Hello and welcome friends to another edition of this B1G Week. The end is here. This week marks the final week in a fantastic regular season of Big Ten basketball. It will certainly be a crazy last week too. Thanks to Maryland's loss Saturday night there are six teams that have a chance to gain at least a share of the conference title. On top of that, there are three or four that have a chance to win it outright. The clearest path is still the Terapins who would clinch a share of the title with a win at Rutgers on Tuesday and clinch the outright with a victory on Sunday against Michigan.
The teams not in the title hunt still have a lot to play for. Michigan and Indiana both dropped two games last week so they will need to pick up a win or two to secure their spots in the Big Dance. Rutgers haven't been great as of late and thus have played themselves back onto the bubble. Ohio State is trying to improve their NCAA Tournament seeding. Purdue is hoping to pick up some wins to better their chance at the tournament. Minnesota seems to have fallen too far to make the tournament so this is for pride. Finally, for Nebraska and Northwestern they're hoping to avoid finishing in last place.
The teams not in the title hunt still have a lot to play for. Michigan and Indiana both dropped two games last week so they will need to pick up a win or two to secure their spots in the Big Dance. Rutgers haven't been great as of late and thus have played themselves back onto the bubble. Ohio State is trying to improve their NCAA Tournament seeding. Purdue is hoping to pick up some wins to better their chance at the tournament. Minnesota seems to have fallen too far to make the tournament so this is for pride. Finally, for Nebraska and Northwestern they're hoping to avoid finishing in last place.
Big Ten Game of the Week
Sunday - 7 PM - BTN - Iowa @ Illinois - The last game of the regular season should be a dandy. Depending on how Maryland does this week this game could decide which school(s) claim the Big Ten title. If Maryland goes one and one this week Illinois can still win the title with a perfect week and if the Terps drop both games Iowa can also win it. Either way, there is no way for the loser to win the title.
Actual Rankings
B1G Picks
7 pm - BTN - Minnesota @ Indiana
Nonconference Game of the Week
Saturday - 2:30 PM - Fox - Seton Hall @ Creighton - The Pirates from New Jersey clinched a share of the conference title thanks to losses by Villanova and this Creighton team over this past weekend. However, if they want to win the outright title they need a good week. Seton Hall faces off against Villanova midweek, the second choice for Nonconference game of the week.
Team of the Week
Team of the Weak
Michigan State Spartans - The Sparty team that we saw this past week is the team that was ranked preseason number one. MSU defeated Iowa midweek then went on the road and beat Maryland by double figures. Just like that State is back within a game of the conference title.
Team of the Weak
Michigan Wolverines - Heading East in the Great Lake State we have Michigan as the team of the weak. The Wolverines had all the right momentum going having won five straight games. This week they lost both games including dropping one at home to Wisconsin and on the road to rivals Ohio State. You want momentum heading into March and losing two games certainly doesn't help.
Actual Rankings
- Maryland - 13-5 - 23-6
- Michigan State - 12-6 - 20-9
- Wisconsin - 12-6 - 19-10
- Illinois - 12-6 - 20-9
- Penn State - 11-7 - 21-8
- Iowa - 11-7 - 21-8
- Ohio State - 10-8 - 20-9
- Michigan - 9-9 - 18-11
- Rutgers - 9-9 - 18-11
- Purdue - 8-10 - 15-14
- Indiana 8-10 - 18-11
- Minnesota 7-11 - 13-15
- Northwestern - 2-16 - 7-21
- Nebraska - 2-16 - 7-22
B1G Picks
Tuesday
7 pm - ESPN - Michigan State @ Penn State
Grant's Pick: Penn State, Troy's Pick: Michigan State
7 pm - BTN - Maryland @ Rutgers
Grant's Pick: Maryland, Troy's Pick: Rutgers
9 pm - BTN - Purdue @ Iowa
Grant's Pick: Iowa, Troy's Pick: Iowa
7 pm - BTN - Maryland @ Rutgers
Grant's Pick: Maryland, Troy's Pick: Rutgers
9 pm - BTN - Purdue @ Iowa
Grant's Pick: Iowa, Troy's Pick: Iowa
Wednesday
7 pm - BTN - Minnesota @ Indiana
Grant's Pick: Indiana, Troy's Pick: Indiana
9 pm - BTN - Northwestern @ Wisconsin
Grant's Pick: Wisconsin, Troy's Pick: Wisconsin
9 pm - BTN - Northwestern @ Wisconsin
Grant's Pick: Wisconsin, Troy's Pick: Wisconsin
Thursday
6:30 pm - FS1 - Nebraska @ Michigan
Grant's Pick: Michigan, Troy's Pick: Michigan
7 pm - ESPN - Illinois @ Ohio State
Grant's Pick: Ohio State, Troy's Pick: Ohio State
Grant's Pick: Michigan, Troy's Pick: Michigan
7 pm - ESPN - Illinois @ Ohio State
Grant's Pick: Ohio State, Troy's Pick: Ohio State
Saturday
Noon - ESPN 2 - Wisconsin @ Indiana
Grant's Pick: Indiana, Troy's Pick: Indiana
2 pm - BTN - Rutgers @ Purdue
Grant's Pick: Purdue, Troy's Pick: Purdue
4 pm - BTN - Penn State @ Northwestern
Grant's Pick: Penn State, Troy's Pick: Penn State
2 pm - BTN - Rutgers @ Purdue
Grant's Pick: Purdue, Troy's Pick: Purdue
4 pm - BTN - Penn State @ Northwestern
Grant's Pick: Penn State, Troy's Pick: Penn State
Sunday
Noon - Fox - Michigan @ Maryland
Grant's Pick: Maryland, Troy's Pick: Maryland
1 pm - BTN - Nebraska @ Minnesota
Grant's Pick: Minnesota, Troy's Pick: Minnesota
4:30 pm - CBS - Ohio State @ Michigan State
Grant's Pick: Ohio State, Troy's Pick: Michigan State
7 pm - BTN - Iowa @ Illinois
Grant's Pick: Iowa, Troy's Pick: Illinois
Grant's Pick: Maryland, Troy's Pick: Maryland
1 pm - BTN - Nebraska @ Minnesota
Grant's Pick: Minnesota, Troy's Pick: Minnesota
4:30 pm - CBS - Ohio State @ Michigan State
Grant's Pick: Ohio State, Troy's Pick: Michigan State
7 pm - BTN - Iowa @ Illinois
Grant's Pick: Iowa, Troy's Pick: Illinois
Grant's Previous Week Pick Record: 10-4
Grant's Total Pick Record: 189-73
Troy's Previous Week Pick Record: 10-4
Troy's Total Pick Record: 192-70
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