Previewing Tuesday’s Games
UPSET ALERT: Illinois over Wisconsin
Although I firmly believe that the Badgers are the better team, not to mention that this game is taking place in the Kohl Center, I’ve got to put the Badgers on upset alert tonight. Why? It’s very simple. This late into the season there’s only one rule to picking games: More times than you’d choose to believe, desperate teams beat teams better than them in February/March. Wisconsin has locked up a tournament berth and is fighting for a two seed, while Illinois’ win over Michigan State allowed them to sneak back into my projected field. A win here would push the Illini into an 8-9 game and allow for the Big Ten to dream of a five bid season; something that has looked very unlikely for most of the year.
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GAME OF THE NIGHT: Purdue at Michigan State
Will he play? What if he doesn’t play? The Kalin Lucas injury is starting to reach Tim Tebow concussion-like heights on message boards and on television. If he does play tonight, Michigan State is a completely different team in East Lansing. Take away Lucas’ 15.6 PPG and suddenly a team that appeared ready to run with away with the Big Ten, looks as if it could be the conference’s second or third best team. The Boilermakers haven’t won in East Lansing since 1998, but could pull even with Michigan State in the conference record loss column with a win there tonight.
GAME OF THE NIGHT II: Tennessee at Vanderbilt
Both of these teams are going to the NCAA Tournament, but it doesn’t stop SEC Tournament positioning from coming into play. With Kentucky running away with the SEC East and Florida closing from behind, these two teams can’t afford a loss if they want to stay on pace for a bye in the SEC Tournament. It won’t be easy for Tennessee. Although Vanderbilt is coming off of a loss to a Georgia team that also beat the Volunteers last week, the Commodores have a sixteen game home winning streak. If Tennessee does win tonight, their game on Saturday against Kentucky will be for first place in the SEC East. ESPN’s College Gameday will be on scene for that one.
