Big Ten Basketball: 2020 conference tournament preview and predictions

Big Ten Bracketology

The Big Ten is arguably the best conference in college basketball and this season has emphasized that. With so many teams playing at such a high level, each game is a dogfight until the end.

As far as seeding goes, there is much to be figured out. Many factors will go into the seeding, but a lot will ride on the performances of teams in the Big Ten tournament.

In the final week of the regular season, the Big Ten had eight teams in the AP top 25 poll. It’s safe to say that all of these teams are locks for the NCAA Tournament.

The two highest seeds for the Big Ten look like they will be Maryland and Michigan State, coming in near the 3 line in their respective regions according to our Bracketology field at Busting Brackets.

Maryland has slid down from a borderline 1 seed down to the 2/3 line based on their recent struggles. A strong showing in the Big Ten Tournament could impact this, but it seems as though a 3 is as far as they will probably slide.

Michigan State has been hot as of late, climbing the rankings and the standings. I’m sure to Spartans fans and players the seedings don’t matter, as they have a chance to win a championship no matter where they are placed, but right now they are at a 3 with room to move up.

The next highest seed is the Ohio State Buckeyes, who come in at a 4 seed in our field. The Buckeyes have a chance to move up or down based on their performance in Indianapolis this weekend. No matter where they are placed, this team is talented enough to upset a top seed in the Sweet Sixteen and make a run.

After a late-season surge, Wisconsin has clinched a share of the Big Ten title. Despite this, they are a borderline 4 or 5 seed, again depending on their performance in Indy. The loss of Kobe King has seemed to benefit the Badgers, winners of their last eight games since his departure.

Iowa and Penn State come in at 6 seeds, but that is definitely subject to change. Both teams lost their final games of the regular season on the road, moving them down in the Big Ten Tournament seed lines. Iowa is the 5 seed and Penn State is the 6, both teams with a chance to increase their NCAA Tourney seed lines with strong performances in Indy.

Michigan and Illinois come in at 7 seeds in our Bracketology, with both teams trending in opposite directions. The Wolverines have a chance to play their way into a higher seed this weekend, whereas Illinois is trying to stay afloat in the conversation as a team that could win a game or two in either tournament.

Rutgers has almost guaranteed themselves a ticket to the big dance after a huge week to end the season, defeating Maryland and Purdue. They are sitting on the 12 line, but it looks like the Scarlett Knights will be one of the 68 teams when the brackets are revealed.

The Indiana Hoosiers sneak in at a 9 seed, but their recent loss to Wisconsin has them firmly on the bubble prior to the Big Ten Tournament. They have the chance to improve or struggle and become one of the “First Four Out” in the big dance.

The same can be said for the Purdue Boilermakers. They sit on the bubble and after a loss to Rutgers this past weekend, are a toss-up when it comes to their chances of dancing.

A lot of this is subject to change based on each team’s performances in the upcoming conference tournament, but the idea that 11 or 12 teams from the Big Ten will make the NCAA Tournament is very possible.