B1G/NCAA basketball

[froot loops]

Seems legit

[Whitley]

Latest Lundari (3/7 10:16pm)

1 Illinois (Region 4), Michigan (Region 3)
2 Iowa (Region 2), Ohio State (Region 1)
4 Purdue (Region 1)
7 Wisconsin (Region 1, down)
10 Rutgers (Region 4), Maryland (Region 3, down)
11 Michigan State (Region 4, #1 Last Four Byes, up)

[Whitley]

Latest Bubble Watch

Locks: Michigan, Ohio State, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Purdue
Should be in


Maryland Terrapins

Bubble Watch did not expect to be discussing Maryland again. After all, a win at home for the Terrapins over Penn State would have resulted in "lock" status. Instead, the Nittany Lions closed the contest on a 20-11 run to post a five-point victory. The result leaves the Terps 15-12 overall and 9-11 in the Big Ten. That's very similar to the numbers Michigan State is showing and, like the Spartans, Mark Turgeon's team has some outstanding wins, up to and including road victories at Illinois and Wisconsin. Still, the loss to Penn State is a bad look at the end of the season, as is the fact that Maryland was swept by the Nittany Lions. While the Terps are staying here in "Should be in" for now, Bubble Watch is closely watching this unexpected developing situation.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Nothing helps a struggling bubble team quite like a struggling opponent that has already played its way out of at-large contention. Rutgers appeared to be in a bit of bracket peril after a profile-damaging 21-point loss at Nebraska capped off a stretch of three defeats in four outings. But Steve Pikiell's men managed to pick up an overtime win at Minnesota in the season finale. The Scarlet Knights were being projected as a No. 10 seed at tipoff, which suggests that the program has indeed secured its first NCAA tournament bid in 30 years. An 0-1 showing by Rutgers at the Big Ten tournament, for example, would not appear to be a bid-stopper if, as seems plausible, the winning team in that game is a NET top-75 opponent.

Michigan State Spartans

If you had somehow been deprived of all college basketball scores and news for the entire season only to be shown Michigan State's record for the first time today, you might well say something like: "Wow, down season, but now Tom Izzo will probably make the Final Four as a No. 11 seed." The Spartans have played no fewer than 13 Quad 1 games and won four of them. That's not a great winning percentage, but when you beat Michigan, Illinois and Ohio State, you will get the committee's attention. Mock brackets were already showing MSU as one of the last four teams in the field before its win at home over the Wolverines. Then, in the wake of that victory, Joe Lunardi promoted Michigan State to "last four byes." Bubble Watch isn't ready to call the Spartans a lock, but Izzo's men have certainly earned their upgrade to "Should be in."

[Cody_Russell]

Fun college hoops day starting in a couple hours.

Ohio State should enjoy a free/ easy win vs Minnesota. Watching that Minnesota vs Northwestern game was the most disgusting display of B10 basketball I’ve seen this year. Minnesota mailed it in the 2nd half and lucked into a win.

ACC and Big 12 tourneys will probably be more enjoyable today. Still will at least watch Maryland vs Sparty + IU vs Rutgers.

[hack]

Hope MSU wins. Really want to play them again.

[Mike]

Not without Brooks. Fuck that.

[Hannibal]

We'll lose to MSU on Friday. I know how this movie ends.

[Mike]

Exactly. Let's beat beat Maryland, pick up another Quad 1 in, and lock up a 1 seed. Then maybe even think about winning Saturday and Sunday.

[Mike]

Michigan will play Maryland tomorrow at 11:30.

[lineygoblue]

I think Michigan matches up better with Maryland, than they do with MSU. I think even if Brooks can't go, they should be able to handle the Terps. They can't match Michigan's size on the front line.

[Mike]

In the two match-ups this year Michigan won by a combined 35 points.

[hack]

MSU is a bad team. It's a bummer we couldn't get a shot at 2-1.

[Mike]

True, but there was a greater downside than upside in that match-up.

[UMStan White]

MSU sells out to Corporate America.

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state-university/spartans/2021/03/11/rocket-mortgage-sponsorship-gives-msu-mens-basketball-new-name/4657821001/

[hack]

No, we could have gone 2-1 against them. It wouldn't have been a loss. They are a bad team that needed a whole lot to go right against us on their home court with us down a starter.