Big 10 March Madness Preview

Only Purdue and Michigan State Look to Pose Threats

The Michigan State Spartans clinched their first outright Big Ten championship in 10 years on Tuesday, March 3 2009 with a 64-59 win against the Indiana Hoosiers and will have an opportunity to avenge their worst loss of the season on Sunday, March 8 2008 when they host the Purdue Boilermakers in their Big Ten regular-season finale. Many betting experts will argue Michigan State and Purdue are the only real threats from the league to make a serious run at the national championship when the NCAA tournament begins.

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo now must make good on a promise he made to his players to shave his head after winning the Big Ten title. However, he will wait until after the Big Dance. “I lie to my other people, but I don’t lie to my students, which will be embarrassing,” Izzo said. “I’m not going to embarrass my team in the NCAA tournament. I’m going to wait till it’s all over and embarrass my wife then.”

The key for the Michigan State Spartans has been their uncanny ability to win on the road, something that can’t be underestimated or undervalued by bettors during March Madness. Michigan State set a school record this year for most road wins in Big Ten play, going 8-1 with the lone loss coming at Purdue. Meanwhile, the Boilermakers have also finished the regular season strong and appear poised to show that they have the potential to make it to the Final Four as well.

The Big Ten’s other Big Dance invitees are expected to be an overachieving Illinois team that has stumbled a bit down the stretch but seems likely to get in along with Penn State and Wisconsin, both of which are guaranteed to finish with at least a .500 record in conference play. Ohio State, Minnesota and Wisconsin are also in the mix for spots in the NCAA tournament but will need to go deep into the Big Ten tournament and possibly win it in order to be selected by the committee. None of those other teams seem to be capable of going far in the NCAA tournament if they even make it, but stranger things have happened. After all, that’s why they call it March Madness.