Do you like wall-to-wall basketball action across six days? If so then the Big Ten Tournament is for you. 18 teams compete across six days to see who is the best in the Midwest. The conference is poised to send double-digit teams to the NCAA Tournament, as they look to end their national title drought, having not won one as a conference since 2000. There are a litany of teams up to that task, but first must win the Big Ten to prove themselves.Let’s meet the teams, shall we.
A tier of their own – Michigan
Michigan Wolverines – Michigan is in a class of its own when it comes to the Big Ten. The Wolverines are part of a national “big three” withArizona and Duke, teams that are just head and shoulders above the rest. Michigan barnstormed through the Big Ten, defeating top-10 teams with ease, no matter the circumstance. The Maize and Blue have some award candidates with Dusty May for coach of the year and standout forward Yaxel Lendeborg for the Wooden Award. It would be shocking if Michigan was not cutting down the nets in the Big Ten Tournament.
The Flyover State Schools (Contenders)
Michigan State Spartans – Another year, another quality Tom Izzo-led Spartans team flying under the radar. Michigan State might not be the most flashy team, but they are fundamentally sound and March is Tom Izzo’s month. Sparty has been bested by big brother Michigan twice this season but both games were competitive.If there was a team I had to pick to take down Michigan, it would be the Spartans. While all the teams in this tier are contenders, Michigan State is the best of this bunch.
Nebraska Cornhuskers – Fred Hoiberg has done a remarkable job turning a dead Nebraska program into a Big Ten contender. The Cornhuskers are a dangerous bunch, showing it by nearly taking down Michigan on the road and picking up several quality wins. Forward Pryce Sandfort is a star leading the team in points and Sam Hoiberg (the coach’s son) is another coach on the floor,serving as a remarkable facilitator on offense and a pickpocket on defense. Nebraska might not have a basketball reputation but that should not dissuade anyone from the idea that this team is a legit Big Ten contender.
Illinois Fighting Illini – A No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament might be out of reach for the Illini but a No. 2 is definitely in play. Illinois will need a strong showing in Indianapolis, though, if they want to grab a No. 2 seed, but Brad Underwood’s team is more than capable of it. The international guys are the story for Illinois this season as they are led by a well oiled European machine of Andrej Stojakovic, Tomislav Ivisic, Zvonimir Ivisic and Mihalio Petrovic make up the group that has helped put the Fighting Illini in this position. The star though is guard Keaton Wagler who is a pick and roll menace with the poise of a longtime veteran. An added bonus for the Illini is having the tournament in Chicago close to home base in Champaign for more fan support than other teams will have.
Purdue Boilermakers – It has been a disappointing year so far for the preseason No. 1team as Purdue hasn’t looked the part of a national title contender. The Boilermakers are still a potent team nonetheless who can at least cut down the nets in the Big Ten. Braden Smith has been as advertised this year, leading the team in points, assists and steals, in addition to being the heartbeat of the team.
Wisconsin Badgers – Wisconsin has been flying under the radar all year, and frankly I don’t know why. The Badgers managed to go into Ann Arbor and take down one of the consensus top three teams in the nation in Michigan this season. Along with that they also have wins over top-15 Michigan State, Illinois and Purdue respectively, the latter two coming away from home. This feels like a classic Wisconsin team that can make a deep March run where they aren’t getting a lot of buzz but you look up and they look are suddenly in the Sweet 16 before you know it. This team is more than capable of going on a run in Chicago to take home a Big Ten crown.
Iowa Hawkeyes – I know Iowa being here might surprise some folks but any team who can play Michigan as close as Iowa did on Thursday deserves to be considered a contender. The Hawkeyes resemble the 2025 Drake team which won an NCAA Tournament game, with Ben McCollum as head coach and a similar cast of guys. Why that matters is thatIowa is an underdog who you can’t take lightly as they get to its slow, patient style of play that is tilted towards the black and gold. Bennett Stirtz is capable of taking over a game to close it out when the time comes. In a quick tournament setting where the Hawkeyes can lock in their playing style, don’t be shocked when they make a deep run.
National Brands (mid contenders)
UCLA Bruins – UCLA is an enigma to me this year. The Bruins look like world-beaters at home, going 17-1 there, but have been lackluster on the road, routinely falling to weaker teams in the Big Ten. The Bruins though are finding their stroke at the right time taking down top-10 Illinois and Nebraska recently thanks to highly touted transfer Donovan Dent finally living up to his billing. UCLA is in a groove right now thanks to Dent. There are just too many questions about them playing away from theWest Coast and how the layoff will affect the momentum the team has right now for me to consider them a true contender.
Ohio State Buckeyes – The Buckeyes won a crucial bubble matchup vs. Indiana to all but solidify a spot in the Big Dance. Ohio State is peaking at the right time winning three straight entering the tournament including a win over a then top-10 Purdue.. Similar story to the Bruins though, not a consistent enough body of work and I also question how the layoff will affect them for me to take Ohio State seriously as a true contender..
Indiana Hoosiers – Indiana is the opposite of the other two teams in this tier as the Hoosiers are spiraling at the worst time, losing five of their last six. However, this team still has the talent to make some noise and the desperation of a blue blood needing to make the big dance. The guard tandem of Lamar Wilkerson and Connor Enright are a good complement to each other. Then Tucker DeVries is a stout defensive forward who brings in boards and steals. The Hoosiers have the tools to put something together; the question is whether the pieces will come together.
West Coast
USC Trojans – USC is reeling right now, having lost seven straight games to completely knock them out of the tournament picture. Eric Musselman has improved this group in his second year and has proven March chops during his time with Arkansas, but I don’t have faith the Trojans can make a run in Indy. They are not playing good enough basketball as of late, and the dysfunction surrounding the dismissal of leading scorer Chad Baker-Mazara leaves too many negatives for them to be a serious threat.
Washington Huskies – Some inexplicable losses have knocked Washington off the bubble. Barring a miracle conference tournament run, the Huskies will miss the dance for a seventh straight year. Things are looking up for Washington though. Danny Sprinkle is a proven coach, taking his two previous teams, Montana State and Utah State, to March Madness appearances and he has improved the Huskies this year. You can see the future in Seattle, and it is bright, assuming they keep Sprinkle around, Washington looks like they’re on their way to making the dance next year,making teams bow down to Washington on the hardwood in the future.
Oregon Ducks – It has been a disaster of a season, no other way to put it, for Dana Altman’s bunch. Surprising considering the Ducks made the tournament last year and returned some key players like Nick Bittle and Jackson Shelstad. The disappointing season in Eugene, after returning most of a team that made the NCAA tournament a year ago, has raised questions about Altman retiring, but he plans to return next season and the Ducks won’t fire a program fixture like him. Oregon has some talent and Altman can win in March. Being in the same location for an extended period, do not be surprised if the Ducks pull an upset or two.
Waiting for football season/happy to be in Hockey Valley
Penn State Nittany Lions – In Happy Valley, it is anything but a happy time on the hardwood. Penn State has one of the best fan, student and alumni bases in the country, but basketball just isn’t part of the culture there. Penn State Football has been revitalized under Matt Campbell. Penn State has invested heavily and became one of the top hockey programs in the nation. Along with that, their wrestling team is the greatest dynasty in sports right now. Basketball just is not something that meshes with Penn State. But if it ever did, fans would be out in force at the Bryce Jordan Center to support it instead of licking their wounds with some Penn State Berkey Creamery ice cream to drown their sorrows. Coach Mike Rhoades is safe due to budgetary constraints in State College, but it is not a good sign that his teams have gotten worse instead of better each year, continuing the tale of basketball apathy in Happy Valley.
Bottom of the barrel (thankful to get $60 million from Big Ten football TV deal)
Minnesota Golden Gophers – Minnesota really just exists as a Big Ten team. When I think of the Gophers, I still go back to them being a hockey power under American Icon Herb Brooks, and other than that just a middle to bad team in the Big Ten. The Gophers are capable of tripping someone up seen in wins vs. UCLA and Michigan State. Minnesota cannot win it all, but can ruin someone else’s chances.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights – I mean, what else needs to be said? In everything, it feels like Rutgers is the doormat of the Big Ten. They are an odd fit to begin with, and without the Big Ten using Rutgers as a gateway to New York City, they would not be in the conference. The Scarlet Knights are not a serious threat, but guard Tariq Francis can cause opponents headaches and make Rutgers a tougher out than expected
Northwestern Wildcats – The Big Ten prides itself on academics. How else do you explain a program like Northwestern existing in it? Look, being in a prime media market like Chicago helps, but Northwestern has always been the smart school of the Big Ten that you do not worry about in athletics. You do have to worry about forward Nick Martinelli, as he can score with the best of them and is a great rebounder as well.
Maryland Terrapins – The fact that Maryland was ever a basketball school is crazy to me. They miss the tournament more often than not, and have completely fallen off the national landscape since joining the Big Ten. It was an overhaul for the Terps this season, but finishing 11-20 under a proven winning coach in Buzz Williams shows how far the program has fallen. Maryland is not a serious threat or team to worry about in the Big Ten.
Tournament Schedule
(All times Central)
Opening Round, two games – Tuesday, 3/10, games begin at 4 p.m.
Second Round, four games – Wednesday, 3/11, games begin at 11 a.m..
Third Round, four games – Thursday, 3/12, games begin at 11 a.m.
Quarterfinals, four games – Friday, 3/13, games begin at 11 a.m.
Semifinals, two games – Saturday, 3/14, games begin 12:00 p.m.
Championship game – Sunday, 3/15, games begin at 2:30 p.m.
My pick to win – Michigan Wolverines
Sleeper team – Wisconsin Badgers