Mar 09 2009
Big Ten Tournament Starts Thursday
The Big Ten has been a strange conference this year so do not be surprised if someone gets hot in this tournament and wins the whole thing. Michigan State is the number one seed after a sub par beginning of the year the Spartans won their last five games. Defense has been the key as always with a Tom Izzo coached team.
Purdue stumbled through its last six games but the young squad was tested last year in tournament play. They are a good tournament team they just have to get hot. The Boilermakers need a good tournament run for seed positioning in the “Big Dance”
Illinois is the wild card in this Big Ten. They are young and have won some games that they were not supposed too this year. They should have a good tournament.
The rest of the teams are as even as any one of these teams, Minnesota has won key games down the stretch, Michigan can be a scary match up for a higher seed in the tournament. Northwestern can shoot and if they do they will win a game, Penn State has had a solid season, while Wisconisn is always tough come tourney time as they always play solid defense. Oh and Ohio State they are not too bad either.
In summary Michigan State Illinois and Purdue are good teams but any of them are vulnerable in the Big Ten Tournament. A lower seeded team does normally break through and this year may not be any different.
