With conference bragging rights and an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament on the line, the Big Ten men’s basketball tournament kicks off today at the United Center.
In a few short years since its inception, the tournament has come to mean to two things: potential and hope.
Potential? That’s a stuck-in-the-mud team dogging it all season only to suddenly get hot and ride the wave all the way to the Big Dance (see sixth-seeded Iowa in 2001).
Hope? That’s a basement-dweller going Cinderella and coming thisclose to taking home a championship (see 11th-seeded Illinois in 1999).
Since the tournament began, only one
No. 1 seed–Michigan State in 1999–has left with a trophy. The lesson? Anything can happen. This year, madness is almost certain to ensue. The Big Ten is balanced: the worst team, Penn State, knocked off the best team, Wisconsin. Any of seven or eight teams has a realistic shot at winning it all. So buckle up.
1. Wisconsin 22-6 (12-4)
Top-seeded Badgers come to town well-rested
For the second straight year, the Badgers enter the field as the top seed. For the second straight year, the Badgers will enter play after eight days off. The time off is good because the Badgers rely on six players and rest helps. The time off is bad because the layoff could show.
Who’s hot: Senior Kirk Penney is the anchor of this team.
Who’s not: Balance is the offensive trademark of a team coached by Bo Ryan, and it’s shown in four straight victories.
Postseason aspirations: Wisconsin was a late show in the national polls this season. It played 14 games against teams ranked below 100 in this week’s RPI (13-1) and 14 against teams ranked in the top 100 (9-5). The Badgers were 4-4 against top 50 teams, with all those victories coming at home. A couple of victories at the United Center could push them as high as a fourth seed. Otherwise they are likely looking at a fifth or sixth seed.
Vic Feuerherd, Wisconsin State Journal.
2. Illinois 21-6 (11-5)
Illini roll into tourney on five wins in six games
Confidence won’t be an issue for Illinois as they play at their second home, the United Center. If Luther Head’s chronic groin injury limits his playing time, depth is a concern, but Illinois aims for a possible No. 3 NCAA seed.
Who’s hot: Dee Brown and Brian Cook. Brown is averaging 16 points in his last six games. Cook has scored 26, 25 and 22 points in the last three.
Who’s not: The last time freshman James Augustine reached double figures was Jan. 29 and he has been in foul trouble in his last three appearances.
Postseason aspirations: Given Wisconsin’s easier schedule, an argument can be made that Illinois was the league’s best team But the postseason could be short if: Cook or Augustine gets into early foul trouble, Head can’t play, it’s matched up against a great rebounding team, or if freshmen Brown and Deron Williams wilt under NCAA tournament pressure.
Gary Reinmuth, Tribune staff reporter.
3. Michigan 17-12 (10-6)
Wolverines have lost three of last four games
The Wolverines are a little disappointed after missing out in their quest for a Big Ten regular-season championship. But this season is a marked improvement from last year as the Wolverines started 0-6. And then won 13 straight.
Who’s hot: Senior tri-captain LaVell Blanchard, who was selected to the All-Big Ten first team, has made 14-of-23 three-point shots in his last three games.
Who’s not: After some big games most of the season, Big Ten freshman-of-the-year Daniel Horton has struggled lately with his shooting. In Michigan’s last three losses, Horton has shot 10 of 43 (.233%) from the field.
Postseason aspirations: The Wolverines have banned themselves from the NCAA or NIT tournament in anticipation of NCAA sanctions. So the Big Ten tournament is their postseason. A title will help ease the pain of watching Selection Sunday with no place to go.
Jim Spadafore, Detroit News.
4. Purdue 18-9 (10-6)
Purdue’s turnaround gives Boilermakers hope
A team that looked destined for early exit –it had lost five of its previous seven– has new-found confidence, especially with the return of emotional leader Kenneth Lowe from a shoulder injury.
Who’s hot: Willie Deane had 36 points against Michigan and was every bit as dominant as that point total indicates. Few players are faster with the ball in their hands than Deane, last year’s Big Ten scoring leader.
Who’s not: Notre Dame transfer Ivan Kartelo was supposed to provide an adept passer in the post, but has more turnovers (19) than rebounds (17) in his last eight games. His woes have made a struggling interior game even more suspect.
Postseason aspirations: With 10 conference victories, Boilermakers are a lock. Deep run this weekend might get them a No. 5 or 6 seed and give further proof veteran coach Gene Keady has them turned around.
Michael Pointer, Indianapolis Star.
5. Michigan State 18-11 (10-6)
Spartans fight off injuries, get back on track
Despite not having a proven point guard, MSU won at Kentucky, lost to Oklahoma by two in Oklahoma City and fell to Syracuse by one. After a 2-4 conference start, with all four losses on the road, they won eight of their last 10 league games.
Who’s hot: Senior forward Adam Ballinger reappeared from the dead with 33 points last week. And sophomore perimeter players Chris Hill, Kelvin Torbert and Alan Anderson have combined to average 40 points in their last five games.
Who’s not: Freshman forward Erazem Lorbek, who had 19 points in the second half at Wisconsin, may have hit the wall.
Postseason aspirations: The Spartans either win this tournament (1999, 2000) or lose in their first game (1998, 2001, 2002). But they can use this year’s event as a springboard from an eighth or ninth seed in the NCAA tournament to a top-five slot with three wins.
–Jack Ebling, Lansing State Journal.
6. Indiana 18-11 (8-8)
Indiana not only unpredictable but dangerous
In the span of a week, the Hoosiers played well against Iowa and Minnesota, then suffered a complete collapse last Saturday at lowly Penn State. The most difficult thing is not knowing which team will show up Thursday at the United Center.
Who’s hot: Senior forward Jeff Newton and freshman guard Bracey Wright have carried the Hoosiers offensively down the stretch. Newton has done it from the inside, and Wright primarily from the perimeter.
Who’s not: Center George Leach has been an enigma. In the first seven Big Ten games, he averaged 7.9 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. In the last eight (he missed the Wisconsin game), he averaged 4.4 points and 2.3 rebounds.
Postseason aspirations: The Hoosiers need to avenge a loss to Penn State on Thursday to feel good about their chances. They’ve gone to the NCAA tournament 17 straight seasons.
–Terry Hutchens, Indianapolis Star.
7. Minnesota 16-11 (8-8)
Gophers need a run to help correct late stumble
Less than three weeks ago, the Golden Gophers were tied for third with an 8-4 record. So what happened? The Gophers lost their final four games.
Who’s hot: Sophomore Rick Rickert is the go-to Gopher. He averaged 16.8 points in Big Ten games and reached the 20-point mark five times. He averaged a double-double in two games against first-round opponent Northwestern.
Who’s not: Forward Michael Bauer, the team’s leading three-point shooter, has struggled of late. In the last six games, Bauer has averaged 7.8 points while going 16-for-51 from the floor (31.4 percent).
Postseason aspirations: Aside from Indiana, there is no team with more on the line this weekend. If Minnesota beats the Wildcats and then upset second-seeded Illinois in Friday’s quarterfinals, the Gophers could get an at-large berth to the NCAA tournament. If not, it’s the NIT for the third consecutive season.
–Jeff Shelman, Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
8. Ohio State 14-13 (7-9)
Bruised and battered Buckeyes face big battle
The season was compromised when five players, including four starters, missed a total of 43 games because of injuries, which resulted in a shallow rotation that forced senior guards Brent Darby and Sean Connolly to play more than 35 minutes per game. How much life the Buckeyes can renew for the postseason, is the overriding question.
Who’s hot: Center Velimir Radinovic is the warmest of a cold band of Buckeyes. He shot 52.6 percent from the field in the Big Ten..
Who’s not: Guard Sean Connolly. He averaged 15.4 points before an ankle injury, just 7.9 points per game after it.
Postseason aspirations: The Buckeyes are eligible for an NIT bid. Their only hope of making the NCAA tournament for a fifth consecutive year is if they win the Big Ten tournament, but four wins in four days from a team this fragile is hard to imagine.
— Bob Baptist, The Columbus Dispatch.
9. Iowa 15-12 (7-9)
Overachieving Hawkeyes make the most of it
Iowa had a losing Big Ten record for a fourth consecutive season under coach Steve Alford, the first time that’s happened since 1972-75.
But this team is considered an overachiever after a tumultuous off-season reduced the roster to eight scholarship players.
Who’s hot: Junior center Jared Reiner, who has averaged 19.5 points and 11.5 rebounds in the last four games.
Who’s not: Junior shooting guard Brody Boyd.
The hero of the 2001 championship game against Indiana at the United Center (when he scored 22 points) is shooting a career-low 28.8 percent from three-point range.
Postseason aspirations: Iowa would have to repeat its four-victories-in-four-days accomplishment of 2001 to get back to the NCAA tournament. A second straight NIT bid is likely.
–Rick Brown, Des Moines Register.
10. Northwestern 11-16 (3-13)
Wildcats hope UC provides homecourt magic
Northwestern is 1-5 in the Big Ten tournament in the last five years and has lost twice to Minnesota this season. The 10th-seeded Wildcats are playing in the 7-vs.-10 game for the second straight year. The 10th seed has won this game three times.
Who’s hot: Junior Jitim Young, who earned third-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches, has 40 offensive rebounds this season even though he is just 6-feet, 2-inches tall. He has 13 more offensive boards than any other NU player. Young needs 23 points to reach 1,000 for his career. He would become the 25th Wildcat to reach that milestone.
Who’s not: Wildcats senior forward Winston Blake has failed to score a single point against the Gophers this season.
Postseason aspirations: The Wildcats will have to make this tournament their postseason unless they surprise everyone and win it all.
–Fred Mitchell, Tribune staff reporter.
11. Penn State 7-20 (2-14)
Penn State’s Sweet Sixteen spot seems far off
Spring football can’t come soon enough after Penn State became the first Big Ten team since Northwestern (1995-97) to put together back-to-back 20-loss seasons. Eighth-year coach Jerry Dunn, two years removed from a Sweet Sixteen appearance, has felt the heat .
Who’s hot: Seven-foot sophomore Jan Jagla has started to live up to his potential, with big games in stunners over league champ Wisconsin and contender Indiana in the last month.
Who’s not: Freshman DeForrest Riley has made just 5-of-26 shots in the last five games while battling tendinitis in both knees. Senior guard Brandon Watkins (St. Joseph’s High) has a bruised right hip.
Postseason aspirations: Two years ago, Dunn’s team knocked off Michigan and Michigan State in the tournament to earn an NCAA berth. Another run could give the Penn State administration something to think about after a tough year.
–Marc Weiszer, Centre Daily Times.
