Here's what I'm predicting for the Big Ten: Michigan State wins the conference outright. Ohio State wins the conference tournament. Michigan State gets a 3 seed, Illinois gets a 6 seed, Wisconsin gets a 6 seed, Purdue gets an 8 seed and Ohio State gets a 10 seed. Iowa is one of those teams they'll show during the Selection Show huddled around a TV hoping to get in. Then again, I could be wrong, Michigan could run the table and get a good seed in the tournament, but this is how I see it going down: 1. Michigan State [13-3; 18-9] - This is a team that undoubtedly has turned it around. I think they'll continue to play almost as well as their preseason promise, they'll win at Michigan I bet, and then cruise to the finish with wins at Penn State and over Wisconsin at home. 2. Illinois [11-5; 20-7] - They play at Iowa, Northwestern, at Purdue and at Ohio St. I disagree about Ohio State and Northwestern being easy games. Illinois has already fallen once to Northwestern, but this time it's at home. Their game against Ohio St. is away. Both of these games could be traps. Games at Iowa and at Purdue are quite obviously tough. I predict they lose two of these final four games. 3. Wisconsin [10-6; 19-8] - They snap their two game losing streak by playing againt Penn St., allowing them to relax a little. Then they get shocked by a hard-nosed Purdue team that comes in and breaks The Streak!! They fall to Michigan State on the road before recovering to win their last game against Indiana. 4. Purdue [9-7; 19-10] - Purdue plays at Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa, and I will predict they can take two out of these three. I'm not sure which ones exactly, I predicted they would beat Wisconsin and Iowa earlier, so I guess those two, although it could really be any combination. 4. Iowa [9-7; 16-11] - Wins home, loses away. The game against Illinois is a tough one to call, as is the one at Northwestern, so I will just give each to the home team. They'll probably lose to Purdue away and Minnesota blows goats. 4. Northwestern [9-7; 14-13] - They play Indiana, at Illinois, Iowa, and Michigan. They play three of their final four at home, and I believe they will win these, while probably losing away. NIT, look out!! 7. Ohio State [7-9; 15-14] - They play at Minnesota, at Michigan, Penn State, and Illinois. There's a chance for Ohio State to lose all of these, but they will probably beat Penn State. However, I am going to predict they win three of these last four, getting on track for their Big Ten tournament run. I predict they lose at Minnesota, win the next three. 7. Indiana [7-9; 13-14] - Plays at Northwestern, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Will beat Michigan while losing the other two. 9. Michigan [6-10; 15-12] - They play Michigan State, Ohio State, at Indiana, and at Northwestern. I liked Michigan a lot going into the season and thought now that their postseason ban had been lifted, they'd really impress this year. However, I don't think they have. Beating slumping Wisconsin at home and Penn State doesn't convince me they have things turned around, especially when just before they lost to Minnesota. After losing to Michigan St. tonight, their spirits will be broken and they'll lose their next three games as well. 10. Minnesota [4-12; 12-16] - Plays Ohio State, at Iowa, and Penn State. They'll win two out of these three, beating OSU and PSU. 11. Penn State [3-13; 9-18] - Plays at Wisconsin, Michigan State, at Ohio State, at Minnesota. They'll lose all four. <u>Conference Tournament</u> Round 1: (9) Michigan over (8) Indiana (7) Ohio State over (10) Minnesota (6) Northwestern over (11) Penn State Quarters: (8) Michigan over (1) Michigan State - upset special (5) Iowa over (4) Purdue - Iowa needs this one (7) Ohio State over (2) Illinois for the second game in a row (3) Wisconsin over (6) Northwestern Semis: (5) Iowa over (9) Michigan (7) Ohio State over (3) Wisconsin Finals: (7) Ohio State over (5) Iowa - these two teams are always in the Big Ten finals
Michigan State won't be a 3 seed. Hell, they won't even be a 6 seed. I think Illinois will be a 4, Wisconsin a 5 or 6, Michigan State a 7 or 8 depending on how they finish, Purdue a 10, and Michigan a 12 or 13. The Big Ten is experiencing one hell of an off year. This is my favorite topic, so I'll expand on my thoughts more later.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Wave:</div><div class="quote_post">Michigan State won't be a 3 seed. Hell, they won't even be a 6 seed. I think Illinois will be a 4, Wisconsin a 5 or 6, Michigan State a 7 or 8 depending on how they finish, Purdue a 10, and Michigan a 12 or 13. The Big Ten is experiencing one hell of an off year. This is my favorite topic, so I'll expand on my thoughts more later.</div>You're right, they probably won't get as good as a 3. But in my projections they were going 13-3 in the Big Ten, 2 games ahead of Illinois back at second, so they'd have to get a pretty good seed compared to Illinois, but 3 probably was too high a guess even for a 13-3 team. The Big Ten is very down this year. Also, don't write off Iowa yet.
No way Ohio State wins the tourney. This is the most disappointing team I've seen in a long time. They need Radinovic and Dials to come up HUGE in order for them to have any success. This team hasn't proven anything to me this year. Stockman is incredibly streaky and it seems like Sullinger is always in foul trouble. They'll make it out of the first round at most..probably end up the 9 seed..and lose to whoever the one is...especially if the one is Illinois.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Joesanity:</div><div class="quote_post">No way Ohio State wins the tourney. This is the most disappointing team I've seen in a long time. They need Radinovic and Dials to come up HUGE in order for them to have any success. This team hasn't proven anything to me this year. Stockman is incredibly streaky and it seems like Sullinger is always in foul trouble. They'll make it out of the first round at most..probably end up the 9 seed..and lose to whoever the one is...especially if the one is Illinois.</div>I know you're right, I'm just making a fun prediction. What I'm counting on is the team finally coming together into a cohesive unit: Fuss-Cheatham making shots, as he's showed some signs of lately, Radinovic and Dials getting the ball, not turning it over so much, and playing like they did against Indiana more often, Tony Shotman knocking down his shots, and JJ Sullinger kicking his habit of occasionally just becoming invisible. Oh, and DEFENSE. Now, if all that somehow happens, then you have to concede they could win the Big Ten tourney. But, if I were making these picks based on how the teams have played so far this season, obviously, I would have them only winning two of their remaining games: Minnesota and Penn State.
Oh they have the talent to win it, definitely. If O'Brien can get them to bring it all together in time for the tournament this could get really fun. I'm just not so sure about it...but I'm hoping for it!
I think the Hawks have a great chance of winning the Big Ten tourney. Only problem is, they have a very short bench currently and they'd probably have to play a red hot Michigan State team. But, hey, I can always dream you know.
Iowa's another team that could get hot in the last week and be scary in the tournament. They are definitely one team I wouldn't want to play along with Illinois and Michigan St. who are both picking it up at the right time. Good to see Wisconsin struggle...well before tonight's thrashing of Penn St. And another Buckeye win on the road...nice.
The Hawks means Iowa? I've never heard them caled that before. Iowa is a great team, full of seniors. They'd be contending for the top spot in the Big Ten now if their center weren't out for the season. Yeah, that was a good Buckeye win tonight. I couldn't believe how long they left the starters in. They could really use Nick Dials, he was a real spark. Anyway, they might be getting things together now, but it's too early to tell. Beating Michigan would really make a statement.
I'm dreading that Illinois game though. Every time the Bucks have played them the last couple of years they've been blown out. OSU is so bad on the perimeter with their defense that a team like Illinois just destroys them.
I'm confident if Michigan State is complete, healthy and consistent, that they'll take it. Lately Agger has been playing not as well as he could and does, same goes for Davis, too much foul trouble. If those are taken care of and they play some untiring defense, they'll come out on top.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Joesanity:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm dreading that Illinois game though. Every time the Bucks have played them the last couple of years they've been blown out. OSU is so bad on the perimeter with their defense that a team like Illinois just destroys them.</div>I wasn't sold on Illinois early in the season, but now I'm starting to come around. They've been looking very good, and have put together a great winning streak. I still think Dee Brown is overrated, but I no longer think the team is. I'm not dreading that game though. If we lose, it's expected. If we win though... See, there's a lot more upside than down.
