Evaluating The Big Ten's "Big Four" March Madness Contenders

Potential.

Right now, that's the barometer college basketball pundits can use to forecast a team's tournament success come March Madness.

The name of tournament is fitting; because it is maddening.

The Big Ten will have four (maybe five) teams in the Big Dance, but which has the best chance at making a little noise in March's do-see-doe?

No. 7 Ohio State Buckeyes (14-4, 24-7—contender)

The Buckeyes have at least a share of the Big Ten's regular season title in their back pocket. Winning a conference title is surely a confidence booster, and Thad Matta's club is widely regarded as the Big Ten's superiors.

With Evan Turner (likely Big Ten and National Player of the Year) running the show, the Bucks seem to have the upper-hand over the rest of its league counterparts when it comes to tournament longevity.

Likely a No. 3 in the East bracket, the Bucks have a tough road ahead to reach Indy. 

With No. 1 seed Kentucky and No. 2 seed Villanova standing in their way, the Buckeyes are a shoo-in to make it to the Sweet 16, where they'll likely face Scottie Reynolds' Villanova Wildcats. 

Bracket Buster:

It's easy to point out Turner as the bracket busting player for Matta's men, but it's a little deeper than that if you look closer.

Ohio State's superb guard-play of Jon Diebler and William Buford have carried it when Turner is having an off day/night (which doesn't happen that often).

Don't forget about the 6'8" Dallas Lauderdale's inside presence. He only averages 7.2 points per game, but in March physical play is a must—Lauderdale can get physical.

Prediction:

Sweet 16. If the Villanova Wildcats (Final Four last year) get hot, it could spell disaster for the Bucks. Villanova is faster and runs a superior transition game, something that Big Ten teams have had trouble with. A slower-pace, physical game would be in the Bucks' favor.

No. 6 Purdue Boilermakers (12-4, 24-4—pretender)

Without Robbie Hummel, the Boilers are very much an average team. After a loss to Michigan State at home in a sloppy, knock-down-drag-out battle at Mackey Arena, the (projected No. 2 in the Midwest bracket) Boilers' weakness was exposed: Lack of rhythm without Hummel.

Bracket Buster:

There's little doubt that E'Twaun Moore is one of the Big Ten's elite players. In fact, Moore may be amongst the country's best guards.

If "Three-Twaun" can perform like he did against Michigan State on Feb. 9, that will surely add a little ammunition to Purdue's depleted arsenal. 

Prediction:

The Boilers will likely meet Texas in the round of 32, and that may be the last stop for Moore and company. Although the Longhorns have struggled, their physical style of play could be the demise of coach Matt Painter's boys.

No Hummel, no problem?

Wrong.

Dexter Pittman will be a task for 6'10" Jajuan Johnson, and with Gary Johnson and friends' need to right their sinking ship, an early exit in March could be in Purdue's future.

No. 12 Michigan State Spartans (12-4, 22-7—contender)

A three-game slide without its star Kalin Lucas at 100 percent raised some questions about Tom Izzo's clan; are they consistent enough, do they have the heart, and are they legit contenders?

Here's the answer to those questions: Five Final Fours since 1999 and a National Title.

It's not in teams' best interest to look past the Spartans, their reputation precedes them and they're always a toughie come tourney-time.

State is projected as a No. 4 seed in the West bracket, and it has perhaps the toughest road to Indianapolis in all of the Big Ten—that's nothing new.

Bracket Buster:

Again, it's easy to point to a team's superstar: State's 6'1" point-guard known as "Too Easy" Lucas. Michigan State's bigs have played up to par in recent contests, but more importantly it looks like Raymar Morgan is on a mission to seal his legacy as a Spartan.

Morgan will be the most important player for Izzo in the Big Dance. His size and scoring ability alone make him a threat. He's 6'8", physical, and smart.

Draymond Green will also be a key to Sparty's success, just like he was last year.

Although Lucas leads MSU in scoring (15 points per game), he won't be the only factor—he can't be if State wants to get past Georgetown, Duke, and West Virginia.

Prediction:

Depending on what Spartan team shows up, the sky could be the limit. If the current Spartans come to March, they'll be watching the later rounds in the comfort of their own home (or dorm room, apartment, etc).

Sparty will likely move on from the first-round, but only to square off with the Big East's Georgetown Hoyas.

Georgetown lacks the depth and experience that defines Michigan State, so it's safe to forecast at least a Sweet 16 appearance against Duke.

Duke is nowhere near as physical as Michigan State, so a date with the Elite 8 is very much a possibility.

It's going to come down to Izzo's strategy and the "want" factor for Michigan State to get to its sixth Final Four in the last 11 years.

No. 17 Wisconsin Badgers (11-5, 22-7—contender)

Jon Leuer may be the ticket for Bo Ryan's (projected No. 5 seed in the South bracket) Badgers to reach Indy—if they can get past the Syracuse Orange.

Led by Wes Johnson, the Orange bring a different brand of basketball to the court; a brand that many Big Ten teams aren't accustomed to.

Bracket Buster:

A healthy Leuer poses the biggest threat to Wisconsin's tournament opponents. Assuming the Badgers reach the Elite 8 and face Syracuse, he will be a valuable asset to combat Rick Jackson and Arinze Onuaku.

Trevon Hughes is one of the Big Ten's best ball handlers, and he's versatile. Hughes can drive, shoot the "J," and he's scrappy for a six-foot-flat guy.

Jason Bohannon is one the land's best three-point strokers, and hitting the long-ball early is a way to bury a fast Syracuse team. If Bohannon continues his 41 percent conversion rate from three-land, the Orange could find themselves in a hole—and quick.

Prediction:

Bo Ryan's bunch make it to the Elite 8, but the 'Cuse will stop them in their Badger tracks.

In conclusion:

As the Big Ten teams await Selection Sunday to see where in the mix they'll fall, one thing is certain; the quest to Indianapolis will be no easy horse to mount.

College basketball is a strange animal. Anything that could happen usually does. It's always a task to predict the madness, but just like in years past; we'll just have to wait to see how it plays itself out.