No energy all game. Not like it matters, the only way were getting in anyway was winning the B1G Tournament.

 

With the way the conference has been all year, I could see any of the 12 teams winning it. My guess is MSU, though.

It's going to be really interesting to see if Wisconsin can win at Nebraska, who wins the Michigan State at Ohio State game and I'm not even feeling 100% confident that Iowa can beat Illinois at home to guarantee a bid with a 10-8 mark.

 

Illinois had Iowa dead in the water in the 2nd half in Champaign and let them rally back...and beating MSU at East Lansing, despite getting blown out so badly by Michigan, you just never know what way they'll respond with how wacky this season has been, with PSU and Northwestern looking quite dangerous at different points in the season.

 

Iowa has narrow losses at Iowa State and against Villanova, two losses against Wisconsin (another game they should have won, at Madison)....Michigan St./Michigan/Ohio State split with road wins for both teams....then recent losses at Minnesota and Indiana, which are probably their two worst losses of the season.

 

On the other hand, they've only won at Ohio State (when they were #4 in the country) and throttled Michigan at home. Those two wins, along with no bad losses and beating Xavier. It has been a terribly disappointing finish to the season (losing to Michigan State, Wisconsin and Ohio State at home), when a lot of fans were getting ahead of themselves and predicting Final Fours and Elite 8's.

 

 

Edited March 6, 201412 yr by caulfield12

The Big Ten isnt very good this year so I wouldnt put any team into a final four at this point.

College basketball isn't very good this year so I would put any team from any conference in the Final Four at this point.

Fixed.

It has been kind of a s***ty year as far as top level play. Gonna be disappointed if the NCAA isn't full of upsets.

I just read this morning that if St Louis drops out of the top 25 this week, Wichita St is in line to recieve a 1 seed without having beaten a top 25 team all season

Fixed.

At least there are top teams out there with surefire NBA superstars on their roster. The highest draft pick in the Big Ten is coming from IU who isnt even a tourney team. Gary Harris could be a good NBA player and Stauskas is most likely a role player.

 

Kansas, Duke, Ok St, Kentucky, Cuse, Zona, all have high caliber NBA talent on very good teams that have a chance to win it all. I dont see a Big Ten team getting past the elite 8.

At least there are top teams out there with surefire NBA superstars on their roster. The highest draft pick in the Big Ten is coming from IU who isnt even a tourney team. Gary Harris could be a good NBA player and Stauskas is most likely a role player.

 

Kansas, Duke, Ok St, Kentucky, Cuse, Zona, all have high caliber NBA talent on very good teams that have a chance to win it all. I dont see a Big Ten team getting past the elite 8.

I see your point...but you're not putting Kentucky further in your bracket than your last remaining (or couple remaining) BT teams.

 

There aren't dominant teams this year, you could see a Michigan, Wisconsin, maybe MSU if they put it together get to elite 8 or final four. That Michigan offense is dynamite in the college game, NBA superstars or not.

I really like this Wisconsin team, so the way I've been going the last few years stay FAR away from them

I see your point...but you're not putting Kentucky further in your bracket than your last remaining (or couple remaining) BT teams.

 

There aren't dominant teams this year, you could see a Michigan, Wisconsin, maybe MSU if they put it together get to elite 8 or final four. That Michigan offense is dynamite in the college game, NBA superstars or not.

I could see MSU because they can play defense and score if healthy, Wisconsin and Michigan both have weaknesses IMO that would have been exploited more in a stronger conference year. Wisconsin lost more games at home this year to bad teams than we have ever seen.

For the Big Ten teams, it seems to come down to hitting shots (brilliant analysis right?). By that I mean no one really has any dominant post presence, so it's all about jump shooting. There's really not a good transition team either. MSU is the best bet there, but they're not very healthy.

I really like this Wisconsin team, so the way I've been going the last few years stay FAR away from them

Do they have Acie Law though?

 

For the Big Ten teams, it seems to come down to hitting shots (brilliant analysis right?). By that I mean no one really has any dominant post presence, so it's all about jump shooting. There's really not a good transition team either. MSU is the best bet there, but they're not very healthy.

I get what you mean. Wisconsin could easily lose in the round of 32, or make the final four, and neither would surprise me due to that.

 

MSU, March, Izzo, yadda yadda yadda you never know.

For the Big Ten teams, it seems to come down to hitting shots (brilliant analysis right?). By that I mean no one really has any dominant post presence, so it's all about jump shooting. There's really not a good transition team either. MSU is the best bet there, but they're not very healthy.

 

Iowa is pretty good in transition.

 

 

Interesting stat: Providence senior Bryce Cotton is averaging 40.2 minutes per game.

Iowa is pretty good in transition.

 

And they get stopped in their tracks by physical play, hand checking (MSU/Wisconsin) and taking Aaron White out of games.

Indiana-Michigan could turn into a decent little rivalry, some good games the past few years.

Indiana-Michigan could turn into a decent little rivalry, some good games the past few years.

 

Hate the possible quarterfinal match up

Iowa's effort on defense is so sad. Not quite sure what happened to them.

Hate the possible quarterfinal match up

Dakich said it right during the broadcast...Indiana can beat anybody, and Indiana can lose to anybody.

Lol. How do you think 5 hand checks in a row isn't a foul?

Ya just knew Ekey would win it.

Lol. How do you think 5 hand checks in a row isn't a foul?

 

Yup. Why not just stay in front of him? No need to reach.

What a shot by Ekey. Great win and close to the season.

EKEY! WOOOOOOO!

 

Sucks to not make the tournament, but wins over Mizzou, Indiana, and @ Iowa are the next best thing.

Fran McCaffery has done a really awful job with this Iowa team this year.