Non-UM BTT Open Thread
I'm assuming a separate thread will be created for the M game. Today's schedule (link is to tourney bracket):
12:00 - 8 Illinois vs. 9 Minnesota
Edit: Illinois 51 - Minnesota 49
Illinois will play Indiana tomorrow at 12:00.
2:30 - 5 UM vs. 12 PSU
Edit: Michigan 83 - PSU 66
Michigan will play Wisconsin tomorrow at 2:30.
6:30 - 7 Purdue vs. 10 Nebraska
9:00 - 6 Iowa vs. 11 Northwestern
(Bolded teams are who I think will win each game.)
Does Illinois still make it to The Dance with a first-round loss? What will it take for Iowa to make it in? What about Minnesota?
Go blue!
March 14th, 2013 at 11:48 AM ^
I'm hoping to find the first game on TuneIn, but I have to record the M game since I will still be at work. Suffice it to say, I will turn off my phone and avoid all sports web sites until I see the result of the game. This is why I wish M were one of the evening games, but oh well.
March 14th, 2013 at 11:51 AM ^
Illinois. Home crowd, big time scorers. I really think that Minnesota will be squarely on the bubble after today, and possibly on the outside of it.
March 14th, 2013 at 11:51 AM ^
I'd think, at least from a rating perspective, they'd rather have the Illinois-Minnesota and Michigan games later on in the day. Those are the two interesting games but the two snoozers are the night games.
March 14th, 2013 at 11:55 AM ^
when I saw the TV schedule. Also, Michigan (hopefully) v. Wisconsin may be the best all around matchup of tomorrow and that is stuck at 2:30 also. Sense - the BIG does not make any.
March 14th, 2013 at 12:04 PM ^
These times were predetermined based on seeding, and not by what they thought would generate TV ratings.
March 14th, 2013 at 12:19 PM ^
I would think you'd bet that the 8-9 game and the 5 seed game would be more interesting than a 6-11 and 7-10. I wondered if maybe it was to potentially allow more rest for the higher seeded teams but that doesn't fit either
March 14th, 2013 at 12:24 PM ^
Specifically, they are set up so that, as long as the seeding holds, the higher-seeded team will have more rest before their next game.
to watch those games?
</snark>
March 14th, 2013 at 11:55 AM ^
Botth Illinois and Minny make it in regardless of outcome. Minny's SOS and quality wins are really good, and Illinois has beaten Gonzaga and Indiana.
For Iowa, I think they need at least 2 wins in the BTT to be considered. Three and they're in. Four, well, obviously...
March 14th, 2013 at 11:57 AM ^
you (and many others) may be jumping the gun on Minnesota. A loss today would have them 3 games below .500 in the conference play and they have looked outright awful at times. I think they need to be careful.
March 14th, 2013 at 12:05 PM ^
Minnesota has an RPI of 24 and a loss to Illinois isnt going to hurt that too much...they are in
and loses to state. They finish the BIG slate 10-10. Right now consensus is they are out. You can call Minnesota a lock when Iowa is considered to be on the outside looking in? You can get into RPI, BPI, SAT, ACT, and MCAT all you want, but if Iowa finishes a full two games better than Minny in conference they are going to go. Are Iowa and Minny both in?
March 14th, 2013 at 12:08 PM ^
looks awful, but the eye test only goes so far. Their ratings in RPI, SOS, BPI and the like are certainly top 68. If they lose today, they'll be a 9 or 10 seed, win and they're an 8 or 9.
Win #2 takes out MSU & win #3 tOSU.
Four wins ain't happenin', however.
March 14th, 2013 at 11:55 AM ^
Geez. 5th seed. Just now realized that is a mere spot ahead of Iowa and two in front of Purdue. This season crumpled.
~Herm
March 14th, 2013 at 11:58 AM ^
the fan of the AP #6 ranked team in the country......
March 14th, 2013 at 12:12 PM ^
I just hope Gus Johnson calls every single game of the tournament!
"Brandon Paul for three... PYAAAAAAAAWH!"
March 14th, 2013 at 12:19 PM ^
Having Minn and Ill in the 8-9 matchup might be unfortunate for the loser of this game as having one of the teams on the 7 line would have given both teams a reasonably good chance to win their first round game and confirm their spots in the Big Dance (the loser might likely make it anyway but would be sweating it a bit). The winner of the game however should like the match-up with Indiana in the next round considering that both teams beat Indiana on their respective home floors.
March 14th, 2013 at 12:33 PM ^
Illinois and Minnesota playing classic Big Ten basketball in Chicago. First team to 40 wins! How did both of these teams beat Indiana in the last couple weeks?
March 14th, 2013 at 12:36 PM ^
two things I am excited to see...
1) Home court played a HUGE advantage for BIG teams this year...so how does neutral court affect the teams (if at all)?
2) BIG officials...will we see the same old TV Teddy and crew making message boards and blogs blow up because of terrible calls or will the officials "let them play" ?
March 14th, 2013 at 12:38 PM ^
Minny is ice cold right now.
March 14th, 2013 at 12:44 PM ^
When you say "right now" you're meaning the entire 2013 season for them right?
March 14th, 2013 at 12:45 PM ^
Umm, sure. But, especially at this moment. =)
March 14th, 2013 at 12:51 PM ^
So, uh, 2:18 left in the first half and it's 23-13. Yikes.
Edit: It's halftime now. Score: Minnesota 16, Brandon Paul 12. This is ugly.
March 14th, 2013 at 12:51 PM ^
Goldy down by 9 @ the half: 25-16
If it weren't for Brandon Paul this game would be completely unwatchable.
I really wish Mbakwa would stay out of foul trouble. He is one of my favorite non-M players to watch. Although that could also be due to familiarity, what with him playing for Minnesaota for roughly the last decade. Guy is older than Greg Oden.
Also, signs of life from Minny!
That Nebraska is the 10 seed and Northwestern is the 11. Obviously NW got torn up by injuries. I think the chances of Bill Carmody returning are slim, obviously a first round lost in the tourney wouldn't help. Good for Tim Miles at Nebraska though, First year coach avoiding being bottom 2 in this conforerence is pretty good.
So sloppy (both teams). Illinois isn't wiinning so much as Minny is losing.
There is no beer served at the United Center. This game is even more boring this way.
I see a lot of Maize, in the lower bowl, at the UC.
Tie Game! 12:39 mark, 2nd.
EDIT: Goldy takes the lead ! 10:04 mark. Now Illinois looks confused and is sloppy with the ball. 38-34 MN.
I won't say this is becoming a good game, but it is at least becoming interesting. Hollins (one or both of them, I'm honestly not sure) is hitting threes and Minnesota is doing their thing on the boards. If either team could take care of the ball they would run away with this game.
AH; nice avatar! I was at that game and that play still is amazing to watch.
I just lost internet coverage to BTN....lovely.
Are you watching the game while at work? If so, that's fascinating to me. From what I've gathered about you, you seem about the same age as my dad - so I'm basically trying to picture my dad watching basketball and commenting on a blog while at work.
I'm going to guess I fit into that category. But, I'm a web devloper so none of the technology is foreign to me. But, I do recall having COBOL programs on punch cards....
Minnesota got a putback dunk and Paul followed it up with a jump shot. Then there was a near turnover. Copy and paste that for the next 6 minutes of game time and I think it's a fair representation.
Any suggestions?
Illini now 4-19 from the floor this half. This team is like a squad of Carmelo Anthonys. If they're on, very dangerous. If not, ugliness ensues.
I love Gus Johnson play by play
gus johnson is awesome
so glad he is doing btt coverage
this game turned into an offensive explosion
Same score for the last four minutes of game time. !!!
BTN Live BoxScore (LINK) for those of us in meetings.
Crikey, Illinois has an effective FG% of 37% right now and 20 rebounds for the entire game, and still, they are only down by a single point, if this score is up-to-date. They are 9-10 for FTs though, so there's that.
Minny had 17; Illinois, 5.
This is Gus Johnson AT HIS BEST! It's great to hear his voice again.
Anyone have a rooting interest for this one? I've always had a soft spot for Minny in basketball (possibly because I hate Wisconsin so much), but I'm mostly just enjoying the close finish.
Tied @ 49 with 16.3 seconds left. Minny ball with 8 seconds on the shot clock.