B1G Conference Predictions

SnapBack2

SnapBack2

Well-Known Member
I think we've seen enough basketball to take a stab at the final B1G standings. This is not a power poll, but is based on what I expect the final B1G standings to be. I am confident in my top 4 and bottom 3, but the 5-11 spots are a dartboard.

1. Wisconsin - (lock, best team and play 5 games against bottom 3)
2. Ohio St - (talented freshman, veteran PG, and that zone D)
3. Michigan St - (Izzo, but lack depth, especially front court)
4. Maryland - (freshman and Dez Wells is back, 5 games against bottom 3)
5. Minnesota - (prob a reach but why not?, only play top 4 five times)
6. Indiana - (would be higher but play top 4 seven times)
7. Illinois - (OSU and Wisc only one time, streaky team)
8. Michigan - (Going to struggle to score, can Beilein fix it?)
9. Iowa - (OSU and Wisc twice each, someone has to step up to move up)
10. Purdue - (Improved squad)
11. Nebraska - (After Shields and Pettaway cupboard is bare, only team to play bottom 3 once each).
12. Penn St - (still have Newbill and could pull some upsets at home)
13. Northwestern - (not dancing, again)
14. Rutgers - (will struggle to win a game)
 
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HawkeyeMike23, you seem to know hoops other than the beloved hawkeyes or hated isu. Thoughts on the B1G this year?
 
SnapBack2 said:
HawkeyeMike23, you seem to know hoops other than the beloved hawkeyes or hated isu. Thoughts on the B1G this year?
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I see a lot of mediocre teams between Wisconsin and OSU and Northwestern and Rutgers. This board has a very myopic viewpoint. Yes we've struggled shooting for much of the season and last week's loss to ISU wasn't fun, but we've lost to Texas and Syracuse on a neutral court and to a 13th ranked ISU at home. Looking around the B10, I see a lot of worse losses than that. Not even mentioning Michigan's high profile upsets, Indiana lost at home to Eastern Washington, Illinois beat Baylor but has lost to every other decent team they've played (Oregon, Miami, Villanova), Nebraska has lost to Incarnate Word and Rhode Island, Purdue lost to North Florida. Look at Michigan St and Minnesota's schedule and tell me who their best win is, there is no question this is Izzo's least talented team since Mateen Cleaves showed up 15+ years ago.

I can see us anywhere between 7-11 and 12-6, there's not going to be much separating the large middle of the conference this year. If we have one guard Jok, Gesell, anyone, step up and give us 10-12 a night, I think we'll be well into the upper half of the conference. The talent level is down across the conference from the last two years. I still think we have a solid shot at an NCAA bid this year.
 
I agree with all that. And a win tomorrow would give us one of the better non-conf resumes in the B1G. I think I could have MSU too high, but the thing is everyone is so mediocre, I don't know who to put ahead of them. Even OSU hasn't played anyone except Louisville. Ticket prices for the OSU/UNC and UK/UCLA tomorrow are dropping, thinking about heading over to check out the Buckeyes first hand. I think either UNC wins the boards and it's close, or OSU blows them out of the gym.
 
1) Wisconsin
2) MSU
3) OSU
4) Maryland
5) Michigan
6) Illinois
7) Minnesota
8) Indiana
9) Nebraska
These last 5 don't make tourney:
10) Iowa
11) Purdue
12) PSU
13) NW
14) Rutgers
 
Illinois got outclassed by the same Miami team that just lost 72-44 at home to Eastern Kentucky. We'll see what happens but I'm not sold on them being particularly good. As long as Nebraska only gets points from two guys, and those two guys can turn it over with the best of them and often get in foul trouble, I'm not seeing them doing too great either. I see us around 7th right now.
 
TheIowaHawkGuy said:
1) Wisconsin
2) MSU
3) OSU
4) Maryland
5) Michigan
6) Illinois
7) Minnesota
8) Indiana
9) Nebraska
These last 5 don't make tourney:
10) Iowa
11) Purdue
12) PSU
13) NW
14) Rutgers
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Teams 5 through 9 can definitely be passed. We only need to pass 1 or 2 to get in.
 
UNC hammering OSU at halftime. Michigan losing at home to SMU, Syracuse up ten against a top ten Villanova team. Our non conference resume will be one of the best in the big ten with a win tonight.
 
I think 11-7 in conference. 10-8 at the worst. Probably a bubble team again due to a weaker conference but a stronger non conference.
 
SnapBack2 said:
I agree with all that. And a win tomorrow would give us one of the better non-conf resumes in the B1G. I think I could have MSU too high, but the thing is everyone is so mediocre, I don't know who to put ahead of them. Even OSU hasn't played anyone except Louisville. Ticket prices for the OSU/UNC and UK/UCLA tomorrow are dropping, thinking about heading over to check out the Buckeyes first hand. I think either UNC wins the boards and it's close, or OSU blows them out of the gym.
Click to expand...


Nice breakdown. I think you are right on with MSU, they will be a power to contend within the B1G.
 
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