Previewing Big Ten Basketball: Ohio State

Our Big Ten basketball preview finally arrives in Columbus.  We've already analyzed some of the teams that are predicted to be great next year like Indiana and Wisconsin, but this is the first team we have touched on that won the Big Ten Championship last year.  Thad Matta, the current head coach of Ohio State, has an impressive record of 221-65, a record of 98-40 in the Big Ten, and four deep NCAA Tournament runs at Ohio State, despite making some blunders along the way (please click the link, you will enjoy it).


OSU had some inconsistent play during the 2011-2012 season, but they ultimately finished with a Final Four appearance and a share of the Big Ten Championship.  They entered Big Ten play with a 12-1 record, where their only loss was a road game against Kansas when Jared Sullinger was out with injury.  They played inconsistently to start Big Ten play with a 3-2 record, but both games were close losses and the Buckeyes had a huge target on their backs, which probably added into the upset factor.  They responded well, winning the next 6 games, including a rematch against Indiana, a road win over Wisconsin, and a win over Michigan at home.


At this point, OSU seemed to be the favorite to win the Big Ten.  However, after winning 6 straight games and having a 9-2 record in the Big Ten, the Buckeyes stumbled to a 2-3 record over the next 5 games.  After losing these games, there was just be too much to overcome for OSU to remain the "dominant" team in the Big Ten.  They had an uphill battle the rest of the season, but they won all of their remaining regular season games, made it to the Big Ten Tournament final, and won 4 NCAA Tournament games before collapsing at the very end of the game against Kansas to miss the NCAA Tournament final.

Big Ten Tournament Predictions

There is always a lot of controversy, commentary, and excitement that surrounds the Big Ten Tournament, and this year will be no different.  Not only does the Big Ten currently have 5 ranked teams that will be in this weekend's tournament, but 3 of the teams also split the Big Ten Championship.  Not only will the battle to "reclaim" the Big Ten Championship be an interesting storyline, but there are some teams fighting for a berth in the NCAA Tournament as well.

Teams like MSU, OSU, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Indiana have been secured in the NCAA Tournament, but teams like Northwestern will be on "the bubble" this weekend.  This is what makes the Big Ten Tournament so exciting.  One weekend of basketball that will determine which teams go to the NCAA Tournament, have respectable seasons, and which teams decide to call themselves champions.  Of course, Michigan, MSU, and OSU will all get their rings and banners, but MSU has already made it an objective to "reclaim" their title this weekend.

I think it's kind of funny that MSU somehow has to "reclaim" a championship that they've already been award, but whatever makes them happy is ok I guess.  There are a lot of intriguing match-ups  this weekend, but Michigan has been dealt a pretty tough route to a Big Ten Tournament Championship.  Not only will they face the winner of the Minnesota vs. Northwestern game (NW is crucially fighting for a big win to secure its first ever tournament trip), but the following game would likely be against Ohio State or Purdue.  Michigan has a combined 2-2 record against OSU and Purdue, so winning against those teams is no guarantee.

Of course, anything can happen in the Big Ten Tournament, but we all know OSU and Thad Matta's recent success in this tournament.  Not only has Matta compiled a 14-4 record in the tournament, but OSU has also won the last two Big Ten Tournament Championships.  As a result of this, I'm predicting OSU will beat Purdue to advance to the semi-finals.  Along with this, I'm predicting MSU will defeat Iowa to go to the semi-finals and Indiana will upset Wisconsin to make the semi-finals.

I'm strongly inclined to believe that Northwestern will beat Minnesota and face-off against Michigan on Friday.  Not only because they must beat the Golden Gophers to make the NCAA Tournament, but also because they're a lot better team.  I really don't want to play the Wildcats again, especially after having to go to OT in both regular season match-ups, but Michigan should have a great shot at beating them.  The big concern I have is that the Wildcats will come out red-hot against the Wolverines and be able to steal a win simply because they need it to make the NCAA Tournament.

However, I'm still leaning towards Michigan beating Northwestern to have another match-up with Ohio State.  If this happens, it will mark the 3rd straight season that Michigan and OSU will face-off in the Big Ten Tournament (would make 9 total meetings in just 3 seasons).  I'm not going to make a game prediction because I'd like to see how each teams play on Friday first, but I'd have to lean towards the Buckeyes because they seem to be playing a little better than when they had their rough stretch and have been dynamite in the Big Ten Tournament.  Along with this, I'm going to predict MSU runs through Indiana in an effort to "reclaim" the title they already hold.

This would make the final match-up an MSU vs. OSU rematch of the Big Ten regular season finale. I'd like to pick Michigan to go further, but they really don't have a lot to play for in this tournament and have a tough draw, even though they are the #2 seed.  However, I think they'll play well and lose a nail-bitter to the Buckeyes, although I'm not making my specific prediction for that game yet, just a general feeling for the tournament right now.

My Magic Pick Is...

OSU to win the Big Ten Tournament for a 3rd consecutive season with a solid win over the Spartans, Wolverines, and Boilermakers.  However, I think they're going to fall early in the NCAA Tournament (saying that makes me feel better about this prediction).



Photo Credit: Big Ten