Who's most likely to pull off an upset in today's BTT action?
Here are today's Big Ten Tourney matchups (all times EST):
(1)MSU vs. (8)Iowa - 12:00
(4)Wisconsin vs. (5)Indiana - 2:00
(2)UM vs. (10)Minnesota - 6:30
(3)OSU vs. (6)Purdue - 8:55
Here's an overview of how the regular season matchups went:
MSU crushed Iowa in the regular season (95-61) at home, but Iowa has shown they can be really tough.
Indiana and Wisconsin played each other once in the regular season, with Wisconsin winning 57-50 at home. This game is the obvious choice for most likely "upset" since both teams are pretty evenly matched. It'd hardly be an upset if Indiana wins, though.
Michigan beat Minnesota at home (61-56) in the regular season. Minnesota can be a tough team.
OSU and Purdue played once in the regular season, and Purdue gave OSU fits in Columbus, though the Buckeyes won 87-84.
So, which team do you think is most likely to pull off an upset?
Aside from Indiana (which, as I said, wouldn't really be an upset if they win), I think Purdue has the best chance to do it. They played OSU tough earlier in the year, they've got a go-to guy in Robbie Hummel, and they're coming off a good win over Nebraska last night.
Agreed - IU wouldn't be an upset. Outside of that, Purdue probably has the best shot.
But I was thinking about it today and I don't think i want to face LewJack again. I'd rather take our chances with OSU.
Anyone else agree?
Purdue. Iowa will get smashed unfortunately
Iowa
I wish.
Can't decide if I'd rather see sparty bow out to Iowa or make it to the final, just in case we're there to face them for a rubber match.
Bow out
Iowa Hawkeyes.
State is not great - They will fall by eight.
they can't contain Roy Devyn - he goin for 15 and 7.
Too much? OK, I am not the greatest.
All they got is Green and Nix - Appling only gettin 6.
That is all.
Is that their fate? Don't know if I can give your prediction too much weight. Sadly, it's likely that State might skate.
As said above, I wouldn't really consider it an upset tonight, but I could see them going to the final (which would be an upset).
Michigan.
- IU over Wisky: IU playing well, Bo Ryan sucks. I'd actually be more surprised if Wisconsin won.
- Purdue over Ohio: Purdue playing well, Ohio is soft
- Iowa over Sparty: Gatens can get hot, State w/o Dawson. Don't hold your breath though.
- Minnesota over Michigan: Michigan relies on shooting, and is therefore succeptible to cold streaks, and Minnesota is... nope, I've got nothing. Minnesota is bad.
really cannot support Ohio being soft. Certainly prone to mental lapses, some long term, but not soft.
Their record might convince you otherwise with a recent 6 game losing streak but 5 of those games were to the B1G's top 5 and the 6th was at Northwestern. They had Sparty on the ropes a couple of weeks ago and probably should have won. Not to mention Michigan only beat them by 5 in Ann Arbor.
I'm happy that we're facing the Gophers instead of Northwestern, but no one should be looking past them.
But I'd say they are the least likely of the four lower seeds to win. You could make an argument for iowa against State, but with Dawson out I'd say the odds of State falling are SLIGHTLY greater (though neither is anywhere near as likely as an Indiana or Purdue win).
IU playing well, Bo Ryan sucks.
Sarcasm?
What happened with the guy from Indiana? He went down with a knee injury yesterday and it did not look good.
Indiana's official stance right now is that it's a knee sprain. However, with the way it actually looked as well as the way Tom Crean talked about in the postgame interview, it sounds like it may be worse.
A "torn" ACL is just a grade 3 knee sprain, no?
Technically, you're absolutely correct. A grade 1 sprain is in fact a microtear. However, I've yet to see an injury report where grades are used. I've always seen it as sprain, partial tear or torn ACL. Then I again, I don't normally go out looking for injury reports.
If it is in fact an acl tear, it would be a strategic move by Indiana to equivocate and just classify this as a sprain until the bracket seedings come out.
Edit: It seems I have a stalker who's immediately marking every single post I've made today as overrated. To whoever you, thank you for the attention, it makes me feel special. If it's just a coincidence that every single one of my posts as been marked overrated minutes after I've created it, I apologize to all for the seemingly crappy comments I've apparently made today.
Torn ACL
I think today we'll get an idea of it how deep and talented MSU's bench really is with Branden Dawson being out. Depending on that, Iowa may have a shot.
However, realistically, I think Purdue is more likely to pull the upset. But as odd as it sounds, at this point, if U of M can beat the Gophers, I'd rather go up against Ohio as it seems Purdue may have our number after doing what no other team could do to us in A2 this year.
Edit: Like many, I don't think IU over Wisconsin counts as an upset.
If i get a choice of rematches I'd prefer the Boilermakers thank you very much. We were 1-1 against both teams and OSU is WAY better than Purdue IMO. Purdue simply caught us on a bad night (parental jitters perhaps) and it showed.
But first....some Gopher stew.
While either way isnt really an upset, I think Indiana is the one that could be upset from a technical standpoint.
Of the 3 games with more of a mismatch, I think in order of likelihood of being upset: Ohio, Michigan, State.
Indiana not much of an upset. Purdue playing well now. Both teams should have a loud and sizeable following at today's games which could carry them to wins.
I was at the UM/UM game in early January and if Minne could have shot the ball reasonably well they win that game easily.
Michigan's in for a battle today.
Along with their poor shooting, Trey Burke had his best game (statistically) of the season to save our butts. 27 points on 8-11 shooting. I'm confident in our chances today, but I agree, Minnesota certainly shouldn't be looked past.
All I know is, that moegocontest guy better not show his face today. It would take some nerve after blatantly failing to produce a Big Ten Champions hat. He has failed as my primary supplier of casualwear and as a human being. In terms of redemption, I can only suggest Seppuku. Lifetime boycott, I may even return some items I haven't worn.
is off to you, brutha. Some people all talk but you back it up.
I've got a couple kids on the way, and as long as they live under my roof(my God does that sound funny to my ears) they will abstain from any and all moegogoods and or services.
Oh man, I feel your pain. Start preparing for many, many sleepless nights. I don't care what other people say - there's no getting used to the sleep deprivation. Good luck!
women and stuff? Like I said, you are a stud.
My eight-year-old hasn't gone to sleep before 10 pm since she stopped taking naps at three years. Our friends talk about what they get up to after they put the kids to sleep and we gnash our teeth.
One woman, two babies. I am the youngest of 11...genes may have had something to do with that. Sorry if that ruins your image of me...I did marry up if that makes you feel better...
we were late in getting to the kid thing, and I always insisted one could lead a full, rich life without it, but my daughter has enriched my life no end.
The biggest upset would by Iowa, but I think Purdue has the best chance. I am also fearful of Minny because of their size; if NW had won, they would have felt they were in the tourney and maybe played with a little letdown.
I wouldn't be surprised if any of the upsets occur. Iowa has been playing well of late, Purdue is a decent team, Indiana and Wisconsin is a coin flip, and we've only seen Minnesota once so they could catch us off guard.
my curiousity. OSU is a fragile bunch of egos held together by the world's ugliest coach, and Purdue is playing--and playing well right now--to extend Hummel's career.
MSU is a pretty one-dimensional team, too; they could be ripe fir the loss without Dawson.
It seems that all these games are the 2nd time this season that these two teams have played.
If so I give the nod to the team that lost in the first game.
an Iowa stunner!
I'd rather have no upsets. I think it's best for tournament preparation and seeding if we play OSU and MSU- although playing Indiana/Wisconsin instead of MSU wouldn't be too bad- but if we win today it'd be best to play OSU instead of Purdue IMO.
school of tough love and shoeleathermaking. What doesn't kill me usually takes a lot out of ME. I'd rather just get wins myself.
Hoosiers are favored by 1, so no, that would not be an upset. I like Purdue (playing in their backyard) to give the Bucks a good run today.
in that case I'll take the Badgers for my most likely upset
I predicted yesterday night, before the Purdue/Nebraska game, that Purdue would beat Ohio State. They're looking pretty damn good right now.