Big 10 Conference Tourney Picks & Previews
As many as five teams have a legitimate shot at reaching the Big Dance, regardless of the outcome of the Big 10 tournament, so that really unbalances the scales motivationaly speaking. Wisconsin picked up the No. 1 seed in this event but could improve it's positioning at the NCAA's with a Conference title. The Tournament got under way Thursday with Michigan and Illinois winning firt round matchups.
The final first-day matchup in the Big 10 Tournament features the six-seed Minnesota Golden Gophers against the 11-seed Northwestern Wildcats. The Gophers are just 4-8 in the Big Ten Tournament all-time, and have never reached the championship game, but then again, they have never had a general like Tubby Smith at the helm. Minnesota does have the top long range game in the conference and get a head start on the tournament by virtue of their firt round matchup with Northwestern - by far the worst team in the Big 10. The Wildcats are just 1-17 in the conference. They are worst in the conference defending the shot, allowing almost 50 percent from the field and nearly 40 percent from behind the arc. In fact, Minnesota swept the season series with Northwestern in dominating fashion, winning by 19 in the Twin Cities and then winning by 20 on the road and there certainly exists no catalyst for change. Call it big - Minnesota 73, Northwestern 55
Indiana Hoosiers will face the winner of the Gopher/Wildcat game and will be glad to get conflicts back on the court. Coach Kelvin Sampson resigned last month after alleged NCAA rules vioclations, leaving the reins to Dan Dakich. The Hoosiers dropped two of their last three games to close the regular slate, including the shocker at Penn State, leaving many observers wondering if they can get it together for this event..
Michigan will now face top seed Wisconsin in a real m is-match on Friday morning. The Maize and Blue own the worst scoring defense in the Big 10 conference - something that will be easily exploited by top seed Wisconsin. The Badgers pride themselves on unselfish play and a stifling defense which ranks first in the entire nation in average points allowed at 54.3. The BGS Power Ratings have the Badgers as -17.5 point chalk in this game, but laying double digits with a team who can name the score is never a particulary appealing play. I'll play it small and call the final, Wisconsin 68, Michigan 50
The Illini have enjoyed a tremendous amount of success in this event over the years, sporting a 19-8 record after their win over Penn State yesterday but keeping it going against Purdue will be a tall order. The Boilermakers swept the season series, winning the two games by a combined 15 points, making Purdue an easy choice as chalk, however, the BGS Power Ratings forecast a single basket affair, giving us some value against this line with a team who has historically done well. I'll take the points and call the upset, Illinois 59, Purdue 58
Michigan State and Ohio State comes meet in the rubber match of an exciting series which had both teams holding serve at home in 2008. The Spartans own a Big Ten-best .486 field goal percentage and they are once again the premiere rebounding club in the conference, but the Buckeyes are the defending Big 10 Tournament Champions and ended the season strong with back to back upsets of ranked teams - including Michigan State. I'll call this one as close as it gets - Michigan State 61, Ohio State 60
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