Updated Big Ten Tournament Seeding Predictions

Well, that sucked.  The Hoosiers played like ass and lost to Nebraska on Senior Night in Bloomington, all but assuring that IU will not be going to the Big Dance without winning the Big Ten Tournament.  So do that, Hoosiers.  This marks the first time since the 1998-1999 season that the Cornhuskers have won 10 or more conference games (they were in the Big 12 at the time), and the win assures Nebraska of no worse than the 6-seed in the Big Ten Tournament.  

The Hoosiers' loss also means that Iowa and Ohio State are guaranteed to finish with a 6-seed or better, and that the Hoosiers themselves can do no better than the 7-seed (which can only happen if they win at Michigan on Saturday and Minnesota loses at home to Penn State on Sunday).

In other news, Wisconsin beat Purdue, ensuring that IU will have a better conference record than Purdue, so there's your silver lining, Hoosier fans.  Wisconsin can now do no worse than the 3-seed in the Big Ten Tournament.

Tonight, Penn State takes on Northwestern in Evanston (6 p.m. Central; ESPNU) in the battle of who could care less.  After that, Iowa plays at Michigan State in a battle of Top 25 teams (8 p.m. Central; ESPN).  A win for the Spartans guarantees they will have either the 2-seed or the 3-seed in the Big Ten Tournament.

Here are the current standings, with the conference record, each team's remaining games, and my predictions.

1.  Michigan (14-3):  IU (W)

4.  Wisconsin (12-5):  Nebraska (W)
3.  Michigan State (11-5):  Iowa (W), at OSU (L)

4.  Nebraska (10-7):  Wisconsin (L)

5.  Iowa (9-7):  at MSU (L), Illinois (W)

6.  Ohio State (9-8):  MSU (W)

7.  Minnesota (7-10):  PSU (W)

8.  Indiana (7-10):  at Michigan (L)
9.  Illinois (6-11):  at Iowa (L)

10.  Northwestern (5-11):  PSU (W), at Purdue (L)

11.  Penn State (5-11):  at Northwestern (L), at Minnesota (L)

12.  Purdue (5-12):  Northwestern (W)

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 Central):

*1.  Michigan (15-3)

2.  Wisconsin (13-5)

3.  Michigan State (12-6)

4.  Iowa (10-8) (wins three-way tie based on 2-1 record vs. OSU and Nebraska, while OSU has 2-2 record vs. Iowa and Nebraska, and Nebraska has 1-2 record vs. OSU and Iowa)

5.  Ohio State (10-8)

6.  Nebraska (10-8)

7.  Minnesota (8-10)

8.  Indiana (7-11)

9.  Northwestern (6-12) (Northwestern will have tiebreaker over Purdue based on 1-1 record vs. Wisconsin, while Purdue will have 0-2 record vs. Wisconsin)

10.  Purdue (6-12)

11.  Illinois (6-12) (loses three-way tie with Northwestern and Purdue based on 0-2 record vs. other two teams, while Northwestern and Purdue will have 2-1 record vs. other two teams)

12.  Penn State (5-13)

* seed has been clinched

Here are my game-by-game predictions for the Big Ten Tournament, with the dates/times/TV schedule for the Big Ten Tournament (and a link to the bracket), which will be in Indianapolis.  All times are Central.

Thursday March 13 – First Round

(8) Indiana vs. (9) Northwestern (11 a.m., BTN).  Predicted winner:  Indiana

(5) Ohio State vs. (12) Penn State (1:30 p.m., BTN).  Predicted winner:  Ohio State

(7) Minnesota vs. (10) Purdue (5:30 p.m., ESPN2).  Predicted winner:  Minnesota

(6) Nebraska vs. (11) Illinois (8 p.m., ESPN2).  Predicted winner:  Illinois

Friday March 14 - Quarterfinals

(1) Michigan vs. (8) Indiana (11 a.m., ESPN/EPSN2).  Predicted winner:  Indiana

(4) Iowa vs. (5) Ohio State (1:30 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2).  Predicted winner:  Ohio State

(2) Wisconsin vs. (7) Minnesota (5:30 p.m., BTN).  Predicted winner:  Minnesota

(3) Michigan State vs. (11) Illinois (8 p.m., BTN).  Predicted winner:  Michigan State

Saturday March 15 - Semifinals

(8) Indiana vs. (5) Ohio State (12:40 p.m., CBS).  Predicted winner:  Indiana

(7) Minnesota vs. (3) Michigan State (3 p.m., CBS).  Predicted winner:  Michigan State

Sunday March 16 - Finals

(8) Indiana vs. (3) Michigan State (2:30 p.m., CBS).  Predicted winner:  Indiana