Big Ten Hoops: The Stretch Drive

Today's ESPN Bubblewatch opens with the strength of the Big Ten and ends with "It's not the best league, not by a long shot. The next two weeks, though, it might just be the most fun."

True dat! 

The B10, or somehow it's become the B1G, is now the league with the most "bids" in everyone's bracketology.  Jerry Palm at CBS has them set with 8 teams -- which would be a high for the league -- where Lunardi at ESPN (if not a B10 hater, very much an ACC lover) has 7 with Illinois in the next group in.  

If you don't have them memorized, that's Wisconsin, Maryland, Purdue, Michigan St, Ohio St, Iowa, Indiana, and Illinois.  

With two conference games left and the tourney, this should be fun.

Let's admit it: Wisconsin is the class of the league.  And with their win over the Badgers last week, Maryland established themselves as clear #2 -- a loss would have left them in a tie with Purdue for 2nd.  

Maryland and Purdue have been surprises -- MD was picked 10th in preseason, having lost most of last year's starting team.  Michigan St and Iowa have been something of disappointments. 

Now comes crunch time.  That Bubblewatch today says MSU, OSU & Iowa should be in, with Wisconsin and Maryland, but Purdue, IU and ILL have work to do.  Since Purdue and Illinois finish in W. Lafayette on Saturday, that work will be head-to-head.

But, no matter what ESPN says, the B10 has a bunch of teams that could be playing the second weekend of the NCAAs.  In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if 4 or 5 B10 teams make the Sweet 16.  As they say about such things, depends on how they play (will IU hit double-digit threes?) and the match ups (IU has no "big"; Purdue doesn't score well; Maryland isn't overly large, either), but after the grueling B10 season, the tournament may seem relaxing.   

Here's your quick table for the end of season.  Of course, the conference tourney pairings can change (and will) with the last two regular season games, but you can easily seeing a 12-6 Iowa team in the 3 hole, IU losing out to fall to 8th, and Purdue winning out to remain 3rd (don't bet on it), or losing out to fall to...6th?  Wild times.

	B10 Record	BPI	Games Left	1st Game of B10 Tourney (If played today)	Current Seedings (CBS/ESPN)
Maryland	12-4	78	RUT/NEB	IU/MN	3/3
Purdue	11-5	75.3	MSU/ILL	MSU or	10/11
Mich St	10-6	80.3	PU/IU	RUT/NW	7/7
Ohio St	10-6	84.3	PSU/WI	IA or	8/7
Iowa	10-6	75.7	IU/NW	PSU/NEB	7/7
Illinois	8-8	72.2	NEB/PU	MI	11/x
Indiana	9-7	74.1	IA/MSU	MN	7/10