Why The Big Ten Can't Win the Championship (Or make the Final Four)

This is a quick Summary why the Big Ten can’t win a Championship this year and probably not even send a team to the Final Four.  First off everybody is going to be on them because they have been marketed as the second-best conference in the country, but bigger and more is not better.  Second, every team has not only a flaw but a major flaw that is being glossed over by the media.  Everybody has been quick to suck off Pitino, Pearl, and Izzo but 2 are dirty and the third is overrated.  Let’s start with that overrated coach.

Michigan State – The biggest fallacy in College Basketball is “Izzo is March”.  He’s been dominate for 30 years, they say.  I say, factually, it’s been 25 years since a Championship and it’s his only one.  All those great players and nothing.  Two generations of Richardson’s and a couple Final Fours.  Lastly, and most importantly with this team, is the media keeps talking about how they hold teams to “8 points in the last 6 minutes” or “scoreless for the last 4 minutes”.  What they don’t mention is they need to do that because they are losing before that.  That will catch up with them in March. No stud and know one to carry the team on their back in the tough games.

Prediction: 2^nd Round knockout

Michigan – Easiest to predict of them all.  No point guard and tons of turnovers.  The media hype the “double bigs” and they are impressive, but Danny Wolf is running point and he’s not a super star.  You need guards in March and they don’t got em'. 

Prediction: 2^nd Round Knockout but don’t rule out a 1^st round exist if they get a tough draw

Maryland – The Crab Five.  Love the nickname but that’s the problem.  All they have is 5 players.  They are going to have to play maximum minutes and in the condensed schedule that is hard.  I think they are underrated but don’t have the depth to go far.

Prediction: Sweet 16

Purdue – Up and Down, up and down.  Looks dominant one game and lackluster the next.  They have 2 players and the third is Fletcher Loyer.  If Smith or Kaufmann aren’t both humming along or Loyer doesn’t hammer out 6 triples they can’t win.  They are awful in the post and give up a huge percentage of 2 pointers.

Prediction: 2^nd round knockout

UCLA – They move from the Pac-12 and start to play like a 2016 Big Ten team.  Lack of talent and a horse to carry them through a tough game.  Will muck it up to try to win and ride any one of 8 players.  Can’t see them winning a couple.  Have a hard time seeing them win 1.

Prediction: 1^st Round loss

Oregon – I’ve watched this team and am impressed by them.  Nate Bittle is underrated but the problem is his playing time.  Either he can’t play max minutes, or Dana Altman won’t let him.  Guards are talented but it’s few and far between when all 3 are above average.  Most of the time 1 is great, 1 is average, and 1 is god-awful.  Currently I have this team projected as a 5 seed and they might get caught by a 12.  I think they squeak by and then beat a 4 seed.

Projection: Sweet Sixteen

Illinois – Ton’s of individual talent but no cohesiveness.  Can’t play as a team and their stars try to “get theirs”.  A good defensive team, see Blue Devils, Duke, will shut them down.  Meh.

Prediction: 1^st round upset by a mid-major

Indiana – Hey, let rally around our fired coach and make a run.  Sounds nice.  Dies in the first round when it’s real.  Their Bigs are lazy and will be ready to leave school on March 22.

Prediction: 1^st Round loss

Ohio State: I hope they don’t make it.  If they do it’s a First Four game and that doesn’t count as a first-round game.

Prediction: Team watches 1^st round at Buffalo Wild Wings or a strip club

Nebraska: See Ohio State but worse.  How are you 2-2 in Quad 3 games?

Prediction: NIT

And that leaves us with the 1 team that I think can make a run.

Wisconsin – They didn’t look into it against Michigan State and the Oregon game was a disaster, but this team has what it takes to make a run.  Good guards, including some who can play defense or hit threes.  Bigs who can step out, hit the 3 and play in the post.  Some depth, at least enough to pick up the slack.  Solid efficiency numbers, top 30 in both.  And most importantly, a stud who can score 30 a game if you need it in John Tonje.  Even Blackwell can go for 22 to 24 if needed.  The most complete Big Ten team.  Good enough to make the Final Four, not to win a championship.

Prediction:  I want to say Final Four, but I will settle for an Elite Eight.

 

Hope I can find time to write an SEC one.  The ACC writes itself.