Comments on: Big Ten Tournament Preview

By: Andrew Force

Andrew Force — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 11:24:39 +0000

My completely biased view on the Illinois–Minnesota game is “PLEASE!”

We Illini fans need pity, love, or luck. Anything.

By: Bob

Bob — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 06:20:25 +0000

Good analysis – but Illinois coming out this tough on D was hard to predict. Seniors don’t want to stop playing… Purdue will be tough next year, maybe great

You should join a growing number of bloggers and play brackets at http://www.marchpool.com

Plese consider joining us – Big 10 may surprise this year!

By: Dex

Dex — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:26:54 +0000

John, I think I have to agree with you. Although I think getting past Purdue a second time is going to be tough. I’m a little concerned about the way the Hoosiers have handled themselves the past couple of weeks, but hopefully Dakich can pull them together. I get to see both the Boilers and IU play in person tonight so it should be interesting.

By: John

John — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 22:17:57 +0000

I think Indiana will win the Big Ten tournament. They are the most talented team in the conference. My surprise is Michigan. Much like Illinois in 2001 or 2002(can’t remember which year exactly), I think the Wolverines will make the final. Manny Harris is very underrated, and you can see how the players are buying into and executing Beliein’s system with each passing game.

By: Bo Owns Izzo

Bo Owns Izzo — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 21:25:55 +0000

“Wisconsin beat Michigan State 57-42″

Kind of shows his credability, huh?

By: Christopher Mackinder

Christopher Mackinder — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 19:06:47 +0000

@ John: I like your prediction, but its too “chalk” for me, with a 1 vs. 2 final. I think last season’s 1-2 final was pretty expected, but there isn’t much difference between the 1-2-3-4 teams this season. And, with Ohio State’s desperation, even the Buckeyes could make the finals. Nice pick with Michigan over Iowa. I went with Iowa because they play defense but obviously it bit me…

@ Zach: Just because a team loses to another team during the regular season doesn’t mean it will happen in the rematch… But as far as your comments regarding Michigan State’s predicted upset of Wisconsin, here is why I THINK it could happen:

-Prior to the loss at Ohio State, the Spartans were playing their best basketball of the season (as far as turnovers go). For the fifth straight season, MSU was the Big Ten’s best shooting team (FG% wise). In the past, that hasn’t mattered too much because the Sparatns turned the ball over something like 1 out of every 4 possessions. The last four games (prior to OSU), the Spartans were shooting the ball as well as they have all season and the turnovers were down to about 6 or 7 per game.

-As far as Wisconsin goes, it is no secret that Bo Ryan has MSU’s number (he’s 7-3 vs. MSU in his short tenure) but most of the games come down to the wire. In the early-season matchup, Wisconsin has just 1 turnover, a school record, yet only scored 57 points. That point total won’t make anyone a winner very often, especially with just 1 turnover. I love the Badgers, and feel they are the Big Ten’s best suited team for a Final Four run. But as I’m sure you know, the Big Ten’s top seeds never do extremely well in the BTT (No. 1 seeds have lost 4 times in the quarterfinals). Honestly, i wouldn’t be shocked if Wisconsin lost to Michigan tomorrow morning, just because of how things have played out in the past.

Interestingly enough, all of the top four teams in the Big Ten COULD win the tournament title. Wisconsin obviously had great regular season and Purdue has so much talent and a stingy defense that the Baby Boilers easily could win. Indiana, coaching situation aside, have the best inside-outside duo in the conference and Michigan State, if you remember, was the preseason pick to win the league because of its experience and solid recruiting class.

By: Zach

Zach — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:37:51 +0000

leave it to a MS fan to pick them to beat WI after getting handled during the regular season.

By: John MrMilTown

John MrMilTown — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:55:45 +0000

I do not believe that Wisconsin will lose in the semis of the Big Ten Tournament. I think that they are the best in the Big Ten and that they will win the Big Ten tourney. Here’s how my bracket shakes out for the Big Ten:

Opening Round

(9)Michigan def (8)Iowa

(10)Illinois def (7)Penn State

(6)Minnesota def (11)Northwestern

Quarterfinals

(1)Wisconsin def (9)Michigan

(4)Michigan State def (5)Ohio State

(2)Purdue def (10)Illinois

(3)Indiana def (6)Minnesota

Semifinals

(1)Wisconsin def (4)Michigan State

(2)Purdue def (3)Indiana

Final

(1)WISCONSIN def (2)Purdue