Bracketology: Updated Bubble Watch and the Mailbag

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Feb 12, 2017; Bloomington, IN, USA; Michigan Wolverines guard Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman (12) dives for a loose ball during the second half of the game at Assembly Hall. The Michigan Wolverines defeated the Indiana Hoosiers 75 to 63. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports /

Big Ten

Lead-Pipe Lock: Wisconsin, Maryland, Purdue

Some Perspiration: Northwestern, Minnesota

Better Double-Up on the Deodorant: Indiana, Michigan State, Michigan

Northwestern Wildcats, 19-6 (8-4): Not many Big Ten teams have as good of a win as beating Wisconsin at the Kohl Center. After this week, however, Northwestern can brag about that one on their resume. The Wildcats have struggled a bit without Scottie Lindsey, but watch out for this team when he returns. Northwestern looks all the part of a tournament team.

Quality wins: @ Wisconsin, vs. Dayton, vs. Wake Forest, vs Indiana

Bad losses: vs. Illinois

Missed opportunities: @ Butler, vs. Notre Dame, vs. Minnesota, @ Michigan State, @ Purdue

Up next: vs. Maryland (2/15), vs. Rutgers (2/18)

Minnesota Golden Gophers, 18-7 (6-6): Well, after losing five straight games, Minnesota has gotten back on the right track with three consecutive wins. The Golden Gophers are a scary team when they are playing well, but they have shown to be streaky all year long. They do have to finish with both Wisconsin and Maryland, but they look to be comfortably in the field in what has been a very successful season to this point.

Quality wins: @ Purdue, @ Northwestern, vs. Arkansas

Bad losses: @ Penn State, @ Ohio State

Missed opportunities: @ Florida State, vs. Maryland, vs. Wisconsin, vs. Michigan State, @ Michigan State

Up next: vs. Indiana (2/15), vs. Michigan (2/19)

Indiana Hoosiers, 15-11 (5-8): For more on Indiana’s season and coaching situation, see the introduction of this article.

Quality wins: vs. Kansas, vs. North Carolina, vs. Michigan State

Bad losses: @ Fort Wayne, vs. Nebraska

Missed opportunities: @ Michigan, vs. Michigan, @ Northwestern, @ Wisconsin, vs. Wisconsin, @ Maryland, vs. Purdue, vs. Butler, vs. Louisville

Up next: @ Minnesota (2/15), @ Iowa (2/21)

Michigan State Spartans, 16-10 (8-5): It still seems odd to say Michigan State is on the bubble, but they are, even if they are reasonably comfortable right now. The Spartans have shown the ability to beat a lot of good teams, but they also have three pretty tough losses. The problem for Michigan State is that they finish with the three top teams in the Big Ten and they need to go 1-2 in those games, because missing all three of those opportunities would really hurt them, as they would then finish with at best 14 losses.

Quality wins: @ Minnesota, vs. Minnesota, vs. Northwestern, vs. Wichita State, vs. Michigan

Bad losses: vs. Northeastern, @ Penn State, @ Ohio State

Missed opportunities: @ Indiana, @ Michigan, vs. Purdue, @ Duke, vs. Kentucky, vs. Arizona, vs. Baylor

Up next: @ Purdue (2/18), vs. Nebraska (2/23)

Michigan Wolverines, 16-9 (6-6): Just below Michigan State in terms of seeding at an 11, Michigan is right on the cutline. After beating Indiana, they took their spot in the bracket. Michigan has huge opportunities with both Wisconsin and Purdue at home down the stretch, but also have to travel to Minnesota and Northwestern. It is, umm, not an easy finish for the Wolverines.

Quality wins: vs. SMU, vs. Michigan State, vs. Marquette, vs. Indiana, @ Indiana

Bad losses: @ Iowa, vs. Ohio State, @ Illinois

Missed opportunities: @ South Carolina, vs. Maryland, @ Wisconsin, @ UCLA, vs. Virginia Tech, @ Michigan State

Up next: vs. Wisconsin (2/16), @ Minnesota (2/19)

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