Big Ten Bracketology Update: The Genius of Jim Delany?

Things are pretty much decided, but let’s get on with it anyways, because...somehow we’re not quite done with The Bubble. Really.

Bracketology

As a note, Bracket Matrix was of 3/14/19, and I have no idea whether it’s reflecting the losses by teams slated for rather high seeds, particularly the Texas Tech Red Raiders and Maryland Terrapins. So I omitted it, because I sense that it isn’t, unlike the bracketologists’ articles, up-to-date.

B1G Talking Points

• Michigan State is a #2 seed, and they’ll play something like Montana. Cool. Moving on.
• As of yesterday, Bracket Matrix had Michigan back onto a 2-line...but we’ll see if one more team—maybe Tennessee or LSU—is bounced today.
• Something about Purdue. I’m out of interesting things to say about a team that could beat Old Dominion 92-50 or lose to Old Dominion 78-76.
• I never thought there could be a game where I wanted a team to lose more than the wisconsin, but then they drew Liberty.
• Sorry about that moment of weakness. Go Liberty.
• Is...is it possible that Maryland Terrapins upgraded by falling onto the 6-line? Maybe there’s a little more dignity in losing to a flawed Power-6 team like St. John’s than an upstart mid-major like Murray State.
• How Iowa rose back to an 8-seed just for beating Illinois...I don’t understand bracketology. Anyways, they’re perfect to lose a point in your bracket challenge on for flipping a coin the wrong way in the 8-9 game, then do precisely nothing to make you pick them in the second round. So that’s nice.
• I look forward to watching Wofford beat Minnesota.
• Congrats to Ohio State for winning their play-in game and getting onto an 11-line. Now, pick from the various 5/6-adjacent seeds: Mississippi State, Nevada, Auburn, Villanova, Buffalo...

• And then...there are the really interesting talking points of Nebraska and Indiana. Now, I’m not going to tell you either one should be in the Big Dance. But this is the byproduct of Jim Delany and the shift to the 20-game conference schedule—two teams with 17-15 records would normally be unattractive to The Bubble...but the Hoosiers have 6 Quad-1 wins, while the Huskers have 3. Does Nebraska need a run to the finals to even crack the First Four Out? Probably. But I wonder if we’ll see this shifting future debate over at-large bids.
• Anyways, NYC Buckets has an NIT Bracketology up for you:

• Hey CBI: We want Rutgers.