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My goodness, you all certainly had some thoughts earlier this week on the Boilermakers’ and Scarlet Knights’ chances to make the NCAA Tournament.
Well, midweek upsets—of Iowa (on the road) and Maryland (at home, of course), respectively, have given Purdue and Rutgers a little boost in this week’s NCAA Tournament bracketology round-up.
But how much?
Big Ten Bracketology
It’s not hard—click on the most recent tab with “M” in the title. Wondering why there’s women’s bracketology in there too? Check out our Women’s Big Ten Tournament bracketology and tourney preview:
B1G Talking Points
- Certainly feels like whichever of Maryland and Michigan State blinks first gets the 3- or 4-seed, while the other gets the top seed from the Big Ten. Joe Lunardi hasn’t waiting, vaulting the Spartans above the Terps. But regardless, don’t sleep on the Colgate Raiders and Rapolas Ivanauskas.
Poll
Who gets a higher seed?
This poll is closed
-
24%
Maryland
(54 votes) -
45%
Michigan State
(101 votes) -
30%
They get the same seed
(69 votes)
- Ohio State has actually caught and passed Penn State in the overall Bracket Matrix rankings—with the Nittany Lions tumbling all the way to a 6-seed in USA Today. Oof.
- That’s saying nothing, though, of wisconsin, who has the 1-seed right now in the Big Ten Tournament (I know) and is up to a 4-line in Lunardi’s estimation. Quite a difference playing a not-what-they-used-to-be Stephen F. Austin as opposed to an ever-dangerous Texas squad.
Poll
Who gets the highest seed?
This poll is closed
-
28%
Ohio State
(66 votes) -
12%
Penn State
(28 votes) -
59%
wisconsin
(138 votes)
- In a clear tier of their own, Iowa and Michigan. I can honestly say I don’t give a shit about Michigan’s fortunes, and I’m just really really really really here for Iowa having to go all the way to Houston or something to play the Northern Iowa Panthers. Stop ducking UNI, Fran, you chicken.
- Quietly, somehow, Illinois have moved up to a pretty consistent 7-seed across those in the know. Is there a functional difference in most teams from 7 to 10? I don’t know that, but it feels like it comes with it a marker that “Hey, maybe they’re actually pretty decent.”
- Indiana: Anywhere from a 9-seed, safely in the tournament, to a First Four club playing Xavier in Dayton. At least Archie will feel at home there.
- Is Rutgers in? Not comfortably, at least, ranging from a First Four Out spot—and needing at least a first-round win in the 8-9 game of the Big Ten Tournament—to a 10-seed as one of the last teams to avoid Dayton. If you’re the Knights, at this point, does the game at Purdue this weekend become a must-win?
Poll
Does Rutgers make the NCAA Tournament?
This poll is closed
-
46%
Yes, no questions asked
(163 votes) -
29%
Yes, with a win in the Big Ten Tournament
(103 votes) -
20%
Yes, with a win at Purdue and a win in the Big Ten Tournament
(72 votes) -
4%
Only with a BTT semifinals appearance or better
(16 votes)
- Purdue, on the other hand, is in that no man’s land of being possibly too good for the NIT, in Joe Stunardi’s estimation over at The Barking Crow, but not good enough for most of the talking head bracketologists to join the party—Palm’s not even considering the Boilers, putting emphasis on wins, while Lunardi and USA Today look like they could be convinced by a semifinal appearance in the Big Ten Tournament.
Poll
Does Purdue make the Dance?
This poll is closed
-
34%
Yes, by holding serve vs. Rutgers and a first-round BTT win
(127 votes) -
26%
Yes, by holding serve vs. Rutgers and a BTT semifinals appearance
(98 votes) -
20%
Yes, with a BTT championship appearance
(77 votes) -
18%
Only with a BTT championship
(68 votes)
- As for Minnesota...
I removed Minnesota from my NIT bracket last night and if Georgetown loses to Villanova on Saturday I'll take them out too. I can't imagine the NIT taking a team on a 6-game losing streak going into the postseason unless they did real damage in the BET.
— John Templon (@nybuckets) March 5, 2020
...so there’s that.
Let us know your thoughts on Big Ten bracketology in the comments! Looking for recaps and a Friday hoops open thread? Click here! Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament updates? Try here!
Have a great weekend.