We head into the final week of the Big Ten season with a little bit clearer picture than last week but still some question marks that will remain up until Selection Sunday. The week starts with Illinois travelling to West Lafayette. Save for their win at Minnesota a few weeks ago, Illinois has been awful on the road, so while a win at Purdue would likely clinch them a spot in the tournament, I wouldn't expect it. They'll still have a good chance with a win at Indiana this weekend, which could also get them a bye in the Big Ten Tournament. As for the other game, Penn State attempts to get one last big home win as OSU comes to town. The Buckeyes still have plenty to play for though, as a win would clinch a share of the Big Ten title and obviously there are the number one seed implications. The rest of the week are kind of yawners, Minnesota is definitely out at this point, they'll need a win in Evanston to keep ANY hope alive, and it will still take a run in the Big Ten tournament. As for the weekend, Michigan could keep their potential hopes alive with another win over MSU, who will need the win just as much. Also have the "Deal with it" rematch as Wisconsin travels to Columbus. Should be a good last week, will be interesting to see how the conference tournament seeding sorts itself out.

Tuesday, March 1st
Illinois at #6 Purdue
#1 Ohio State at Penn State

Wednesday, March 2nd
Iowa at Michigan State
Minnesota at Northwestern

Thursday, March 3rd
#10 Wisconsin at Indiana

Saturday, March 5th
#6 Purdue at Iowa
Indiana at Illinois
Michigan State at Michigan

Sunday, March 6th
#10 Wisconsin at #1 Ohio State
Penn State at Minnesota

Standings after 3/2

Ohio State 15-2 28-2
Purdue 14-3 25-5
Wisconsin 12-4 22-6
Michigan State 9-8 17-12
Illinois 8-9 18-12
Penn State 8-9 15-13
Michigan 8-9 18-12
Northwestern 7-11 17-12
Minnesota 6-11 17-12
Indiana 3-13 12-17
Iowa 3-14 10-19

On foxsports.com, their bracket has 8 Big Ten teams, Ohio State, Purdue, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, and Penn State. I'm sure that won't happen, but it means all of these teams have a lot to play for this week.

my upset special-- Illinois over Purdue

Cleveland Buck;694880 wrote:On foxsports.com, their bracket has 8 Big Ten teams, Ohio State, Purdue, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, and Penn State. I'm sure that won't happen, but it means all of these teams have a lot to play for this week.

Curious, how many Big East squads? I assume if they have 8 B10 that they dont have 11 Big East, and those Big East squads are more likely at this point imo.

Laley23;694905 wrote:Curious, how many Big East squads? I assume if they have 8 B10 that they dont have 11 Big East, and those Big East squads are more likely at this point imo.

They have 11 Big East teams.

Cleveland Buck;694916 wrote:They have 11 Big East teams.

Man, 1/3 of the tourney consisting of 2 conferences!

19/68, more like 1/4. No way PSU and Minnesota both make it, the winner of that game might have a shot.

As much as I want Michigan to make it, they really don't deserve it. Even if they beat MSU again they just don't have quality wins. They would be better off going to the NIT and hopefully playing 3+ games for the experience.

Minnesota has no chance imo, unless they win the tourny.

8-10 is not good. I don't care how "tough" the Big Ten is.

wildcats20;695015 wrote:Minnesota has no chance imo, unless they win the tourny.

8-10 is not good. I don't care how "tough" the Big Ten is.

If they won their remaining two games and did what they did last year in getting to the title game that would probably be enough. But with the way they've been playing I find it pretty doubtful that they can do that.

What is their record since Nolen went down. If he cant comeback, thats the record the committee will be focused on imo.

3-7.

Only wins are the game he went down in(Michigan), Northwestern and Iowa. Nothing to brag about.

wildcats20;695424 wrote:3-7.

Only wins are the game he went down in(Michigan), Northwestern and Iowa. Nothing to brag about.

With a loss @Indiana. Yeah, this team is finished.

And losses to all of the other Big Ten Bubble teams.

Sparty, PSU, Michigan, Illinois.

This is probably a dumb question and the fact that it's 3AM might have something do with me not remembering, but I have to ask.

In the event of a tie for 1st place in the Big Ten standings between Purdue and Ohio State, how is the #1 seed in the tournament determined? Since they split in the regular season, I would assume it would go to overall record or RPI or maybe even poll ranking, I just can't remember.

On a different note: Breaking down Ohio State right now, in my opinion...
1-1 on the week makes them a solid #2 in the tournament regardless of tournament performance. I think they would need to win a tournament game to get back to a 1 seed.
2-0 on the week makes them a #1 seed regardless of tournament performance, just not the overall #1.
2-0 on the week and 1 victory in the BTT makes them the overall #1 seed regardless of what anyone else in the country (with the exception of maybe Kansas), does.

What does everyone else think?

I believe their record against Wisconsin would be the next tiebreaker. So if OSU loses to Wisconsin again Sunday Purdue would win the big ten.

dave;695603 wrote:I believe their record against Wisconsin would be the next tiebreaker. So if OSU loses to Wisconsin again Sunday Purdue would win the big ten.

Not sure what you're saying here, but if you're saying if OSU and Purdue end up tied in the standings, but OSU has lost twice to Wisconsin, Purdue wins the conference title, you're wrong. Both get a trophy as co-champs. However, Purdue would be the no. 1 seed in the Big Ten tourney.

OSU needs to win out this week to be assured of a no. 1 seed, regardless of what happens in the Big Ten tournament, I think. Split the week and end up tied with Purdue as co-champs, then you could make a good argument for Purdue as a no. 1 seed, so it might come down to whoever does better in the tournament.

However, I've heard that before the Big Ten title game is played in their tournament, the committee usually has its no. 1 seeds in place. So it may simply be a matter of how the committee interprets each team's season and then decides whether a no. 1 seed belongs with the Bucks or Boilers.

I just hope OSU wins out this week and takes away any mystery or drama.

Minnesota downed by NU by double digs.

Yeah Minnesota has about the same chance as Iowa to make the tournament now. Have to win the tournament.

Jordan Taylor goes absolutely off in Bloomington to carry the Badgers to victory heading into their showdown in Columbus on Sunday. Here's how the standings shake out going into the last weekend of the regular season:

Ohio State 15-2 28-2
Purdue 14-3 25-5
Wisconsin 13-4 23-6
Michigan State 9-8 17-12
Illinois 8-9 18-12
Penn State 8-9 15-13
Michigan 8-9 18-12
Northwestern 7-11 17-12
Minnesota 6-11 17-12
Iowa 3-14 10-19
Indiana 3-14 12-18

There's obviously still the race for the title between OSU and Purdue but still a lot of shake up possible for the 4-7 seed range for the Big Ten tournament to see who gets the first round bye.

Just reposting this weekend's games....

Saturday, March 5th
#6 Purdue at Iowa
Indiana at Illinois
Michigan State at Michigan

Sunday, March 6th
#10 Wisconsin at #1 Ohio State
Penn State at Minnesota

Sparty/Michigan is a big game for the Wolverines. They need a win and a win or 2 in the B10 Tourny.

Michigan is going to take down MSU barring a collapse here in the last 40 seconds. Wolverines should be in and Sparty should be back out (but they probably won't be).

Very big win for UM. Taking the 5th seed in the Big Ten is huge, but for Sparty it does give them a chance to pad their win total against Indiana. If calculations are right...right now we have:

1. Ohio State vs 8. Northwestern/9. Minnesota
4. Illinois vs 5. Michigan

2. Purdue vs 7. Penn State/10. Iowa
3. Wisconsin vs 6. Michigan State/11. Indiana

Looks like Illinois wins the tiebreaker over Michigan (only head to head win) while Michigan would win it over Michigan State (head to head sweep). Penn State losing would keep this accurate, but them winning against Minnesota tomorrow would mean a 4-way tie at 9-9 in the league for the 4-7 seeds. Anyone know how that tiebreaker would work?

But who wins the tiebreaker between Michigan State and Illinois? Is that how it works out for sure?

I'm gonna find out now. Now I'm curious haha.

Nevermind, just read it on Twitter, Michigan and Illinois are in the 4-5 game no matter what. If Minnesota wins Illinois is the 4, if Penn State wins Michigan is the 5. Either way they get the bye. Now, I'm not positive about who gets the 6 between Michigan State and Penn State if Penn State wins.