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Big Ten Basketball: 2021 conference tournament preview and predictions

By Trevor Sinodhinos

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 12: Big Ten logo on the floor before the Big Ten Men's Basketball Final against the Wisconsin Badgers and Michigan Wolverines at the Verizon Center on March 12, 2017 in Washington, DC. The Wolverines won 71-56. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 12: Big Ten logo on the floor before the Big Ten Men's Basketball Final against the Wisconsin Badgers and Michigan Wolverines at the Verizon Center on March 12, 2017 in Washington, DC. The Wolverines won 71-56. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /
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Big Ten Basketball Iowa Hawkeyes Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /

Different goals for different reasons: Ohio State, Purdue

When Ohio State Basketball lost to Michigan State on Feb,26,2021 it did not cost the Buckeyes much in terms of their NET ranking, as they remained in the top ten, but the Buckeyes losing their double-bye can be traced back to that loss. Head Coach Chris Holtmann ended the season on a four-game losing streak to finish 12-8 in conference play. Despite the lackluster finish, a Big Ten Tournament banner, especially if it went through, Purdue, Michigan, and Illinois would propel Ohio State to a No.1 seed in the tournament.

The Purdue Boilermakers are the team that has the most to gain from a conference tournament championship and not just among Big Ten teams. If Head Coach Matt Painter and the Boilermakers were to win the Big Ten Tournament, it is possible they would have to defeat three of the top 10 teams in the NET. As a  top 20 NET team, a series of victories like that would turn their predicted No.4 seed, into a No.2 seed. The fact that the 13-6 Boilermakers can only count Ohio State as a top team they have defeated from the Big Ten, accomplishing such a feat within a weekend seems like a Herculean task.

Gunning for No.1: Iowa, Illinois, Michigan

The Iowa Hawkeye’s 14-6 Big Ten record has placed them third in the Big Ten and sixth in the NET. All that simply adds up to the Hawkeyes focusing on a No.1 seed. The Hawkeyes arguably have the number one player in the country, if they were to add a No.1 seed to their trophy case, it would have to be at the expense of Michigan or Illinois, if not both. The 14-5 Hawkeyes were unable to defeat Michigan nor Illinois in the regular season, so if they are unable to raise the tournament banner, they will slide in nicely as a No.2 seed.

It has not been as smooth sailing for Head Coach Brad Underwood and the Illinois Fighting Illini as their 16-4 Big Ten record would lead some to believe. Despite defeating Ohio State, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Michigan, the Fighting Illini have lost to Rutgers, Maryland, and Michigan State. Those losses are significant, for now, the Fighting Illini need not only get to the Big Ten Championship game but need to be competitive at the very least to have an opportunity at a No.1 seed.

If Houston continues to dominate opponents throughout the AAC tournament as they did to end their schedule, it will be difficult for any Big Ten team currently outside the top four NET to get a No.1 seed without a tournament championship.

Under normal circumstances, in a good to a very good conference, the Michigan Wolverines would not need to win their conference tournament to ensure their No. 3 NET ranking would warrant a No.1 seed from the Selection Committee.

The 20201-21 season has been anything but normal and has functioned primarily as a microcosm of today’s world. The Wolverines should not have to worry about getting a win, let alone a championship, to secure a No.1 seed, but the reality is, if the Wolverines are not in the final, two other teams in the top seven of the NET will be, one of which would have defeated Michigan.

A scenario could play out where Ohio State defeats Michigan in the semis to move on to defeat Illinois in the finals. That could very well be a recipe for Ohio State and Illinois bumping Michigan to a No.2 seed.

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