As of this morning there are six teams in the Big Ten with three or fewer conference losses and only Michigan has more than four losses. The consensus seems to be that Purdue and Wisconsin are the cream of the conference crop with IL (sans Shannon) coming in at third. My working thesis is that MSU, OSU, IU, Northwestern, Iowa and Nebraska are the prime candidates to finish in the top five. Looking at the games between those teams through the first weekend in February, it looks like we should gain some visibility as to how close it's likely to be in the race for the title and who the real contenders are to finish in the top third of the conference and make the NCAAT.
Observations
Purdue @ IA
NU @ Nebraska
OSU @ Nebraska
IL @ NU
MSU @ Wisconsin
IU @ IL
OSU @ NU
IL @ OSU
IA @ IU
NU @ Purdue
Wisconsin @ Nebraska
OSU @ IA
Purdue @ Wisconsin
Nebraska @ IL
Observations
- Nebraska risks falling out of a top 3 finish conversation unless they take 2 of 3 with NU and OSU at home and @ Wisconsin
- IL plays four games against contenders over that span @NU, vs IU, @OSU and vs Nebraska, can they hold up without Shannon?
- NU also plays four games against contenders @Nebraska, vs IL, vs OSU and @Purdue, if they win the first three the game @Purdue becomes significant
- IU needs to split @IL and vs IA
- Wisconsin can prove that they're clearly in the top two with wins vs MSU at home and @ Nebraska before taking on Purdue on 2/4
- Purdue can take control of the race by taking care of business @ IA, gaining retribution vs NU at home and stealing one @ Wisconsin.
Purdue @ IA
NU @ Nebraska
OSU @ Nebraska
IL @ NU
MSU @ Wisconsin
IU @ IL
OSU @ NU
IL @ OSU
IA @ IU
NU @ Purdue
Wisconsin @ Nebraska
OSU @ IA
Purdue @ Wisconsin
Nebraska @ IL
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