Sean Merriman, BTN.com web editor, March 5, 2015
There is one Big Ten men's hoops game tonight: Wisconsin at Minnesota (7 p.m. ET).
Much of the talk during the final week of the regular season revolves around the expanded Big Ten tourney field, and, in particular, the coveted double-byes.
The top four teams receive double-byes into next Friday?s quarterfinals at the United Center. Big Ten champ Wisconsin and Maryland have clinched double-byes, but who can claim the remaining two?
BTN researcher Harold Shelton lays out the possible scenarios below after Wednesday night's action.
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1. Wisconsin (14-2): at Minnesota; at Ohio State
Already clinched double-bye
Can clinch #1 seed with win at Minnesota tonight, OR a win at Ohio State on Sunday OR a Maryland loss at Nebraska Sunday
Can?t fall lower than #2 seed
2. Maryland (13-4): at Nebraska
Already clinched double-bye
Can clinch #1 seed with win at Nebraska AND 2 Wisconsin losses
Can?t fall lower than #2 seed
3. Michigan State (11-6): at Indiana
Clinches double bye with win at Indiana Saturday (Would be #3 seed if they won)
Can still clinch a double bye with a loss but they would need 2 of 3 teams to lose (Iowa at Northwestern, Purdue vs Illinois, Ohio State vs Wisconsin)
Can be as high as #3 seed with a win + tiebreakers but could fall as low as #6 seed with a loss + tiebreakers
4. Iowa (11-6): vs. Northwestern
Could clinch double bye with win vs Northwestern but would need help (Could be seeded anywhere from 3-5)
The only way Iowa can?t clinch a double bye with a win is if Michigan State beats Indiana, Purdue beats Illinois, and Wisconsin beats Ohio State
Can?t fall below #6 seed at this point
Can be as high as #3 seed with a win + tiebreakers but could fall as low as #6 seed with a loss + tiebreakers
5. Purdue (11-6): vs. Illinois
Could clinch double bye with win vs Illinois but would need help (could be seeded anywhere from 3-5)
Will clinch #3 seed with a win along with an Indiana win over Michigan State AND a Wisconsin win at Ohio State
Could fall as low as #6 seed with a loss + tiebreakers
6. Ohio State (11-6): vs. Wisconsin
Could clinch double bye with win vs Wisconsin but would need help (Could be seeded anywhere from 3-6)
Will clinch 3 seed with a win along with a Northwestern win at Iowa AND an Indiana win against Michigan State
Could fall as low as #6 seed with a loss + tiebreakers
7. Indiana (9-8): vs. Michigan State
Locked into a single bye. Will play on Thursday no matter what. Will not finish in Top 4 or bottom 4
Will finish as the #7 seed with a win against Michigan State OR an Illinois loss at Purdue
Will finish as the #8 seed with a loss against Michigan State AND an Illinois win at Purdue
8. Illinois (9-8): at Purdue
Locked into a single bye. Will play on Thursday no matter what. Will not finish in Top 4 or bottom 4
Will finish as the #7 seed with a win at Purdue AND an Indiana loss vs Michigan State
Will finish as the #8 seed with a loss at Purdue OR an Indiana win vs Michigan State
9. Michigan (7-10): vs. Rutgers
Clinches #9 seed with vs Rutgers
Can be as high as #9 seed with a win + tiebreakers but could fall as low as #11 seed with a loss + tiebreakers
10. Minnesota (6-10): vs. Wisconsin; vs. Penn State
Will clinch single bye with 2 more wins (Could be seeded #9 or #10 if they win both games)
Will be seeded between #10 and #12 if they lose out or win only once depending on tiebreakers
11. Northwestern (6-11): at Iowa
Could clinch a single bye with win at Iowa but would need help (Could be seeded anywhere from 9-12)
Can?t fall below #12 seed at this point
Can be as high as #9 seed with a win + tiebreakers but could fall as low as #12 seed with a loss + tiebreakers
12. Nebraska (5-12): vs. Maryland
Could clinch a single bye with a win vs Maryland but would need help (Could be seeded anywhere from 10-12)
Can?t fall below #12 seed at this point
13. Penn State (3-14): at Minnesota
Will play on the first day no matter what
Clinches #13 seed with a win at Minnesota OR a Rutgers loss at Michigan
Clinches #14 seed with a loss at Minnesota AND a Rutgers win at Michigan
14. Rutgers (2-15): at Michigan
Will play on first day no matter what
Will finish last no matter what if they lose at Michigan OR if Penn State wins at Minnesota
Will finish as #13 seed with a win at Michigan AND a Penn State loss at Minnesota