Big 10 Tourney

[NittanyLions94]

Can't get the PDF to work but I'll do my best with this:

3/8/07 Game 1: #8 Michigan vs. #9 Minnesota 11 a.m. CT GT

3/8/07 Game 2: #7 Michigan State vs. #10 Northwestern 1:30 p.m. CT*
3/8/07 Game 3: #6 Illinois vs. #11 Penn State 4:05 p.m. CT* GT

3/9/07 Game 4: #1 Ohio State vs. Game 1 Winner 11 a.m. CT G

3/9/07 Game 5: #4 Iowa vs. #5 Purdue 1:30 p.m. CT* GT

3/9/07 Game 6: #2 Wisconsin vs. Game 2 Winner 5:40 p.m. CT

3/9/07 Game 7: #3 Indiana vs. Game 3 Winner 8:10 p.m. CT*
3/10/07 Game 8: Game 4 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner 12:40 p.m.
3/10/07 Game 9: Game 6 Winner vs. Game 7 Winner 3:05 p.m.
3/11/07 Championship Game: Game 8 Winner vs. Game 9 Winner


Big 10 tourney notes:

-The last 3 years the title game had featured the #1 and #2 seeds.
-In 1999 11 seed Illinois went to the title game before losing to Michigan State 57-50
-6 seed Iowa was the lowest seeded team to win the title game.
-The 7 and 10 seeds are the only 2 to never appear in a championship game.
-Illinois has played in the most championship games with 5(11,4, 2, 1, and 1 seeds, respectively)
-The #1 seed is only 5-4 in their first game played, the #2 seed 7-2, #3 seed 4-5, #4 seed 5-4(Started 5-0, 0-4 in the last 4 tournies)
-Of the first day games, the #10 seed is 6-3 against the #7 seed. The #11 seed is 1-8 against the #6 seed(Illinois capturing the only win and going to the title game after going 3-13 in conference that season). The #9 seed is 2-7 playing against the #8 seed.
-When a #9 seed does advance though, they are 2-0 the next day(they play the #1 seed in round 2).
-The #2 seed is 5-1 in title games, the best record of any seed.

So what does all this tell me? Absolutely nothing, but I had a ton of fun doind it. I guess it can be said that Wisconsin has the best shot to win it all based on where they're seeded, Purdue will likely beat Iowa, Northwestern isn't a bad upset pick over MSU, PSU(sadly enough) really has no shot against the Illini, if Minnesota wins their first game then OSU will be watching the rest of the tourney, MSU and Northwestern are the last teams you want to pick when picking a winner.

[NittanyLions94]

LMAO, the MAC tourney gets a 10 reply discussion but the B-10 gets no love?


We'll show you fools come dance time!

[wsox08]

in the first round I like: Michigan, Mich. St., Illinois

second round: Ohio St, Purdue, Wisconsin (close one), Illinois (biased, close one)

third round: Ohio State, Wisconsin

winner: Ohio State in a great game.

[COACH DITKA]

Thanks for the thread Nittany!

This is how I see it:
Thursdays Winners:
Michigan vs Minnesota - Gophers have really shown me nothing all year and the group of seniors on the Wolverines will come out strong.
MSU vs NW - I could see this game being the closest of the 3 opening games, esp. if Neitzel has an off day from the field. NW's style of play can be very frustrating for opponents and if they can control the tempo of the game and slow things down to a half-court crawl, Doyle, Coble, and crew could pull the upset, though I don't see this as very likely since I never doubt Izzo come tourney time.
Illinois vs PSU - Obviously going w/my Illini for other reasons than just a bias. As inconsistent as IL is, no way a team still struggling to bring in talent (like PSU) can knock us off at the UC (15 game winning streak). I expect big games on the inside from Carter and Pruitt again.

2ND ROUND:
OSU vs Michigan - Depending on what happens w/other conference tournies, the Bucks will want this one to cement their #1 seed and keep momentum rolling into tourney. Oden has big game.
Iowa vs Purdue - Honestly, just siding w/the Hawks here since they have no shot for a bid outside of auto bid whereas Boilers still need W's for a birth. Both teams brutal away from home and could come down to Haluska and Smith vs Landry and Teague. Hoping Iowa wins for Illini's sake but could go either way.
Wisconsin vs MSU - Will hafta wait and see what happens to Wisky w/Butch's injury, but these 2 teams played 2 great games against each other this year. More pressure on Tucker now and this should be a third great game but I take the Spartans in an upset.
Indiana vs Illinois - More wishful thinking here and all depends what IL team shows up (yeah I mean hot 3 point shooting from you McBride, among other factors). IL choked the game away in Bloomington a few weeks ago and the UC streak moves to 17 here as IMO, Hoosiers are nothing more than average away from home.

SEMIS:
OSU vs Iowa - Iowa is not a very good team and they should not have a chance unless OSU is looking ahead. Either way, outside of Haluska and Tyler Smith, Hawks dont have much. Bucks get the W here.
Illinois vs MSU - I think my Illini are done here, as they got the 2 W's I feel should get them into the tourney. If we do win, it has to come from inside out. Randle has to step up and do something this year sometime and B10 tourney might as well be the best time to bust out. Normally I'd like my Illini over Spartans, but regardless of who we play, just can't see us getting past the semis.

FINAL:
OSU vs MSU - Only team I felt that had a legit chance here was Wisky and w/them out, the Spartans gotta be outta gas here already, w/4 straight games. Oden appears to be nearly 100% and they just have too much talent not to win the B10 tourney.


Wow, a lil longer to write up than I thought - started this damn post 3 hours ago! Too many interruptions I guess. Anyways, hope we see some great games and GO ILLINI!


Moose

[xHeroOfTheDayx]

The Gophers are going to get SMOKED. Michigan - the pts, whatever the line may be.

[Woody12]

Where'd you get the bracket? What site?

Thanks!

[wsox08]

Originally Posted by Woody12

Where'd you get the bracket? What site?

Thanks!

found it on the big ten website.

[COACH DITKA]

Cmon guys, lets get this B10 chatter goin!

Games went according to planned yesterday, MSU-NW close like I thought but didn't anticipate my Illini struggling so much as they did (that zone really caused problems for Bruce's boys).
Anyways, my picks stay the same as I previously listed though gotta hope Iowa can knock off Purdue and do us a favor.
GO ILLINI!


Moose

[wsox08]

Originally Posted by COACH DITKA

Cmon guys, lets get this B10 chatter goin!

Games went according to planned yesterday, MSU-NW close like I thought but didn't anticipate my Illini struggling so much as they did (that zone really caused problems for Bruce's boys).
Anyways, my picks stay the same as I previously listed though gotta hope Iowa can knock off Purdue and do us a favor.
GO ILLINI!


Moose

Looks like Purdue will take down Iowa (guess).. then I think IL will beat Indiana.. and Wisconsin will take care of Michigan State.

[wsox08]

in the first round I like: Michigan, Mich. St., Illinois

second round: Ohio St, Purdue, Wisconsin (close one), Illinois (biased, close one)

third round: Ohio State, Wisconsin

winner: Ohio State in a great game.

my predictions are looking good so far.