We have a Big 10 title race! Purdue keeps alive their title chances with a home win over Ohio State. Illinois loses to Michigan State. Minnesota loses to Penn State. While I cannot imagine the Big 10 putting fewer than 5 teams in the tournament, no one outside the top 3 seems to want one of those spots (Michigan State seems the most interested of the bubble teams right now). Where does the Big 10 stand?
The Favorite
(1) Ohio State (25-2, 12-2). The Buckeyes pulled away late for a 71-61 home win against Michigan State before losing 76-63 at Purdue. No shame in losing to Purdue when E'Twaun Moore shoots 13-18 and scores 38 points. Ohio State still has a game lead in the conference and has only one road game left (at Penn State) so Ohio State is still in the driver's seat. For Ohio State, the questions are (1) can they win out and win the Big 10 title and (2) can they hold on for a 1 seed in the tournament. In the coming week, the Buckeyes host Illinois Tuesday and host Indiana Sunday.
The Contender
(2) Purdue (22-5, 11-3). Great week for the Boilers with home wins over Wisconsin (70-62) and Ohio State (76-63). Purdue buried Wisconsin's Big 10 title hopes and kept their own alive with the win over Ohio State. Unlike Ohio State, Purdue closes with three road games (at Iowa, at Indiana and at Michigan State) in their last four. E'Twaun Moore went crazy against Ohio State, going 13-18 from the floor and 7-10 from the arc for 38 points. Big week ahead for Purdue, at Iowa and at Michigan State. They need both to keep their title hopes alive.
Safely in the Tournament
(3) Wisconsin (20-6, 10-4). Wisconsin said goodbye to their Big 10 hopes with a 70-62 loss at Purdue. But they rebounded well with a 76-66 win over Penn State. Wisconsin is a tournament lock. And, frankly, Wisconsin is boring. Boring to watch. Boring to discuss right now. But they have two of the top 5 players in the conference (Jordan Taylor and Jon Leuer) and will be a tough out in the tournament. Wisconsin travels to Michigan Wednesday and hosts Northwestern Sunday.
On the Bubble
(4) Michigan State (15-11, 7-7). Michigan State battled in a road loss at Ohio State and then gutted out a home win over Illinois (61-57). Kalin Lucas has been playing as well as anyone over the past month, scoring at least 20 points in 5 of his last 7 games. Lucas willed Michigan State to the win over the Illini. And Kalin Lucas is the reason the Spartans are ahead of Illinois in the Power Rankings. A very, very crucial week ahead for the Spartans tournament hopes. They travel to Minnesota Tuesday and host Purdue Sunday. A two win week and the Spartans can pencil themselves into the tournament and Tom Izzo can breath a sigh of relief.
(5) Illinois (17-10, 7-7). What an ugly week for the Illini. They absolutely should have lost to Michigan in Champaign, hanging on for a 54-52 win and then lost at East Lansing. Ron Guenther, the Illinois AD, came out this week with a vote of confidence as to Bruce Weber. It seems that the blame for the Illini's failings has officially been laid at the feet of the Seniors. McCamey, Tisdale and Davis have four games left to change their legacy as Illini. With games at Ohio State and at Purdue still on the schedule, the Illini are staring 9-9 in the Big 10 in the face and need to hope that is sufficient to make the tournament. This week, a trip to Columbus Tuesday and then the Illini host Iowa Saturday.
(6) Minnesota (17-9, 6-8). The Gophers played once this week, losing at Penn State 66-63. Minnesota has now lost 5 of 6 (the only win at Iowa) and have just not been the same team since Al Nolen's injury. The Gophers tournament hopes are still on fairly solid ground. Their only bad losses, home to a poor Virginia team and at Indiana. They have solid wins over North Carolina, West Virginia and Purdue. And most importantly, they have three home games left (Michigan State, Michigan and Penn State) with a trip to Northwestern their only road game. This week, two big home games for Minnesota, hosting Michigan State Tuesday and hosting Michigan Saturday. Two home wins and Minnesota can feel much better about their tournament chances.
(7) Penn State (14-12, 7-8). Penn State is in a better spot than Michigan, in spite of two losses to Michigan, after yet another good Big 10 home win, knocking off Minnesota 66-63 before losing at Wisconsin. In the good column for Penn State, home wins over Wisconsin, Michigan State, Illinois and Minnesota. In the bad, lost twice to Michigan, a variety of bad non-conference losses, and they are only two games over .500. Penn State plays just once this week, traveling to Northwestern Thursday.
(8) Michigan (17-11, 7-8). Michigan missed two threes at the buzzer in a loss at Illinois and then held on for an overtime win at Iowa (75-72). Michigan's tournament resume is weak. Their best overall win is either a win at Clemson or at Michigan State (both bubble teams in their own right). And they don't get credit for close losses (53-50 at Syracuse, 67-60 in overtime against Kansas, 68-64 against Ohio State and the aforementioned game against Illinois). Michigan probably needs at least two of their last three conference games to stay on the bubble. This week, the Wolverines host Wisconsin Wednesday (a game they probably must have) and travel to Minnesota Saturday.
Need to Win the Big 10 Tournament
(9) Northwestern (16-10, 6-9). The good news for Northwestern, a home win this week against Iowa and a road win at Indiana guaranteed an NIT berth at the least for the Wildcats. But Northwestern has an even worse resume than Michigan. Their only win of any relevance was a home win over Illinois. Northwestern hosts Penn State Wednesday and travels to Wisconsin Sunday. Northwestern needs to win the Big 10 tournament to make the NCAAs.
(10) Iowa (10-17, 3-12). Iowa took two close losses this week, 73-70 at Northwestern and an overtime home loss against Michigan. Iowa has proven themselves to be a very tough out at home. Hobbserver favorite Melsahn Basabe had another strong week with 13 points and 7 rebounds against Northwestern and 19 points and 8 rebounds against Michigan. Basabe would be Big 10 freshman of the year if not for a guy named Jared Sullinger. Iowa has just one game this week, at Illinois.
(11) Indiana (12-15, 3-11). The Hoosiers played once this week, losing to Northwestern 70-64. Not a lot to say about the Hoosiers. Indiana hosts Purdue and travels to Ohio State this week. Indiana and their fans would love nothing more than to end archrival Purdue's Big 10 title hopes.
Until next week.
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