Big Ten Tourney Primer
So Pat Forde composed a Big Ten Tournament primer with all kinds of predictions. As was posted yesterday, he picked Michigan to win the tournament and he has them as his "Dangerous Low Seed". He gives Michigan a lot of love. Even has Tim Hardaway as one of his players he can't wait to see. Check it out!
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/champweek2011/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=6196646
Dangerous low seed: Michigan. The Wolverines have won six of their past eight games, are highly motivated to keep winning to get off the NCAA bubble and don't have to play on the tourney's opening day for the first time since 2004. John Beilein has won one game in all three of his previous Big Ten tourneys as Michigan coach; if he keeps that streak alive the Wolverines beat Illinois in the quarterfinals and get a third shot at Ohio State. Give them at least a puncher's chance at pulling a major upset in that game. It took an Evan Turner 37-footer to beat Michigan last year in this event.
Five players I am intrigued to see in person for the first time this season: JaJuan Johnson, Purdue; Talor Battle, Penn State; Tim Hardaway Jr., Michigan; John Shurna, Northwestern; Trevor Mbakwe, Minnesota.
Best potential quarterfinal matchup: Michigan-Illinois is a rematch of a two-point game won by the Illini in Champaign last month. It's a huge game for the Wolverines and not a small one for Illinois, which is probably in the tournament regardless but could improve its seeding with some victories in Indy.
Winner: I'm going with Michigan to shock the world, or at least the Midwest.
Forde's a tool tray.
Hmm.
Positive press is nice. Its lovely. I like it.
"I'm going with Michigan to shock the world, or at least the Midwest."
I love it.
Are we a dangerous low seed in the Big Ten Tournament or a dangerous low seed in the NCAA tournament and if it's the former, how is a four seed low?
March 10th, 2011 at 10:13 AM ^
In this tournament, it seems like there's the top 3 seeds who are expected to compete for the title, and then everyone else. So yeah, I'd say everyone other than one of those three would "shock the world" and should count as a lower seed
Can we get a new "Drop the World" video focusing on basketball? I'd subscribe to that newsletter.
Jim Jackson picked UM as his "sleeper" in the BTT last night on the Big Ten Network preview and listed Tim Hardaway, Jr. as the player he was really looking forward to watching.
March 10th, 2011 at 12:11 PM ^
I really like JJ as an announcer/studio guy. He is not a tOSU homer at all and really does a nice job. I wonder how long the B10 network will be able to keep him?
March 10th, 2011 at 10:22 AM ^
I have a dream
And it involves Tim Hardaway Jr winning the Big 10 Tournament MVP
March 10th, 2011 at 12:40 PM ^
For the next four years.
March 10th, 2011 at 12:59 PM ^
Michigan's definitely a sleeper for how they've finished out the season, but the chances of beating Ohio State are the definition of slim, at best.
Weird tidbit: we've never faced MSU in the BTT. I think they're the only team we've never played in it. If we are to finally face them, both teams will have to make the final. How cool would it be to beat Illinois, OSU and then achieve a "triple-crown" series win over Sparty?