Tournament Chances, Selections, and Forecasts for Big Ten
The Big Ten Conference is gearing up for an exciting NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, slated to begin on March 10. The conference is expected to be one of the most competitive, with the Big 12 Conference taking the spotlight as the most heavily loaded conference of the 2025-26 season.
Multiple top 25 teams, including Houston (ranked No. 2 preseason), Texas Tech, BYU, Kansas, Arizona, and Iowa State, are set to compete at a high level and play each other multiple times during the regular season. However, the spotlight within the Big Ten is currently shining brightly on the Iowa Hawkeyes and Illinois Fighting Illini.
The Iowa Hawkeyes have been on a roll, winning seven out of their last eight games. Their recent victories include Ohio State, Wisconsin (twice), and Rutgers. One of their most impressive wins was a 77-73 victory over Wisconsin, with Luka Garza's significant contribution. Garza has been a force to reckon with, scoring 23.8 points, grabbing 8.7 rebounds, and averaging 1.6 blocks per game while shooting 43% from three for the Hawkeyes.
However, the highest-ranked Big Ten team in the AP poll and the current centre of attention is Illinois. They have won 11 out of their last 12 games, including a stunning victory over Michigan on the road, a place where Michigan hadn't lost in over a year. Illinois is known for their rebounding ability and currently rank in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency ratings.
Illinois boasts two legitimate Naismith candidates in Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn. Despite their relative inexperience, with Illinois ranked 219th in D-I in average experience level and 49th in D-I in minutes continuity, they have been consistently delivering impressive performances.
Meanwhile, Michigan, the conference's top seed, has been experiencing a slump, losing two of their last three games, including a 23-point drubbing against Illinois and a six-point setback against Michigan State. Michigan State, coached by Tom Izzo, who has a tendency to have his team peaking at the right time, has won three games over AP top-five opponents in the past two weeks.
Despite Michigan's struggles, they still hold an impressive record of 5-0 against Iowa, Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Purdue. However, no team on Illinois's side of the tournament bracket has beaten them this year. As the Big Ten tournament approaches, the question on everyone's mind is: Can Illinois maintain their form and clinch the title, or will Michigan find their footing and mount a comeback?
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