Bracketology: Final February Bubble Watch and the Twitter mailbag

Dec 31, 2016; Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Clemson Tigers forward Jaron Blossomgame (5) stands on the court in the game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Clemson defeated Wake 73-68. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /

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Feb 14, 2017; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Miles Bridges (22) talks with Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo (R) during the second half of a game at the Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /

Big Ten

Lead-Pipe Lock: Wisconsin, Maryland, Purdue

Some Perspiration: Northwestern, Minnesota

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

Northwestern Wildcats, 20-8 (9-6): Why did you have to get swept by Illinois? Everything was going smoothly in their 20-win season, but now the Wildcats have lost four of their last six. Northwestern is still in very solid shape for the tournament, though, and quite honestly a 2-1 finish to the regular season might lock them up.

Record vs. potential tournament teams: 3-6

Monday seed: 7 RPI: 43 SOS: 65

Bad losses: vs. Illinois, at Illinois

Remaining schedule: at Indiana (2/25), vs. Michigan (3/1), vs. Purdue (3/5)

Minnesota Golden Gophers, 20-7 (8-6): Like Oklahoma State, Minnesota is a team that has turned the corner in recent weeks. After a really hot start to the year, the Gophers went on a five-game losing streak in January before winning five in a row, including two wins this week. Their closing schedule includes two very difficult games (at Wisconsin and at Purdue) but also brings about two easy ones (Penn State and Nebraska at home). If the Gophers go 3-1 to close the year, they could end up reaching a lock status after the regular season.

Record vs. potential tournament teams: 6-5

Monday seed: 6 RPI: 23 SOS: 21

Bad losses: at Penn State, at Ohio State

Remaining schedule: at Maryland (2/22), vs. Penn State (2/25), vs. Nebraska (3/2), at Wisconsin (3/5)

Michigan State Spartans, 16-11 (8-6): In their only contest of the week, the Spartans traveled to play Purdue, where they fell by 17 points. Two of their last four games are against top teams in the conference, and they will likely need to steal one of those games (more likely Wisconsin at home) to feel comfortable at the end of the regular season.

Record vs. potential tournament teams: 5-7

Monday seed: 10 RPI: 45 SOS: 14

Bad losses: vs. Northeastern, at Penn State, at Ohio State, at Indiana

Remaining schedule: vs. Nebraska (2/23), vs. Wisconsin (2/26), at Illinois (3/1), at Maryland (3/5)

Michigan Wolverines, 17-10 (7-7): After getting a big resume win over Wisconsin at home early in the week, this hot Michigan team went to Minnesota and almost beat the Golden Gophers on the road before dropping the game in overtime. Despite the Wolverines finishing with three games on the road, they have a couple winnable games that are very important to their resume.

Record vs. potential tournament teams: 4-7

Monday seed: 10 RPI: 54 SOS: 33

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

Remaining schedule: at Rutgers (2/22), vs. Purdue (2/25), at Northwestern (3/1), at Nebraska (3/5)

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