Rush The Court

We’ve spent the last couple weeks prognosticating and projecting the Big Ten Tournament bracket for this upcoming weekend in Indianapolis, but we now finally have something concrete to work from. The field has been set, and it’s just a matter of a few short days before things get underway. Below are the preliminary matchups with a few things to keep an eye on:

First round on Thursday:

• #8 Iowa vs. #9 Illinois (11:30 AM ET on BTN)
• #5 Indiana vs. #12 Penn State (25 minutes later, BTN)
• #7 Northwestern vs. #10 Minnesota (5:30 PM, ESPN2)
• #6 Purdue vs. #11 Nebraska (25 minutes later, ESPN2)

Second round on Friday: 

• #1 Michigan State vs. Iowa/Illinois winner (12:00 PM, ESPN)
• #4 Wisconsin vs. Indiana/Penn State winner (25 minutes later, ESPN)
• #2 Michigan vs. Northwestern/Minnesota winner (6:30 PM, BTN)
• #3 Ohio State vs. Purdue/Nebraska winner (25 minutes later, BTN)

We’ll talk about the semifinals and championship game once we reach that point, but there’s plenty to talk about in the first two days for now.

• One of the best first-round matchups is the very first game of the tournament, pitting Iowa and Illinois. Iowa has come on strong toward the end of the season, winning three of five while dropping a close one to Northwestern and losing at Illinois. Matt Gatens has emerged as the surprise All-Big Ten-caliber player, while everyone knows the Illinois story. The Fighting Illini have disappointed in what will probably turn out to be Bruce Weber‘s final year at the helm. But they have the talent — do they have the poise to get their act together for the tournament? Or is it too little, too late?
• The other intriguing first round game is Northwestern/Minnesota on Thursday afternoon. The Wildcats are really the Big Ten’s only bubble team with much to gain or lose this weekend, and they can make hay in Indianapolis. The two teams split the regular season meetings, but Minnesota has lost six of its last seven games and Northwestern has played well enough lately to stay afloat. It’s a dangerous game for Northwestern, which has plenty to gain, but also much more to lose. Minnesota, on the other hand, doesn’t have any pressure, and has all the tools to win.
• Even when Indiana has been dismal the last few years, the Hoosiers faithful have packed the house in Indianapolis. Now that Indiana has a shot to win this thing, how far can their fans carry them? The Hoosiers have seemed like world-beaters at times in their home gym in Bloomington. Can that mojo carry just up the road to Indy?
• It seems like years ago that Illinois beat Michigan State in Champaign, but can the Spartans exact revenge if that opportunity presents itself in the second round? And no matter who their opponent is on Friday, how will the Spartans look without Branden Dawson? Michigan State lost the freshman wing to a torn ACL, and was out of sync when he was off the floor Sunday against Ohio State. They’ll need to make some adjustments to make a run in this tournament and in the Big Dance.