The Big Ten tournament is just around the corner, and Purdue is primed to make a deep run as the top seed. The Boilermakers have been one of the best teams in the country this season, and a Final Four berth is definitely within reach. But they’ll have to get past some tough competition in the Big Ten tournament to make it happen.
Ten Big Ten teams are expected to make the NCAA tournament this season, and just about any of them could be a potential roadblock for the Boilermakers. The conference is incredibly deep and competitive, and Purdue can’t afford to overlook any opponent. They’ll need to rely on Wooden Award hopeful Zach Edey to lead the way if they want to make it out of Chicago as champions.
Michigan is on the bubble, and they’ll need to make a strong run in the tournament to make it into the NCAA tournament. They need to win their first game against Rutgers and pull off an upset over Purdue in the quarterfinals to really solidify their tournament chances.
Penn State is also on the bubble, but their recent five-game winning streak gives them some momentum. A win over Illinois in the opening round could be the boost they need to make the tournament.
Wisconsin also needs to make some noise in the tournament to make it in. They haven’t won back-to-back games since January, and need to at least beat Ohio State in the first round to have a chance.
One team to keep an eye on is Northwestern. They have had one of their best seasons ever and earned their highest seed in tournament history. They already have a win over Purdue this season, and could cause some major upsets in the Big Ten tournament.
We’re picking Purdue over Indiana to be the Big Ten tournament champions. The Hoosiers have already beaten Purdue twice this season, so they’re definitely capable of doing it again. If Purdue can stay focused and rely on Edey to lead the way, they should have no problem making it to the Final Four.
