Remaining B1G Games

[Ignatius L Hoops]

Maryland (10-1): @ Rutgers, Purdue, @ Minnesota, @ Michigan Nebraska
Ohio State (9-3): @ Illinois, Purdue, Northwestern, @ Penn State
Nebraska (8-3): Wisconsin, @ Michigan State, @ Indiana, Penn State, Maryland

Michigan (9-4): @Michigan State, @ Minnesota, Maryland

Minnesota (7-4): Penn State, Michigan, Maryland, Indiana, @ Illinois
Purdue (7-4): Indiana, @ Maryland, @ Ohio State, Illinois, Michigan State
Iowa (7-5): @ Northwestern, Wisconsin, @ Rutgers, Indiana
Indiana (6-6): @Purdue, Nebraska, @ Minnesota, @ Iowa
Rutgers (6-6): Maryland, @ Wisconsin, Iowa, @ Northwestern

Penn State (5-7): @ Minnesota, Northwestern, @Nebraska, Ohio State
Michigan State (4-8): Michigan, Nebraska, Wisconsin, @ Purdue
Northwestern (2-9): Iowa, @ Penn State, Illinois, @ Ohio State, Rutgers
Wisconsin (2-10): @ Nebraska, Rutgers, @ Iowa, @ Michigan State
Illinois (0-12): Ohio State, @ Northwestern, @ Purdue, Minnesota


Nebraska has a path to at least 11 wins.

Michigan has only three games remaining with the Michigan/Minnesota game looming as a showdown. A Gopher win would likely stick the Wolverines at 10 wins and help propel Minnesota to 11-5.

In the muddle, Iowa, Minnesota and Purdue have pretty clear paths to 10 wins (Iowa actually has a pretty clear path to 11). Indiana has a pretty dicey schedule and seems unlikely to be better than 8-8. Rutgers looks likely to get to 8-8.

Illinois is an odds on favorite to go 0-16.


First things first: beat Penn State and then prepare for the face off against the Wolverines.

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

Updated following tonight's Hoosier win at Purdue.

Maryland (11-1): Purdue, @ Minnesota, @ Michigan, Nebraska
Ohio State (9-3): @ Illinois, Purdue, Northwestern, @ Penn State
Nebraska (9-3): @ Michigan State, @ Indiana, Penn State, Maryland

Minnesota (8-4): Michigan, Maryland, Indiana, @ Illinois
Michigan (9-5): @ Minnesota, Maryland
Iowa (8-5): Wisconsin, @ Rutgers, Indiana
Purdue (7-5): @ Maryland, @ Ohio State, Illinois, Michigan State
Indiana (7-6): Nebraska, @ Minnesota, @ Iowa
Rutgers (6-7): @ Wisconsin, Iowa, @ Northwestern

Michigan State (5-8): Nebraska, Wisconsin, @ Purdue
Penn State (5-8): Northwestern, @Nebraska, Ohio State

Northwestern (2-10): @ Penn State, Illinois, @ Ohio State, Rutgers
Wisconsin (2-11): Rutgers, @ Iowa, @ Michigan State
Illinois (0-12): Ohio State, @ Northwestern, @ Purdue, Minnesota

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

Updated through tonight's Purdue win over Maryland.

Maryland (11-2): @ Minnesota, @ Michigan, Nebraska
Ohio State (10-3): Purdue, Northwestern, @ Penn State
Nebraska (10-3): @ Indiana, Penn State, Maryland
Minnesota (9-4): Maryland, Indiana, @ Illinois
Iowa (8-5): Wisconsin, @ Rutgers, Indiana
Purdue (8-5): @ Ohio State, Illinois, Michigan State
Michigan (9-6): Maryland
Indiana (7-6): Nebraska, @ Minnesota, @ Iowa
Rutgers (7-7): Iowa, @ Northwestern

Penn State (6-8): @Nebraska, Ohio State
Michigan State (5-9): Wisconsin, @ Purdue

Northwestern (2-11): Illinois, @ Ohio State, Rutgers
Wisconsin (2-12): @ Iowa, @ Michigan State
Illinois (0-13): @ Northwestern, @ Purdue, Minnesota

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

Through today's games:

Maryland (11-3): @ Michigan, Nebraska
Ohio State (11-3): Northwestern, @ Penn State
Minnesota (10-4): Indiana, @ Illinois
Nebraska (10-4): Penn State, Maryland
Iowa (9-5): @ Rutgers, Indiana
Michigan (9-6): Maryland
Purdue (8-6): Illinois, Michigan State
Indiana (8-6): @ Minnesota, @ Iowa
Rutgers (7-7): Iowa, @ Northwestern

Penn State (6-8): @Nebraska, Ohio State
Michigan State (5-9): Wisconsin, @ Purdue

Northwestern (3-11): @ Ohio State, Rutgers
Wisconsin (2-13): @ Michigan State
Illinois (0-14): @ Purdue, Minnesota

 

[tripledouble]

It's looking good for the Gophers to finish in the top four and get the double-bye in the BIG tourney. But, of course, there's a reason they play the games on the court and not on paper. Nebraska should beat Penn State, but they should be an underdog at Maryland, who they lost to by 7 at home earlier this month.
Ohio State should win both of it's remaining games against Northwestern and PSU and it looks like they'll get at least a share of the title. Maryland has lost two in a row and they play at Michigan before hosting Nebraska. The Michigan-Maryland game will have title implications for the Terps and maybe NCAA implications for Michigan. And Maryland at home will not be a lock against Nebraska, as the Terps have already lost to both MSU and Purdue on their home court. Wouldn't it be something if Maryland lost both games and our Gophers finished higher in the standings. As a matter of fact, if the Terps lose just one game and the Gophers beat both Indiana and Illinois, then I think the Gophers would get the higher seed in the BIG tourney because of their win over Maryland. Iowa will be slight favorites in their remaining games at Rutgers and home against Indiana, however either of those teams is capable of beating the Hawkeyes. So even though Iowa has a path to finish 11-5 in the conference, it's not a clear path. A double-bye could be big for the Gophers ...if nothing else because of the Gophers fast style of play. If they can get a team that's playing back-to-back or back-to-back-to-back games, the Gophers should have a big advantage against a more tired team. As Brenda Frese would say, the Gophers might be able to "run the other team out of the gym".

 

[overpass]

Current bracket going into the final week:

(11) Michigan State vs (14) Illinois
(12) Northwestern vs (13) Wisconsin

(8) Purdue vs (9) Rutgers
(5) Iowa vs NW/Wisc
(7) Indiana vs (10) Penn State
(6) Michigan vs MSU/Ill

(1) Maryland vs. PUR/RUT
(4) Minnesota vs. Iowa/NW/Wisc
(2) Ohio State vs IND/PSU
(3) Nebraska vs Mich/MSU/Ill

Tiebreakers:
Maryland defeated Ohio State
Nebraska defeated Minnesota
Indiana swept Purdue