Despite consistently having the quantity, the Big Ten hasn’t had the quality of teams to win it all since 2000. As tournament time draws nearer, here are five things that are in store for the mighty B1G.
Top 5 NCAA Basketball Predictions for the Big Ten
1. Michigan will win the regular season title
Michigan and Michigan State have exchanged the top spot in the conference for virtually the entire year, but the Wolverines will end the regular season #1. The two will meet on Michigan’s home court, and then the Spartans will have tough season-closing games against ranked opponents Iowa and Ohio State in their last two games.
2. The Big Ten tournament winner will be from Michigan
Should the two Michigan teams finish 1-2 in the conference – which they likely will – then history suggests the Big 10’s tournament winner will be from that state. Since 2002, the #1 or #2 seed in the tournament has won 11 of the 12 conference championships.
3. The Big Ten will have seven teams in March Madness
For the last five years, the Big Ten has ranked 2nd only to the Big East in terms of its number of bids in the NCAA Tournament. But with the weakening of the Big East this season, this will be the year that the Big Ten sends the most.
The two Michigan schools, Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio State and Minnesota are in, according to Joe Lunardi’s bracket. But with Nebraska making a late-season push, expect that number to climb to seven total bids.
4. At least two teams will make the Sweet 16
Since 2009, the Big Ten has consistently sent at least two teams to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, and this season won’t be any different. Of the seven likely bids, five will be #6 seeds or higher, giving them a very good chance of advancing on to the second week.
5. No Big Ten team will make the Final Four
The Big Ten has had a representative in the Final Four in four of the last five seasons. However, the conference’s elite are comparably weaker than in past years. The Big Ten is projected to have a no #1 seed for the first time in four seasons. And while Michigan, Michigan State, Iowa, Wisconsin and Ohio State are good teams, none are currently ranked in the top 10.
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