Big Ten Tournament 2017: Bracket Predictions Before Final Regular-Season Games

Selection Sunday will be relatively kind to the Big Ten in terms of volume, but the conference is full of parity this season.

Yes, that's the kind way of saying 2016-17 is a down year for the league. While Purdue has taken command of the standings, it's still not considered a premier squad. Plus, Wisconsin has failed to separate itself from a group that includes Maryland, Minnesota, Michigan State, Northwestern and Michigan.

What may result, though, is a wild and entertaining Big Ten tournament. We're predicting how the bracket will look once the final weekend of the regular season is complete.

The Verizon Center—located in the Big Ten hotbed of Washington D.C.—will host the league's tournament, which begins March 8 and lasts until March 12.

Bracket Predictions

Seed	Team	Projected Big Ten W-L
1	Purdue	14-4
2	Wisconsin	12-6
3	Michigan State	11-7
4	Maryland	11-7
5	Minnesota	11-7
6	Northwestern	10-8
7	Michigan	10-8
8	Illinois	9-9
9	Iowa	9-9
10	Indiana	7-11
11	Ohio State	7-11
12	Nebraska	6-12
13	Penn State	6-12
14	Rutgers	2-16

Decided Seeds

No. 1: Purdue

Entering the final weekend, Purdue (24-6, 13-4) has zero questions about its standing in the Big Ten. Iowa even helped the Boilermakers lock up the conference.

The program has ended streaks of seven years without a Big Ten crown and 21 without an outright championship. Double-double machine Caleb Swanigan will lead Purdue on a quest to protect their NCAA seeding Sunday against Northwestern.

No. 14: Rutgers

It's been a rough year for Rutgers in the two most popular men's sports. After failing to win a conference game in football, the basketball team is just 2-15 in Big Ten action.

The Scarlet Knights nearly upset several squads—including Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Northwestern and Michigan—so they shouldn't be overlooked Saturday vs. Illinois or in a first-round game. But expecting this 13-17 Rutgers team to surprise is unwise.

Most Important Games

Indiana vs. Ohio State: Saturday, March 4 (noon ET, ESPN)

Michael Hickey/Getty Images

Neither Indiana nor Ohio State will have a first-round bye if the Hoosiers win and Nebraska defends home court against Michigan. But the most likely result is the winner of this matchup will avoid a Thursday game.

Both teams are currently out of the conversation for the NCAA tournament, so the only path to March Madness is winning the Big Ten title. Having one additional day of rest and film preparation would be a welcome ending to a frustrating year.

While it's not likely either program puts together a championship run, that extra day off could save 40 minutes of intense action for the players—and for eternally optimistic fans.

Ohio State (17-13, 7-10) has a simple path to a first-round bye: Win. Indiana (16-14, 6-11), meanwhile, needs a victory and a Nebraska loss.

Michigan State vs. Maryland: Saturday, March 4 (2 p.m. ET, BTN)

Similar to the Indiana/Ohio State discussion, this outcome features an extra day of rest. In this case, the No. 3 seed and a double-bye is at stake in College Park.

Maryland (23-7, 11-6) is headed for March Madness, but it's simply trying to survive a rough stretch. The team has dropped five of its last eight games heading into the finale.

However, the Terps still find themselves in a more comfortable place than Michigan State (18-12, 10-7).

The Spartans have a little work to do, so they'd benefit greatly from another marquee win. One final road victory would likely seal MSU's place in the tournament.

Although there are some scenarios in which both programs snag a double-bye, the winner is assured of a place in the quarterfinals.

Minnesota vs. Wisconsin: Sunday, March 5 (6 p.m. ET, BTN)

Regardless of any other result, the winner will be No. 2 in the conference, but the No. 4 and 5 seeds remains in play for both teams. Ending the season there would mean a place in the upper half of the bracket, which isn't ideal because of Purdue.

Now, the Boilermakers aren't a runaway favorite. And yes, Minnesota upset the Big Ten champs earlier this season anyway. Nevertheless, the teams could avoid Swanigan, the potential National Player of the Year, until the championship round.

Considering the recent slide, Wisconsin (22-8, 11-6) assuredly wouldn't mind delaying a potential showdown. The Badgers, who boast six straight victories in the series, have fallen in five of their previous six outings overall.

Wisconsin—which could even plummet to a sixth seed with a loss and triumphs by Michigan State and Northwestern—needs a victory more than any non-bubble Big Ten team.

But it'll be tough against a hot Minnesota side potentially ending the regular season on a nine-game winning streak.

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Follow Bleacher Report Writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.