Non-UM BTT Open Thread

Submitted by Moleskyn on

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!

 

Darth Wolverine

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.

ijohnb

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.

gwkrlghl

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.

piston honda

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...

ijohnb

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.

ijohnb

March 14th, 2013 at 2:12 PM ^

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?

piston honda

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.

MichiganManOf1961

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

dc22

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.

814 East U

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" ?

Avant's Hands

March 14th, 2013 at 1:11 PM ^

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!

DingoBlue

March 14th, 2013 at 1:11 PM ^

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.

Avant's Hands

March 14th, 2013 at 1:37 PM ^

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.

steve sharik

March 14th, 2013 at 1:44 PM ^

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.

LSAClassOf2000

March 14th, 2013 at 1:55 PM ^

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. 

Avant's Hands

March 14th, 2013 at 1:58 PM ^

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.