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Michigan Basketball: Preview, predictions for Big Ten tournament

By Adam Childs

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - MARCH 04: Isaiah Livers #2 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates his teams Big Ten championship after defeating the Michigan State Spartans 69-50 at Crisler Arena on March 04, 2021 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - MARCH 04: Isaiah Livers #2 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates his teams Big Ten championship after defeating the Michigan State Spartans 69-50 at Crisler Arena on March 04, 2021 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA – MARCH 06: Aaron Wheeler #1 of the Purdue Boilermakers reacts after a play in the game against the Indiana Hoosiers during the first half at Mackey Arena on March 06, 2021 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA – MARCH 06: Aaron Wheeler #1 of the Purdue Boilermakers reacts after a play in the game against the Indiana Hoosiers during the first half at Mackey Arena on March 06, 2021 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

Michigan Basketball: Big Ten tournament preview

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Michigan and Illinois

The Wolverines won the conference even though they had fewer wins than the Illini, something that is not lost on the Ilinois faithful. Michigan basketball went on pause and didn’t make up three of their games and the Illini are screaming to anyone that will listen that they shouldn’t be conference champs then.

Either way, these two teams have proven to be the best in the conference this year and could be a collision course for the Championship game. The Illini will have to get through Indiana or Rutgers and then more than likely Iowa, but they recently beat the Hawkeyes and while it will be tough, it will be no surprise to see the Illini playing on Sunday.

There are some doubts about Michigan basketball after it dropped two of the last three, but the second loss was at a desperate Michigan State team when the Wolverines didn’t have much to play for. They still lost the game they should have won, but trying to get back up after winning the title on Thursday is tough.

Even with those losses, the Wolverines have shown all year how good of a team they are and they may get a third straight shot at Michigan State to get some revenge. The semifinal game won’t be easy against probably Ohio State or Purdue, but the Wolverines beat both.

Nothing in the conference has made much sense this year so it would be surprising to see both the Illini and Wolverines in the championship but they are the top two teams and seeing them play again would be great basketball.

Darkhorse

Purdue

Is it right to call the four seed a dark horse? In Purdue’s case, it is. The Boilermakers have probably been the least talked about team in the conference but yet they kept on winning. They swept the Buckeyes this year and beat everyone they should have.

The Boilermakers are led by big man Trevion Williams and emerging freshman Zach Edey. They are big and play hard and Matt Painter gets the most out of them.

No one will be talking about Purdue but it wouldn’t be a shock to see them be the last one standing on Sunday.

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