College Basketball Crystal Ball Conference Standings; Big Ten Edition
The 2012 season was supposed to be a no-brainer. Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio State and Syracuse would cruise to conference titles and one seeds come March. This still may be the case; however, the situation is nothing if not murky. Carolina has looked lazy and sluggish, losing unexpectedly in both number of times and margin in those defeats and it is barely February. Ohio State has been banged up; Syracuse and Kentucky both revealed themselves as beatable as well. The results are Missouri and Murray State ranked in the top 10. Only four Big East teams are ranked and none of them is Connecticut. Creighton, St. Mary’s and Harvard all crack the top 25 comfortably. Everyone loves parity, except those of us trying to figure out what the hell is going to happen come tournament time.
Current Big Ten Standings: (All stats and standings as of 1/31/12)
1. Ohio State
2. Wisconsin
3. Michigan State
4. Michigan
5. Illinois
6. Purdue
7. Indiana
8. Minnesota
9. Nebraska
10. Iowa
11. Northwestern
12. Penn State
Projected Final Big Ten Standings:
1. Ohio State (0)
2. Michigan State (+1)
3. Wisconsin (-1)
4. Indiana (+3)
5. Michigan (-1)
6. Minnesota (+2)
7. Purdue (-1)
8. Northwestern (+3)
9. Illinois (-4)
10. Iowa (0)
11. Nebraska (-2)
12. Penn State (0)
The best team now will remain so by the end of the year: the Ohio State Buckeyes. After some surprising defeats and injuries to their All-American, Jared Sullinger, things seem to be back in order in Columbus. And looking back, the losses should not have been that surprising in the first place. Two losses came against conference foes and one more to the best team in the Big 12, and all three were on the road. Ohio State is still undefeated at home: a sign of domination this year more than in years past with so many favorites losing road games to inferior teams. After the loss at Indiana, Ohio State took out vengeance when playing the Hoosiers at home a couple weeks later. Another chance for revenge will come February 21 with their rematch against Illinois.
With Sullinger healthy again, William Buford and Aaron Craft controlling the back court, Deshaun Thomas coming out as a shooting star (pardon the pun) and dominating performances possible any night from Lenzelle Smith Jr, this is one of the deepest teams in the country as far as star production. Cruising to the conference title should pave the way for a one seed in the NCAA Tournament as well.
Meanwhile, the team expected to drop the furthest between now and the end of the year will be the Illinois Fighting Illini. Sure defense and ball control is an important factor in college basketball, especially in the Big Ten. Their recent win at home against Michigan State is not any less valuable because they only managed 42 points. However, with a tough remaining schedule and a putrid offense all around, it will be hard for Illinois to remain in the middle of the Big Ten pack. Ranking 132nd in the country in field goal percentage is only a positive when they also rank close to 200th in the nation in points, rebounds and assists per game.
With five conference road games still remaining (four against teams currently ranked in the top 25) and another top 25 opponent still to come at home, Illinois has their work cut out for them. Simply winning all the games they “should” win would only get them to eight conference victories, and that assumes they are able to take care of business at home, something that has not been the case with three home losses already this season.
The most surprising team finishing in the top half of the Big Ten is Indiana. Coming into the year, not much was expected or predicted of Tom Crean’s crew. That didn’t stop them from rolling off 12 straight victories to start the season and taking down 15 of their first 16 opponents. On the list of casualties in Indiana’s first two months were #1 Kentucky and #2 Ohio State. After hitting a skid in January, Indiana still sees themselves ranked in the top 20 and within shouting distance of a conference crown. Whether they make it that far or not, Christian Watford, Jordan Hulls, freshman phenom Cody Zeller and the rest of the Hoosiers should be happy with their results. Heading into the tournament with a bona fide star (Zeller), great outside shooters and one of the overall best shooting teams in the country (currently third nationally at 50.1 percent) is a recipe for success.
Whether the standings turn out as projected or not, the disappointment of the conference is the Minnesota Golden Gophers and it really is through no fault of their own. Currently eighth in the conference, Minnesota has done a good job of simply battling on after their best player, Trevor Mbakwe, went down with a torn ACL back in November. Since then, they have treaded water in this tough conference, winning some road games, losing some home games, currently resting at 4-5. However, much was expected of this Gophers squad. A tournament berth was a given and vying for a high finish in-conference was a hope. All that changed with Mbakwe going down. Head Coach Tubby Smith has done a pretty solid job with all things considered but it will not be enough to save a lost season.
