Tag: Big Ten Tournament

Big Ten Tournament to be played without fans Thursday through Sunday

Big Ten Tournament news

This wasn’t always inevitable, but it became inevitable on Wednesday afternoon.

As soon as the NCAA declared that the NCAA Tournament would be played without fans in attendance at arenas, it was only a matter of time before the various conferences made the same decision about their conference tournaments.

The 2020 Big Ten Tournament began on Wednesday in Indianapolis with fans attending the two first-round games. Minnesota played Northwestern in the first game, and Indiana and Nebraska — at press time — have yet to start the second game, which is slated for a 7:25 p.m. Central time tip.

Those will be the last Big Ten Tournament games fans can attend.

The Big Ten released a statement on Wednesday to address the growing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic:

The Big Ten Conference announced this evening that beginning Thursday, March 12, 2020, attendance at all Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament games will be limited to student-athletes, coaches, event staff, essential team and Conference staff, TV network partners, credentialed media, and immediate family members of the participating teams.

Additionally, all further Big Ten Conference winter and spring sport competitions, including championship/tournament events, will also be limited to student-athletes, coaches, event staff, essential team and Conference staff, TV network partners, credentialed media, and immediate family members of the participating teams.
 
The main priority of the Big Ten Conference is to ensure the safety of our student-athletes, coaches, administrators, fans and media as we continue to monitor all relevant information on the COVID-19 virus on a daily basis.
 
It is important that any person attending a Big Ten sporting event consult the following guidelines from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/high-risk-complications.html.

At 7:37 Eastern time on Wednesday, a quick check of some of the other Twitter feeds of Power Five conferences indicates that conference tournaments have not yet prohibited fans from attending. The Pac-12 and SEC Tournaments began Wednesday, and at 7:37, neither had made an announcement about prohibiting fans from attending future games on Thursday and beyond. The ACC Tournament began Tuesday. It had not yet offered a plan at 7:37 p.m. on Wednesday.

The Big 12, however, had presented a limited-access plan shortly after 7 Eastern on Wednesday:

The Big Ten Tournament will continue as scheduled, with coverage provided by Big Ten Network through Friday (quarterfinals) and CBS on the weekend (Saturday semifinals, Sunday championship game).

Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament still on with fan attendance says conference

The Big Ten issues a statement on Wednesday confirming that the men’s basketball tournament will be played and attended as usual.

The Big Ten released a statement Monday confirming that the men’s basketball tournament will still be played and attended as usual. The statement came earlier on Wednesday, before the NCAA made the tough decision to significantly limit attendance at all its championship events to essential staff and limited family members.

It’s all a result of measures being put in place to help curb the spread of the now pandemic Coronavirus. Here is the complete statement from the Big Ten Conference.

The Big Ten Conference’s main priority is to ensure the safety of our students, coaches, administrators, event staff, fans and media as we continue to monitor all relevant information on the COVID-19 virus.

At this time the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament will continue to be held as scheduled. Postgame media availabilities will continue to take place at the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament, however they will be held in larger designated areas of Bankers Life Fieldhouse in lieu of team locker rooms.

We will continue to consult with Pacers Sports & Entertainment, Bankers Life Fieldhouse, the Marion County Public Health Department and the NCAA leading up to and during the event to implement best practices and provide the most current information.

At this point, if you have tickets to all the fun in Indy, things are still on. If that changes anytime over the next few days with any of the upcoming games, we’ll let you know as soon as we do.

 

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Ohio State vs. Purdue Big Ten Tournament game: How and where to watch and listen

Ohio State will begin its quest to make a run through the Big Ten Tournament Thursday against Purdue. Here’s how you can find the game.

Welcome to the postseason.

After a Big Ten basketball season that felt more like a war of attrition as opposed to a conference schedule, it’s time to continue the madness in March. The Big Ten Tournament tips off Wednesday with two games. No. 7 seed Ohio State getting things cranked up on Thursday evening.

It’s opponent? The No. 10 seed Purdue Boilermakers are lying in wait for a Buckeye team looking to build on the momentum it created during the second half of the Big Ten season.

OSU won by sixteen points in the only meeting of the two back on February 15. That was in Columbus though, and this one will be in a tournament setting where the loser goes home. Here’s all the information you need to find the game on television, radio, or as streaming content.

Next … television, radio, streaming, game time, and venue

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Ohio State vs. Purdue Big Ten Tournament game preview, prediction, and odds

Ohio State heads to Indy to take on Purdue in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. We’ve got your preview, prediction, and odds.

After a roller-coaster regular season for the Ohio State basketball team, it’s now win or go home time. The Big Ten Tournament is set to get underway today, with Ohio State preparing for its first game on Thursday against No. 10 seed Purdue.

During the only meeting of the regular season, the Buckeyes beat Purdue easily in Columbus by sixteen. But that was in front of the home crowd. This one will be on a so-called neutral court in Indianapolis, but just down the road from the Purdue campus. It could be a much more pro-Boilermaker gathering.

Purdue has the skill and shooting to not only give Ohio State a game, but to pull off the mild upset. So how will it all go down? We’ve got everything to dig into this matchup.

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Odds via BetMGM. Access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. ET. 

Records

Ohio State 21-10, (11-9), Purdue 16-15, (9-11)

All-time series record

69-54 Ohio State leads

Last meeting

Ohio State won 68-52

Broadcast, TV, Game Time

Date: Thursday, March 12
Game Time: 6:30 PM
Venue: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Network: BTN

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Next … The Ohio State Game Plan

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How you should bet the Big Ten Tournament

The Big Ten Tournament bracket was finalized on Sunday, which means so were the lines in Vegas. Despite Wisconsin landing the one seed following a three-way tie for first place, the Badgers are nowhere near favorites to be the last team standing in …

The Big Ten Tournament bracket was finalized on Sunday, which means so were the lines in Vegas. Despite Wisconsin landing the one seed following a three-way tie for first place, the Badgers are nowhere near favorites to be the last team standing in Indy. Banker’s Life Fieldhouse will play host to the tournament that begins with a pair of games today. Let’s take a look at the full list of odds and find every gamblers favorite thing: value.

Here is the complete list of odds to win the Big Ten Tournament:

  • Michigan State+250
  • Maryland+500
  • Wisconsin+500
  • Illinois+800
  • Michigan+1100
  • Ohio State+1100
  • Iowa+1200
  • Penn State+1200
  • Rutgers+1800
  • Purdue+2500
  • Minnesota+3000
  • Indiana+3300
  • Nebraska+25000
  • Northwestern+40000

The Pick: Michigan State – The chalk is not always the play, but in the case of this tournament I think it has to be. Michigan State enters Indy on a role, and over their last five games they have looked like the team that was a preseason national championship favorite. March favors two things: electrifying guards and elite coaching. The Spartans check both boxes. Coming off of a 27-point outburst on his senior day, Cassius Winston will be a man on a mission this March. Sparty has a double-bye, which will be significant advantage for the top four seeds given how close many of these tournament games are sure to be. Throughout their five-game winning streak, Michigan State has won three of the five games on the road including wins at Penn State and a double-digit Maryland. Playing away from home effects the Spartans less than any other contender, as we have seen this year in conference play. 

Sleeper: Iowa – The Hawkeyes provide the value at +1200, and anytime you have Big Ten Player of the Year Luka Garza you have a chance. Iowa fell short at Illinois on Sunday in an effort to claim a double-bye, but Garza showed us why he is the best big in the conference finishing with 28 points and eight boards. The Hawkeyes have an experienced leader in Fran McCaffery and the shooting to ignite a deep run in Indy.

Deep Sleeper: Indiana – No, the Hoosiers are not going to win the Big Ten Tournament, but winning multiple games seems like a real possibility. Indiana enters Indy with everything to play for, and a tournament site that is only about 50 minutes away from their home in Bloomington. You expect Archie Miller’s group to take care of Nebraska, a team that they swept in the regular season, and take of care of business in a must-win game. That would set up a matchup with Penn State, a squad that limps into Indy as losers of three straight including Saturday’s loss to a bottom feeder in Northwestern. The Hoosiers have their NCAA Tournament hopes on the line and a likely home crowd, so if you are really feeling lucky, dabble with +3300.

Homer Pick: The Badgers are the hottest team in all the land and the bracket works out nicely for them. Avoiding Michigan State until what would be the championship matchup feels like a major win given the way that the Spartans are playing. UW has a doable path to the final, and this team has refused to lose for over a month. The value is there if the Badgers make it to Sunday and you have the opportunity to hedge your bet.

Michigan State University investigating local coronavirus case, moving to online classes

The university has announced campus will remain open, but face-to-face instruction has been suspended.

COVID-19, more often referred to as “The Coronavirus” has made its way into Michigan.

Michigan State University has announced that in-person classes will be suspended in lieu of online classes. The suspension will start at Noon Wednesday, March 11 and last until at least April 20.

According to the school, “On March 11, MSU learned of an individual linked to our campus who the Ingham County Health Department is currently investigating and monitoring. The day before, state officials announced the first confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Michigan.”

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced Tuesday night that two people in the state–in Oakland and Wayne Counties–had tested positive for COVID-19.

The school is also monitoring large-scale gatherings to be held on campus in the future, as well as limiting future events in confined spaces. “We will provide more information soon and urge everyone to consider the health implications of large gatherings and evaluate the essential nature of the events. We will not be scheduling new events with more than 100 individuals in a confined space during for this time period unless there are special circumstances,” says the release.

Michigan State is just one of many colleges or college areas impacted by the spread of COVID-19. A number of schools have switched to online classes, the Ivy League basketball tournament has been cancelled, and a number of NCAA Tournament host sites for both men and women are in cities or states that have limited or banned large-scale events. The MAC conference tournament is currently being played in Cleveland, OH–site of a pod of NCAA Tournament games–without fans due to outbreak fears. The potential for this type of scenario at sporting events across the country is growing very real.

On Wednesday morning the NCAA cancelled a media teleconference with basketball committee chair Kevin White. Thus far the NCAA hasn’t had much to say in response to their biggest event of the season being impacted by a viral disease outbreak.

More locally, the Big Ten Tournament–which kicks off Wednesday night in Indianapolis–is scheduled to go on as planned, but the conference has not updated the situation in a handful of days, during which the cases of COVID-19 in the United States have continued to grow. We will have more on this story when it is available.

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Big Ten Tournament Basketball Fearless Predictions, Game Previews: First Round

Minnesota vs. Northwestern, Indiana vs. Nebraska college basketball fearless predictions and Big Ten Tournament game previews.

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Minnesota vs. Northwestern, Indiana vs. Nebraska college basketball fearless predictions and Big Ten Tournament game previews.

– Indiana vs. Nebraska

Iowa State vs. Oklahoma State Broadcast

Date: Wednesday, March 11
Game Time: 6:00 ET
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
Venue: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Network: BTN

– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Minnesota (14-16) vs. Northwestern (8-22) Game Preview

If want in on this week’s games, sign up with BetMGM

What’s Going To Happen

Where did this Northwestern team come from?

After losing 12 in a row and 17 of 18, it won two of its last three games including a stunning regular season finale over Penn State. Along the way, it was rocked twice by Minnesota.

The Gophers couldn’t seem to do much of anything right over the final month of the season – losing six in seven before destroying Nebraska – but beating Northwestern 83-57 in late February was a rare good moment.

The Wildcats can’t score, it can’t hit the boards, and it can’e do much of anything from the outside. It also can’t take the ball away.

Minnesota can’t force takeaways, either, but it’s great at dominating the glass,  and it doesn’t turn the ball over enough for Northwestern to generate a slew of easy points.

Second-chance points will be the difference – Minnesota will get them, and Northwestern won’t.

Minnesota vs. Northwestern Prediction, Line

Minnesota 74, Northwestern 65
Bet on this with BetMGM, or for latest line 
Minnesota -8, o/u: 138
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
ATS Confidence out of 5: 4
– Get Tickets For This Game

Must See Rating: 2

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What NCAA seed could Ohio State land if it wins the Big Ten tournament?

The Ohio State basketball team has a chance to make a multi-game run in the Big Ten Tournament, and it could seriously help its resume.

The Ohio State basketball team has a chance to improve its seeding in the NCAA Tournament if it can make a deeper-than-expected run in the Big Ten Tournament.

Already with a first-round bye, the tournament’s seventh seed will start out playing the No. 11 seed, the Purdue Boilermakers. It won’t be easy (Big Ten games rarely are), but Ohio State did defeat Purdue by 16 just a few weeks ago. That game was at home though, and this one is just a stone’s throw from West Lafayette. It should be a pro-Boilermaker crowd.

They’ll then get Michigan State.

For argument’s sake, let’s assume the Buckeyes defeat Michigan State. Then, for kicks and giggles, we assume they defeat Maryland and lose in the final to a Wisconsin team they’ve yet to beat this season.

If that were to happen, Ohio State would have two additional top-15 victories under their belt. Maryland is currently ranked No. 12 while Michigan State is No. 9.

Ohio State does have double-digit losses, but they have a stellar resume. Rattling off nine straight wins to start the season, Ohio State has six top-25 victories to go with a perfect 3-0 record against teams in the top ten.

With most bracket projections giving the Buckeyes a No. 5 seed currently, those victories should boost them back into the top 15 and potentially into the No. 4 seed range if everything else falls into place nationally.

Either way, with their action in the Big Ten Tournament kicking off against Purdue at 6:30 p.m. EST on March 11, the Buckeyes will have a chance to get a hot streak going and figure out how to improve an already impressive resume heading into late March.

Let all the fun begin.

 

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion.

We have a forum and message board now. Get in on the conversation about Ohio State athletics by joining the Buckeyes Wire Forum.

Streaky Ohio State basketball team primed for deep Big Ten tournament run

The Ohio State basketball team has a chance to make a deep run in the Big Ten Tournament, but it’ll need quite a bit of help to get it done.

On Thursday, March 11, the Ohio State Buckeyes will start their quest for a Big Ten Championship. This one could come just months after their conference championship in football.

Entering the conference-wide tournament as the No. 7 seed, the Buckeyes have both looked like the best team in the conference and the worst at times.

They’ve amassed both a nine-game win stretch that included wins over two top-ten teams to start the season, and a four-game losing streak during a stretch of losing six of seven in January. With wins over the Big Ten’s best, the Buckeyes will be primed for a deep run in the Big Ten Tourney.

They’ll kick off the madness with a 6:30 p.m. Eastern tipoff against the Purdue Boilermakers, a team they beat by 16 under a month ago, but at the Schott. It can be watched on the Big Ten Network.

However, Ohio State’s real test will come against Michigan State, a team it just lost against in its season finale Sunday. It was Cassius Winston’s 27 points that helped the Spartans to a double-digit victory.

Sparty doesn’t have too many quality wins this season, but they do have Ohio State’s number. If the Buckeyes get by Michigan State, they’ll play a Maryland team which they’ve already downed this season.

Get through those first three games and they’ll be in the tournament final. But all the games will be tough, even the first-round game against the Boilermakers.

That’s the gameplan, and if we’ve seen anything from this Buckeyes team, it’s that, if they play as a team and cohesively, they can beat any college team in the nation.

They’ll need the help to make a deep run in the precursor to the NCAA Tournament, but the run could certainly help their bid, potentially bumping them from a five or six seed to somewhere in the four-seed range.

Expect a crazy Big Ten Tournament (except for Northwestern winning)

The Big Ten Tournament

The Big Ten’s depth — and its lack of a great, transcendent team — should point to a tournament this week in Indianapolis which creates all sorts of seed-based outcomes. More precisely, we shouldn’t think of various seed-based outcomes as upsets. There aren’t many upsets to be found in the Big Ten other than Northwestern and Nebraska winning games. Those would be the only shockers. Everything else among the top 12 teams in the conference seems entirely realistic.

Minnesota led Iowa late in Williams Arena a few weeks ago before letting the Hawkeyes off the hook. If Minnesota manages to beat Iowa in a 12-over-5-seed upset, would it be THAT shocking? Hardly. Minnesota almost beat Maryland. It almost beat Indiana. It almost won a number of very important games but couldn’t close the deal. Minnesota is a very dangerous No. 12 seed at a conference tournament, which in many ways tells you everything you need to know about the Big Ten Tournament.

Let’s play more seed-based games: If No. 11 seed Indiana beat No. 6 Penn State in a second-round game, would THAT be a stunner? Indiana recently beat PSU.

If No. 10 seed Purdue — which beat No. 2 seed Michigan State by 29 points earlier this season — makes its way to the semifinals on Saturday by beating Ohio State (second round) and Michigan State (quarterfinals), would it be a massive upset? Not at all. Maybe a slight surprise, but not an earthquake.

Last but certainly not least, if Wisconsin loses to Michigan or Rutgers — both NCAA Tournament teams — it wouldn’t be a gigantic shocker. It is very rare that an 8-9 game in a conference tournament involves two NCAA Tournament teams, but this is a rare season, and the Big Ten is ridiculously deep.

Rutgers versus Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament final on Sunday? Michigan versus Indiana in the Big Ten final? I wouldn’t expect those outcomes… but they wouldn’t be completely shocking. With nine certain NCAA Tournament teams and 11 teams being within the realm of possibility, the Big Ten Tournament could create numerous outcomes which wouldn’t be hugely surprising.

Expect just about anything… except for Northwestern and Nebraska winning a game.