The Big Ten Conference is poised to win Selection Sunday.
Following Indiana’s double-overtime victory over Northwestern on Wednesday, the Hoosiers leapfrogged Connecticut to steal one of the last spots in the projected bracket, shoving the Huskies to the wrong side of the bubble.
That gives the Big Ten nine projected teams in the field of 68 – more than any other conference. The league also has four teams in the NET top 10. The NET (NCAA Evaluation Tool) is one of the rankings the selection committee uses to determine the bracket.
Because of the strength of the league, it won’t just be bubble teams benefiting. Michigan would have to go on a disastrous skid to lose its current stranglehold on a No. 1 seed. Meanwhile, Ohio State and Illinois are out front on the No. 2 seeds with Iowa close behind at a No. 3 seed. With Wisconsin as a projected No. 5 seed, that gives the Big Ten five teams ready to notch top-five seeds.
Selection Sunday is March 14. The NCAA Tournament kicks off March 18.
