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Big Ten Basketball Tournament: Michigan, Purdue and Michigan State fight for the crown

By Eddie Herz

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 04: Head coach John Beilein of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates after defeating the Purdue Boilermakers 75-66 during the championship game of the Big 10 Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 4, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 04: Head coach John Beilein of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates after defeating the Purdue Boilermakers 75-66 during the championship game of the Big 10 Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 4, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – DECEMBER 03: Jordan Bohannon #3 of the Iowa Hawkeyes during pregame introductions before the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center on December 3, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – DECEMBER 03: Jordan Bohannon #3 of the Iowa Hawkeyes during pregame introductions before the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center on December 3, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

Bracketology (Part 2.)

Should be in – Iowa

Iowa is limping to the finish line right now and doesn’t appear to be a program capable of turning heads in the NCAA Tournament. Regardless, the Hawkeyes achieved more than enough before their current four-game losing streak to receive an NCAA Tournament berth. The Hawkeyes have a top 45 NET and have accumulated a hand full of Quad 1 victories.

Though Iowa isn’t entirely out of the woods yet, I’m sure Fran McCaffery’s concerns are more about what his team can string together in the NCAA Tournament rather than if his team will make it. Iowa was in line for at least a six seed earlier this season; now the program is in danger of receiving a double-digit placing. Turning things around in the Big Ten Tournament would be huge for the Hawkeyes.

Locks – Michigan State, Michigan, Purdue

There isn’t any need for explanation here. The three programs have been locked and loaded for basically the whole season now. All of which should earn at least a top-three seed in the NCAA Tournament en route to potentially deep March Madness runs. Michigan State and Michigan are legitimate Final 4 threats, while the Elite 8 is more than feasible for the Boilermakers.

Wisconsin

I exploited how Wisconsin’s weaknesses could lead to disappointment in the Big Ten Tournament earlier. Not being a good enough team to win the BTT doesn’t mean much in terms of making the NCAA Tournament though. Wisconsin did pretty well with a tough schedule and appropriately holds a 15 NET. Sure, when the Badgers aren’t playing well, they may be one of the most boring teams to watch. However, when Wisconsin is playing well, it can keep pace with just about anyone.

It’s tough to imagine Ethan Happ and company making it to the third weekend of March Madness. That doesn’t mean the Badgers will be a one-and-done in the NCAA Tournament. Wisconsin’s eighth-best scoring defense in the country will put the program in position to win a few games and maybe reach the Sweet 16. You never know, perhaps even further too. Provided the Badgers perform how they should defensively, late-game heroics from Davison and Trice could formulate something magical for Wisconsin.

Maryland

Other than Michigan, no Big Ten team has Maryland’s number this season. The Terps failed to beat MSU this season, granted the one matchup between the teams was played in East Lansing though. So we’ll let Maryland off the hook there. The Terps have picked plenty of Quad 1 wins while also avoiding an alarming number of bad losses. Seven of Maryland’s defeats came against March Madness-ready programs.

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