A big men's hoop game... Minny again?
Seems strange, but the last time the men's BB team found themselves on the brink of tournament death, they headed to Minneapolis in '09. Results were inspiring and ended up being the reason we got in.
IMO, in many ways this one is even bigger than that game in '09 was. We all seem to accept the fact that we will be much better next year, but how invaluable would tourney experience THIS YEAR be for a veteran team in '11-'12?
Any thoughts on how this trip to the twin cities compares to that one?
February 24th, 2011 at 12:05 PM ^
We haven't beaten a ranked team to make beating Minnesota on the road worth anything.
We won't be making the tournament unless we win out and potentially win at least 2 BTT games and probably more like 3 (or, you know, 4 and we just get the auto-bid).
February 24th, 2011 at 12:10 PM ^
Just asking, but do you think that we really need to win out AND win at least 2 BTT games?
This is sort of my feeling, as well, given the lack of big win, but some are speculating that if we win out and win 1 BTT game, we could get in.
February 24th, 2011 at 12:15 PM ^
well if we win out and Illinois finishes 9-9 that would put us as the 5th seed and Illinois as the 4th assuming sparty is also 9-9.....Is this right? If that is the case and we play Illinois in the first round I can see that as a tourney elimination game.
February 24th, 2011 at 12:28 PM ^
Yes. Illinois, Michigan, and MSU would all be tied. It would then go to the record against the group as a tie breaker. Michigan and Illinois would both be 2-1 and MSU would be 1-2. That requires them to lose one more game before playing us, though. If MSU beats Purdue, though, we'd have 2 wins over what would be deemed as a very good team.
February 24th, 2011 at 12:21 PM ^
Unless Michigan nabs a 5 seed in the BTT, they will need 2 wins in the tournament to nab a bid to the Big Dance. Michigan should be a 6 seed if they win out, which would put them in a second round match-up with Wisconsin again. A win there would give them the signature win that they have been missing all season. Without 2 wins in the BTT, they still won't have that signature win.
February 24th, 2011 at 12:32 PM ^
If Michigan wins out, we will be a 6th seed only if MSU doesn't lose another game. If MSU loses another game, we will be a 5th seed against Illinois in the first round. Beating Minn @Minn, MSU, and Illinois for our last 3 games would get us in for sure. Winning the first two might even be enough. However, if MSU does end up winning their other two games and we are still not quite in the bubble (which I think we will be), Michigan will need to beat Wisc in their second game, which would also be a sure fire in for the tournament.
February 24th, 2011 at 12:35 PM ^
the most likely seed we will get is the five seed. So we would need three wins. If we don't win out in the regular, we pretty much have to make to sunday. That's about as simple as I can look at it.
February 24th, 2011 at 12:08 PM ^
Here's hoping THJr can step into the LLP role and pull it off.
February 24th, 2011 at 12:19 PM ^
THJ is 10 x the player LLP was that season. You know, which is nice.
February 24th, 2011 at 12:09 PM ^
agree......if michigan can beat Minnesota this weekend they will most likely eliminate Minny from the dance...... I still think that if we win our next two games and possible play and beat Ilinois in the Big Ten Tourney then we are in......on a side note I can't take anymore close loses....the past two Wednesday nights have been sleepless....Do I have a problem
February 24th, 2011 at 12:17 PM ^
Yeah, you have a musty taint.
February 24th, 2011 at 12:12 PM ^
This is a tougher spot to be in. That team finished regular season 19-12 and 9-9. We need to not only beat Minny but also beat Sparty again to match that.
The other difference is that team had a ton of big wins (Duke, UCLA, Illinois, Purdue, Minny (x2)). This team has just the 2 top 50 wins (maybe 4 if they can win the next 2). No top 25 wins.
The situation is similar but 2 years ago it was a much more promising scenario. Then it was beat Minny and win a BTT game. Now it's beat Minny, Sparty and probably 2(at least) BTT games, if not the tournament.
February 24th, 2011 at 12:17 PM ^
February 24th, 2011 at 12:46 PM ^
We have to win our last two games. Penn State has to finish no better than 9-9 in conference and cannot outlast us in the BBT.
The Big Ten will get six bids, you can mark that in stone. OSU, Wisky, Purdue, Illinois (at 9-9 but look at overall record), MSU (even at 9-9 and 1 and done in the BTT tourney because of Izzo love) all will get in. That leaves Michigan, Penn State, and Minnesota. If we beat Minny, farewell to any hope they have of getting in. That leaves Penn State at 7-8 right now. Giving Penn State wins over Northwestern and Minny (probably not but just for argument), that puts Penn State at 9-9 in conference with a not so great overall and we have the season sweep. Barring a Taylor Battle party in the Big Ten tourney, that sixth team will be Michigan.
As an aside, if Michigan finishes 8-10 in the regular season and makes a push in the Big Ten tourney, they could still get an at-large.
20-13. If Michigan can some how get to that record, they are tourney bound.
February 24th, 2011 at 3:06 PM ^
Mich will need to win their last two games, hope for Sparty to win out to raise them into the top 30 possible of the RPI. Two wins over Sparty, a win over Minn. and a win in the first round of the BTT will get them in. Luckily for Mich right now, all the bubble teams are dropping games to teams they shouldnt be. Baylor, Nebraska, UTEP, BC, and FSU have all lost in the past 2 nights to teams they could not lose to or been blown off the court in a way that really hurts. Mich lost a game to a team, according to rankings, it should have lost to. I would still prefer to make it to Saturday of the BTT to make it safely in and possibly get out of the play in game, but for now, lets just beat Minny and Sparty and enjoy the effort.