Big Ten Tournament: Thursday Preview

As many as eight Big Ten teams have a realistic chance at making the big dance this year, and depending on what happens this afternoon and through the weekend, it is very likely that all eight teams who still have a real chance to dance, will.

Thursday Games

8. Minnesota vs. 9. Northwestern

Minnesota needs another quality win in order to get into the dance. Right now they sit as much on the bubble in my eyes as anyone in the conference (even though arguments can and have been made for Penn State and Michigan). The Gophers started the season red hot, in large part due to a weak non-conference slate outside of their upset over potential No. 1 seed Louisville.

Northwestern has had many jump on its bandwagon this year, but this team flat-out chokes down the stretch. They should have beaten Purdue, Illinois, and Michigan at home this year and let second half leads slip away. They also did so on the road at Ohio State and nearly gave one up to lowly Indiana at home back in January after leading by double digits.

Minnesota has too much of an advantage on the boards; expect them to dominate there and be led offensively by Lawrence Westbrook. Gophers get by and sneak into the dance by doing so.

Minnesota 56, Northwestern 51

7. Michigan vs. 10. Iowa

When these two teams met two-and-a-half weeks ago, it appeared Iowa had been responsible for taking Michigan off of life support in terms of making the big dance. Instead the Wolverines won two of their last three regular season conference games, including a win over Purdue.

Part of the reason for Michigan’s loss was the off day Manny Harris had. If Iowa can limit him again, they have a chance, but common sense tells you not to count on that.

Michigan 62, Iowa 54

6. Penn State vs. 11. Indiana

It seems everywhere you turn outside of State College, PA, you will be told how much of a trap game this is for Penn State. I honestly don’t see it being that much of a concern for the Nittanys; they are a much better team than Indiana. They played down to the Hoosiers in both of their previous matchups this year, and Ed DeChellis’ crew knows a loss here sends them to the NIT.

Will Indiana have a guard step up and slow down Talor Battle from controlling the Hoosiers? For the short term possibly, but for the length of the game the talent level is just too overwhelming. Expect often foul-ridden Tom Pritchard to follow those lines yet again for Indiana and for Jamelle Cornley to have a big game for Penn State.

The Nittanys escape the upset in round one despite the Hoosier-filled Conseco Fieldhouse.

Penn State 64, Indiana 57

Talk to you tomorrow for round two!

-Shep

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