Postseason preview: part one

The Big Ten is looking at the possibility of sending 5-8 teams to the NCAA tournament. This is part one of three in which I'll look at locks for the NCAA tournament, who is on the bubble (part two), and my predictions for the Big Ten tournament (part three).

Current standings through Feb. 17:

Big Ten, Conf, All, RPI

Michigan St. (6), 10-2, 20-4, 6
Illinois (18), 9-4, 21-5, 15
Purdue (19), 8-4, 19-6, 28
Ohio St., 7-5, 17-6, 26

Minnesota, 7-6, 19-6, 36
Penn St., 7-6, 18-8, 71
Wisconsin, 7-6, 16-9, 29
Michigan, 6-7, 16-10, 52
Northwestern, 4-8, 13-10, 84
Iowa, 3-10, 13-13, 107
Indiana, 1-11, 6-18, 182

For those who are unaware, the RPI is derived from three component factors: Div. I winning percentage (25)%, schedule strength (50)%; and opponent's schedule strength (25)%. Games against non-Division I opponents are not used in calculating the RPI.

Locks: Michigan State, Illinois, Purdue, and Ohio State.

Michigan State:

• Although the Spartans stumbled early in the season against ACC teams (Maryland and No. 3 North Carolina), and at home against Northwestern and Penn State, they are the Big Ten's best bet for an NCAA tournament run. Tom Izzo's crew isn't blemished by these losses as they have key wins over Texas and Minnesota, as well as a four game stretch of wins against Ohio State, (15) Kansas (RPI 11), Penn State, and Illinois during mid season. Those four teams have compiled a .760 winning percentage (76-24).
  
  
• What tests remain before the Big Ten tournament: The Spartans will have two heated battles with Purdue, a trip to Champaign to face Illinois, and will also host Wisconsin, who has recovered from a six game losing streak to beat Illinois, Penn State, Iowa, and Ohio State.
  

Illinois:

• Two guys named Mike – both sophomores, Davis standing at 6'9'' and Tisdale at 7'1'' – are what keeps the Fighting Illini pushing for a Big Ten title. Of their five losses, two have come at the hands of teams with RPI's in the top ten (Michigan State and Clemson [RPI 10]), four in the top 40 (Minnesota and Wisconsin) and all five within the top 60 (Michigan). Coach Bruce Weber may have taken some heat after making an NCAA title run with what many called "Bill Self's team," but he has brought the Illini back into Big Ten title contention.
  


• Key wins: (11) Missouri, Purdue (twice), and Ohio State.
  
  
• What tests remain before the Big Ten tournament: Every game the Illini have left will be the next big thing: Two matchups with Penn State, a trip to Columbus to face Ohio State, and Weber's squad will host Minnesota and Michigan State.
  

Purdue:

• The Boilermakers have played beaten up all season and recently saw sophomore star Robbie Hummel step back onto the Hardwood after missing three games due to a lower back injury. In Hummel's absence the team went 1-2, losing to Ohio State and Illinois on the road, and defeating Penn State at home. In Purdue's six losses, all of them have come in back-to-back matchups: (2) Oklahoma and (9) Duke early in the season, Illinois and Penn State at mid season, and just two weeks ago at the hands of Ohio State and Illinois. In Hummel's return, the Boilermakers played sloppy ball and let a struggling Iowa team stay in the game until the final two minutes, finishing them off 49-45.
  
  
• Picked by many to win the Big Ten title this year, the Boilermakers don't have any stand-out wins. They won a non-conference game against Davidson and have conference wins over Michigan, Minnesota, and Penn State.
  
  
• What tests remain before the Big Ten tournament: Two tests against Michigan State, a trip to Ann Arbor, and Ohio State at home.

Ohio State:

• Behind the dazzling play of sophomore guard Evan Turner, the Buckeyes hold the forth best record in the conference and are 4-4 against Top-25 ranked teams. Thad Matta's squad pulled an impressive three-game winning streak over then-No. 21 Miami (Fl.), then-No. 7 Notre Dame, and (21) Butler prior to Big Ten play (each by no more than five points). The Buckeyes have also handed Minnesota and Purdue losses, but have fallen to West Virginia, Illinois, Minnesota, twice to Michigan State, and Saturday to Wisconsin.
  
  
• What tests remain before the Big Ten tournament: The Buckeyes host Illinois and Penn State back-to-back and travel to Purdue.
  
  

In other non-Big Ten basketball related news, my brother's band Fallbrooke (Los Angeles) released their CD on iTUNES today. If none of you make it to iTUNES to check them out, at least watch the video for their single "Losin' It" starring Miley Cyrus' best friend Mandy Jiroux. Even if you don't care for their sound, you're guaranteed to enjoy the video. And no, they aren't just some local band.

"Losin'" It" Official Video from Fallbrooke