The Big Ten is open to a handful of teams but these ones present the best shot.
With conference season nearing the end there’s still enough time for five-plus teams in the Big Ten to potentially win the regular season. In a conference where anyone can win on any given night, it’s truly anybody’s game. Realistically, these are the three teams that have the best shot with just a few weeks remaining in the regular season.
3. Ohio State
Whelp, the Ohio State Buckeyes have put themselves in a position to be a dangerous 4-6 seed with major upset potential. EJ Liddell has been playing at an all-American level averaging 19.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.9 assists.
Liddell has been a major factor in the Buckeyes’ success and with matchups against Iowa and Indiana coming up they have an opportunity to go on a four-game win streak before heading to Champaign to take on Illinois.
Ohio State would need to win out as well as have a couple of teams lose multiple games for a Big Ten title, so this option isn’t as likely. But don’t count out a red-hot Buckeyes team that can do wonders.
2. Illinois
The Fighting Illini were just trounced at the RAC by Rutgers as they go from holding first in the Big Ten to being tied for first with Wisconsin and Purdue.
The Illini have already beaten Wisconsin, however, they lost both matchups to Purdue, and with games coming up against Michigan State and Ohio State, they’ll need to tough out the end of the year and win out while praying Purdue drops one more Big Ten game.
Illinois will need to make sure that they hit their open shots as they will not be able to afford another off game, especially after what happened in New Jersey.
1. Purdue
The Boilermakers have been a top dog in college basketball as a whole. While they have dropped a few games they probably shouldn’t have they now sit atop the Big Ten standings holding the tiebreaker over Illinois but lost to Wisconsin earlier this year at home.
The Boilermakers’ last four games are a stretch of three teams they’ve lost to and a Tom Izzo-led Michigan State team that on any given night could knock anyone down. With the games spread out, they’ll be energized for each one as they’ll need to win out to lock up the Big Ten title.
Anything’s possible but it looks like the Boilermakers have their squad and the likes of Zach Edey, Trevion Williams, and Jaden Ivey will claim the throne baring they can manage to win out.