The next two games are big ones for NU. If they beat both Illinois and Maryland, I believe they will clinch the double bye in the Big Ten tournament. A seven game conference winning streak should start real talk about a top 16 (#4 seed) placement in the NCAAs as well.
To do that , pretty much have to win tonight. Really depends on which IL team shows up. Uber Talented Illinois of Disfunctional Illinois
If we do, at least a tie for second with tiebreakers over a lot of the competition including MSU, MD, IL, IN and if how they did against highest ranked team IA as well. About only ones we would not have it over is Mich and Rut
Who should we be rooting for in Michigan-Rutgers tonight? My sense is Rutgers, since we still have a shot to beat them ourselves. And Michigan seems to be that cockroach who always looks like they're out of the picture and then finds another win to stay there.
My concern is around the home loss to Michigan dropping to a Q3 loss, but a Rutgers loss could move them closer to our home loss dropping into Q2. So not really sure what the answer is here. Torvik does not have clear guidance either.
I don't know if anyone has consistent ways of dealing with all the variables, but the BTN broadcast last night was talking about how the committee will give Iowa a "mulligan" for their awful Eastern Illinois loss. No one seems to want to give us any mulligans even though, for now, our worst loss might just be the Michigan home game that was the end of the Covid stretch and 48 hours after a road game.
We don’t always shoot well, but we take good care of the ball and our defense is pretty relentless
I find myself rooting for Michigan a little since my son is there, so I may not be totally objective here. That said, it sure seems like people can't wait to say that Juwan Howard is a terrible coach and each year, he doesn't really let them. I feel like mid-way through the season the past couple years, Michigan looks to be underperforming and people jump on Howard. But then, by the end of the season, they have improved a ton and... there they are.... right back in the Sweet 16 again. Last year, they were the only BIG team to make any noise at all in the tournament. I think he might be ok after all.
While they are still likely to make the Dance, their last two losses on the road are not great. I knew their shooting% goes down away from home but they are about 6/50 in last two games from 3.
I'm with you. These scenarios are mind-blowing. What a great discussion in late February!!!!
NU is legit and very good, but even some of our own fans are not willing to admit it ... strength of schedule!
