Number of BIG teams that will make it to the Big Dance

[mikewebb68]

Since the strength of the BIG has merited a lot of discussion here lately...

 

[backdoorpass]

Since the strength of the BIG has merited a lot of discussion here lately...

There are some smart posters/voters on this board. 6 B1G NCAA Tournament teams has a strong lead and is the best bet based on current standings/ratings and remaining schedules. I'd pencil in:

1) Wisconsin
2) Purdue
3) Maryland
4) Northwestern - will get to 11+ regular season wins and won't sweat selection Sunday.
5) Minnesota - current RPI 34 and favorable schedule the rest of the way.
6) Michigan State - currently at 7-5 with tough remaining schedule, but playing well and rounding into form with freshmen coming on strong. May need (and will get) a BTT win to punch their ticket.
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7) Michigan - with current RPI of 61 and tough remaining schedule, the Wolverines would have to play quite well just to finish 9-9...and then probably need a couple more wins in the BTT. I see them falling on the wrong side of the bubble. Would likely need a BTT victory even with an unlikely 10-8 regular season finish. They have 4 road games and 4 games against top 5 teams listed above.

 

[ricko654321]

There are some smart posters/voters on this board. 6 B1G NCAA Tournament teams has a strong lead and is the best bet based on current standings/ratings and remaining schedules. I'd pencil in:

1) Wisconsin
2) Purdue
3) Maryland
4) Northwestern - will get to 11+ regular season wins and won't sweat selection Sunday.
5) Minnesota - current RPI 34 and favorable schedule the rest of the way.
6) Michigan State - currently at 7-5 with tough remaining schedule, but playing well and rounding into form with freshmen coming on strong. May need (and will get) a BTT win to punch their ticket.
--
7) Michigan - with current RPI of 61 and tough remaining schedule, the Wolverines would have to play quite well just to finish 9-9...and then probably need a couple more wins in the BTT. I see them falling on the wrong side of the bubble. Would likely need a BTT victory even with an unlikely 10-8 regular season finish. They have 4 road games and 4 games against top 5 teams listed above.

Yeah I said 7, but I think 6 is pretty likely too. One of those two numbers.

People have grown fond of saying how "soft" or "weak" the bubble is this year. It's been a repeated refrain the past couple years, ever since they expanded to 68. That margin might make the difference in getting a 7th team in for the conference - agree Michigan is the most likely to grab that last spot, maybe as last 4 in. Depends on how many bid thieves happen to some extent too, which we won't know until conference tournament season.

 

[ColumbusCatFan1]

Depends on how many bid thieves happen to some extent too, which we won't know until conference tournament season.

This is extremely important. The good news for the BIG is that the mid/low major crop is particularly weak this year. Not many at large possibilities outside of the A-10 and AAC.