Big Ten Tourney Tiers: Who’s In, Who’s Out, Who’s on the Bubble

Must Win the Auto Bid: Everyone Else

If you haven't heard your name called, we're sorry, but it's just not in the cards. The good news is that the magic of March always provides teams with one light at the end of the tunnel, and it's the automatic bid every conference offers. It would be an absolute stunner if anyone from this grouping ran the table and stole the bid, but it's the beauty of this time of year. We'll see if we get a deep run from an unexpected sleeper when things culminate in the Target Center this week.

Looking Good: Michigan State

The Spartans would be in as of today, but their recent struggles have forced us to put them closer to the cut line in our most recent bubble watch. Michigan State should still be in even with a narrow loss to Minnesota on Wednesday, but there is a world where everyone around them makes some noise and suddenly slips to the wrong side of the bubble. It's quite a low percentage possibility, and the Spartans can effectively lock themselves into the field if they can knock off the Golden Gophers in Minneapolis.

Stay up to date with our March Madness Bracketology page.

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Work to Do: Iowa

Iowa is the team most squarely on the bubble in the Big Ten. We have the Hawkeyes as our second team out as of Monday night, and they will need a win over Ohio State at the minimum to get onto the right side of the cut line. Continue the run with an upset of Illinois the next day, and the Hawkeyes may earn a spot in Dayton.

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Still Alive, But Needs a Prayer: Ohio State

We would have laughed in your face if you told us three weeks ago that Ohio State would enter the Big Ten Tournament with a semi-realistic chance at an at-large bid. The Buckeyes have won five of six since interim head coach Jake Diebler took over, and they now enter conference tournament play with a resume not far off what most teams are presenting at the cut line. 

Take down Iowa and upset Illinois, and there is a real discussion to have on Ohio State's inclusion in the NCAA Tournament.

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Must Win the Auto Bid: Everyone Else

If you haven't heard your name called, we're sorry, but it's just not in the cards. The good news is that the magic of March always provides teams with one light at the end of the tunnel, and it's the automatic bid every conference offers. It would be an absolute stunner if anyone from this grouping ran the table and stole the bid, but it's the beauty of this time of year. We'll see if we get a deep run from an unexpected sleeper when things culminate in the Target Center this week.