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By RICK GANO
AP Sports Writer | Thursday, March 08, 2007 | (No comments posted.)
CHICAGO | Say you're Ohio State, ranked No. 1 in the country, all but assured a top seed in the NCAA tournament. What's in it for the Buckeyes when the Big Ten tournament starts Thursday?
Time for a tuneup, maybe. And hope -- make that pray-- no one, especially Greg Oden, gets hurt.
How about Wisconsin, which also held the No. 1 spot briefly before faltering a bit in the stretch? Perhaps get ready for the NCAA tournament, tweak your lineup and work on adjustments without injured rebound leader Brian Butch.
A mild miracle would be a must for Northwestern, Minnesota and Penn State. They would need to win four in a row over four days as Iowa did in 2001 to be part of Selection Sunday.
Indiana figures it's in the NCAA tournament already as the No. 3 team in the league. Michigan State? Probably, too, after a tough schedule. But Purdue, Illinois, Michigan and Iowa may need to make some noise and win some games at the United Center to make the 65-team field.
"I don't think there's a basket difference between about six teams," says Indiana coach Kelvin Sampson, who will get his first look at the tournament.
"This year this tournament probably carries more weight than it ever has before," Minnesota coach Jim Molinari said. "I do think a lot of teams in the Big Ten -- right or wrong -- to be secure have to play well to secure their position in the NCAA."
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, whose Spartans used a Big Ten tournament title as a springboard to a national championship in 2000, said an entire season is the best way to judge who belongs in the NCCA, not necessarily how you fare in a four-day tournament.
Teams "should be judged through 30 games and this should be frosting on the cake or get somebody over hump, if that's what needed," he said.
"I don't know how many teams it's benefited ... or how many it's hurt. I think it benefits the Big Ten just because we at the same time other leagues are. ... That's a plus in recruiting."
Since the inception of the Big Ten tournament in 1998, seven teams have gone on to the Final Four.
The conference tournament, which for next five years is slated for Indianapolis, begins Thursday morning with No. 8 Michigan (20-11) facing No. 9 Minnesota (9-21). No. 7 seed Michigan State (21-10) goes against No. 10 Northwestern (13-17); and the first day wraps up with No. 6 Illinois (21-10) meeting No. 11 Penn State (11-18).
In Friday's quarterfinals, Ohio State (27-3), led by standout freshmen Oden and Mike Conley Jr., faces the Michigan-Minnesota winner; No. 4 Iowa (17-13) and top scorer Adam Haluska takes on No. 5 Purdue (20-10); No. 2 Wisconsin (27-4) plays the Michigan State-Northwestern winner; and Indiana (20-9), with 3-point ace Roderick Wilmont, meets the Illinois-Penn State winner.
Despite ending the regular season by squandering the first No. 1 ranking in school history with two straight road losses -- then barely squeaking by Michigan State at home in its regular-season finale -- the Badgers expect big things in the NCAA tournament.
Alando Tucker, the conference player of the year, said the goal remains a national title. And his teammates back him up.
"We want to win it all, definitely. ... Anything less, we're not going to be happy," center Jason Chappell said.
Michigan has a steady scorer in Dion Harris. The Wolverines will be trying to start some momentum, strengthen their bid for the NCAAs and cool some of the heat on coach Tommy Amaker.
Michigan State, in what was considered a rebuilding year, is looking to land a 10th straight NCAA bid. The Spartans are tough on defense and rely on the shooting of Drew Neitzel.
Purdue turns to David Teague and Carl Landry and hopes to avenge a 19-point drubbing from Iowa last month.
Illinois will be playing in its home-away-from-home at the United Center. But the Illini have had a tumultuous season dealing with DUI charges against Rich McBride and Jamar Smith. They feature strong inside play with Warren Carter and Shaun Pruitt.
All the speculation ends Sunday about who needs to do what to keep playing after the Big Ten tournament. Purdue coach Matt Painter has a simple motto for his team -- nothing else really matters.
"Let's not talk our way into the tournament," he said. "Let's play our way."
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