Big Ten Tournament Preview

Paul M. Banks a.k.a. The Sports Bank, NBC Chicago Street Team

When the 12th Annual Big Ten men’s basketball tournament tips off Thursday it will feature one of the deepest fields in recent years. If a couple of the bubble teams make a strong showing at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, as many as nine teams could have a case to be in the Big Dance next week.

Michigan State (25-5, 15-3) claimed the No. 1 seed after capturing the Big Ten title for the fifth time under Tom Izzo. Illinois (23-8, 11-7) earned the No. 2 seed, while Purdue (22-9, 11-7) clinched the No. 3 spot. Wisconsin (19-11, 10-8) claimed the No. 4 seed and Ohio State (20-9, 10-8) earned the No. 5 seed.

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Illinois, Michigan St. Big Ten’s Best this Decade

Paul M. Banks a.k.a. The Sports Bank

When second place Illinois hosts first place Michigan State on Sunday, the battle for the Big Ten title will be yet another chapter in a decade-long familiar story.

For the past 10 years or so, the Illini and Spartans have met each other at the apex of the conference. In 1998 and 2001, they finished conference co-champions. In the latter season, they both earned #1 seeds in the NCAA tournament. In 2005, both programs reached the Final Four. In ’99 and ’00, they met in the conference
tournament title game, in ’06 they squared off in the semifinals. Last season, both reached the Big Ten tourney semis. At 3 p.m. Sunday, the game between #20 Illini (23-6, 11-5) and the #9 Spartans (22-5, 12-3) will be nationally televised.

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