This tournament appears destined for an Illinois vs Purdue Championship game, but how often do these teams follow chalk? Ohio State, Indiana, Iowa, and Nebraska all come into this game playing well. I could see Penn State making a big run, and Nebraska, led by Tominaga, has played well lately and has a player in Tominaga that can take over any game he is p[playing.
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First Round
13 Rutgers (15-16) vs 12 Maryland (15-16)
This game is on Peacock, and with good reason. Both teams are playing so poorly that the Big Ten probably doesn’t want anybody to see the game. Both teams are good on defense, but they are bad on offense. This is a toss-up, but I will choose the more talented team.
Prediction: Maryland 65Â Rutgers 63
14 Michigan (8-23) vs 11 Penn State (15-16)
Michigan was the worst team in the Big Ten all season long, and they have gotten worse recently. This season, Penn State was a dangerous team; it surprised a few teams and scared a ton more. Penn State is the better team and should pull away in the second half.
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Second Round
9 Minnesota (18-13) vs 8 Michigan State (18-13)
Minnesota is the home team, and they played well at home this season. Michigan State has been a disappointment overall this season, and as of late, they have not played well. These two teams split too close games this season, each winning at home. The Spartans have the better players, and Tyson Walker will have a big game to play to lead them to victory.
Prediction: Michigan State 68Â Minnesota 66
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12 Maryland vs 5 Wisconsin (19-12)
Wisconsin recently beat Maryland at home 74-70, and neither team has played excellently recently. I look for Wisconsin’s backcourt to be the difference in this game. Maryland is not deep enough to win this one.
Prediction: Wisconsin 76Â Maryland 67
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10 Ohio State (19-12) vs 7 Iowa (18-13)
These have been two of the hottest teams in the Big Ten in the last month of the season, and the winner has a real shot at an at-large berth in this tournament. The Buckeyes have won five of their last six games since firing Chris Holtman. Ohio State beat Iowa by seven in Iowa City but that was before both teams got hot. I like the Buckeyes in this one, the difference will be on defense, where Ohio State is better.
Prediction: Ohio State 85Â Iowa 76
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11 Penn State(16-16) vs 6 Indiana (18-13)
Penn State is a scrappy, hard-nosed team that won both earlier meetings between these teams. The Hoosiers have been playing much better lately, and Galloway and Johnson will play well enough in the backcourt together. On the inside, Ware and Reneau will be too much to handle.
Prediction: Indiana 73Â Penn State 66
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Big Ten Quarterfinals
8 Michigan State vs 1 Purdue (28-3)
Michigan State played Pirdue tough recently, and this game will be tighter than people think. Purdue has way too much talent for the Spartans to win this game. To me, Michigan State will need to win this game to have a shot to get into March Madness because if you look at their resume right now, the Spartans don’t belong in the NCAA Tournament. Their resume is very similar to that of a team like Indiana’s.
Prediction: Purdue 88Â Michigan State 79
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5 Wisconsin vs 4 Northwestern (21-10)
Both of these teams struggled to close out the season. I think this game will be tight and go down to the wire. The difference will be on the inside, where Wisconsin is just the better team.
Prediction: Wisconsin 71Â Northwestern 66
10 Ohio State vs 2 Illinois (23-8)
Illinois won the last meeting between these teams 87-75; I think a win in this game can put Ohio State into the Tournament. Illinois, with Domask and Shannon, is the more talented team, but Ohio State has played better recently. Ohio State’s backcourt will play well, but the difference in this game will be Jamison Battle.
Prediction: Ohio State 89Â Illinois 88
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6 Indiana vs 3 Nebraska (22-9)
The Cornhuskers have won six out of their last seven games and are dangerous in this tournament. The Huskers easily won these teams’ previous two meetings, and they should prevail again.
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Big Ten Basketball Tournament Semifinals
Wisconsin vs Purdue
The Boilermakers are the superior team, but the Badgers can keep this close and steal it at the end. The Badgers are talented, but Purdue is just a better team. Look for the Boilermakers to pull away late in this game.
Prediction: Purdue 92Â Wisconsin 83
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Ohio State vs Nebraska
Both of these teams come into this tournament playing well, and both can battle Purdue and win, as they have been playing lately. The Buckeyes recently beat the Huskers by nine points in Columbus and held Nebraska star-guard Tominaga to just nine points. I do not think they can hold Tominaga down like that again. I think Tominaga leads the Huskers to victory.
Prediction: Nebraska 77Â Ohio State 76
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Big Ten Championship Game
Nebraska vs Purdue
Nebraska handled Purdue in Lincoln, Nebraska, earlier in the season. Purdue struggles with quick point Guards who can shoot, and they demonstrated that in that loss at Lincoln. Tominaga will need a monster game, and he will get just that in this shocker!!!
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