No. 8 Illinois vs. No. 9 Minnesota - This is a great match up to kick off the tournament. Both of these teams are extreme Wild Cards and both should make it to the big dance. I'm going to give the slight edge to the Illini though due to Minnesota's inconsistency.
No. 5 Michigan vs. No. 12 Penn State - Michigan a five seed? If you told me that would happen at the beginning of the season? I would have laughed. I believe that Michigan's collapse against Indiana re-motivated them and the Wolverines are going to come out hungry. No 12/5 upset here for the Nittany Lions. That team up North advances.
No. 7 Purdue vs. No. 10 Nebraska - Of course I'm watching this game with extra interest. The winner plays the Buckeyes. I'm going to give the nod here to Nebraska. Even though Purdue doesn't like to run I think the Cornhuskers will control the tempo and frustrate the Boilermakers. Purdont advance.
No. 6 Iowa vs. No. 11 Northwestern - Ho hum. Who cares? Hawkeyes advance.
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This is where the tournament is going to get crazy...
No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 8 Illinois - I don't think the pressure is really on for the Hoosiers here. The first time as a #1 seed in the B1G Tournament shouldn't play into this game. Despite losing to the Illini earlier in the year the Hoosier's played a phenomenal game against them. If they can contain the guard play and let Zeller work down low Indiana should get by. Hoosiers advance.
No. 4 Wisconsin vs. No. 5 Michigan - In the second "upset" of the tournament the Michigan powerhouse will roll Wiscy. Bo Ryan will have a hard time containing the weapons for Michigan who will be like I mentioned earlier on a hunt for a tournament win.
No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 10 Nebraska - The Cornhuskers will be coming off an upset of Purdont. The Buckeyes have been playing their best basketball since being clobbered by Wisconsin. This game would be better with Purdue and I'm not upset if I mess up the first round. Ohio State easily advances.
No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 6 Iowa - Ah Sparty, the defending champs. How long has it been? A year? Time for the "Izzo" factor to kick in and Michigan State get to reminding everyone whose been the most consistent tournament team in the past decade.
Then, Sparty meets Iowa and Roy Devyn Marble. The Hawkeyes will be riding a real streak as winners of seven in their last nine (counting the Northwestern win). In their lone meeting earlier this season Iowa led Sparty for most of the game. The Hawkeye's defense is much improved and if they can control Tempo and stay out of foul trouble? They'll advance. Hawkeyes.
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No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 5 Michigan - This is where the #1 will fall. Despite the comeback win only a week prior the Wolverines will be out to prove a point. Indiana will have to shoot well from the field and execute the play even better if they want to knock out the Juggarnaut in Michigan. I really think that the Wolverines are on a war path for this B1G tournament and will knock out the Hoosiers by double-digits.
No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 6 Iowa - The Buckeye's #2 seed prevails again as instead of getting Sparty they'll wind up with Iowa. The Hawkeyes were dominated by the Buckeyes in the first meeting for most of the game. Then the Ohio State offense hit a wall and the Hawkeyes who were down by as many as 24 came within four points of tying that game. The Buckeyes ended up winning by 9. They'll do so again here in a much more violent beat down of Iowa.
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The Championship Game
No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 5 Michigan = Is it destiny that these two teams should meet one more time? Of course it is. After splitting the season series both will be playing at their peak come the championship game. I think the Buckeyes will get a slight advantage here early as Michigan will have played an extra game. Ohio State having an easy road to the title game too also will play a factor.
I'm not counting out Michigan though and simply writing them off. The starting five is better, the bench is better, and they'll have more on the table to prove than the Buckeyes. However, the coaching nod and experience goes to the Buckeyes.
This will be a title fight for the ages and both teams will leave it all out on the floor. Although it's probably the safer choice to go with Michigan. I simply can't pick the Wolverines over the Buckeyes. In what will be Ohio State's shining moment (I have them out in the S16) of the post season the Buckeyes will be crowned 2012 B1G Tournament Champs.
No. 5 Michigan vs. No. 12 Penn State - Michigan a five seed? If you told me that would happen at the beginning of the season? I would have laughed. I believe that Michigan's collapse against Indiana re-motivated them and the Wolverines are going to come out hungry. No 12/5 upset here for the Nittany Lions. That team up North advances.
No. 7 Purdue vs. No. 10 Nebraska - Of course I'm watching this game with extra interest. The winner plays the Buckeyes. I'm going to give the nod here to Nebraska. Even though Purdue doesn't like to run I think the Cornhuskers will control the tempo and frustrate the Boilermakers. Purdont advance.
No. 6 Iowa vs. No. 11 Northwestern - Ho hum. Who cares? Hawkeyes advance.
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This is where the tournament is going to get crazy...
No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 8 Illinois - I don't think the pressure is really on for the Hoosiers here. The first time as a #1 seed in the B1G Tournament shouldn't play into this game. Despite losing to the Illini earlier in the year the Hoosier's played a phenomenal game against them. If they can contain the guard play and let Zeller work down low Indiana should get by. Hoosiers advance.
No. 4 Wisconsin vs. No. 5 Michigan - In the second "upset" of the tournament the Michigan powerhouse will roll Wiscy. Bo Ryan will have a hard time containing the weapons for Michigan who will be like I mentioned earlier on a hunt for a tournament win.
No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 10 Nebraska - The Cornhuskers will be coming off an upset of Purdont. The Buckeyes have been playing their best basketball since being clobbered by Wisconsin. This game would be better with Purdue and I'm not upset if I mess up the first round. Ohio State easily advances.
No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 6 Iowa - Ah Sparty, the defending champs. How long has it been? A year? Time for the "Izzo" factor to kick in and Michigan State get to reminding everyone whose been the most consistent tournament team in the past decade.
Then, Sparty meets Iowa and Roy Devyn Marble. The Hawkeyes will be riding a real streak as winners of seven in their last nine (counting the Northwestern win). In their lone meeting earlier this season Iowa led Sparty for most of the game. The Hawkeye's defense is much improved and if they can control Tempo and stay out of foul trouble? They'll advance. Hawkeyes.
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No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 5 Michigan - This is where the #1 will fall. Despite the comeback win only a week prior the Wolverines will be out to prove a point. Indiana will have to shoot well from the field and execute the play even better if they want to knock out the Juggarnaut in Michigan. I really think that the Wolverines are on a war path for this B1G tournament and will knock out the Hoosiers by double-digits.
No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 6 Iowa - The Buckeye's #2 seed prevails again as instead of getting Sparty they'll wind up with Iowa. The Hawkeyes were dominated by the Buckeyes in the first meeting for most of the game. Then the Ohio State offense hit a wall and the Hawkeyes who were down by as many as 24 came within four points of tying that game. The Buckeyes ended up winning by 9. They'll do so again here in a much more violent beat down of Iowa.
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The Championship Game
No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 5 Michigan = Is it destiny that these two teams should meet one more time? Of course it is. After splitting the season series both will be playing at their peak come the championship game. I think the Buckeyes will get a slight advantage here early as Michigan will have played an extra game. Ohio State having an easy road to the title game too also will play a factor.
I'm not counting out Michigan though and simply writing them off. The starting five is better, the bench is better, and they'll have more on the table to prove than the Buckeyes. However, the coaching nod and experience goes to the Buckeyes.
This will be a title fight for the ages and both teams will leave it all out on the floor. Although it's probably the safer choice to go with Michigan. I simply can't pick the Wolverines over the Buckeyes. In what will be Ohio State's shining moment (I have them out in the S16) of the post season the Buckeyes will be crowned 2012 B1G Tournament Champs.
