After a midseason swoon allowed rival Michigan to climb to the top of the Big Ten standings, Michigan State rebounded with a seven-game winning streak to close the regular season three games ahead of second-place finishers Maryland and the Wolverines.
This has made the Spartans the favorite in this week’s Big Ten tournament, a crowded and likely competitive five-day stretch that will decide whether the conference sends as few as eight or as many as 10 teams into this year’s NCAA field.
But what the Big Ten won’t likely have is a No. 1 seed, with that space occupied by Houston, Duke and two teams from the SEC. Michigan State likely is locked into the No. 2 line by winning the conference tournament for the seventh time under coach Tim Izzo, while the Terrapins and Wisconsin could rise that high by doing the same and getting some help in the SEC and Big 12.
BRACKETOLOGY: Fight for No. 1 seeds, bubble lead projected NCAA field
TOURNAMENT PREVIEWS: SEC | Big Ten | ACC | Big 12 | Big East
Big Ten tournament schedule, bracket, scores
First round
Wednesday, March 12
Northwestern vs. Minnesota, 3:30 p.m.
Iowa vs. Ohio State, 6 p.m.
Southern California vs. Rutgers, 8:30 p.m.
Second round
Thursday, March 13 Oregon vs. Indiana, noon
Wisconsin vs. Northwestern-Minnesota winner, 2:30 p.m.
Illinois vs. Iowa-Ohio State winner, 6:30 p.m.
Purdue vs. Rutgers-Southern California winner, 9 p.m.
Quarterfinals
Friday, March 14
Michigan State vs. Oregon-Indiana winner, noon
UCLA vs. Wisconsin-Northwestern-Minnesota winner, 2:30 p.m.
Maryland vs. Illinois-Iowa-Ohio State winner, 6:30 p.m.
Michigan vs. Purdue-Rutgers-Southern California winner, 9 p.m.
Semifinals Saturday, March 15
Michigan State-Oregon-Indiana winner vs. UCLA-Wisconsin-Northwestern-Minnesota winner, 1 p.m.
Maryland-Illinois-Iowa-Ohio State winner vs. Michigan-Purdue-Rutgers-Southern California winner, 3:30 p.m.
Championship Sunday, March 16
Semifinal winners, 3:30 p.m.
All times Eastern
Big Ten tournament favorite
Start with Michigan State. The Spartans are holding opponents to 40.1% shooting from the field, best in the Big Ten and 17th nationally, and posted 12 Quad 1 wins, second in the country to Auburn. Another strong contenders is Maryland, winners of seven of eight to end the regular season. Wisconsin was in contention for a No. 2 seed but floundered down the stretch, though the Badgers could make some noise this month thanks to the projected return of guard Max Klesmit, who hasn’t played since Feb. 25.
Big Ten tournament top players
➤ Braden Smith, G, Purdue – The biggest holdover from last year’s regular-season Big Ten champions, Smith is scoring 16.3 points per game and ranks second in Division I with 8.8 assists per game.
➤ Vladislav Goldin, C, Michigan – Goldin followed coach Dusty May from Florida Atlantic and picked up right where he left, drawing All-America consideration after averaging 16.7 points per game on a Big Ten-best 64.2% from the field during the regular season.
➤ Derik Queen, C, Maryland – Queen earned first-team all-conference honors after nearly averaging a double-double (15.7 points and 9.1 rebounds per game) and is one of only two players in the country to rank in the top two on his team in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks.
➤ John Tonje, G, Wisconsin – The former Missouri transfer has grown into one of the top scorers in the Big Ten (18.9 points per game) thanks to his stroke from deep (37.8%) and the line (91.6%).
➤ Dylan Harper, G, Rutgers – The year hasn’t gone quite as expected for Rutgers or the five-star freshman, though Harper has lifted his game since early February. He’s averaging 20.3 points in his past nine games.
NCAA tournament bubble storylines for the Big Ten
Indiana is firmly on the bubble in coach Mike Woodson’s final season. The Hoosiers will have a stronger tournament case with a second-round win against Oregon; on the other hand, they’re likely out of the tournament picture with a loss to the Ducks. Another team with an unsteady tournament case is Ohio State, especially after the Buckeyes dropped the finale against Indiana. The No. 10 seed in the Big Ten bracket, Ohio State opens with Iowa and would advance to face No. 7 seed Illinois with a win.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Big Ten tournament schedule, bracket, scores
