Bracketology 2020: Possible high-major bid thieves in league tournaments

Bracketology 2020: Possible high-major bid thieves in conference tournaments

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 16: Payton Pritchard #3 of the Oregon Ducks celebrates after cutting down a net following the team's 68-48 victory over the Washington Huskies to win the championship game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 16, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

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WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – JANUARY 02: Marcus Carr #5 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers drives to the basket during the game against the Purdue Boilermakers (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Purdue and Minnesota

Purdue and Minnesota have confounding resumes. What is clear is that the strength of the Big Ten this year has bolstered each team’s computer rankings. What is also clear is that neither team has played particularly well this season, certainly not well enough to merit serious consideration for at-large berths in the NCAA Tournament on Selection Sunday, and a victory by either in the Big Ten Tournament would send shocks through the Bubble.

Purdue enters the Big Ten Tournament with a 16-15 record and would have 16 losses if needing to rely on an at-large bid for the NCAA Tournament. Minnesota is 14-16 and nowhere near the at-large discussion. And yet, each of these teams is top-43 in the NET rankings with average predictive metrics in the top-40 — both at-large-worthy levels and both levels at which a team fitting that profile would not be a complete shock as conference tourney champion.

And as we have seen with the cannibalization of the Big Ten for most of the season in league play, any team can win on any night, and this tournament appears as wide open as any of the other major conference tournaments.

Bid Thievery Index: 3 out of 10.

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