Big Ten Tournament Seed Projections

It's that time of year again. The Madness is about to set in.

As I do every year for some reason, I am counting down to the Big Ten Tournament and providing Nostradamus-like seed projections. I kid you not, someone actually asked me the other day why it's taken me so long to do the projections this year. Two reasons. First, don't ever ask me about my business. Second, lately I've been busy as hell -- which I understand to be very busy.

I'll try to update the projections after each day of games this week. I know at least one of you cares.

Here are the current standings, with each team's remaining games:

1. Ohio State (14-2). Remaining games: at Penn State (W), Wisconsin (W)
2. Purdue (13-3). Remaining games: Illinois (W), at Iowa (W)
3. Wisconsin (12-4). Remaining games: at Indiana (W), at Ohio State (L)
4 (tie). Illinois (8-8). Remaining games: at Purdue (L), Indiana (W)
4 (tie). Michigan State (8-8). Remaining games: Iowa (W), at Michigan (L)
4 (tie). Penn State (8-8). Remaining games: Ohio State (L), at Minnesota (L)
7. Michigan (8-9). Remaining game: Michigan State (W)
8. Minnesota (6-10). Remaining games: at Northwestern (L), Penn State (W)
9. Northwestern (6-11). Remaining game: Minnesota (W)
10 (tie). Indiana (3-13). Remaining games: Wisconsin (L), at Illinois (L)
10 (tie). Iowa (3-13). Remaining games: at Michigan State (L), Purdue (L)

Given my predictions and Big Ten tiebreaking rules, here is how the Big Ten Tournament seeds should fall into place and how the Big Ten Tournament will play out (all times are Eastern):

1. Ohio State (16-2)
2. Purdue (15-3)
3. Wisconsin (13-5)
4. Illinois (9-9)
5. Michigan (9-9)
6. Michigan State (9-9)
7. Penn State (8-10)
8. Minnesota (7-11)
9. Northwestern (7-11)
10. Iowa (3-15)
11. Indiana (3-15)

First Round - Thursday, March 10
-2:30 p.m. (ESPN2) - (8) Minnesota vs. (9) Northwestern. Winner: Minnesota
-25 minutes after previous game (ESPN2) - (7) Penn State vs. (10) Iowa. Winner: Penn State
-7:30 p.m. (BTN) - (6) Michigan State vs. (11) Indiana. Winner: Indiana

Quarterfinals - Friday, March 11
-Noon (ESPN) - (1) Ohio State vs. (8) Minnesota. Winner: Ohio State
-25 minutes after previous game (ESPN) - (4) Illinois vs. (5) Michigan. Winner: Michigan
-6:30 p.m. (BTN) - (2) Purdue vs. (7) Penn State. Winner: Purdue
-25 minutes after previous game (BTN) - (3) Wisconsin vs. (11) Indiana. Winner: Indiana

Semifinals - Saturday, March 12
-1:40 p.m. (CBS) - (1) Ohio State vs. (5) Michigan. Winner: Ohio State
-25 minutes after previous game (CBS) - (2) Purdue vs. (11) Indiana. Winner: Indiana

Championship - Sunday, March 13
Game 10 - 3:30 p.m. (CBS) - (1) Ohio State vs. (11) Indiana. Winner: Indiana

There it is.