Illinois
Rebounding and Desperation
The Fighting Illini have back themselves into a corner as far as their NCAA Tournament hopes are concerned. They finished the regular season on a three game slide. This team sits at 18-13 and needs to do some damage in the Big Ten tournament to repair the damage it did to it’s tournament resume. That desperation is something that’s hard for other teams to plan for, especially when they’ve already locked up their NCAA bid.
Illinois is a great rebounding team, averaging 36.7 per game, which is second in the Big Ten. Mike Tisdale and Mike Davis are the team’s leaders on both offense and defense when it comes to post play. Demetri McCamey keeps them in the game by feeding them down low as he records seven assists a game. All three players amount for over 70 percent of the team’s offense and when D.J. Richardson’s 10.5 points per game are added in that number jumps to 90 percent.
The Fighting Illini have the most wins in Big Ten tournament play with 22 all time. That bad news is that a No. 5 seed has never made it to the finals before. With the success that Illinois has had in the tournament, this may be the year that changes.
Indiana
Offensive Rebounding
The Hoosiers are still trying to rebuild since the programs collapse a few season ago. They struggled against the conference this and have managed only four wins, putting them in second to last place.
There are however, some positives to the Hoosiers this season. The 12.7 offensive rebounds per game put them second in the Big Ten standings. These second chance opportunities let them hang around in game giving them confidence that they can compete. Christian Watford’s six rebounds per game is a large factor in their success.
Two of the four conference victories have come in overtime this season, showing this team wont give up if they think there is a chance to win. Maurice Creek and Verdell Jones III provide good perimeter shooting that frees up the post for Watford to do his damage. The Hoosiers are dying for another chance at Purdue, who escaped with a 78-75 in their first meeting this season.
Iowa
Tournament History
The Hawkeyes have had a trying season this year. With only four conference victories, this team finds itself a nine seed in the tournament. The good thing for Iowa is that they are 6-3 in Indianapolis during Big Ten tournament play. They also have a .565 winning percentage all time during the conference tournament, which has led to titles in 2001 and 2006. Hopefully for Iowa’s sake this tradition rubs off, otherwise they’ll be bounced pretty quickly.
Head Coach Todd Lickliter has got to be feeling his seat getting warm after the poor performance this season, and with the dismissal of Anthony Tucker earlier in February. A strong showing in the Big Ten tournament might be enough to help quell any concerns that Iowa’s athletic department might have about its head coach.
Michigan
DeShawn Sims and Manny Harris
Michigan has one of the best one-two punches in the conference. Both Simms and Harris are in the top 5 in conference scorers. Manny Harris is averaging 18.2 points and game, just a shade higher than DeShawn Simms’s 17.1 points per game. Harris’s 4.1 assists a game lead the team, as he looks for Sims in the post. Both players average over six rebounds a game, giving Michigan solid play on both sides of the court.
This team’s lack of consistency will plague them in the tournament. The Wolverines have yet to win more than three games in a row this season and the conference tournament doesn’t look like the place where they’ll find much success, even with Sims and Harris carrying the team.
Michigan State
Physicality
Head Coach Tom Izzo has always stressed physical play on his Spartan teams. This year is nothing different, with the Spartans being tied for first in rebounds allowed per game with 29. They hold a plus nine average rebounding margin when playing a Big Ten team on average this season. It’s not just on defense that the Spartans make their presence felt. They also lead the conference in offensive rebounds with 13.4 per game.
When teams match-up with Michigan State not only do they know it will be a physical game, but they will also face a fundamentally sound team that plays smart basketball. Michigan State plays unselfish basketball leading the conference with 17.1 assists a game making this the most well rounded team in the tournament.
Minnesota
Tubby Smith’s Experience
The Gophers need to navigate their way through the tournament if they have a shot at the NCAA Tournament. This team sits at 18-12 and is on the bad side of the bubble. They’ll need to get wins over some of the Big Ten elite and probably get into the championship game or more to get in. Tubby Smith has been in this situation before and knows what his team needs to go dancing.
The Gophers lead the Big Ten in three-point percentage, hitting 40 percent of their attempts behind the arc. They are third in scoring in the conference with 72.9 points per game, giving Smith plenty to work with. Minnesota isn’t just offensively minded however; they lead the conference in blocks with 5.7 per game. Ralph Sampson III is a big part of the defense leading the team with 1.8 blocks per game 6.3 rebounds per game also a team high.
Northwestern
Perimeter Shooting
The Wildcats lead the Big Ten in three point shots made per game with 9.5. They’ve shot 36 percent on the season from beyond the arc. John Shurna’s 18.5 points lead the team, but he’s not the only one dialing them up from long distance. Michael Thompson, Drew Crawford and Jeremy Nash are all part of the Wildcats arsenal.
The losses to Penn State and Indiana have burst the Wildcats bubble. It’s going to take a tournament championship for this team to make the NCAA’s this season. This team has the ability, but the late season slide has put them behind the eight ball.
Ohio State
Zone Defense and Thad Matta
Head Coach Thad Matta swears by the 2-3 zone, and it’s hard to argue with its success at Ohio State. Matta has won at least 20 games in every season at Ohio State. The Buckeyes suffocating zone has lead to a defense yielding a stingy 60.4 points a game. This ranks second only to Wisconsin in the conference standings for team defense.
Leading the charge on the defensive end for the Bucks is Dallas Lauderdale. Lauderdale leads the Big Ten in blocks with 2.2 per game. Helping out on the boards is all everything Evan Turner who leads the Big Ten with 9.4 rebounds per game.
Penn State
Talor Battle
Battle is the heart and sole of Penn State’s basketball team. He’s averaging 18 points, five rebounds, and four assists this season, showing he can do it all. Penn State has played up to its competition when facing the Big Ten’s elite, and wont be an easy out during this tournament. Battle has score in double figures in all but two Big Ten games this season. Now that he’s seen every one of these teams’ defenses at least once, expect big things from this sharpshooter.
Purdue
E’Twaun Moore and JuJuan Johnson
The loss of Robbie Hummel has many experts are questioning Purdue’s seed in the NCAA Tournament. In Hummel’s absence, Purdue has a loss to Michigan State and two wins over Big Ten bottom feeders Indiana and Penn State.
It will take an impressive run in the Big Ten tournament to reassure the selection committee, and E’twaun Moore and JuJuan Johnson will be expected to carry the load. Moore’s 16 points and game come from a devastating jump shot. He’s also averaging three assists a game, most down in the post where JuJuan Johnson can be found. Johnson’s dominating presence in the post have him averaging 15 points and seven rebounds a game.
Wisconsin
Defense and Post Play
The Badgers lead the conference in points allowed 56.1 per game, and rebounds allowed 29 per game. This stifling defense means that’s if shooting teams like Northwestern are having an off night the Badgers will close the door early.
Not to many teams outrebound the Badgers, especially when Wisconsin is on defense. Jon Leuer is one of the main reasons for Wisconsin’s success on defense. His 1.5 blocks per game and 5.8 rebounds per game lead the team. He’s also the Badgers main post threat and is averaging 14.6 points per game. Since coming back from his injury, he’s complimented Trevon Hughes and Jason Bohannon during Wisconsin’s four game win streak to end the season.
2010 Big Ten Tournament
Ohio State comes in as the No. 1 seed, but can easily be unseated by the other conference powers. Purdue has to show the selection committee they are worthy of a top seed, even without Robbie Hummel. Michigan State traditional begins to shine from here on out, and the Spartan Faithful expect nothing less this year. Wisconsin has quietly made its way through the Big Ten schedule this season amassing an impressive record and beating all of the current regular season champions. The bubbles teams need to upset the powers to make it into the NCAA tournament. What it all boils down to is another exciting Big Ten tournament is about to tip off.
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