Tourney time is approaching

Conference tournaments start later this week (Go Winthrop!) and the Big 10 tourney is only 11 days away and yet predicting the seeding is virtually impossible. After today we'll probably have a good idea who #1 and #2 will be, and we know who #9-#11 will be (although the order is still up for grabs) however #3-#8 is a complete mess. Illinois could actually be the #3 seed, which would be a great relief to whichever team grabs the #6 seed. Indiana and Michigan St might face off in what would be a highly anticipated 4v5 showdown. Iowa still has a good shot at a spot in the 4v5 game too. Purdue could finish as the 8th seed. I know things are usually crazy going into the final week of the season, but this season appears to be especially crazy.

One thing I wanted to say, however, is that the conference needs to address the unbalanced schedule. Illinois might end up as the 3rd seed while not having to visit either Madison or Columbus. Michigan State could be the 6 seed while having to play the two best teams twice each. Indiana did not have to go to Madison and didnt have to play OSU in B-town.

The Pac-10 doesnt do a lot of things well, but give them credit. Every Pac 10 team plays every team twice. There are no advantages for anyone in this world of unbalanced schedules.

I really hope that the NCAA committee takes this into account when they consider Illinois' bid or Indiana's seeding. For instance, if the committee was considering Indiana and MSU for a 7 seed, with the other team getting an 8 seed, nobody would be able to convince me that MSU does not deserve that 7 seed over the Hoosiers who played a soft Big 10 schedule.

I would like to see the Big 10 adopt an 18 game conference schedule. Yes, this would not take care of the unbalanced schedule issue- I'm sure Illinois will only have to play MSU and Wisconsin once next year- but it would make a huge difference. Yes, most teams would lose 1 gate, but with the season starting earlier and earlier every year Illinois can schedule another game in November against South Dakota State to make up for their lost gate by having to play at Indiana.

Oh yeah, and if it seems like I am picking on the Illini, I am. This team has no business making the NCAA tournament unless they either win at Iowa or win 2 games in Chicago. Their best non-big 10 wins are Mizzou and Bradley, and both of those are on neutral courts. Their best big 10 wins are Indiana and MSU both in Champaign. They were crushed by Purdue and OSU when they played them and they are just really really bad. Yet it appears they are going to be dancing, probably a 10 seed, and are going to be a fantastic team to lay heavy money against in the first round. Wait, so why am I complaining then?

More to come on how I think the Big 10 will shake out, but it should be an entertaining final 8 days of the regular season.