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Indiana Basketball: Big Ten tournament preview, Hoosiers face tough draw

By Adam Childs

BLOOMINGTON, IN - FEBRUARY 13: An Indiana Hoosiers cheerleader is seen during the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Assembly Hall on February 13, 2020 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - FEBRUARY 13: An Indiana Hoosiers cheerleader is seen during the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Assembly Hall on February 13, 2020 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 08: The Maryland Terrapins hold up the Big Ten Women’s Basketball trophy after a win over the Ohio State Buckeyes at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 08, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 08: The Maryland Terrapins hold up the Big Ten Women’s Basketball trophy after a win over the Ohio State Buckeyes at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 08, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

Predictions

Wednesday – First Round

Minnesota vs Northwestern

The Gophers win a closer than expected game as the Wildcats slow the pace and give Minnesota some troubles

Indiana vs Nebraska

The Hoosiers win this one easily against the shorthanded Cornhuskers

Thursday – Second Round

Michigan vs Rutgers

The Wolverines get their third win against the Scarlet Knights as they stay perfect all-time in the series

Minnesota vs Iowa

Luka Garza is too much for the Gophers as Minnesota will likely be headed to the NIT.

Purdue vs Ohio State

The Buckeyes have been playing great basketball lately and that doesn’t stop against Purdue. The Boilermakers slim hopes at an NCAA berth die with the loss.

Indiana vs Penn State

The Nittany Lions have struggled since being ranked in the top ten and that was punctuated by their upset loss to Northwestern to end the season. They will be focused but the Hoosiers will be hungrier and get the win.

Friday – Quarterfinals

Michigan vs Wisconsin

The Badgers are hot, but there is something about the Wolverines when they get to tournaments. Michigan pulls off the mini upset of the Badgers.

Iowa vs Illinois

The Illini just beat the Hawkeyes to end the regular season, but that was on their home court. Luka Garza has a huge game and leads Iowa to the semifinals.

Ohio State vs Michigan State

The Spartans finished off the Buckeyes on Sunday to get a share of the Big Ten and it doesn’t look like they are slowing down. They beat them again but in a close game.

Indiana vs Maryland

The Hoosiers run stops against the Terrapins, but Indiana has done enough to get an NCAA berth. Jalen Smith is just too much inside for the Hoosiers to handle.

Saturday – Semifinals

Michigan vs Iowa

The Wolverines beat the Hawkeyes at home but lost on the road so this will be the rubber match. Michigan allows Garza to get his points but shuts the rest of them down and the Iowa defense can’t get enough stops. Wolverines go to their fourth straight Big Ten championship game.

Michigan State vs Maryland

Sometimes there is just a team that is on a run that can’t stop and that is the Spartans right now. They slow down Smith and Cowan Jr enough to pick up the win and set up another Michigan vs Michigan State championship game.

Sunday – Finals

Michigan vs Michigan State

The Wolverines tournament magic comes up just short as Cassius Winston again breaks the hearts of Michigan fans as he controls the game and the Spartans get their second straight Big Tne title.

Five takeaways from the regular season. dark. Next

Disclaimer: The Big Ten has been so crazy this year that every one of these picks could be wrong, but its fun to make them anyway. I stand by these predictions until the first day and then we might just scrap them all.

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