That’s right, you heard it here first. The Illinois basketball team will win the B1G Tournament. Someday soon. But, alas, not this year.
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This year my bold prediction is that the Illini will win one game. The Illini are in the unenvious and unbecoming position of playing in the first round of the B1G Tournament.
At 3:30 PM today, the Illini kick off the tournament against Minnesota. I would give this game to Illinois even if the Gophers were a complete team. But, the Gophers are far from complete.
Minnesota dismissed one player about three weeks ago, and recently suspended three players for the rest of the season.
Unfortunately for the Illini, after they beat the Gophers, they will have to face Iowa, the five seed. I predict Iowa will win that game, despite its current slide.
Here is how I see the rest of the tournament playing out.
The other ROUND 1 game is #14 Rutgers v. #11 Nebraska.
Rutgers shows promise on occasion, but not enough to give them the nod here. Nebraska under-performed this year, but will put away Rutgers with relative ease.
ROUND 2, March 10
#9 Northwestern v. #8 Michigan
This game could go either way on a neutral court.
Michigan (21-10, 10-8) is better on offense, but Northwestern (21-10, 8-10) has a better defense.
Conventional wisdom would give it to the Wildcats on that alone. Both teams are highly motivated to succeed and both need a deep run in the conference tournament if they wish to dance.
Northwestern is further motivated by its desire to add to its best overall record in its history with one more win.
Unfortunately for both teams, their ticket to the NCAA Tournament can only be punched if they get past Indiana in the next round. And if either team does that, I think they should be in the tournament, regardless of weak schedules overall.
Nod to Northwestern, because why not. Should be a really good game.
#12 Illinois v. #5 Iowa
Iowa will take this game. Too much going on inside and out for the Illini to handle.
#10 Penn State v. #7 Ohio State
Penn State has won five of their last eight games, including impressive wins against Iowa and Indiana.
Ohio State is struggling this year but they have won five of its last seven, including a win against Iowa.
But I like Penn State’s scrappy play, and frankly they have one more big win than does OSU. Any team that can beat Indiana this year, especially in February, is a dangerous team.
Nod to the Nittany Lions.
#11 Nebraska v. #6 Wisconsin
The Badgers have proven themselves to be a very good team that is only getting better as time goes. They had the second toughest B1G schedule, and essentially finished third in the B1G tied with Purdue, Iowa, and Maryland.
The Huskers will hang around, but Wisconsin will put it away in the second half.
ROUND 3, March 11
#1 Indiana v, #9 Northwestern
While the Wildcats will perhaps be the most motivated team in the country to notch a big win and punch its ticket to the NCAA tournament for the first time in its history, the Hoosiers are also motivated… and better.
If Indiana can win the conference tournament, they will be highly competitive for a number one seed in the Big Dance.
I think this is Indiana’s year to make a deep run in March, and maybe even play in April.
Hoosiers in a second half route.
#5 Iowa v. #4 Purdue
Purdue is playing very well down the stretch. Iowa, not so much. Even though Iowa beat Purdue in both regular season meetings, that was January.
Iowa has lost five of its last seven games, including losses to Penn State and Ohio State. The Boilers have won five of their last seven, including wins against MSU and Wisconsin.
Purdue is the better team right now and will take this one in a down to the wire affair.
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#2 Michigan State v. #10 Penn State
Penn State will make this a fun game, as they are prone to do. But Tom Izzo has Sparty in typical March fighting form.
MSU will step away from Penn State midway through the second half and win comfortably.
#6 Wisconsin v. #3 Maryland
This is a very intriguing match up for many reasons, but not the least of which is the fact that the Terps are looking for revenge.
The Badgers beat Maryland in College Park on February 13, 70 to 57. But I don’t think Maryland can win this game, despite the wealth of talent. Maryland has lost four of its last six games.
Greg Gard will out coach Mark Turgeon again. Badgers in a tight one.
SEMI-FINALS, March 12
#1 Indiana v. #4 Purdue
There is no stopping the Hoosiers. They have an incredibly high powered offense. Yogi Farrel will carry this team far this March.
Purdue plays excellent defense, but it won’t be quite enough in the end.
The Hoosiers win in a high-scoring game.
#2 Michigan State v. # 6 Wisconsin
As good as the Badgers are, especially as of late, they cannot hang with Sparty for 40 minutes. They’ll give it a game effort, but its bye-bye Badgers as MSU rolls to the conference tournament title game.
On March 13, at 2 PM central, #1 Indiana will play #2 Michigan State.
This will be a game for the ages, and there is no way anyone can accurately predict this match. The two best players in the B1G will face off.
Denzel Valentine is a great talent, and has the ability to carry a team to victory in almost any situation. However, Ferrell also has that ability, and a better supporting cast.
This is a tough one to say the least, but I give it to IU in the end. Too many weapons. It pains me to say it here on the Writing Illini, but the Hoosiers will win the B1G Tournament and go on to claim a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.