Big Ten Basketball: 2022 Conference Tournament preview and predictions
Second-round
8) Michigan vs. 9) Indiana
These two teams met on Jan. 23, 2022, when the Michigan Wolverines came away with an easy 80-62 victory in Indiana. The Wolverines were able to take advantage of their size as Hunter Dickinson scored 25 points on 9 of 12 shooting as the Wolverines outscored the Hoosiers 12 to 4 in second-chance points.
The Wolverines finished the season with 2 wins and 3 losses without Head Coach Juwan Howard who will be back on the bench after his five-game suspension. The frontcourt combination of Dickinson and Moussa Diabate will dominate the boards as they did in their regular-season matchup but will be vulnerable to being taken off the dribble by Trayce Jackson-Davis and Miller Kopp.
Having already won in Indiana despite giving up 17 fastbreak points and with Trey Galloway probably returning after six games from a groin injury, Michigan will get another victory in Indiana.
Prediction: Michigan 73 – Indiana 64
7) Michigan State vs. 10) Maryland
The Michigan State Spartans captured both victories versus the Maryland Terrapins this season, including on the final day of the Big Ten schedule. Despite losing seven of their previous nine games, the Spartans jumped out to an early lead and defeated the Terrapins 77-67 at home, which was an improvement from the 65-63 victory in Maryland.
There is no question that the Spartans have difficulty defending the post, but Georgetown transfer Qudus Wahab has not been a force all season, let alone versus the Spartans as his high in the two games is nine points. The Spartans’ halfcourt offense is not as potent as years past, but it is good enough to defeat Maryland twice in four days
Prediction: Michigan State 67- Maryland 60
5) Iowa vs. 12) Northwestern
No Luka Garza was no problem for the Iowa Hawkeyes who finished with a 12-8 Big Ten record for a fifth-place finish. As for their regular-season matchup with Northwestern, the Hawkeyes had little problem getting an 82-61 victory at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Keegan Murray led the way for the Hawkeyes with 26 points while the Wildcats shot just 38 percent from the field.
It is very possible Northwestern lose to Nebraska in the first round, so there is no need to contemplate taking them now, even if Patrick McCaffery does not return from his illness or hip injury.
Prediction: Iowa 74 – Northwestern 58
6) Ohio State vs. 11) Penn State
The Penn State Nittany Lions do not have the ability to stop EJ Lidell, something that was all too apparent in both Ohio State victories in the regular season. On Dec.5, 2021, the Buckeyes’ forward scored 14 points on the road in a 76-64 win, then led the Buckeyes with 19 points in a 61-56 win at home.
The Nittany Lions ranked last in the Big Ten in free-throw attempts per game, with Zed Key and Kyle Young both being questionable for the start of the Big Ten Tournament, if the Nittany Lions can get Liddell in any type of foul trouble, it could change the tide of the game. However, since the Nittany Lions managed a combined two fastbreak points versus Ohio State this season there is no reason to believe the Buckeyes will be uncomfortable in any way.
Prediction: Ohio State 69 – Penn State 55