Big Ten Bubble

Our 6th bubble watch is a conference that I watch a lot, thanks to the big ten network and living in Michigan. The Big ten is a very good conference IMO and is underrated nationally. Lets take a look at the big ten, where they play hard noise defense and really 9 of the 11 teams could win the big ten tourney this week.


IN: MSU, Purdue, ILL, these 3 are locks, no question about it, and not worth talking about... the big ten will get some other teams, and lets talk about them one at a time.


Bubble: OSU, Wis, Mich, Minn, PSU, Northwestern


OSU- 20-9, 10-8.They should be in, but with their best non conference wins are Butler, ND, and da U, and they also got killed by WVU. Beating Michigan twice, and splitting with Min and Purdue, they should be fine. But they may have to sweat a little. If I was them I would win at least a game in the big ten tourney to feel better, but for right now, they are in.

Wis- 19-11, 10-8, they should be fine as well, I think everyone would have them in, but I wanted to look at their resume as well. A tough non conference games with Uconn, Marq, and Texas, but they were all losses. At Va Tech is their best non conference win. In conference they did lose 6 in a row at one time, they did beat Michigan twice, and OSU. They also beat other big ten bubble teams PSU twice, and spilt with Northwestern. They also did lose to Iowa, so they may have to sweat a little, and they should get a conference tourney win as well. I think they will be in, but again, their resume is not great.

Michigan-19-12, 9-9. Beating Duke and UCLA, and playing very tough to UConn gave Michigan a great start to the season in non conference. And even though they do have some tough losses in conference, at Iowa comes to mind, beating Min on the road, and also beating Purdue should get them in. They also beat Northwestern twice if it came down to them, and spilt with PSU. I think their win at Min this weekend gave them a spot, and they are in. But I wouldn't go one and done in the big ten tourney. But unless they fall off, they are in.

Min- 21-9, 9-9, a undefeated non conference season witch was highlights by a win against Louisville, and by highlighted I mean, there only good win, got them off to a fast start, and then the start the big ten by loosing to MSU at home, which is ok, but they also have spilt with PSU, OSU, ILL and Northwestern. But they did lose to Michigan twice, but they did beat Wis twice. They play Northwestern on Thursday in the first big ten tourney, and I will put it this way, if they lose, they are out, if they win, they are in, I think.

PSU-21-10, 10-8 What hurts them their non conference schedule isn't strong at all, and they did lose to Rhode Island and Temple. But then in conference you beat MSU on the road, Ill on the road, and at home, and also beat Purdue. That should be enough to get you in, but then they lose to Iowa in their last regular season game. They did spilt with Michigan and Min, but did lose twice to Wis. I think they have a chance, and will get in, but if they lose to IU on Thursday, they are done, no question about it.

Northwestern- 17-12, 8-10 Will Northwestern make the big dance for the first time ever.. well right now they have some work to do. They have some great wins, at MSU, at Purdue and Min comes to mind. They also spilt with Wis. They also did beat FSU, which is really there only good non conference win. It would be a nice story if they got in, but lets put it this way, they play Min on Thursday in their first big ten game, they win that, and then play good against MSU on Friday, then maybe, if they lose, they are done.


I think the big ten will at least get 6, but who knows. The conference tourney is very important because besides the big 3, and the bad two, Iowa and IU, all other teams still have a chance to dance. I'm right, you're wrong.