ESPN Bracketology: Latest update headed into March
It was a good week for Ohio State basketball have won back-to-back games and three of their four games since interim head coach Jake Diebler took over.
The Buckeyes ended a 17 game road losing streak on Sunday as Dale Bonner’s game winning three pointer gave Ohio State a 60-57 victory over Michigan State.
On Thursday night, Ohio State got a big home victory as Jamison Battle’s 32 points led the Buckeyes to a 78-69 win over Nebraska.
Ohio State will likely still need a deep run in the Big Ten tournament to claim a spot in the big dance but it’s good to see the Buckeyes playing good basketball down the stretch.
Who is projected to make the field of 68 from the Big Ten? Here are the six teams ESPN’s Joe Lunardi projects to get in the big dance in his latest Bracketology update.
Purdue (25-3) - Top Overall Seed
Bracketology Breakdown
Seeding | No. 1 – Midwest Region (Indianapolis)
Opponent | No. 16 seed (winner of Eastern Kentucky vs. Norfolk State)
The season so far
Key Loss(es) | at Northwestern, at Nebraska, at Ohio State
Best Win(s) | Arizona, Marquette, Tennessee, Gonzaga, Illinois, at Rutgers, Northwestern, at Wisconsin
Illinois (21-7)
Bracketology Breakdown
Seeding | No. 5 – South Region (Pittsburgh)
Opponent | No. 12 seed McNeese State
The season so far
Key Loss(es) | Marquette, at Tennessee, at Purdue, Maryland, at Northwestern, at Michigan State, at Penn State
Best Win(s) | FAU, at Rutgers, Missouri, Northwestern, Michigan State, Indiana, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota
Wisconsin (18-10)
Bracketology Breakdown
Seeding | No. 6 – West Region (Memphis)
Opponent | No. 11 seed (winner of New Mexico vs. Seton Hall)
The season so far
Key Loss(es) | Tennessee, at Providence, at Arizona, at Penn State, at Nebraska, Purdue, at Michigan, at Rutgers, at Iowa, at Indiana
Best Win(s) | Virginia, Marquette, at Michigan State, Nebraska, at Ohio State, Northwestern, at Minnesota, Michigan State
Northwestern (20-8)
Bracketology Breakdown
Seeding | No. 8 – West Region (Salt Lake)
Opponent | No. 9 seed TCU
The season so far
Key Loss(es) | Chicago State, Mississippi State, at Illinois, at Wisconsin, at Nebraska, at Purdue, at Minnesota, at Rutgers
Best Win(s) | Purdue, Dayton, Arizona State, Michigan State, at Penn State, Illinois, Ohio State, Nebraska, at Indiana
Michigan State (17-11)
Bracketology Breakdown
Seeding | No. 9 – East Region (Brooklyn)
Opponent | No. 8 seed Mississippi State
The season so far
Key Loss(es) | James Madison, Duke, Arizona, Wisconsin, at Nebraska, at Northwestern, at Illinois, at Wisconsin, at Minnesota, Iowa, Ohio State
Best Win(s) | Baylor, Butler, Rutgers, Minnesota, at Maryland, Maryland, Illinois, at Penn State
Nebraska (20-9)
Bracketology Breakdown
Seeding | No. 9 – South Region (Memphis)
Opponent | No. 8 seed Mississippi State
The season so far
Key Loss(es) | UConn, Auburn, Kansas, at Wisconsin, at Iowa, at Rutgers, at Maryland, at Illinois, at Northwestern, Ohio State
Best Win(s) | Maryland, at Michigan, Indiana, Purdue, Northwestern, Ohio State, Wisconsin, at Indiana, Minnesota
Iowa (17-12) - Next Four Out
The season so far
Key Loss(es) | at Creighton, Oklahoma, at Purdue, at Iowa State, Michigan, at Wisconsin, Purdue, Maryland, at Indiana, at Penn State, at Maryland, at Illinois
Best Win(s) | Seton Hall, Rutgers, Nebraska, at Minnesota, Ohio State, Minnesota, Wisconsin, at Michigan State
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