Seven Big Ten teams will be competing in tournaments during Feast Week. Some are expected to do well, while others are looking to pick up some quality wins and defy preseason expectations. Here’s a primer for those hoops-obsessed fans who want to schedule some Big Ten basketball watching around their annoying relatives. The fun gets started later today in Maui, New York and Kansas City.
Progressive Legends Classic: (Monday and Tuesday)
Caris LeVert needs to continue to fill up the stat sheet if Michigan wants to win the Legends Classic. (Getty)
- Teams: Michigan, Oregon, VCU, Villanova
- Favorite: Villanova
- TV: ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNU
- Outlook: Michigan will face its first big-name opponents of the season when the Wolverines take on Oregon in the first game. Should they win, they’ll face off against the winner of the VCU-Villanova game after that. The perimeter trio of Derrick Walton Jr., Zak Irvin and Caris LeVert will have to continue to score at a high level, as the trio is producing a robust 67.5 percent of Michigan’s points thus far this season.
- Predicted Finish: First if they play Villanova; second if they play VCU.
CBE Hall of Fame Classic: (Monday and Tuesday)
- Teams: Maryland, Arizona State, Iowa State, Alabama
- Favorite: Iowa State
- TV: ESPNU, ESPN2
- Outlook: Maryland takes on its first power conference opponents of the season when the Terps take on Arizona State in the first round, then the winner of Iowa State-Alabama in the championship or consolation game. The onus will be on Dez Wells to continue to lead the way with Evan Smotrycz still out of the lineup.
- Predicted Finish: Second with a loss to Iowa State in the championship game.
Orlando Classic: (Thursday, Friday, Sunday)
- Teams: Michigan State, Santa Clara, Tennessee, Kansas, Rhode Island, Michigan State, Rider, Georgia Tech, Marquette
- Favorite: Kansas
- TV: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU
- Outlook: After a shaky debut against Navy, the Spartans looked much better at the Champions Classic despite a loss to Duke. They’ll play Rider in round one, followed by the winner of Marquette-Georgia Tech. A date in the finals against Kansas could be one of the better games of the whole week should it occur.
- Predicted Finish: Second after a loss to Kansas in the final.
Preseason NIT: (Wednesday, Friday)
- Teams: Minnesota, St. John’s, Gonzaga, Georgia
- Favorite: Gonzaga
- TV: ESPN2, ESPNU
- Outlook: The Gophers have easily handled all of their opponents since losing to Louisville on opening night. A date with St. John’s in the semifinal round at Madison Square Garden will be challenging, even though it’s technically considered a neutral-site game. Minnesota has a size advantage, however, so Maurice Walker (11.8 PPG, second on the team) will have to look to score inside. Gonzaga looks like a potential top five team despite what the polls say, so a match-up in the Friday night championship game against the Bulldogs will be challenging.
- Predicted Finish: Runner-up to Gonzaga.
Cancun Challenge: (Tuesday, Wednesday)
- Teams: Northwestern, Miami (Ohio), Virginia Tech, Northern Iowa
- Favorite: Northern Iowa
- TV: CBS Sports Network
- Outlook: This is an important opportunity for the Wildcats to pick up some wins to boost their record before conference play starts. They take on Miami (Ohio) in their first game, then get either Virginia Tech or Northern Iowa next. After struggling with North Florida and Elon, your guess is as good as mine as to which Northwestern team shows up here. Bryant McIntosh and Vic Law have been impressive, but Alex Olah and JerShon Cobb need to play better for the Wildcats to get two wins here.
- Predicted Finish: Win the championship game over Northern Iowa.
EA Sports Maui Invitational: (Monday-Wednesday)
- Teams: Purdue, Kansas State, Arizona, Missouri, Pitt, Chaminade, San Diego State, BYU
- Favorite: Arizona
- TV: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU
- Outlook: Purdue is off to a quick start, but the Boilermakers will get a chance to take on some heavyweights here in Maui. Other than Chaminade, each opponent they will face is either a power conference opponent or a mid-major with NCAA Tournament aspirations. The opening game against Kansas State will be physical and will feature a clash between Bruce Weber and his former assistant Matt Painter. This could also be a coming-0ut party for AJ Hammons on a big stage.
- Prediction: Fourth place with a loss to Pittsburgh in the third place game on Wednesday.
Battle 4 Atlantis: (Wednesday-Friday)
- Teams: Wisconsin, North Carolina, Butler, Florida, Georgetown, UAB, Oklahoma, UCLA
- Favorite: Wisconsin
- TV: ESPN, ESPN2, AXSTV
- Outlook: Wisconsin gets plenty of opportunities here for quality resume wins, as this is arguably the most loaded tournament out of the bunch. If the Badgers dispatch UAB in round one, every game after that will feature a marquee opponent. A match-up with North Carolina in the final game will test them, as the Tar Heels have the front line depth to play with the Badgers.
- Prediction: Champions after a close win over North Carolina in the final.