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Big Ten Basketball: What the top 12 teams need to do to get a 2020 tourney bid

By Austin Walther

COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND - JANUARY 30: Anthony Cowan Jr. #1 of the Maryland Terrapins in action against the Iowa Hawkeyes during at Xfinity Center on January 30, 2020 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND - JANUARY 30: Anthony Cowan Jr. #1 of the Maryland Terrapins in action against the Iowa Hawkeyes during at Xfinity Center on January 30, 2020 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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ANN ARBOR, MI – FEBRUARY 08: Head coach Juwan Howard of the Michigan Wolverines (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI – FEBRUARY 08: Head coach Juwan Howard of the Michigan Wolverines (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

4. Win 1-2 Big Ten Tournament games

If all the top-12 teams in the Big Ten avoid losses to Nebraska and Northwestern, the Cornhuskers and Wildcats will be the last two seeds in the Big Ten Tournament. That means they will be playing day one against a team eyeing an NCAA Tournament bid. It could be any of the teams with six wins right now or even Michigan or Ohio State who we all think are safe. Going back to what was said before, don’t lose to Nebraska or Northwestern and that means double for the Big Ten Tournament.

The Cornhuskers and Wildcats will have the role of spoiler in Indianapolis and losing to one of those two then could pop a bubble four days before Selection Sunday. Not only will that mark as a bad loss, but it loses a chance at picking up a quality win. Since 12 of the 14 are hanging around the top-50 mark, once Nebraska and Northwestern are out, all the wins moving forward are quality wins. During conference tournaments, it means more to pick up quality wins and losing to quality teams is a loss no matter which way you slice it.

If the two teams that finish just above Nebraska and Northwestern only beat the Cornhuskers and Wildcats, that may not be enough either. Because if they lose the next day, the teams that beat them just picked up a top-50 win and have a chance at more. That’s why seeding may be pretty important this year for the Big Ten Tournament. If a team finishes 11th or 12th, they have to win two. That’s to avoid a bad loss and to pick up a top-50 win. Which is why getting 12 teams in isn’t realistic.

The top-four seeds in the Big Ten Tournament will be locks. Right now it’s safe to say Maryland, Illinois and Michigan State will be in the NCAA Tournament. Penn State is polling fourth in the Big Ten because of their one less-loss and some wanted the Nittany Lions as one of the top-four seeds on Saturday.

Next. Biggest takeaways of the week. dark

So even if something absolutely crazy happens where their only game is against Nebraska or Northwestern and they lose, they’ll all be fine. But it’s important for seeds seven through 12 to pick up as many wins as possible in the Big Ten Tournament to add to their resume.

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