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Big Ten Seedings: One team gets raw deal, another benefits from it

By Charlie Lockhart

LINCOLN, NE - JANUARY 17: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans watches action during the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Pinnacle Bank Arena on January 17, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE - JANUARY 17: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans watches action during the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Pinnacle Bank Arena on January 17, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /
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ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – JANUARY 03: Head coach John Beilein of the Michigan Wolverines reacts from the bench while playing the Penn State Nittany Lions at Crisler Arena on January 03, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 68-55. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – JANUARY 03: Head coach John Beilein of the Michigan Wolverines reacts from the bench while playing the Penn State Nittany Lions at Crisler Arena on January 03, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 68-55. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Eight Big Ten teams were invited to the NCAA Tournament but one team got a raw deal because of the region they were put in and another benefited from it.

Anybody who followed college basketball this season knows the Big Ten was the best conference in the country. So why did the team that won the conference tournament title get slighted in the seeding and the loser of the championship game benefit from it?

I’ll take a look at the eight Big Ten teams that made the dance beginning with the one that got a raw deal.

Michigan State (2) vs, Bradley (15):  I don’t disagree with the Spartans being a No. 2 seed because of their injury situation. But why did they get put in the East region with the top seed, the Duke Blue Devils?

Michigan State was the 6th overall seed in the tournament so it would have made sense if they were in the same region as No. 3 North Carolina.

I don’t think it’s right that the team that tied for the regular season title and won the Big Ten tournament should be pitted against the No. 1 overall seed to get to the Final Four. Now for the team that benefitted.

Michigan (2) vs. (15) Montana: The Wolverines are the No. 8 seed in the tournament so logic says they should be in the same region as the top seed and not the Spartans, right? Instead, Michigan is in the West region with Gonzaga the 4th overall seed.

I think with that being the case the Wolverines have a good chance of making it back to the Final Four.

Purdue (3) vs. Old Dominion (14):  Wanna talk about a team trending down? After winning five straight games Purdue has lost two of three, both to Minnesota. I could see the Boilermakers going deep in the tournament or getting upset early. It will probably depend on whether Carsen Edwards gets on a roll or not.

Wisconsin (5) vs. Oregon (12): The Badgers won four in a row before losing to the Spartans in the Big Ten Tournament. However, their first game should be a difficult one. Oregon is a terrific defensive team and Wisconsin isn’t exactly explosive on offense.

Now for the Big Ten teams seeded 6-11.

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