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The 2008 NCAA Tournament is now in the past. The Kansas Jayhawks reigned supreme over all; but that was last year. The 2008 NCAA Tournament also saw just 4 members of the Big Ten compete, with 2 advancing to the Sweet Sixteen. Things are looking much better for the league in 2009, with most schools still holding out hopes of dancing. The conference also has a legitimate national championship contender and probable 1 seed in the Michigan State Spartans. Let’s take a look at who we can expect to make noise in the Big Ten Tournament, and ultimately the NCAA Tournament.
The first game of the tournament finds Tubby Smith’s Minnesota Gophers paired with Northwestern on March 12. Smith was quoted earlier this week saying the Gophers would “take care of business”. The Gophers did just that on 2/22 with a soul crushing 72-45 win over Northwestern at home. The Wildcats of Northwestern did manage a home victory over Minnesota in overtime, but its hard to imagine them turning the tables after that last game. This game is a “must win” for the Wildcats if they are hoping to play in the NCAA Tournament this year. The winner has a tall task in their next game, as their foe will be regular season champ Michigan State.
The second game is a contest between the Michigan Wolverines and the Iowa Hawkeyes. Iowa rolled over for much of the second half of the season, finishing with a 15-16 record. They split their games with Michigan, taking one at home in OT, and losing by a ton at Michigan. With the guidance of their star guard Manny Harris, the Wolverines should advance with relative ease to face the Illini of Illinois.
On paper, Penn State looks markedly better than the Indiana. The Hoosiers are having one of the worst years in the history of the school, but lost by narrow margins against Penn State on both times. Barring a shocking upset, Penn State will advance to play the Boilermakers of Purdue. A win against Purdue would likely cement them in the field of 65, but a loss will fans holding their breath.
The fourth game holds my upset pick for the entire tournament. I like the Wisconsin Badgers to take down Ohio State, and then run the table the rest of the way. The first win won’t come easy for the defending Big Ten champs, but the real challenge lies with Michigan State. If they are able to be the David to the Spartan’s Goliath, then they could find themselves repeating as champions of the Big Ten Tournament. The Badgers have really come together for the second half of the season, and have the excellent leadership of Coach Bo Ryan, and court general Marcus Landry. They stand a hell of a chance.
Illinois has won their fair share of Big Ten Tournaments, and would be no surprise if they managed to do so again this year. They played well in conference events this year and were awarded the 2 seed. They won’t really face serious opposition until the championship game if they make it that far. With their experience and depth they are a team to have your eyes on.
Top seeded Michigan State is the likely winner of the whole thing. They are looking to lock up a 1 seed in the NCAA tournament and should be focused. It will take a truly inspired team to knock them out. Coach Tom Izzo is among the best in the NCAA should have them ready to roar. From a wagering standpoint I’ll take the Wisconsin Badgers as the champions of the Big Ten Tournament. They seem to always do well in this event, and have played very well lately. Check back to Bettorsworld.com for the latest NCAA Tournament information!
The first game of the tournament finds Tubby Smith’s Minnesota Gophers paired with Northwestern on March 12. Smith was quoted earlier this week saying the Gophers would “take care of business”. The Gophers did just that on 2/22 with a soul crushing 72-45 win over Northwestern at home. The Wildcats of Northwestern did manage a home victory over Minnesota in overtime, but its hard to imagine them turning the tables after that last game. This game is a “must win” for the Wildcats if they are hoping to play in the NCAA Tournament this year. The winner has a tall task in their next game, as their foe will be regular season champ Michigan State.
The second game is a contest between the Michigan Wolverines and the Iowa Hawkeyes. Iowa rolled over for much of the second half of the season, finishing with a 15-16 record. They split their games with Michigan, taking one at home in OT, and losing by a ton at Michigan. With the guidance of their star guard Manny Harris, the Wolverines should advance with relative ease to face the Illini of Illinois.
On paper, Penn State looks markedly better than the Indiana. The Hoosiers are having one of the worst years in the history of the school, but lost by narrow margins against Penn State on both times. Barring a shocking upset, Penn State will advance to play the Boilermakers of Purdue. A win against Purdue would likely cement them in the field of 65, but a loss will fans holding their breath.
The fourth game holds my upset pick for the entire tournament. I like the Wisconsin Badgers to take down Ohio State, and then run the table the rest of the way. The first win won’t come easy for the defending Big Ten champs, but the real challenge lies with Michigan State. If they are able to be the David to the Spartan’s Goliath, then they could find themselves repeating as champions of the Big Ten Tournament. The Badgers have really come together for the second half of the season, and have the excellent leadership of Coach Bo Ryan, and court general Marcus Landry. They stand a hell of a chance.
Illinois has won their fair share of Big Ten Tournaments, and would be no surprise if they managed to do so again this year. They played well in conference events this year and were awarded the 2 seed. They won’t really face serious opposition until the championship game if they make it that far. With their experience and depth they are a team to have your eyes on.
Top seeded Michigan State is the likely winner of the whole thing. They are looking to lock up a 1 seed in the NCAA tournament and should be focused. It will take a truly inspired team to knock them out. Coach Tom Izzo is among the best in the NCAA should have them ready to roar. From a wagering standpoint I’ll take the Wisconsin Badgers as the champions of the Big Ten Tournament. They seem to always do well in this event, and have played very well lately. Check back to Bettorsworld.com for the latest NCAA Tournament information!
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