Purdue can still earn the double-bye even if it loses at Michigan State on Wednesday, but a victory in East Lansing would assure a top-four seed (double-bye) in the Big Ten Tournament.
This much we know (and there is a lot we don't):
If Purdue beats MSU and Illinois it will be either a No. 2 seed or No. 3 seed. The only way it is a No. 2 seed, however, is if Maryland loses both of its games at Rutgers and Nebraska.
If the Boilermakers lose both games, it drops no further than a No. 5 seed. There are scenarios where the Boilermakers can lose both games and still earn a No. 4 seed, but it would involve finishing in a four-way tie with Michigan State, Indiana and Iowa, or a three-way tie with the Spartans and Hoosiers or a three-way tie with the Hawkeyes and Spartans (all with 11-7 records) to do so. And in all those multi-tie scenarios, Ohio State has to stay below Purdue in the standings by losing its final two games (at Penn State and home versus Wisconsin).
Point being it is still far from clear cut.
This much we know (and there is a lot we don't):
If Purdue beats MSU and Illinois it will be either a No. 2 seed or No. 3 seed. The only way it is a No. 2 seed, however, is if Maryland loses both of its games at Rutgers and Nebraska.
If the Boilermakers lose both games, it drops no further than a No. 5 seed. There are scenarios where the Boilermakers can lose both games and still earn a No. 4 seed, but it would involve finishing in a four-way tie with Michigan State, Indiana and Iowa, or a three-way tie with the Spartans and Hoosiers or a three-way tie with the Hawkeyes and Spartans (all with 11-7 records) to do so. And in all those multi-tie scenarios, Ohio State has to stay below Purdue in the standings by losing its final two games (at Penn State and home versus Wisconsin).
Point being it is still far from clear cut.
