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Still plenty left to play for
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Also by Greg Schmitz:
- Wisconsin confused by NCAA playoff bracket (March 11, 2008)
- Fielder should 'shut up, play' (March 4, 2008)
- Track runs laps around Big Ten (March 3, 2008)
Related Stories:
- Last chance for teams on bubble (March 6, 2008)
- Madness comes early with conference tournaments (March 8, 2007)
- Playoff entertainment and draft speculation (April 24, 2003)
- Third month definitely a charm (March 2, 2006)
- Hurricanes: champions of what? (January 24, 2002)
by Greg Schmitz
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
March Madness is finally here.
With most conferences gearing up for their league
tournaments this week, one of the greatest months in the sports world is
finally here.
While there is a lot going on this month from spring training
to NBA teams battling for playoff positioning to even the women’s hockey team
making a run at a third-straight NCAA championship, college basketball is the
star of the month.
And what a good month this is shaping up to be.
A lot is on the line this week for teams across the country.
Whether it’s teams making a case for being a No. 1 seed in the tournament or
some storied basketball programs like Syracuse, Kentucky and two-time defending
champion Florida fighting to be included in the field of 65, it should be an
exciting weekend for college basketball fans.
While there will be a lot on the line across the country
this week, there still is a lot on the line for five Big Ten teams entering the
conference tournament.
The Big Ten right now has four locks to make the tournament
in Indiana, Michigan State, Purdue and Wisconsin, but all will be fighting to
position themselves to get a better seed and a location close to home.
Ohio State, last year’s national runner-up, has the most to
fight for this weekend. The Buckeyes will most likely need to get at least one
and probably two wins in Indianapolis to make the field of 65. Getting wins
over Purdue and Michigan State in the final week of the regular season will
certainly help OSU, but if the team bows out Friday, it will more than likely
be on the outside looking in.
Michigan State is a lock to make it to the tournament, but
they have been one of the most inconsistent teams in the conference all year.
You never know what Spartan team you are going to get: the one that managed
only 42 points at Wisconsin or the one that put up 103 at home against Indiana
a couple of days later. A strong
showing in Indy will give MSU a better draw in the tournament.
The same can be said for Indiana, a team that is 3-2 since
Kelvin Sampson resigned and almost lost to last-place Northwestern. While
earlier in the season the Hoosiers looked like it would make a deep run come
March, it no longer seems that way. However, by winning the Big Ten tournament,
Indiana could regain that swagger it had earlier in the year and be poised to
make a deep run once again.
Purdue probably has the least on the line of any teams this
weekend. Yes, it can improve its seed, but the biggest thing Purdue can do is
make its case as being the best team in the Big Ten this year. The Boilermakers
fell just short of at least sharing a conference crown, but should they win the
tournament this weekend and possibly beat Wisconsin for the third time this
year, Purdue could make a strong case as being the best team in the conference.
Despite winning the regular season title, Wisconsin still
has a lot to play for as well. If the Badgers make it to the championship game
this week, and certainly if they win it, they will more than likely be given a
No. 2 seed again in the tournament. UW could join Michigan State (1999),
Illinois (2005) and Ohio State (2007) as the only schools to win both the
regular season and tournament titles.
Wisconsin might also have a shot at getting revenge against
Purdue, should the two teams meet in the championship game, and it could also
have a shot at breaking the school record for wins in a season set last
year. If UW were to win the
tournament title that would give it 29 wins on the year, the Badgers would only
need one win in the NCAA tournament to tie and two wins to break the record.
Whatever happens this weekend for the Badgers and the rest
of the Big Ten, I know one thing for sure — this will just be the start of an
exciting time for college basketball fans.
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