Good news for Northwestern: In the Big Ten Conference, even the No. 11 men’s basketball team plays one postseason game.
The last five regular-season games will be settled this weekend before the conference tournament (including the Wildcats) starts Thursday in Indianapolis. Naturally, that means it’s time to look ahead to the NCAA Tournament.
By most accounts, the Big Ten has four teams safely in the Big Dance no matter what happens this week, with two more on the bubble. The other five squads face the daunting task of winning the conference tournament in order to clinch the Big Ten’s automatic berth.
RedEye sizes up the field.
THEY’RE IN
No. 10 Wisconsin
Record: 25-4 (15-2 Big Ten)
RPI: 12
The Badgers’ only losses this season were to teams that currently are in the Top 25 — No. 6 Duke, No. 15 Purdue (twice) and No. 21 Marquette.
No. 15 Purdue
Record: 23-7 (14-3)
RPI: 30
The Boilermakers boast first-name All-America freshman E’Twaun Moore, who averaged 13.5 points in the two wins over Wisconsin.
No. 17 Michigan State
Record: 24-6 (12-5)
RPI: 14
Are these the same Spartans who scored 36 points in a loss at Iowa? After last weekend’s rout of Indiana, it looks like Tom Izzo has his team ready.
No. 18 Indiana
Record: 25-5 (14-3)
RPI: 16
The Hoosiers may be struggling since the midseason departure of coach Kelvin Sampson, but they still have the league’s top scorer in freshman Eric Gordon.
THEY’RE ON THE BUBBLE
Minnesota
Record: 18-11 (8-9)
RPI: 91
The Gophers have a lot of work to do this week to earn an NCAA berth, but how sweet would it be for coach Tubby Smith to get there in his first season?
Ohio State
Record: 18-12 (9-8)
RPI: 55
The reeling Buckeyes have struggled of late. At least the football team waits until the last game of the season to break its fans’ hearts.
THEY’RE OUT
Penn State
Record: 14-15 (6-11)
RPI: 159
If the Nittany Lions win a couple of games in the Big Ten tourney, they probably will end up in the NIT or College Basketball Invitational.
Iowa
Record: 13-18 (6-12)
RPI: 185
It could be worse for the Hawkeyes. The Des Moines Register reported that 13 football players have been arrested in the past year.
Michigan
Record: 9-20 (5-12)
RPI: 178
The only Big Ten team to lose to Northwestern, the Wolverines graduate one senior after this season and should be better in their second year under John Beilein.
Illinois
Record: 12-18 (4-13)
RPI: 134
A cautionary tale for other top-flight programs: The Fighting Illini played for the NCAA championship just three years ago.
Northwestern
Record: 8-20 (1-16)
RPI: 201
The Wildcats lead the conference in 3-pointers made per game, which doesn’t quite compensate for being dead last in eight other categories.
ON THE TUBE WHAT TO TUNE INTO THIS WEEKEND
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
North Carolina at Duke
8 P.M. SATURDAY, ESPN
Only Barack and Hillary have a better rivalry. And more TV coverage.
Missouri Valley Conference title game
1 P.M. SUNDAY, CBS
Either Illinois State or Southern Illinois could be in this game. Or both could be sent packing.
DOG DAZE
By Whizzer
THAT’S RIGHT, YOUR FAVORITE PROGNOSTICATING POOCH WORKS SATURDAYS TOO.
1. Cat power
Northwestern is the only “cat” team in the Big Ten. The Wildcats are 8-19. If they were the Hounds, maybe they’d be 19-8.
2. Time well spent
Don’t forget to set your clocks ahead Saturday night. If not, you might be forced to watch the entire Bulls game Sunday.
3. Double trouble
The Cubs play two split-squad games Saturday. Why give the Cubs a chance to lose twice on the same day?
