnesota. While people have been touting the MSU "resurgence", they haven't won a road game since January 3rd at Northwestern. A road win would go a long way for them while a loss for Minnesota would just about kill them as they would go 3 games under .500 in conference. On Wednesday Michigan has a chance to get a big in conference win they have been seeking with Wisconsin coming to town. They barely stayed alive in Iowa City over the weekend but a win against the Badgers would be huge as they would get back up to .500 in conference. As for the weekend, Michigan travels to Minnesota in what could be an elimination game depending on what happens during the week. Also, Purdue travels to East Lansing in what will be a must win for them if they look to stay alive for a Big Ten title. Like I said, hopefully some things will clear up this week but I have a feeling we'll be right back in the same spot this time next Monday.


Tuesday 2/22
Illinois at #3 Ohio State
Michigan State at Minnesota

Wednesday 2/23
#8 Purdue at Indiana
#12 Wisconsin at Michigan

Thursday 2/24
Penn State at Northwestern

Saturday 2/26
Michigan at Minnesota
Iowa at Illinois

Sunday 2/27
#8 Purdue at Michigan State
Indiana at #3 Ohio State
Northwestern at #12 Wisconsin

Big Ten Standings (as of 2/21)

Ohio State 12-2 25-2
Purdue 11-3 22-5
Wisconsin 10-4 20-6
Illinois 7-7 17-10
Michigan State 7-7 15-11
Michigan 7-8 17-11
Penn State 7-8 14-12
Minnesota 6-8 17-9
Northwestern 6-9 16-10
Indiana 3-11 12-15
Iowa 3-12 10-17

Sparty with a huge road win over Minnesota, who is now in big trouble. 3 straight winnable games to end the year for the Gophers though. The Michigan-Minnesota game on Saturday might essentially be a play-out game.

Am I the only one who thinks the the Big Ten is a 5 team MAX league?

wildcats20;688023 wrote:Am I the only one who thinks the the Big Ten is a 5 team MAX league?

Nope. I don't see a wide range of options. I see 4 min and 5 max.

Mulva;688027 wrote:Nope. I don't see a wide range of options. I see 4 min and 5 max.

I honestly want to say 4 max.

wildcats20;688032 wrote:I honestly want to say 4 max.

Typically Id agree. But its the same reason the BE is talking 11...the other conferences are bad. Pac-10 has no one, ACC has no one. Big Ten, by default, will get in probably 2 extra teams after the top 4. I happen to agree that 4 are all thats worthy, but 2 others will slip in.

Laley23;688034 wrote:Typically Id agree. But its the same reason the BE is talking 11...the other conferences are bad. Pac-10 has no one, ACC has no one. Big Ten, by default, will get in probably 2 extra teams after the top 4. I happen to agree that 4 are all thats worthy, but 2 others will slip in.

Yeah.

And really, after the top 3, the Big Ten is nothing special at all.

I see 4. Really should only be 3 but that won't happen. If State beats Purdue Sunday then they will get in.

Sparty is in, they will be the 4th team.

After that it's between Illinois and PSU, IMO. Michigan still has a shot though.

wildcats20;688047 wrote:Sparty is in, they will be the 4th team.

After that it's between Illinois and PSU, IMO. Michigan still has a shot though.

It will be tough for UofM they finish with vs Wisky @ Minny vs MSU

Michigan has had an easy schedule to date, if I recall. They end with some tough ones, that likely wont be Ws.

I don't see Penn State isn't getting in. They only have 1 road win all season and the rest of their schedule is @NW, OSU, @Minn. They need those 2 road wins and a win in the B10 tourney.

http://www.theonlycolors.com/2011/2/19/2001654/senior-heavy-big-10-by-the-numbers

Found this on a Michigan site, decent read if you are bored.

last link for now, this was Zack Novak fouling out against Iowa. I've never seen 5 blocking fouls on 1 guy in a game. How many of these do you guys think were actual defensive fouls? I think the 1st and 4th are probably blocks but the other 3 should definitely have been charges.

[video=youtube;Q7lfomT7VZo][/video]

Yeah, you could definitely make a case for Novak on most of those, but he's a classic flopper anyways so I have no sympathy for him.

As for the conference, I think it will end up being a 5 bid, potentially 6 bid league. Michigan State is going to end up getting in unless they fall apart these last few games, and Illinois will get in with their easy schedule remaning, and the fact that they almost always do good in the Big Ten Tournament. Lastly, Minnesota will have an outside chance as they have 3 easy games remaining and a potential tournament run. Could get down to 4 bids if the worst case scenario happens, but I say 5.

Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Purdue are obviously locks. Michigan State and Illinois are pretty much in at this point. Michigan State is 9-10 vs. the top 100 with 5 top 50 wins and Illinois is 10-9 vs. the top 100 with 4 top 50 wins. They would almost have to lose out to miss the tournament.

It's between Minnesota and Michigan for the 6th spot. Minnesota has struggled without Nolan and are only 5-8 vs. the top 100, but they have 2 top 25 wins (North Carolina and West Virginia), a 29 SOS, and their 5 top 100 wins is still more than many of the bubble teams. If by chance Nolan comes back, even just for the NCAA tournament, they would probably get in just for that. Michigan only has 2 top 50 wins, but they are 7-10 vs. the top 100, have a 25 SOS, and have some good road wins (at Clemson, at Michigan State, at Penn State). When you look at the other bubble teams you could argue that they should both make it.

Cleveland Buck;688391 wrote:Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Purdue are obviously locks. Michigan State and Illinois are pretty much in at this point. Michigan State is 9-10 vs. the top 100 with 5 top 50 wins and Illinois is 10-9 vs. the top 100 with 4 top 50 wins. They would almost have to lose out to miss the tournament.

It's between Minnesota and Michigan for the 6th spot. Minnesota has struggled without Nolan and are only 5-8 vs. the top 100, but they have 2 top 25 wins (North Carolina and West Virginia), a 29 SOS, and their 5 top 100 wins is still more than many of the bubble teams. If by chance Nolan comes back, even just for the NCAA tournament, they would probably get in just for that. Michigan only has 2 top 50 wins, but they are 7-10 vs. the top 100, have a 25 SOS, and have some good road wins (at Clemson, at Michigan State, at Penn State). When you look at the other bubble teams you could argue that they should both make it.

Pretty much agree with everything thing you said. IMO Michigan will not make it in with their remaining schedule of Wisky, @Minnesota, and MSU. I also think Minnesota would need to win a couple games in the Big Ten Tourney in order to secure anything because I see them finishing the regular season at 20-10 and .500 in the conference.

I could see getting 6 Big Ten teams in with OSU, Wisconsin, and Purdue all being 4 seeds or higher...while MSU, Illinois, and Minnesota all hoping to be in the 10-13 seed range....quite the gap.

dave;688163 wrote:I don't see Penn State isn't getting in. They only have 1 road win all season and the rest of their schedule is @NW, OSU, @Minn. They need those 2 road wins and a win in the B10 tourney.

? and IMO, MSU punched their ticket to the dance last night (providing they win out), while Minny's going NITing

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=6150506

Really not a fan of Joe Lunardi or Doug Gottlieb, but they have Minnesota in the "First Four Out"

Sorry I fell off the wagon in terms of keeping this thread going.

Gophers are lost w/o a point guard out there. They deserve NIT at this point.

gorocks99;689066 wrote:Sorry I fell off the wagon in terms of keeping this thread going.

Gophers are lost w/o a point guard out there. They deserve NIT at this point.

I told you that like 4 weeks ago when Nolen went down. Couldve just saved yourself the anxiety and listened to me

Wow. Filthy shot to win for Wisconsin and a crushing blow to Michigan.

Wisconsin just banked in a 3 at the buzzer to beat Michigan by 1.

Lucky shot! Deal with it!

Crap win by Wisconsin.......how the Michigan ft didn't go in is beyond me.