We have an NCAA tourney thread now to keep that organized, and I think that thread will blossom soon enough, but as we look ahead to next week, I think there will be quite a bit to talk about in the Big Ten tourney as well.

Example: Big Ten has been a prime example, with some obvious exceptions, of home court advantage this year. I'm curious to see what happens at the relatively neutral location of Indianapolis. If the Hoosiers were a top team this year I could understand why it might be a benefit to them, but they aren't. Could they possibly win the Big Ten tourney? They better hope so if they want to go to the Big Dance. I think it's a possibility, but it's a tough road and with the chaos the program is on right now I wouldn't bet on it.

MSU is taking it all.

Anyone know what the tie-breakers are for seeding? It's possible we could have 3 teams at 9-7 battling for the last 2 byes. If Wisconsin wins their last game, they get a bye for sure. State needs to be Illinois to have a shot. Otherwise, the winner of the Michigan-Indiana game gets the last first round bye.

The first round games, by seeding, are:
#6 vs #11, winner plays #3 next
#7 vs #10, winner plays #2 next
#8 vs #9, winner plays #1 next

#4 plays #5 in the second round.

So if Michigan or Michigan State miss out on a bye, it means they play Purdue, Minnesota or Northwestern in the first round. Purdue would love to make some noise here.

The big ten standings as of today


Ohio St. (9) 11-4 22-4
Illinois (10) 11-5 25-5
Iowa (23) 11-5 22-8
Wisconsin 9-7 19-10
Indiana 9-7 17-10
Michigan St. (25) 8-8 20-10
Michigan 8-8 18-9
Penn St. 6-10 14-13
Northwestern 6-10 14-14
Minnesota 5-11 14-13
Purdue 3-12 9-17



So if Ohio state wins today,(which they should) the standings will go like this.



Ohio St. (9) 12-4 23-4
Illinois (10) 11-5 25-5
Iowa (23) 11-5 22-8
Wisconsin 9-7 19-10
Indiana 9-7 17-10
Michigan St. (25) 8-8 20-10
Michigan 8-8 18-9
Penn St. 6-10 14-13
Northwestern 6-10 14-14
Minnesota 5-11 14-13
Purdue 3-13 9-18




So the matchups would be......



#6 MSU #11 Purdue
#7 UM #10 Minnesota
#8 Penn St. #9 NW
#4 Wisconsin #5 Indiana



They byes are #1 OSU #2 Illinois #3 Iowa



But if OSU loses, then I don't know how a tie breaker would work. Season series matchup? If so, then Iowa would be the #1 seed because Iowa won their only game with OSU.

I know that Michigan absolutely blew a huge chance to jump in to the #5 seed, but the loss to Indiana really hurt us in the Big Ten Tourney. I honestly think we could've taken Iowa or Wiscy w/o fear, but having to play Illinois in the 2nd round I can say it scares me a little bit. I'm hoping that Lester will see about 10 minutes against Minnesota and hopefully he can put in 20 good minutes against Illinois, but I'd rather be playing Iowa or Wiscy in the 2nd round.

I like Michigan's spot in the Tourney. We matchup better against Minnestoa than we do Purdue, and better aginst Illinois than any of the other top 3 teams. Remember, we beat Illinois once - almost twice, but lost to Ohio State both times. We beat Wisconsin once, but I don't like our chances to do it again as much as I do the Illini. But the team can't play like they're already in the Big Dance. A loss to Minnesota could be devastating.

Michigan has Illinois in round 2 if they get by Minnesota (which they should).

UM matches up extremely well with Illinois. That would be a hell of a game.

MSU should beat Purdon't and Iowa.

Actually we are facing Penn St. I don't get it though, If we are #6 and Penn St. is 8, then why are we facing Penn St? And I checked the tourney schedule and there is no Purdue. Hmmm......

Ok this is confusing me.... here is the schedule for thursday according to Yahoo

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaab/scoreboard?d=2006-03-09&c=big10&refresh=60


It says penn st is facing NW but 5 hours later is facing us? Thats wierd.

Stop using "we" and "us." I don't know who you are talking about and I know you aren't a member of a Big Ten team.

If you visted here more often you would know I am a spartans fan.

If you visted here more often you would know I am a spartans fan.
I do visit here, I just don't read all of your posts.

Ok, if your little catfight is over, can we move on?

A question - while I like the opponents, can someone tell me what the tie-breaker is? Michigan and Michigan State have identical conference records. I'm not whining because I don't care this time around, but what is the first tie-breaker they go to that automatically had State as the higher seed?

Maybe regular season records.

If OSU wins the tourney and isn't a #1 seed I will riot.

I'm not sure if this is going to work or not here, cuz I got it from an "insider" article on The Wolverine, but here is the Big Ten tourney bracket.

http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/big10/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2006_MBBtourney.pdf

If it doesn't work for ya, Michigan gets Minnesota in the first round and the winner plays Iowa. MSU plays Purdue and then they'll play Illinois.

Do we know yet if Abram decided to clean the sand out of his vagina and play in the tourney? If they plan on making the dance, they need Lester in there to prove to the committee that the team they have going into March Madness is better than the team they had during the Big Ten season.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060307/SPORTS0201/603070340/1004/SPORTS


Abram is ready to face Gophers

Junior guard has not played since Jan. 21 because of ankle injury; Hunter is questionable.

Jim Spadafore / The Detroit News

ANN ARBOR -- NCAA Tournament hopeful Michigan is facing another in a long list of must-win games when it plays Minnesota at 2:30 p.m. Thursday in its Big Ten tournament opener at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

But the Wolverines (18-9, 8-8) should get an emotional lift because redshirt junior guard Lester Abram said repeatedly Monday that he expects to play against the Gophers.

The Wolverines, a seventh seed, might have to beat the 10th-seeded Gophers for the third time this season to get into the NCAA's 65-team field. Coach Tommy Amaker believes his team already has a pretty good resume.

"I think it would be hard in my opinion to have teams go .500 in the best conference in America and not make the NCAA Tournament," Amaker said. "Our conference deserves that type of consideration. You've seen some conferences where teams had losing (league) records get in the NCAA Tournament. I think we've seen that a lot."

While Abram is ready, Amaker said that senior center Chris Hunter (knee) is questionable.

Abram has played in a total of 77 minutes in four Big Ten games this season. He has missed 12 games.

An All-Big Ten third-team selection as a sophomore, Abram said he's not going to hold back and that he expects to play with the same "reckless abandonment" that he played before he was injured. He said he doesn't think stamina will be a concern.

"Obviously, my team needs me to be out there on the court," Abram said. "It's better for me to be out there playing instead of sitting on the bench. I just need to play basketball. I'm going in with the intent to play my game. However, if he (Amaker) wants to manage my minutes that's up to him, but I'm going out there with the focus to go out there and try to play basketball.

"Stamina? That's what practice is for. If I can go through all of the practices, practices are harder than the games. So, if I can get through practice I can get through the games."

Amaker said he's hopeful that Abram will be able to play against Minnesota (14-13, 5-11). Abram wanted to play Saturday in a 69-67 loss to Indiana, but Amaker decided against it because he didn't want to rush Abram's return. Abram has been out since Jan. 21 when he was injured early in the second half of a 71-55 victory at Minnesota.

"We're hopeful that he'll have an opportunity to play for us in the tournament this week," Amaker said. "We have to see how he does in the next few days in practice."

Michigan defeated Minnesota, 72-50, on Feb 15 at Crisler Arena without Dion Harris (ankle) and Abram. But senior guard Daniel Horton was huge in both games with 32 and 21 points, respectively. Hunter responded with 13 points in his first start of the season in the second game against the Gophers, but he's questionable for Thursday.

Anybody that misses that long with an ankle injury is a straight up pusa. A kid on our team sprained his ankle real bad on Friday. There was a softball sized (literally) swelling on his ankle 1 hour later. He'll be playing (not 100% on Thursday).

How do you miss months? I know high ankle sprains are worse, but c'mon!

On a side note, sucks that MSU might play Illinois. Dee is guaranteed another career game.

I completely agree, Tre. And didn't Hunter partially tear something in his knee? All the sudden he's playing 2 weeks later in the game against Minnesota. Seems like opposite ends of the spectrum.

We're losing to Minnesota. WTF!

Everyone, chant along!

NIT! NIT! NIT!

What a bunch of bitches.

We get an opportunity to pad our wins with a great matchup against a crap team we've beaten twice already and this is the best they could do?

Fuck Michigan. Have a great time playing against Notre Dame and Maryland in the NIT.

As Eric Cartman would say:




Neh Neh Neh Neh Neh Neh, Heh Heh Heh Heh Heh Heh.

This sucks. How can they play with zero heart.

In other news, Michigan State defeated Purdue 70-58. We WILL beat Illinois tomorow.

Matt Trannon says: "I ate his liver with fiva beans and a nice Chianti."

An absolute shameful performance by Michigan. When you are playing for your NCAA tournament lives vs. a 15-13 Minnesota team, and you show no heart is pitiful. They acted like they are already in and were just out there going through the motions. They showed no hustle, no care for the ball, endless turnovers (21) and a stagnant offense. TYPICAL MICHIGAN BASKETBALL.

I hate that Horton was quoted as saying "We're in." after the Indiana loss. I don't think a leader should say things like that at this point. He should have said "we've still got some work to do" to get the team in that mindset. What a joke.

Bottom line, Michigan has now lost 7 of their last 9, and have no business being in the NCAA tournament. Injuries are no excuse. What a titanic collapse by these mental midgets.

Matt Trannon says: "I ate his liver with fiva beans and a nice Chianti."

Cracking up laughing right now! Great post. That mask is scary.

Agree with everything Moodini said. If Michigan does not get in the NCAA Tournament, it is an all time low. They had it in the bag. If they don't make it this year, something needs to be changed (coach).

As much as I love Tommy I'd like to see one of those super cool mid-major coaches come to our program and actually appreciate being here. There are so many examples of good coaches that came from mid-majors................Hey Tre, does State have any good up and coming coaches that we could steal away? I hate to say it, but a Tom Izzo assistant wouldn't be a bad way to go. Michigan fans hate Izzo, but we all respect what he has done and obviously his assistants would have a good inside track into the state of Michigan recruiting wise..........just a thought I guess!

Montgomery would be your best bet. Jim Boylen is the best assistant they have, but he's content with where he's at. He doesn't want to be a head coach after all his NBA work.

The mid-major route is the way to go. Michigan missed the boat though. They could have had a GREAT one had they snagged Bruce Pearl when he was available last year. He would have jumped at the job too.

OMFG, THE MSU ILLINOIS GAME IS NOT ON TV!!




GOD DAMNIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's ok, I'm watching Shanghai Noon on TBS and it's much more entertaining.

Yes it is on TV.


Up 7 at the half. Yeah bitches.

Yeah, it's on UPN.

They took WWE Smackdown off for this game. BOOOOOOOOOO

Oh well, DOWN WITH THE ILINI!

That's ok, I'm watching Shanghai Noon on TBS and it's much more entertaining.Ok, go cry for losing to Minnesota while were BEATING ILLINOIS

FUCK! GOD DAMN NEITZEL!

SHANNON!!!!!!!!

YEAHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We WILL beat Illinois tomorow. [smilie=applause.gi: [smilie=applause.gi: [smilie=applause.gi: [smilie=applause.gi: [smilie=applause.gi: [smilie=applause.gi:

Looks like Steve had himself a ball.

Well it was a good run, but we ran out of legs.


Just gotta wait to see who we face in the tournament tomorow.

Well it was a good run, but we ran out of legs.


Just gotta wait to see who we face in the tournament tomorow.

running out of legs is an understatement. This was their 5th game in a week. explain to me how that is even considered logical.

Well it was a good run, but we ran out of legs.


Just gotta wait to see who we face in the tournament tomorow.

running out of legs is an understatement. This was their 5th game in a week. explain to me how that is even considered logical.Fine, our legs fell off.