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Wisconsin Basketball: Badgers Big Ten Tournament Seeding Scenarios

By Jim Oxley

Dec 28, 2014; Madison, WI, USA; The Big Ten Conference logo on the Kohl Center Court during pre-game warm-ups before the Wisconsin Badgers take to the floor to play the Buffalo Bulls at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2014; Madison, WI, USA; The Big Ten Conference logo on the Kohl Center Court during pre-game warm-ups before the Wisconsin Badgers take to the floor to play the Buffalo Bulls at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Wisconsin basketball team can earn from a two-seed to a six-seed in the Big Ten Tournament

With only seven games left on the Big Ten Conference schedule, the Wisconsin basketball team can hone in on their final opponent looking to secure a high seed in the Big Ten Tournament. Wisconsin must beat Purdue on Sunday to ensure a double-bye in the conference tournament.

Related Story: Badgers Continue Impressive B1G Winning Streak

The Badgers have already clinched two season-long goals. After a terrible start to the year and conference play, they have rebounded to seemingly lock up a spot in the NCAA Tournament. At the same time, they’ve secured the team’s 15th-straight top-four Big Ten finish, as Greg Gard has continued what Bo Ryan started a decade and a half ago.

Wisconsin has just one game left against Purdue, and it carries big implications for Big Ten Conference Tournament seeding.

Currently, Indiana has locked up the No. 1 overall seed, but Michigan State, Maryland and Wisconsin are tied in second place with 12-5 records and Purdue, Iowa and Ohio State are right behind with 11-6 records. Michigan, who is 10-7 and eighth in the Big Ten, can even move up a spot in a couple of scenarios.

For the Badgers, securing a double-bye is simple: defeat Purdue on Sunday night. If the Badgers defeat Purdue, they can earn at best the two seed or at worst the three-seed. A loss to Purdue means the Badgers would get either the five or the six seed.

Here’s how the Badgers can earn each seed in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament:

2-seed:

  • Wisconsin wins over Purdue, Ohio State wins over Michigan State and Indiana wins over Maryland

3-seed:

  • Wisconsin wins over Purdue, Ohio State wins over Michigan State and Maryland wins over Indiana

OR

  • Wisconsin wins over Purdue and Michigan State wins over Ohio State

5-seed:

  • Purdue wins over Wisconsin and Ohio State wins over Michigan State

OR

  • Purdue wins over Wisconsin, Michigan State wins over Ohio State and Michigan wins over Iowa

6-seed

  • Purdue wins over Wisconsin, Michigan State wins over Ohio State and Iowa wins over Michigan

Purdue has the widest range of potential seeds in the upcoming tournament. The Boilermakers could earn the two-seed with a win and a lot of help, but could fall all the way to the eight-seed with a loss coupled with some other scenarios.

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Ironically, Michigan State, who is the Big Ten’s highest-ranked team (AP No. 2) has the second widest range of possible seeds, and could be anywhere from the two-seed to the seven-seed. Michigan State secures the two seed with a victory over Ohio State.

In a close conference race, the remainder of the seeding all comes down to four games this weekend that happen to be between the top eight teams in the conference.

Here’s the schedule for the final weekend of Big Ten play:

Saturday’s Big Ten games include Ohio State-Michigan State, Minnesota-Rutgers and Iowa-Michigan. Sunday finishes with Illinois-Penn State, Nebraska-Northwestern, Maryland-Indiana and Wisconsin-Purdue.

Next: Report Says Gard will be Offered Head Coaching Job

The Wisconsin-Purdue matchup is the final game of the Big Ten regular season schedule, set for 6:30 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network.

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