Who’s the team to beat in the tournament? Three Tribune experts offer their insights.
Last June, the Detroit Red Wings won their first Stanley Cup since 1955.
In December, a Michigan cornerback became the first defensive player in history to win the Heisman Trophy.
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In January, the Michigan football team won a piece of its first national title since 1948.
Spot the trend? These are rare sporting days for our neighbors across the lake, the dreadful Pistons notwithstanding.
It’s up to the Michigan basketball team to keep the ball rolling in the Big Ten tournament.
The Wolverines have as much talent as anyone in the conference with Robert “Tractor” Traylor, Maceo Baston, Robbie Reid and Louis Bullock. They also have a cause–interim coach Brian Ellerbe’s future–and the Wolverines play well when they have something to prove, as shown in last year’s run to the NIT title.
On the downside, Michigan won’t outhustle anyone. And the Wolverines’ wild inconsistency–they lost to Western Michigan and beat Duke–makes them a chancy pick at best.
But this prognostication business is all about taking risks. So here’s predicting that they’ll be playing “The Victors” during the net-cutting ceremony at the end of the Big Ten tournament Sunday afternoon in the United Center.
If they don’t, our sincerest apologies to Purdue, Illinois, Michigan State, Indiana, Iowa, Penn State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Wisconsin and Ohio State–in that order.
– Andrew Bagnato
Purdue is a funny team, although Gene Keady isn’t laughing about it.
The Boilermakers came into the season with every expectation of winning the conference title, and for good reason. No one else in the Big Ten has as many good players. But the Boilermakers stumbled too often and finished third in the conference race.
After Iowa smoked Purdue 88-69 on Feb. 18, Hawkeye fans chanted, “Overrated.”
“I agree with them,” Keady said afterward.
Then his team lost to Penn State.
So why are we picking the Boilermakers to win the Big Ten tournament? Mostly because it’s the postseason, and Keady’s jaw is in its locked and upright position. He’ll be prepared, and his team will be, too–or else. Purdue has a standout guard in Chad Austin, an all-effort forward in Brian Cardinal and a good center in Brad Miller.
Even without the injured Jaraan Cornell, Purdue simply has too much talent.
Michigan State has talent, too, but not the experience in big games. Illinois has talent, but not a dominant center. Michigan has talent, but not the consistency needed for a long run.
Indiana has fallen, and there are questions about whether it can get up.
A sleeper? How about Iowa? We know, we know: The Hawkeyes faltered down the stretch. But they have lots of people who can hit three-pointers, and they can run and press with anyone in the league. All of that is important at tournament time.
Just ask Keady. He’s the one without a smile on his face.
– Rick Morrissey
Keep your eyes on Game No. 9-Saturday’s second semifinal. Tipoff time: 3:30 p.m. at the United Center.
The winner of the inaugural Big Ten men’s basketball tournament should emerge from that game.
Illinois, the No. 2 seed, may look rusty in Friday’s third quarterfinal–after nine days of rest since its big victory at Indiana. But with basically a home crowd behind them, the Illini will prevail against the winner of Thursday’s too-close-to-call Wisconsin-Penn State game.
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Then, in the last quarterfinal, Purdue will get by slumping Indiana. That sets up the must-see game of the weekend.
Purdue, the No. 3 seed, has beaten co-champion Illinois twice already this season. The reason: The Illini, for all their chemistry and senior leadership, were no match physically for two of the best inside players in the league–Brad Miller and Brian Cardinal. If Miller’s 30-point, 12-rebound performance against Michigan State Sunday is any indication Purdue appears ready to do in the postseason what it failed to do in the regular season: win a trophy.
If the Illini survive, however–after all, Purdue will have to overcome the old bugaboo of trying to beat a team three times in one season–look for them to knock off Michigan State in the finals on Sunday.
But the pick here is Purdue. The Boilermakers have too much talent and too many unrealized dreams to blow it this time.
– Gary Reinmuth