BIG Standings

[ColumbusCatFan1_rivals]

1) Indiana 12-3
2) Iowa 11-3
3) Maryland 10-4
4) Ohio State 10-5
5) Michigan State 9-5
6) Michigan 9-5
7) Wisconsin 8-5
8) Purdue 9-6
9) Nebraska 6-9
10) Northwestern 5-9
11) Penn State 5-9
12) Illinois 4-9
13) Minnesota 1-13
14) Rutgers 0-14


A much different picture than a week ago. There's clear line of demarcation between the top 8 and the rest the conference. NU could very well finish 9th (or 11th) and still have a difficult 1st round match up in Indy. If Maryland falls to Michigan, the Terps could be staring at 6th place come this time next week. That's nuts.

It sure is going to be an interesting race over the final few week of the regular season.

 

[pawildcat_rivals209725]

There is a clear line between top and bottom, but on the other hand Penn State owns victories over Iowa and Indiana, Illinois has beaten Purdue, Minnesota just beat Maryland, and we've beaten Wisconsin and just about beat Maryland. Shows the craziness of college BB in the three-point era. Michigan State might be the best team in the league right now, but probably won't win the league title because of one bad stretch when they had to adjust to Nairn and Valentine being out. Ohio State is weird as they seem to be a suck team in many games, but have had enough athleticism to beat the bottom of the league. Reports of Indiana's demise might have been premature. Iowa seems to be fizzling out more than the Hoosiers.

 

[Palindrome_rivals517509]

BigTen Tournament musing: NU and PSU are 10/11, both at 5-9. As it stands now, either NU or Penn State would play Rutgers in the 4-team round with the winner getting #6 Michigan ... or, alternatively, either NU or Nittany sits out the first day before facing off against #7 Bucky Badger.

May seem counterintuitive (or just dumb) but I’ll take Rutgers and Michigan. I sense that UW is getting stronger, ignited by doing a 22 point turnaround in the last 12 minutes of the game to beat Illinois by 9 after trailing by 13 before Nigel Hayes awoke from his MSU-induced sleep. It’s taken them time to gel after we beat them, but I think they’re on their way now.

 

[Catreporter]

BigTen Tournament musing: NU and PSU are 10/11, both at 5-9. As it stands now, either NU or Penn State would play Rutgers in the 4-team round with the winner getting #6 Michigan ... or, alternatively, either NU or Nittany sits out the first day before facing off against #7 Bucky Badger.

May seem counterintuitive (or just dumb) but I’ll take Rutgers and Michigan. I sense that UW is getting stronger, ignited by doing a 22 point turnaround in the last 12 minutes of the game to beat Illinois by 9 after trailing by 13 before Nigel Hayes awoke from his MSU-induced sleep. It’s taken them time to gel after we beat them, but I think they’re on their way now.

I'd say with our lack of depth at guard, we don't want to be playing an extra game. Need to beat Penn State head to head to claim that 10th spot and maybe we can get to ninth if we beat Nebraska.

 

[ColumbusCatFan1_rivals]

I'd say with our lack of depth at guard, we don't want to be playing an extra game. Need to beat Penn State head to head to claim that 10th spot and maybe we can get to ninth if we beat Nebraska.

That scenario (9th) probably gives us the best chance of the NIT, but it might make the Thursday in Indy significantly more difficult. I see Purdue ending up as the 8th seed. While not as bad as Iowa or MSU, the 'Cats don't match up well with the Boilermakers. IMHO, NU's best chance to take a game in the BTT would be facing off against Michigan (regardless of this Wednesday's outcome), Ohio State, or even Wisconsin. For Friday (if we were lucky enough to get there), it would be Maryland. That team falls asleep at the wheel way too often for how good they are.