Bracketology: No conference has more teams than Big Ten this week

Time to take the temperature of the Big Ten as it relates to the NCAA tourney. Bracketologists Jerry Palm of CBSSports.com and Joe Lunardi of ESPN.com each has eight Big Ten teams in the field.

That's tied for the most in Palm's bracket, which also has eight Big 12 schools, and is the most in Lunardi's mock.

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Like last week, Wisconsin remains on the No. 2 line in both mock brackets. And Maryland is the second-highest seeded team again, taking a No. 3 seed from Palm and a No. 4 seed from Lunardi.

For the first time, both bracket experts have Purdue-winners of seven of eight–in the field. Last week, the Boilermakers were among Palm?s ?last four in,? taking part in a play-in game as a No. 12 seed. This week, Palm has the Boilers as a No. 11. Last week, Lunardi had the Boilers as one of his ?first four out.? This week, he also has Purdue as a No. 11.

Like Purdue, Illinois is a team playing for its NCAA life. The Fighting Illini are a No. 10 seed by Palm; but like last week, Lunardi has the Illini among his ?last four in,? taking part in a play-in game as a No. 11.

Biggest disagreements? Palm and Lunardi have two-seeded differences on Iowa and Michigan State. Palm has the Hawkeyes as a No. 8; Lunardi has them as a No. 10. Palm has the Spartans as a No. 9; Lunardi has them as a No. 7. Otherwise, the two bracket geeks are basically in agreement.

Here is how each bracketologist has the Big Ten teams seeded this week.

Jerry Palm, CBSSports.com
No. 2 Wisconsin vs. No. 15 Florida Gulf Coast, Midwest
No. 3 Maryland vs. No. 14 Iona, South
No. 7 Indiana vs. No. 10 Dayton, East
No. 8 Iowa vs. No. 9 Xavier, Midwest
No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 9 Cincinnati, West
No. 9 Michigan State vs. No. 8 Ole Miss, East
No. 10 Illinois vs. No. 7 San Diego State, West
No. 11 Purdue vs. No. 6 SMU, Midwest

Joe Lunardi, ESPN.com
No. 2 Wisconsin vs. No. 15 Florida Gulf Coast, South
No. 4 Maryland vs. No. 13 Valparaiso, East
No. 7 Michigan State vs. No. 10 Colorado State, East
No. 8 Indiana vs. No. 9 Texas, South
No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 9 Texas A&M, West
No. 10 Iowa vs. No. 7 Ole Miss, West
No. 11 Purdue vs. No. 6 West Virginia
No. 11 Illinois vs. No. 11 UCLA, play-in game, West

***

Here is how they were seeded last week at this time:

Palm
No. 2 Wisconsin vs. No. 15 Florida Gulf Coast, Midwest
No. 3 Maryland vs. No. 14 High Point, South
No. 5 Indiana vs. No. 12 Murray State, South
No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 9 Georgia, East
No. 10 Illinois vs. No. 7 West Virginia, East
No. 10 Iowa vs. No. 7 Wichita State, South
No. 11 Michigan State vs. No. 6 VCU, Midwest
No. 12 Purdue vs. No. 12 UCLA, play-in game

Lunardi
No. 2 Wisconsin vs. No. 15 Albany, South
No. 5 Maryland vs. No. 12 N.C. State/No. 12 Tulsa
No. 7 Indiana vs. No. 10 Colorado State
No. 7 Ohio State vs. No. 10 Cincinnati
No. 9 Michigan State vs. No. 8 West Virginia, Midwest
No. 9 Iowa vs. No. 8 Ole Miss, South
No. 11 Illinois vs. No. 11 UCLA, play-in game

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