Selection Sunday was met with anticipation and excitement. For six Big Ten teams, the dream has become a reality. It’s put-up or shut-up time because all 68 teams in the tourney are just one loss away from being sent home. Here is a breakdown of the Big Ten teams invited to the big dance: (For your convenience, here is a printable bracket: LINK)
- Michigan State: As expected by some, the Spartans were chosen for a number 1 seed. Tom Izzo’s squad plays in Columbus, Ohio. They’re matched up with 16 seed Long Island University — Brooklyn. Unless LIU Brooklyn makes history and is the first 16 seed to ever knock off a 1 seed, the Spartans will play the winner of Memphis vs. Saint Louis. A showdown against Memphis would not be a walk in the park, but Michigan State is as battle tested as any team in the country, so they should be ready.
- Ohio State: The Buckeyes landed a 2 seed in Pittsburgh. They face off against Loyola (Maryland) and have the winner of Gonzaga/West Virginia waiting for them. Again, they have two capable teams waiting in the wings that could give them a run for their money. But I see Thad Matta’s crew advancing as long as they don’t come out flat.
- Michigan: Some might argue that the Wolverines were unfairly seeded as a 4 rather than a 3. The Wolverines take on the Ohio Bobcats in Nashville. The winner will face Temple or California/USF (play-in game). Although Michigan should handle the MAC league Ohio Bobcats, Temple has the ability to knock off the big dogs (they’ve beaten Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium). Expect some analysts to pick Temple to knock off the Wolverines if those two meet in the second round.
- Indiana: The Hoosiers were also dealt a 4 seed, but they’re headed out west. Unfortunately, they landed in a very talented field of teams. They square off against the New Mexico State Aggies in Portland. If they beat the Aggies, they play the winner of Wichita State and VCU. Both Wichita State and VCU have major talent, especially the Shockers. Even though Wichita State is just a mid-major, they have been a top 25 team this year. And not to mention — VCU is still fresh in the mind of college basketball fans after their Final Four run last year. Shaka Smart’s pressure D and attacking offense could lead VCU on another March Madness run. Finally, it’s worth mentioning IU’s potential Sweet 16 matchup: Kentucky is the 1 seed in that region. The Wildcats will be looking for revenge against the Hoosiers after Indiana beat them in their meeting in Bloomington, Indiana earlier this year.
- Wisconsin: Wisconsin may have one of the more favorable paths for a 4 seed. Their initial game is against 13th seeded Montana in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Their second round game would be against the winner of Vanderbilt and Harvard. I know, I know — Vanderbilt is on the heels of their upset of Kentucky. That doesn’t mean we should forget about their awful tournament history of losing early in the big dance. The 1 seed in Wisconsin’s division is Syracuse.
- Purdue: Most experts had Purdue as a 9 seed, but Joe Lunardi was right about the Boilers being a 10 seed. They don’t have an easy first round game. They meet St. Mary’s (California) in Omaha, Nebraska. St. Mary’s is a top 25 team that won the regular season WAC title and WAC tournament. If the Boilers can knock off the higher seeded St. Mary’s Gaels, they will likely meet the Kansas Jayhawks (2 seed). Although this is a very challenging slate, most Purdue fans are grateful that they did not land as an 8 or 9 seed in the same bracket as Kentucky, Syracuse, or North Carolina.
Unfortunately, Northwestern failed to make the Tourney yet again. One of these days, the Wildcats will make their debut to the big dance. Until then, they’re a bubble team on the outside looking in. Northwestern, Iowa, and Minnesota will all play in the NIT.
