Hello and welcome friends to another edition of This B1G Week. This will be a little different This B1G Week than normal. We'll be discussing Grant and I's (Troy) picks for a few different awards, looking at the state of Big Ten bracketology one more time before Selection Sunday, running down the final standings, and giving you a schedule for the Big Ten Tournament. Oh and a quick tournament preview to start.
Tournament Preview
After a grueling regular season the teams all now are going to play at least one more game. For the top teams I don't really think they have much to gain or lose. I feel like Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Purdue, Ohio State, and Wisconsin all have solidified they seeding in the tournament. I feel like Rutgers and Michigan State are also safely in the Big Dance but could help or hurt their seeding given their performance. Maryland is the lone completely on the bubble team left and will need to do something to feel really good going into the Selection Show after losing back-to-back games against Northwestern and Penn State.
Ultimately this year's Big Ten Tournament will mostly be about building up momentum going into the NCAA Tournament. Momentum is exactly why I will the winner of the 2021 Big Ten Tournament will be the Illinois Fighting Illini.
Player of the Year
Head In The Game's Pick: Ayo Dosunmu - Illinois - I know a lot of people are going to want to take Luka Garza here but I think Ayo is just as, or more so, deserving. He's averaging # points per game, # assists, and # rebounds. Luka has a slight edge on him in scoring but Ayo is a better all around player. If you were to big me one player in the Big Ten to build a team around you can keep Luka because I'm taking Ayo 8 days a week.
Coach of the Year
Head In The Game's Pick: Juwan Howard - Michigan - This is an easy pick. Michigan has been the class of the league so far this year. Preseason the Wolverines were picked to finish in the middle of the conference but now they've solidified themselves as a real contender for the National Title after winning the Big Ten crown.
Freshman of the Year
Bracketology Report
Head In The Game's Pick: Hunter Dickinson - Michigan - While there are a lot of good young players in this year's Big Ten which makes the league's future look bright. Dickinson has stood head and shoulders above the rest of his Freshman class. When you're arguably the best player on the best team you deserve to win Freshman of the Year.
Bracketology Report
Teams In The Field (According to Bracket Matrix) - Nine Team In The Field - Michigan (1 Seed), Illinois (1 Seed), Iowa (2 Seed), Ohio State (2 Seed), Purdue (4 Seed), Wisconsin (7 Seed), Maryland (9 Seed), Rutgers (9 Seed), Michigan State (12 Seed)
Grant's Previous Week Pick Record: 7-8
Grant's Total Pick Record: 149-58
Troy's Previous Week Pick Record: 8-7
Troy's Total Pick Record: 146-61
Final Standings
- Michigan - 14-3 - 19-3
- Illinois - 16-4 - 20-6
- Iowa - 14-6 - 20-7
- Purdue - 13-6 - 18-8
- Ohio State - 12-8 - 18-8
- Wisconsin - 10-10 - 16-11
- Rutgers - 10-10 - 14-10
- Maryland - 9-11 - 15-12
- Michigan State - 9-11 - 15-11
- Indiana - 7-12 - 12-14
- Penn State - 7-12 - 9-13
- Northwestern - 6-13 - 9-14
- Minnesota - 6-14 - 13-14
- Nebraska - 3-15 - 7-18
B1G Tournament Schedule
Wednesday
6:30 pm - BTN - 12 Northwestern vs 13 Minnesota
9 pm - BTN - 11 Penn State vs 14 Nebraska
Thursday
11:30 AM - BTN - 8 Maryland vs 9 Michigan State
2 pm - BTN - 5 Ohio State vs 12 Northwestern/13 Minnesota
6:30 pm - BTN - 7 Rutgers vs 10 Indiana
9 pm - BTN - 6 Wisconsin vs 11 Penn State/14 Nebraska
Friday
11:30 AM - BTN - 1 Michigan vs 8 Maryland/9 Michigan State
2 pm - BTN - 4 Purdue vs 5 Ohio State/12 Northwestern/13 Minnesota
6:30 pm - BTN - 2 Illinois vs 7 Rutgers/10 Indiana
9 pm - BTN - 3 Iowa vs 6 Wisconsin/11 Penn State/14 Nebraska
Saturday
1 pm - CBS - Semifinal One
3:30 pm - CBS - Semifinal Two
Sunday
3:30 pm - CBS - Championship Game
To stay up to date on the newest Head in the Game articles (and general sports commentary), follow @headingameblog on Twitter. You can also find us on Twitter @T_RoyStory (Troy) and @G_Tingley (Grant)
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