Bracketology: Taking the Big Ten's NCAA temperature

Once again, it's time to take the NCAA tourney temperature of the Big Ten. For that, here?s a look at the latest brackets from Jerry Palm of CBSSports.com and Joe Lunardi of ESPN.com.

[btn-post-package-v2]

No Big Ten team is seeded higher than No. 5, with Wisconsin, Purdue and Minnesota earning the loftiest status. And Northwestern is sitting pretty to earn its first NCAA bid ever, as it?s a No. 7 seed in one bracket and a No. 9 in another.

Here is a look at where Big Ten teams are in Palm?s latest bracket, released Friday.

Eight Big Ten teams are in Palm?s bracket, but none is higher than a No. 5 seed. And Michigan is in a play-in game.

No. 5 Purdue vs. No. 12 Nevada in the Midwest
No. 5 Minnesota vs. No. 12 Illinois State in the West
No. 6 Wisconsin vs. No. 11 Cal/Iowa State play-in game in the West
No. 6 Maryland vs. No. 11 Seton Hall in the East
No. 7 Northwestern vs. No. 10 Clemson in the East
No. 8 Michigan State vs. No. 9 Texas Tech in the West
No. 9 Indiana vs. No. 8 TCU in the East
No. 11 Michigan vs. No. 11 Miami (Fla.) play-in game in the Midwest

Here is a look at where Big Ten teams are in Lunardi?s latest bracket, released Thursday.

Lunardi has just seven Big Ten teams in his bracket, but he lists Illinois and Michigan among his ?next four out,? which comes after the ?first four out.? Again, Palm has Michigan in his bracket in a play-in game.

No. 5 Wisconsin vs. No. 12 Nevada in the Midwest
No. 6 Purdue vs. No. 11 Pitt in the West
No. 7 Minnesota vs. No. 10 Miami (Fla.) in the South
No. 7 Maryland vs. No. 10 Middle Tennessee in the East
No. 7 Michigan State vs. No. 10 Texas Tech in the Midwest
No. 8 Indiana vs. No. 9 Iowa State in the West
No. 9 Northwestern vs. No. 8 USC in the East