Go Blue Beau

February 23rd, 2011 at 1:09 AM ^

I'll be there. I got three tickets for free from a friend who couldn't make it. Plus this game is kind of a big deal. Just the fact I can even talk about this team possibly making the tourney this year is a huge jump from my preseason expectations.

bklein09

February 23rd, 2011 at 1:32 AM ^

This game is huge for us if we win, but not a deal breaker if we lose.

With Minny going down tonight, they are now 6-9 in the conference. So they would have to win out to get to .500 against Michigan, @NW, and PSU. Of course, we can have a big say in what Minny's final conference record will be. 

The way things are looking right now, MSU and Illinois are in the tourney. That makes 5 Big Ten teams. If the conference gets a 6th, it will be Michigan, PSU, Minny, or NW. 

PSU is sitting at 14 wins making them unlikely to make the dance. 

NW is getting even less tourney talk then we are (ie none).

Minny has lost 6 of 7, and we all know how the selection committee pays attention to team trends down the stretch. Although Minny has beaten UNC and Purdue as signature wins. 

Michigan on the other hand has won 6 of 8, but no big time wins.

IMO, this will come down to us and Minny IF the tournament takes 6 BT teams. If they only take 5 I think we are NIT bound, barring something miraculous in the conference tourney.

Bottom line (and I know this has been said before) is if we get two more wins in the last 3, I think we will have a good shot come selection Sunday. Heck, even if we only beat Minny in the last 3, we have a shot if they are set on selecting 6 teams and we can win 2 in Indy. 

I am very excited about the next couple weeks, and I think we will see what this young team is truly made of. 

Go Blue!

wlubd

February 23rd, 2011 at 9:07 AM ^

Don't want to be Debbie Downer, but this game could be a dealbreaker. There is a glaring hole on our resume in the form of 0-6 against RPI Top 25 and 2-8 against RPI Top 50. We desperately need a signature win. Even beating MSU, Minny and making a mini-BTT run, I think it would be dicey as to whether or not we get a bid without any signature wins.

This game could very well be a dealbreaker. Win means we can maybe afford to drop one of the last two and gives us a resume notching victory, loss means it could be BTT or bust. BEAT THE BADGERS.

BigBlue02

February 23rd, 2011 at 10:27 AM ^

If we lose this game, winning 2 out of the last 3 would require us to beat Minny and State, giving us 4 victories over top 50 teams and 2 "bad" losses, which is just about where everyone else on the bubble is. I know beating Wisky would be big but it isn't a deal breaker. 0-6 against the top 25 looks much better when you consider 5 of the games are against OSU, Purdue, and Kansas. If MSU can get credit for playing a tough schedule and losing all the games (as I saw them mention last night on the big 10 network), we can get credit for having the majority of our top 25 losses to teams that have spent numerous weeks at #1 in the polls.

jmblue

February 23rd, 2011 at 3:17 PM ^

Given the way Minnesota has collapsed, I'm not sure wins over them and MSU would be enough.  We can't assume six bids for the conference.  The selection committee doesn't have any targeted number.  We're competing against all the other bubble teams in the country.  I think we really need this one.

umfan

February 23rd, 2011 at 9:49 AM ^

GO BLUE!!!! Morris drops 32 points on em, Hardaway with another 20, Morgan with 18 more, and Novak another 15 to make up for last game. Michigan 85, Wisconsin 67

ijohnb

February 23rd, 2011 at 10:11 AM ^

to run, early, often.  Wisconsin will half court us to death, and they are very well schooled in defending the back door.  Transition 3 pointers will be the deciding factor.  Given us <6 transition 3s and it is party time in A2. 

Also, ball pressure on Taylor.  Force the ball out of his hands, I would like to see some zone trap around half court, which will hopefully end up in quick shots by Wisconsin also leading into the need for transition opportunities as set forth above.