Alright, ladies and gents as you guys probably have a good idea already and know by know, I am a pretty big fan of the Big Ten! Now I mean a huge fan, and that comes from my passion for everything Ohio State but that also rubs off on everything about the other school. So in this years NCAA March Madness I will be cheering for each Big Ten school…..(I’m still debating about cheering for Michigan or not). So the point of this article was to break down each B1G school’s game and see what I think will happen! I am adding in the strengths and weakness to each team along with the score predictions. So without further ado, let’s get to it!

South Region

#12 Middle Tennessee vs #5 Minnesota with tipoff at 4 pm on March 16th at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

-As much as I was completely surprised by the Golden Gophers this year and how I was really impressed with them winning eight games down the stretch I honestly don’t think they have enough experience in them to get a win. Don’t get me wrong Minnesota has talent throughout its lineup. Coach Richard Pitino gets solid guard play from Nate Mason and Dupree McBrayer, they have a slasher in freshman Amir Coffey, trots out a double-double machine in Jordan Murphy and gets an inside presence from Reggie Lynch. In a word, Minnesota is very versatile. The Gophers have lacked composure at times. For as good as Mason is, he can be erratic and take bad shots. They’ve also stumbled in the second half of games but have been better recently. But that stumbling won’t work in the tourney.

-Now with the Blue Raiders team that are fresh off winning the Conference USA, they know what it takes to win in the Tournament as an underdog, and that’s dangerous for a higher-seeded team going up against them. They won as a No. 15 seed last year (if you guys remember), by knocking off Michigan State in the first round before falling to eventual Final Four participate Syracuse. Coach Kermit Davis won’t need to make much of a pep talk to his team with returnees like Reggie Upshaw and Giddy Potts teaming up with Arkansas transfer Jacorey Williams, who leads 30-4 Middle Tennessee in scoring at 17.3 points per game. Potts dropped 30 points in the Conference USA title game against Marshall. But they also have some weakness as well, Middle Tennessee can score with anyone in the country, but it is prone to getting into shootouts and that might not be ideal for better competition then what it sees in C-USA (like Minnesota). The Blue Raiders will need to have the same intensity at the defensive end as they do on the offensive side of the ball.

–Minnesota vs. Middle Tennessee Prediction:
The Blue Raiders do it again as I don’t think the Gophers have the experience for the tourney. Plus MT are 11-1 in their last 12 so they are on a hot roll! My prediction on the game is Blue Raiders’ Jacorey Williams puts up 20 points, Reggie Upshaw has a double-double and Middle Tennessee shocks the Golden Gophers to moves on.
Minnesota vs. Middle Tennessee Score Prediction: Middle Tennessee 83, Minnesota 77

West Region

#9 Vanderbilt vs #8 Northwestern with tipoff at 4:30 pm at the Vivant Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah

-The drought is over. Northwestern has finally made the NCAA Tournament for the first time ever, earning the No. 8 seed in the West Region! The Wildcats are all about balance. They lack a true star but have quality depth, including Bryant McIntosh, Scottie Lindsey, Vic Law and Dererk Pardon. They assist on roughly 60 percent of their field goals made and share the ball effectively, which will be key in the Big Dance. But not having a big name star hurts as Northwestern really doesn’t have a true go-to player when it’s crunch time. That can hurt when buckets are needed down the stretch of a close game in the tournament. It really is simple as that, for example, if you need someone to take a last second shot (like a Kobe or a Lebron) they do not have it at all. That will hurt them big time against the Commodores.

-How does a team that was waxed by Middle Tennessee and lost five games in the middle of January make the NCAA Tournament? Well, sweeping the Florida Gators and thumping South Carolina certainly helps! The quintessential bubble team, Vanderbilt is a team that’ll make you pull your hair out, and I’m sure and Vandy fan reading this will agree with me 100%. If the threes are dropping, then hold on to your butts. Vandy averaged 38% from beyond the arc during the regular season, making roughly 10 a game (which is really good). Shooting 77% from the charity stripe is also a plus because in the tournament, free points are a big help especially to keep you in a game. Their weakness you ask? As I said, they make a lot of threes and there is a saying: “live by the three, die by the three.” At only 13 assists per game, it’s no wonder Vandy’s assist-turnover ratio (1.06) was so low during the regular season. The Commodores’ scoring margin also leaves a lot to be desired. Essentially, hope for the Dores to catch lightning in a bottle and drop buckets for a good stretch.

–Northwestern vs. Vanderbilt Prediction
Northwestern’s historic run continues. The Wildcats get big performances from Scottie Lindsey and Bryant McIntosh to knock off Vanderbilt and advance to the second round, likely against No. 1 seed Gonzaga. The reason I say this is because Zaga are playing a 16 seed and a number one seed have never lost and I don’t see it happening this year.
Northwestern vs. Vanderbilt Score Prediction: Northwestern 65, Vanderbilt 61

 

 

#11 Xavier vs #6 Maryland with tip at 6:50 pm on March 16th at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida

-Mark Turgeon took his Terps to the Sweet Sixteen last year and they have a good chance to go back this year. They have a bunch of strengths and plenty of weapons around Trimble, including the freshman trio of Justin Jackson, Anthony Cowan and Kevin Huerter. Trimble is the focal point of everything coach Mark Turgeon does and can take over a game at a moment’s notice. For example, his game-winning three-pointer vs Michigan State out of nothing. He literally took the ball out of the inbound, walked up the court and drained a deep three for the win. But for all their talent, the Terps are wildly inconsistent. Trimble can go cold just as quickly as he can heat up, and the same goes for Cowan. Maryland lost four of six toward the end of the season and took itself out of the Big Ten title chase. Their Big Ten Tourney chances were killed with a disappointing loss to Northwestern in a game which they should have won as well.

-Chris Mack has only missed one Big Dance during his Xavier stint, so you could say he is extremely consistent. Trevon Bluiett is the reason the Musketeers are in the NCAA Tournament. He sat out twice during a six-game losing streak toward the end of the regular season and left early in another because of a sprained ankle that’s still causing him pain. But the junior guard is a scoring machine who can help Xavier pull off a couple upsets, and I really mean it and wouldn’t be surprised if it happens. Xavier big man Edmond Sumner suffered a season-ending injury Jan. 29, and it’s part of the reason the Musketeers struggled down the stretch. They really had a hard time getting the ball inside. They’ll need to find a way to get through it and not rely so heavily on Bluiett. They need to spread the scoring out and give him a rest once and a while and establish a presence in the paint.

–Maryland vs. Xavier Prediction
The Terrapins have Trimble, who will prove to be the best player on the court and a player who can carry a team far in The Dance. I think he will put up 25 points, 5 boards, and 5 assists. This has been an inconsistent Terps team, but Trimble’s play will prove to be the difference since it is the NCAA Tourney and he will step up. Xavier will keep it close but he will come up clutch once again at the end.
Maryland vs. Xavier Score Prediction: Maryland 68, Xavier 64

Midwest Region

-#13 Vermont vs #4 Purdue with tip at 7:27 pm on March 16th at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

-Purdue’s Caleb Swanigan is a national player of the year candidate and has helped the Boilermakers win the Big Ten regular-season championship and earn a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Purdue’s biggest advantage is interior their presence. National Player of the Year candidate Caleb Swanigan and 7-footer Isaac Haas helped Purdue rank near the top of the Big Ten in average rebound differential per game and can score on anyone in the paint. I’m serious, about 8/10 times they will score when the post up someone in the paint, they are that dominate. I would say their biggest weakness is that the Boilermakers’ defense can be spotty. They rank near the bottom of the Big Ten in turnover differential per game and in the middle of the pack in opponents’ field goal percentage. Locking down can be an issue, but they combat that with efficiency at the other end. So it will be interesting to see what they can do against the Catamounts in defense.

-They will be taking on Vermont, which enters the Tournament as the hottest team in the nation. The Catamounts have won 21 consecutive games after winning the America East tournament in come from behind fashion. The Catamounts are 29-5 and head into the tournament having won 21 straight games without a single player averaging more than Anthony Lamb’s 12.6 points per contest. Coach John Becker’s team has balance and gets contributions from all over their roster. Vermont is shooting at almost 50 percent to rank ninth in the nation, and its average of 61.6 points allowed per game ranks 11th. The Catamounts are efficient on both ends and could be a tough out as a double-digit seed. Although plenty of players see time, Vermont does rely heavily on its starting five, to be honest. It gets away with that in the America East, but playing against a tough defense with a certain group getting the majority of the minutes against a power-conference team could lead to fatigue and do in for the Catamounts.

–Purdue vs. Vermont Prediction
This is going to be a better game than some might think. Vermont is going to play tough and give Purdue a run for their money, but the Boilermakers pull out the victory with help from another double-double from Swanigan.
Purdue vs. Vermont Score Prediction: Purdue 83, Vermont 74

-#10 Oklahoma State vs #7 Michigan on March 17th with tipoff at 12:15 pm at Bankers Field Lifehouse in Indianapolis, Indiana

-Michigan went from a scary incident when its plane skidded off the runway during takeoff for Washington, D.C., to winning the Big Ten tournament and heading into this week with plenty of momentum. The Wolverines are on fire and earned the No. 7 seed. Michigan has a lot of experience with Derrick Walton Jr., Zac Irvin, and D.J. Wilson. These players can all help the team stay composed under the pressure of the Big Dance. Walton and sophomore Moe Wagner have keyed the Wolverines’ end-of-the-season push to lock up a bid. They are like Vandy, and by that I mean Michigan lives and dies by the 3-pointer, leading the Big Ten in average long-range attempts per game at 24.6 during the regular season. The Wolverines too often can start chucking them up, and if they’re not knocking them down, it could be their undoing.

-The Cowboys earned an at-large bid out of the Big 12 and are led by Jeffrey Carroll, Jawun Evans and Phil Forte III make up a solid trio that can put points on the board in a hurry. Evans is just as good of a distributor as he is a scorer as well. They found their groove toward the end of the regular season and make Oklahoma State a tough out in the NCAATournament. I’d have to say their weakness is that the Cowboys don’t have much depth. Coach Brad Underwood uses eight players regularly, but those coming off the bench often see fewer than 20 minutes. Carroll, Evans, and Forte are fantastic players, but they’re going to need some help if they want to get past the Wolverines.

-Michigan vs. Oklahoma State Prediction
This has the potential to be one of the best games of the first round. Michigan ultimately will pull it out, though, as the Wolverines continue their wild ride into the second round. Maybe by a last second shot and a couple free throws in my opinion. Walton Jr. and Wilson will have 15+ points each.
Michigan vs. Oklahoma State Score Prediction: Michigan 79, Oklahoma State 75

#9 Michigan State vs #9 Miami FL on March 17th tipoff at 9:20 pm at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma

-A major strength is guard play. Bruce Brown has experienced his ups and downs as a freshman, but he is pretty capable of carrying the team. Senior guard Davon Reed’s shooting percentage is down this year, but he’s still tough to guard and capable of a big game in the tourney. The inside game leaves a lot to be desired. Ebuka Izundu, Dewan Huell, and Kamari Murphy don’t provide much offense, so the Hurricanes are heavily reliant on their guards. The good news is that strong guard play can go a long way in The Dance. They will have to figure it out vs the Spartans.

-The Spartans are young, but they’re not selfish. They’re among the nation’s leaders in percentage of assists on field goals made and work the ball around until a good shot opens up. Especially for standout freshmen Miles Bridges and Nick Ward. They might have a field day down low. They BIG problem for MSU are the turnovers, because they have plagued Michigan State all year, an issue that comes with the territory for such a young team. The Spartans ranked near the bottom of the Big Ten in turnovers with over 14 per game. They need to cut it down in the big dance.

-Miami vs. Michigan State Prediction
Standout freshman Miles Bridges takes over for the Spartans, scoring 25 points as Michigan State advances to the second round. I also personally think Nick Ward will have a strong double-double at 20 points and 12 boards.
Miami vs. Michigan State Score Prediction: Michigan State 77, Miami 70

East Region

#9 Virginia Tech vs #8 Wisconsin on March 16th with tip at 9:40 pm at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York

-Greg Gard and the Badgers did not play well during the season’s final stretch before advancing to the Big Ten tournament final and losing to Michigan which earned them the 8 seed. The Badgers have plenty of NCAA Tournament experience. Bronson Koenig, Nigel Hayes, Vitto Brown and Zak Showalter have played in two Final Fours including a loss in the national title game two years ago. They also helped Wisconsin reach the Sweet 16 last year when National Player of the Year candidate Ethan Happ was a redshirt freshman. This weakness isn’t a lot, but the Badgers were at their worst toward the end of the season, which isn’t ideal heading into a single-elimination tournament. Koenig, especially, has struggled and you never want a losing streak going into something big.

-The Hokies were one of the toughest teams to play against in the ACC on a nightly basis. They may be undersized, but the Hokies have the guards to score. Offensive balance is a major key. They have five players averaging at least 9.1 points per contest, led by Zach LeDay with 15.6 points per game. Seth Allen (13.1), Ahmed Hill (11.9), Justin Robinson (10.4) and Justin Bibbs (9.1) who are all capable of standout games and carrying the load. The loss of Chris Clarke was a devastating blow for the Hokies this year. While they have played well despite the brutal season-ending injury to their glue player, he was a versatile sophomore power forward who was averaging 11.4 points and a team-leading 7.3 RPG at the time. The Hokies had rebounding issues even with him on the floor, so this is a harsh blow because he was their best player on the glass. Clarke was also a good passer, especially in the transition game, as he often used his athleticism to bring the ball up the court on the break. Those are the types of players that become unsung heroes in March. Ty Outlaw has picked up the bulk of the minutes since Clarke went down, and he’s been very good. But Clarke was a key cog in the VT machine and VT has had trouble picking up the slack.

-Wisconsin vs. Virginia Tech Prediction
The Hokies have the athleticism and skill to give the Badgers all sorts of trouble, but Buzz Williams and Co. will feel the loss of do-everything Chris Clarke in this one and fall in the end.
Wisconsin vs. Virginia Tech Score Prediction: Wisconsin 60, Virginia Tech 55

 

I think Purdue has the best chance to go the furthest in this year’s tourney. Even if they don’t have the best offensive and defensive skill sets on their team, they know how to win in crunch time. But I do believe they will make it to the Sweet 16 after a close game with the Iowa State Cyclones, they will then fall to the number one-seed Kansas Jayhawks. This year was a turnaround year for the Big Ten in my opinion and it only looks up from here on out.