Big Ten Teams Jockeying For Position As Regular Season Winds Down
Down the stretch they come.
There are just two weeks left in the Big Ten regular season and a lot will be determined in the coming days.
Will Purdue win its league-leading 25th Big Ten championship or will Cinderella Northwestern win its first conference crown since the 1930s?
Indiana has an outside shot at the title, but it is two games back in the loss column to Purdue and the Boilermakers have just three regular-season games remaining. Of course, IU and Purdue meet again Saturday in Mackey Arena.
After those three teams, there are six teams tied for fourth place with seven Big Ten losses. All six are three games behind Purdue, which has a 12-4 Big Ten record.
The Boilermakers control their own destiny. If they win their remaining three regular-season tilts – against IU, at Wisconsin and at home against Illinois – they will win the Big Ten outright and be the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament in Chicago’s United Center.
If Northwestern, which has an 11-5 conference record, ties Purdue for the title, the ‘Cats would be the No. 1 seed in the league tournament because it upset the Boilermakers in Evanston in the teams’ only meeting of the season.
If Northwestern ties Purdue and IU for the Big Ten championship, it will still be the top seed in the league tournament because it beat Purdue and swept the Hoosiers in their two meetings this season.
The Wildcats have the toughest remaining schedule of the three. They play three of their four games on the road against Illinois, Maryland (who has yet to lose a Big Ten home game) and Rutgers. Northwestern’s lone home game is against Penn State.
IU’s last four are challenging, too. Tonight the Hoosiers face Michigan State in the Breslin Center and then travel to West Lafayette for a prime time showdown with the Boilermakers on national television. Mackey will be deafening for that one.
IU ends its home schedule next week with dates against Iowa and Michigan.
Purdue, IU and Northwestern want to be three of the four teams that receive a double bye for the Big Ten Tournament, meaning they wouldn’t start playing in Chicago until Friday March 10 and would only have to win three games in three days to capture the championship.
Of course a lot can change in the coming days that could shake things up at the top. Even if it doesn’t, the battle for that fourth double-bye spot will be something to watch.
Illinois, Maryland, Iowa, Rutgers, Michigan and Michigan State all have a shot at a double bye. The Spartans, however, have to beat the Hoosiers tonight.
According to KenPom and Sagarin, Purdue has a 100 percent shot at getting a double bye in the Big Ten Tournament, Northwestern is at 74 percent and IU is at 55 percent.
Rutgers, Maryland and Iowa have between a 38 percent chance and 49 percent shot.
About the only thing determined in the Big Ten is barring something unforeseen Ohio State and Minnesota will be playing on the opening day of the Big Ten Tournament – Wednesday March 8.
Without question, it’s going to be a wild two weeks. Enjoy!
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