Big Ten Tournament 2012: Bold Predictions for Action-Packed Conference Showdowns

Indiana is going to run to an upset Big Ten conference tournament championship. The fact that a number five seed is going to take the crown will make this tournament exciting, but it certainly isn't the only reason. 

This conference is loaded with talented teams, and the games are going to be exciting and compelling. They are also going to be filled with the unexpected. 

Jared Sullinger Will Continue to Slide Down Draft Boards

Sullinger entered this season as one of, if not the, top big men in the country. He has been sliding down, and that free fall isn't about to stop. 

Anthony Davis, Andre Drummond, Arnett Moultrie and Thomas Robinson have all passed Sullinger on the majority of draft boards. He is about to be passed by more. 

Over his last five games, he is averaging just 13.4 points per game. He has looked slow and ineffective. That isn't going to magically turn around as Ohio State faces the grueling schedule of a conference tournament. 

This is going to find him behind even more big men, like Tyler Zeller, John Henson and Meyers Leonard. 

Michigan Won't Win a Game

The Wolverines are the number two seed for this tournament, and have a first-round bye, but that only means they aren't going to win a game. 

Michigan is set to face the winner of the Northwestern-Minnesota game. Northwestern will win this game. They split with Minnesota this year, but the Golden Gophers are in a free fall. They have lost six of their last seven. 

And that sets up a bad matchup for Michigan. The Wolverines were 2-0 against Northwestern this year, but both of those games went to OT. 

Northwestern will finally be able to finish what they have been so close to accomplishing. 

Indiana Wins

The Hoosiers are going to keep their bounce back season rolling with a championship in the conference tournament. 

Indiana is a streaky team, and right now they are on an upswing. They have won eight of their last nine. 

Indiana has ended on a high note because they started stroking their shots again. Indiana can shoot the rock. 

They ended the season sixth in the nation in field goal percentage. This shooting is going to wear down opposing defenses, and it will allow them to get buckets without expending much energy, and that is key for the compact schedule of this tournament.