Busting Brackets
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Bracketology: Takeaways from the NCAA Tournament top 16

By Lukas Harkins

Mar 23, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; A view of a March Madness logo on a basketball during practice the day before the semifinals of the South regional of the NCAA Tournament at KFC YUM!. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; A view of a March Madness logo on a basketball during practice the day before the semifinals of the South regional of the NCAA Tournament at KFC YUM!. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 5, 2017; Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Ethan Happ (L) and guard Khalil Iverson (21) celebrate with forward Nigel Hayes (10) on drawing a foul against the Indiana Hooseries at the Kohl Center. The Badgers won 65-60. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 5, 2017; Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Ethan Happ (L) and guard Khalil Iverson (21) celebrate with forward Nigel Hayes (10) on drawing a foul against the Indiana Hooseries at the Kohl Center. The Badgers won 65-60. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports /

The lack of a Big Ten presence

In addition to the ACC being able to get five teams in the top 16, it was intriguing to see that the Big Ten was held without anybody in the top 16. No Wisconsin, no Purdue, no Maryland. Even though a 21-3 (10-1) team in the Big Ten, like Wisconsin, has been a powerhouse in the past, this is just not a great year for the Big Ten.

For example, with Wisconsin, their lack of high-quality wins is what is killing them. The Badgers’ only wins this season over current single-digit seeds are over Marquette and Minnesota. With this, it is hard to garner a top seed, just ask teams like Saint Mary’s and Cincinnati, who each have 22 wins without any major ones as well.

Purdue, on the other hand, has five wins over the RPI top-50, four of which are likely single-digit seeds. However, unlike the Badgers, the Boilermakers have two losses against Iowa and Nebraska, both of which were games that Purdue should have won. Yet, as the teams do not play again in the regular season, it will be hard for either team to grab a major signature win to creep into the top-16.

Both teams are likely close to the cut line for the top 16, so it would be absolutely no surprise if either team crept onto the four, or even the three, lines.

Maryland also has an outside shot, but like Wisconsin, they do not have the high-quality wins. Plus, their defeats at the hands of Penn State and Nebraska hurt their overall resume.

Maybe not right now, but even though the Big Ten is struggling, it would be a big surprise if they do not get any teams into the top 16 for the actual bracket in a month.

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