Big Ten Tournament 2011

The Big Ten Tournament is just days away, and I am ecstatic that Iowa is not playing the early game for once. This year’s Big Ten tournament has potential to be great, as does many of the big conference tournaments. If I had the money, I would make the trip to Indianapolis. I went to experience the tournament in 2006 and was lucky enough to be in attendance when Iowa beat Ohio State for the title. Even if your team isn’t a real threat to win it (like me with the Hawks this season), it is still worth the trip to experience the tourney, and I plan on going again in the future. But, like I said, I am broke and can’t afford a trip to Indianapolis this year, so instead I will be watching on TV. Here is how I think it will all shake out in Indy, and who will cut the nets down.

First Round (Thursday) –

Game 1 – (8) Northwestern vs. (9) Minnesota
Minnesota is a mess. Saul Smith better dust off the old tennies and run the point for the Gophers if they have any chance of winning this tournament. I did hear rumors that Al Nolen was practicing, and if he does play, and is effective, then the Gophers are back to being a threat. If he doesn’t play, I think the Gophers could be making an early exit. The USA Today reported that he is “unlikely” to play, but we will have to wait and see. They have been a disaster since Nolen went down. They have lost nine of their last ten games, including a loss at Northwestern less than a week ago. The only win in their last ten games came in Iowa City.

Northwestern has been a wildly inconsistent team lately. They seem to either show up and win, or get completely blown out. I do feel bad for them, though. I thought this could have been the year they get to the Dance. Looks like winning the tournament is their only chance of a NCAA bid. I think the Wildcats will make an appearance in the 2nd round, because Minnesota, quite frankly, sucks without Nolen. Minnesota did surprise everybody last year by making a Tournament Final run, but this year they can just run on back to Minneapolis and watch the Timberwolves play. Somebody in Minneapolis should watch the Timberwolves. I guess.

Game 2 – (7) Michigan State vs. (10) Iowa

Iowa, Iowa, Iowa. I hope the Hawkeyes win at least one game so Jarryd Cole can keep wearing a Hawkeyes uniform for another day. But it probably won’t happen. Quick story about the Hawkeyes season: I don’t miss Iowa basketball games. I didn’t even during the Lickleiter era. I love the Hawks. My girlfriend sort of does too, but at the same time, doesn’t care at all. So when I wanted to go to the game yesterday against Purdue, I wasn’t going to make her buy a ticket. I would have to buy us both tickets, and pay for parking. I’m a gentleman like that. Well, after going to six or seven games this year, I decided I didn’t have the money for the two tickets and parking again, so we decided to just watch it on TV. Worst decision of my life. I loved the game and the gutsy performance by the Hawks, but I am a bitter person, and I was bitter when I saw all those Hawkeye fans storm the court and I wasn’t one of them. I deserved to be there. The happiness of the win overrode my bitter feelings so I was about 85% happy and 15% jealous, but I was jealous none the less. In retrospect I should have went, but I am so happy for the Hawkeyes, Jarryd Cole, and the fans who have stuck by the basketball program through all the turmoil of the last few years.

Anyway, back to this game. The two teams split during the regular season, but, I do not see the Hawks beating Michigan State on a neutral court. I know the Spartans have had their problems, but Tom Izzo knows what he is doing, and I think he knows they need some wins to get into the tournament. They will be prepared, and just flat out have more talent than Iowa. Kalin Lucas will not go out losing in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. I look for Michigan State to win it by eight to twelve points.

Game 3 – (6) Penn State vs. (11) Indiana

Indiana has lost eight straight games, five of them by double digits. Penn State is coming off a season ending win against Minnesota. They only played once during the season and Penn State went into Indiana and won. I think Penn State will win this game, but, the crowd will obviously be heavily in favor of Indiana. I could see Indiana taking this game, but I think Taylor Battle takes over and wins it for Penn State.

While we are talking about Indiana, why does everybody keep heaping praise on Tom Crean for having Indiana “on the rise”. I understand he has done a fine job, and has Zeller coming in next year and all that business, but, they finished 11th in the Big Ten. Crean has had a couple years to turn it around and still is finishing dead last. Where is the props for Fran McCaffery, who in his first season, got Iowa out of the cellar, beat Michigan State and Purdue and beat the “on the rise” Hoosiers twice? Where is the love for the Hawks? Stupid Indiana and their stupid pants.

For the second round I am putting the teams in that I predicted winning, so this is obviously subject to change.

Second Round (Friday)

Game 4 – (1) Ohio State vs. (8) Northwestern

I am strongly leaning towards picking Ohio State to win the NCAA Tournament, so it is no surprise I think they will beat Northwestern in the second round. The Buckeyes are just so balanced and talented. If Northwestern wants to win this game they need to either shoot the lights out, like they did in Iowa City earlier in the year, or have Jon Shurna turn into a teen wolf. Either one would work. I do think if the game somehow turned into a battle of wits, the Buckeyes would be in deep trouble.

Game 5 – (4) Illinois vs. (5) Michigan

Michigan surprised the Hell out of me this year. I expected them to be awful. They are a talented bunch, and Tim Hardaway Jr. has been an absolute stud. Michigan overachieved and Illinois underachieved. They still would up with a four seed, but, with a healthy Al Nolan, and Michigan not being defeated by Wisconsin on a bank-in three pointer at the buzzer, Illinois is probably a six seed. This game is really going to come down to one person: Demetri McCamey. If McCamey plays like he can, they will win. If he pouts like a little girl, which is apparently something he learned from his predecessor Deron Williams (Right Jerry Sloan?), then the Wolverines have a great chance to win this. Luckly for Michigan, Bruce Weber is an awful in-game coach, so it is possible they knock off the Illini. I think Illinois will be too big inside for Michigan and will move on to the weekend.

Game 6 – (2) Purdue vs. (7) Michigan State

This is an interesting game. Purdue beat Michigan State both times this season, but everybody knows that Michigan State has the talent to beat Purdue. I have a feeling that Tom Izzo learned something from the Purdue game yesterday, and that is that Purdue doesn’t rebound too well. Here is the other thing in Michigan State’s favor: a week ago, Purdue beat Michigan State by 20. That will be fresh in the Spartan’s minds. But, with all that said, Purdue has been playing too good lately. God, do I hate that “Boiler Up” cheer, but they have been playing good. They will probably win this game, but I do think the Spartans will make it close. Every close game Purdue is in is good or college basketball. Why? Because the more stress Matt Painter is under equals the more hair pulled out which equals the Gene Keady come over coming.

Game 7 – (3) Wisconsin vs. (6) Penn State

Penn State and Wisconsin split this season. The Nittany Lions played them pretty well both times. We know one thing for sure, and that is that Wisconsin doesn’t beat themselves. Penn State will have to come out and take it from them. I just don’t see that happening. Jon Leuer and Jordan Taylor are playing too good for the Badgers to be one and done. And that crazy red-head guy, Mike Bruesewitz, always seems to be in the right place at the right time. Bo Ryan won’t let them lose this game, and, as is usual for Wisconsin, it will be really low scoring.

Semi-Finals (Saturday)

Game 8 – (1) Ohio State vs. (4) Illinois

Ohio State is too good for the Illini. Illinois has won games based on pure talent this year. Their coaching has been sub-par and the players have underachieved for the most part. The talent is what has them as a number four seed. What Ilinois usually doesn’t do good against is a team more talented than them, and Ohio State is such a team. Diebler, Kraft, Buford and Lighty are too scrappy for Illinois to handle, and Sullinger and Lauderdale inside can offset Illinois inside game. Buckeyes win.

Game 9 – (2) Purdue vs. (3) Wisconsin

I know so far I have been boring and picked all the higher seeds. I didn’t want to; it just worked out that way. I wanted to pick Michigan State to beat Purdue, I really did, but I couldn’t. The trend doesn’t change here. I think Purdue will feed off the Indianapolis crowd and move on the play Ohio State on Sunday for the title.

Championship Game (Sunday)

Game 10 (1) Ohio State vs. (2) Purdue

Again, I know this is boring to have the top two seeds playing each other, but at the same time, isn’t this the game everybody wants to see? The two teams split this year, with each team winning fairly handily at home. The Buckeyes beat Purdue bad in late January. Here is my prediction: right now, I think Ohio State will win the National Title. I really do love their team. However, I think Purdue will win this game. It is pretty close to a home game for Purdue, and their week of practice leading up to the tournament will be Hell, after the loss to Iowa. I just think E’Twaun Moore will get it going, and JaJuan Johnson is good enough inside to handle Sullinger. I don’t know why, it is just a gut feeling that Purdue will be cutting down the nets a week from today. However, it should serve to refocus the Buckeyes and they could cut down the nets while we all suffer through another “One Shining Moment”. Anybody else think it is time for CBS to get a new montage song? Maybe if the Buckeyes win they could play “Hang on Sloopy”. Either way, that discussion is for the next tournament. For this one, I think we will hear the God-awful “Boiler Up” chant as Purdue wins a Big Ten Tournament title.