B1G Men's hoops - the halfway point - who might go dancing
The Men's basketball conference season is half way over. It looks like Purdue and everyone else.
There's been a lot of discussion about Michigan's squad - and, tonight's game in Evanston really appears to be a must win - between two "middle of the pack" teams in the conference. Northwestern is 6-4, one game ahead of Michigan whose record is 5-5.
Nine teams are separated by two games or less - with conference records between 7-4 and 5-6.
Is the conference having a down year? Which B1G teams do you think will be dancing in March?
The conference standings follow:
February 2nd, 2023 at 9:07 AM ^
I don’t think Purdue is great, just feasting on a mediocre conference.
February 2nd, 2023 at 9:09 AM ^
Agree.
February 2nd, 2023 at 9:29 AM ^
The ability to get a bucket (from Edey) pretty much whenever you need one is a huge asset in the tournament.
February 2nd, 2023 at 10:00 AM ^
Definitely an asset. That may be even more the case in the tournament, as the refs then don't allow the rough stuff that Big Ten refs do.
However, Purdue doesn't impress me as a team. Because they can get a bucket from Edey whenever they need one, it feels as if the others have an easier time getting open, getting to the basket, picking up random rebounds.
But if he has trouble—on the bench, having an off night—I don't see a lot of quality otherwise to carry them.
February 2nd, 2023 at 10:04 AM ^
Edey is certainly a huge asset but as soon as they get matched up against a team with a big that can stretch the floor, they're in trouble. Outside of the Big Ten, there's a whole lot of them that can.
This version of Purdue is ripe for a 2nd round loss to an 8/9 seed.
February 2nd, 2023 at 10:32 AM ^
So there are like 4 teams with that type of big. All college basketball seems pretty down this year, not just the BIG
February 2nd, 2023 at 11:37 AM ^
Purdue is having a great season, maybe they do flame out, but if UM was having that kind of season - blowout wins vs Duke, Gonzaga, MSU, we'd be saying it's one of the greatest UM teams of all time.
February 2nd, 2023 at 9:37 AM ^
The lack of good center play in a year when you have a 7’4” Kaiju has tilted the balance this year.
Michigan should be the one school that can compete but they can’t get their shit together.
February 2nd, 2023 at 1:23 PM ^
Agreed...I also don't think there is a great team in cbb this season.
February 2nd, 2023 at 9:08 AM ^
Can Michigan go undefeated the rest of the regular season and get a bid regardless of the B1G tournament? Seems doubtful. So I think we need to do our best the rest of the regular season and win the B1G tournament for a bid.
February 2nd, 2023 at 9:45 AM ^
This is a year that UM's basketball formula hits bottom. They recruit top talent, lose it a year or 2 later, fail to develop those that stay, or lose key players to injury without depth to overcome.
Defense pales relative to Beilein. The bench is weak. Shooting percentages, including bread-and-butter free throws (free points) are down or incredibly inconsistent game to game.
UM coaching staff has talent, experience, and potential, but it's not translating on the floor this year. The team will most likely end the season in the same manner that resulted in the current sub-.500 B1G W/L record. Win out in the B1G? For sure, a person can still dream. .
Tournament reality? Invite unlikely. Retool and reboot? Yes, please
February 2nd, 2023 at 9:46 AM ^
That is what is kind of cool of about college basketball. There is a "post-season" even if there isn't. Now for bottom feeding teams that just means that they get to get blown out on an early March Wednesday, but for a team like Michigan, is it that crazy that they get hot and win the BTT? Not really. Even if we don't make the tournament as an at large, there is still some drama involved.
February 2nd, 2023 at 9:10 AM ^
The Big 10 won’t be represented well in this years tourney. Frankly I’d like to see Michigan go to the NIT to get some experience and prepare for next season. This is definitely an off year for both Michigan and the Big 10.
February 2nd, 2023 at 9:12 AM ^
Not to be a downer, but they have to start winning some of these close games to get an NIT invite. I fully expect they will, but I have never seen a team on the wrong side of so many close games.
February 2nd, 2023 at 9:15 AM ^
They'll need to finish above .500 for an NIT bid. Not sure that happens.
February 2nd, 2023 at 9:21 AM ^
We will go as far as T will’s 2-5 points will take us
February 2nd, 2023 at 9:22 AM ^
Purdue, Rutger, Iowa, Illinois, Staee and Northwestern are in. Indiana probably unless they tank. Maryland maybe if they keep improving.
February 2nd, 2023 at 9:27 AM ^
"Who might go dancing?"
Sorry but as glorious as everyone else finds March Madness if we're not in it then I really dont give a shit who's in.
Except MSU. If they're in I'll root like hell for them to lose in some "Sparty NO" fashion to a tiny team nobody's heard of. Once that happens (and it always happens) I will lose complete interest in the tourny.
February 2nd, 2023 at 9:32 AM ^
you still have your 'middle tennessee' pom-poms, don't you?
February 2nd, 2023 at 9:47 AM ^
There is a chance that I watch the extended highlights of that game like two or three times per year.
I think I might watch it today.
(Update - Finished it. Now I'm watching their second round matchup loss against Syracuse at LCA)
February 2nd, 2023 at 10:54 AM ^
The best part of the Syracuse loss was listening to Sam Webb the following Monday and talking about Izzo pulling Jaren Jackson for Ben Carter. Among other things, he said "you could have fresh squeezed orange juice and you choose Tang".
February 2nd, 2023 at 11:21 AM ^
What an unbelievable performance by MTS!
Everything was going in. Glorious.
February 2nd, 2023 at 11:46 AM ^
Don't forget Oral Roberts. That was *chef's kiss* too.
February 2nd, 2023 at 1:11 PM ^
bUt DoN't YoU wAnT tO rOoT fOr ThE bIg TeN???
I get this all the time from work and neighbors. The answer for MSU and Ohio is always a resounding F*** NO.
February 2nd, 2023 at 9:28 AM ^
The conference is clearly having a down year, which is to be expected based on the amount of production that was collectively lost over the past year. That said there are some scrappy (if deeply flawed) teams that I’ll be eyeing as upset picks in March: Rutgers, Iowa, and Indiana. They all have some work to do to get there but I could see all three overtaking NW and even Illinois in the standings. I can’t tell if Maryland has it figured out yet, Illinois is all over the place, and who knows about MSU. If I had to guess, the Big Ten puts 5 teams in the tournament.
February 2nd, 2023 at 9:35 AM ^
That said there are some scrappy (if deeply flawed) teams that I’ll be eyeing as upset picks in March: Rutgers, Iowa, and Indiana
Have you seen the B1G in the NCAAT the last few years? If I'm doing a bracket, I'm autopicking literally anyone paired up vs a non-Purdue B1G team first round
February 2nd, 2023 at 9:47 AM ^
Good point, especially last year. That said, both MD and Rutgers pulled off the 7-10 upset in 2021. That’s more of what I’d be looking at here, these three teams could be dangerous as 10 or 11 seeds.
February 2nd, 2023 at 11:08 AM ^
Also a fair point.
Plus, knowing that the B1G is pretty much ass, this is probably the year we overtake our seedings just to spite the pundits. (Not us, though - we have about as much chance of making the tournament as Urban Meyer does of honoring his wedding vows)
February 2nd, 2023 at 9:36 AM ^
Dylan Burkhardt and Brendan Quinn had a great breakdown on their podcast, which was released yesterday. They see things as follows:
- Tier One (nationally elite, Top 2 seeds): Purdue
- Tier Two (IN, fighting for Top 4 seeds): Illinois, Rutgers, Indiana
- Tier Three (Bubble IN, somewhere from 7-11 seed): Michigan St, Iowa, Penn St, Maryland, Northwestern
- Tier Four (Bubble OUT, close but not expected to make it): Ohio St, Michigan, Wisconsin
- Tier Five (uncompetitive): Nebraska, Minnesota
Ohio St has the best chance at moving up a tier (they are reminiscent of Michigan last year), and Northwestern is probably the most vulnerable in Tier Three.
For Michigan, we are currently 3-1 at home against Tiers 1 through 3, and 0-4 on the road against that group. We need to sweep our Tier 4 and 5 games and start making hay on the road, while defending home court as well. It's a really tough ask, and I don't see it happening.
February 2nd, 2023 at 5:48 PM ^
Based on further analysis, I expect Michigan to have to win an additional 8 games to make the tournament. With only 10 games (plus the conference tourney) remaining, this is quite a steep climb.
February 2nd, 2023 at 9:56 AM ^
It'll be kind of nice to watch March Madness this year without the stress of wondering how Michigan will fare.
Probably any of the top 10 teams could win it all this year, but my money is on Houston.
February 2nd, 2023 at 10:13 AM ^
Oh I couldn't disagree with this more. As another poster put it above, my interest in March Madness goes WAYYYY down when Michigan isn't involved. It's still fun but not nearly as much as when we have a chance.
February 2nd, 2023 at 10:05 AM ^
Unfortunately, Michigan will not go dancing (NCAA nor NIT). More like stumbling drunk late at night on a Tuesday, through a dark alley and throwing up on their own shoes next to the rear entrance of a sketchy bar. All this followed by ordering a fish sandwich with cheese at a late night diner and getting food poisoning. That is how our season looks to me.
Purdue will get in, along with Iowa, Rutgers, Indiana and (gasp) Sparty. Purdue will make the Sweet 16, but get smoked in that game.
February 2nd, 2023 at 10:31 AM ^
I had that exact night once. It was at least six months ago so its hard to remember the exact order they transpired but all of those events happened.
February 2nd, 2023 at 11:19 AM ^
"More like stumbling drunk late at night on a Tuesday, through a dark alley and throwing up on their own shoes next to the rear entrance of a sketchy bar. All this followed by ordering a fish sandwich with cheese at a late night diner and getting food poisoning."
Suspiciously specific.
February 2nd, 2023 at 12:42 PM ^
Purdue really disappoints in the NCAA BB tourney. Based on the past few years alone, they should get into the Sweet 16 and then lose.
Remember how the Illini lost to St Mary's? The Illini looked to be a Final 4 team when the tourney began. The Big 10 usually disappoints and Michigan has done the best but this year, our guys will not be at the big dance.
February 2nd, 2023 at 10:08 AM ^
The Big Ten is weak this year, and really it's been high of high for the conference or low of lows. 2012-2014 were great, 2015-2020 were down, and last two years were pretty competative. This year it's not only Purdue's to lose, the conference at large is mediocre with no real talent. Jett was the highest ranked NBA prospect.
February 2nd, 2023 at 10:15 AM ^
A must win for NIT purposes, sure? But the fat lady has sung on their NCAA chances.
February 2nd, 2023 at 10:33 AM ^
Need to see the BTT draw first before I call the time of death.
February 2nd, 2023 at 10:33 AM ^
I expect Big Ten to dance about as well as me.
My guess is one team manages to advance to sweet-16, and nobody makes elite-8.
February 2nd, 2023 at 10:37 AM ^
Michigan stinks and unfortunately that means I won't be watching much hoops this spring. Oh well.
February 2nd, 2023 at 11:09 AM ^
Conference is down....competitive mediocre conference. Purdue is good but I question what happens with March and different type of officiating. Think there is a real lack of talent and recruiting proves it. Might get 8 or 9 teams in but I would be shocked to see more than 2 make it out of first weekend.
February 2nd, 2023 at 12:02 PM ^
PLAYOFFS?! Don't talk about Playoffs. You kidding me? I hope we win another game.
February 2nd, 2023 at 12:08 PM ^
Don’t count them out; Juwan could still take this team dancing.
He’s gonna need a resy at Necto tho
February 2nd, 2023 at 12:28 PM ^
Going to look a lot like last year, lots of bids, then everyone loses in the first weekend.
Purdue is the only decent team. Sorry, Indiana, Illinois and Rutgers, you're not that good. And I say that after watching Rutgers demolish Minnesota last night.
No bid for Michigan, like others that will reduce my interest in the tourney some. But I'll still watch and root against teams I don't like.
February 2nd, 2023 at 12:39 PM ^
This is one of those years where I hope the B1G does not get a bunch of teams in. Lunardi has nine teams in right now and Purdue is the only sure thing to survive the first weekend.
He also has 11-10 OSU in his "Next four out" category, so this must be a very soft bubble. We ain't dead yet, but I haven't seen anything that indicates our bubble is about to reform.
February 2nd, 2023 at 12:59 PM ^
The conference is terrible this year. So terrible that one of its teams will probably win the championship for the first time in 23 years -- because that's just how college basketball works.