Busting Brackets
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Big Ten Basketball: Conference tournament preview and predictions

By Bryce Bennett

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Jan 28, 2016; College Park, MD, USA; Maryland Terrapins guard Rasheed Sulaimon (0) looks to pas during the first half against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Xfinity Center. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 28, 2016; College Park, MD, USA; Maryland Terrapins guard Rasheed Sulaimon (0) looks to pas during the first half against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Xfinity Center. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

6. Maryland Terrapins

Now we get to our first upset. The Friday night match-up between Wisconsin/Maryland should be a good one. Wisconsin is looking to defend its tournament championship from last year and the Terrapins need a victory to quell the fears that the rails have fallen off their season.

In this prediction, I think the Badgers take this one to move on to a Saturday afternoon match-up against Michigan State. The Terrapins are left searching for answers on what has gone wrong with their season.

The two games Wisconsin and Maryland played against each other this season were both great games. Sophomore guard Melo Trimble hit a game-winner to knock off Wisconsin in January in a game in Madison. Here is the highlight below:

The second game in College Park was surprisingly dominated by Wisconsin 70-57. The Badgers were in the midst of their turnaround and Maryland had just started to show signs of vulnerability.

In that game, Wisconsin’s versatile and dangerous frontline of Vitto Brown,  Nigel Hayes and Ethan Happ combined for 39 points and 23 rebounds as Wisconsin manhandled Maryland on the boards 40-30. Expect Wisconsin’s hot play to continue, as the Badgers have won 10 of their last 12.

If Maryland drops this one to the Badgers, their tournament seeding might fall further. Their current BracketMatrix projection has them as a four trending to a five. A decisive loss to the Badgers could have them slip in the low five/high six range. A far cry for a team with 1-seed aspirations this season.

A run to a Big Ten Tournament championship could have them back in the discussion of a 2/3-seed. There is a lot at stake for Maryland in this tournament. This projection has them again not living up to expectations.

Next: 5.Iowa Hawkeyes

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