The Big Ten Tournament gets started on Thursday. This
year’s tournament features nine team that I think could legitimately make a run
and win. It should be an exciting week in Indianapolis. Here are my picks for
each game (which are sure to be completely wrong after the first day)
Thursday
No. 8 Indiana vs.
No. 9 Illinois: Indiana has a good opening matchup, as the Hoosiers face a
team that aren’t offensively gifted. Look for the Hoosiers to clamp down on
defense and use the Indiana crowd to carry them to a victory.
No. 5 Ohio State
vs. No. 12 Purdue: Purdue has been in a free fall for a few weeks now and I
don’t expect that to change against the defensively strong Buckeyes. Look for
Ohio State to win.
No. 7 Minnesota
vs. No. 10 Penn State: The Gophers are a team that could win the whole
thing, but they can also lose this opener to Penn State. I think they do enough
to find a way to beat the Nittany Lions.
No. 6 Iowa vs. No.
11 Northwestern: Northwestern looked like it might have a respectable Big
Ten season this year, but then lost seven straight. Iowa is a team that could
use a strong performance this week to really improve its NCAA Tournament
seeding. Look for Iowa to win.
Friday
No. 1 Michigan vs.
No. 8 Indiana: The Wolverines and Hoosiers have been evenly matched in the
two games this season. It will be a tough opening game for Michigan, but I
think the Wolverines find a way to get it done against the Hoosiers.
No. 4 Nebraska vs.
No. 5 Ohio State: I really like Tim Miles and what he has done with the
Cornhuskers, but I still have trouble predicting them to beat any of the top
tier Big Ten teams. I think Ohio State’s defense will allow them to get past
the Huskers.
No. 2 Wisconsin
vs. No. 7 Minnesota: I am calling for an upset in this one. The Gophers
seem to play better against the strong Big Ten teams and there is something
about the Badgers I just don’t trust. Though they are slated to earn the best
seed in the NCAA Tournament out of the conference, I just don’t see them making
a run this weekend or next.
No. 3 Michigan
State vs. No. 6 Iowa: Can Michigan State get it figured out? They seemed to
take a step toward that at home against Iowa, but then lost on the road to Ohio
State. The Spartans will have to shoot well against the Hawkeyes, which Iowa
usually allows, but I am going to predict Iowa in an upset on Friday. I think
this weekend will be the weekend the Hawkeyes show their best stuff.
Saturday
No. 1 Michigan vs.
No. 5 Ohio State: Michigan has the scorers to beat Ohio State and getting
another shot at your rival always helps. The Wolverines will win this game
behind their guards and Ohio State’s lack of ability to match Michigan
score-for-score.
No. 6 Iowa vs. No.
7 Minnesota: Similar to the other semifinal, I don’t think Minnesota will
be able to consistently find the offense to keep pace with Iowa. The Hawkeyes
can be difficult to slow down once they get going.
Sunday
No. 1 Michigan vs.
No. 6 Iowa: Iowa really needs this championship to help define its season
and take a step as a program. The Hawkeyes are one of those dangerous teams
that has the talent, but hasn’t found the formula. Perhaps I am crazy to pick
Iowa to win the Big Ten Tournament, but I feel like taking a chance this week.
Motivation in a conference tournament can be tough for teams that have
established their NCAA Tournament seeding. Iowa has a chance to improve their
seeding this week and build momentum for next weekend. This championship game
would be a shootout, but I pick Iowa to win. The Hawkeyes gave Michigan
problems during the season and just seem to be a matchup problem for them.
