Big Ten Tournament: If Purdue Wins Will They Capture No.1 NCAA Seed?
Three Teams that Will Give Ohio State Trouble
The next question will be can the Ohio State Buckeyes repeat as the Big Ten Tournament Champs? Teams such as Wisconsin and Illinois will be the toughest games for the top two Big Ten teams.
This is a down year for the Big Ten and separation from the haves and the have nots is large. The following three teams will make Thad Motta and the Buckeyes work for their number one seed.
No.3 Illinois Fighting Illini
The Illinois Fighting Illini are limping into the post season but they will play the Ohio State Buckeyes two weeks before the Big 10 Conference Tournament. Illinois is dropping games to the better teams in the league and a couple of the lower tier teams in the Big Ten.
A .500 record in conference play will not get them to the NCAA Tournament. This can mean only one thing. Illinois must win the Big Ten Tournament to make the NCAA Tournament.
No.2 Wisconsin Badgers
The Wisconsin Badgers beat the No.1 Ohio State Buckeyes on their home court in the Kohl Center and now they may face the Buckeyes on a neutral court. The result may be different but it will be a blast to watch.
The Badgers and Buckeyes match up well but it will tough for the Badgers to have the upper hand on the Buckeyes. The two meet up in the last game of the season so they will be well acquainted if they meet up for a third time.
Wisconsin's big three are all very good touch shooters from the outside. Keaton Nankivil is the best three point shooter hitting them at a 49 percent clip and Jon Leuerand Jordon Taylor are hitting three's at an over 42 percent rate. If Wisconsin's big three shooters get hot they can sweep through the Big Ten Conference Tournament but don't bet on it.
No.1 Purdue Boilmakers
The Purdue Boilermakers have the best combination of shooters and teammates with JaJuan Johnson and E'twaun Moore. Johnson is averaging over 20 points per game and is capable of taking over a game when need be.
Moore is the better outside shooter and is hitting three point shots at a 40 percent clip. Moore is a better than average free throw shooter and this team has some of the best free throw shooters heading into the Big Ten Conference Tournament.
Free throw shooting will win games for this team and Johnson along with Ryne Smith are automatic at the line. Purdue will have to pull out all of the stops to beat the Ohio State Buckeyes but they will fall just short.
Why Do the Ohio State Buckeyes Need to Run Table?
The Ohio State Buckeyes are the defending Big Ten Tournament champs and they will be looking to repeat in 2011. The question is do the Buckeyes have to run the table and win the Big Ten Tournament this year?
Thad Motta knows no other way but to go out and win every game so this team will take advantage of tournament style play to prepare their talented freshman Jared Sullinger for the NCAA Tournament. The Ohio State Buckeyes will hold off the Purdue Boilermakers for the Big Ten Tournament title.
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Published by Todd Jacobs
Todd Jacobs is from Anaheim, California and resides in the city of Las Vegas. Todd worked for Orange Coast Magazine as News Editor in the 80s and recently began writing for several online sites including:... View profile
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- This is a down year for the Big Ten and separation from the haves and the have nots is large.
- Free throw shooting will win games for Purdue & Johnson along with Ryne Smith are automatic.
- Tournament style play will prepare OSU & their talented freshman Jared Sullinger for NCAA Tourney.