College basketball insider Andy Katz labels 2 Big Ten teams as 'championship' contenders originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Big Ten men's basketball regular season is winding down and the race for which team may come out victorious in the 18-team league still has to be decided before the Big Ten Tournament gets underway in Chicago, running from March 10-15 at the United Center.
Two teams making solid cases for the league title include the No. 10-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini (22-5, 13-3 Big Ten) and the No. 1-ranked Michigan Wolverines (25-1, 15-1 Big Ten). Both are scheduled to play each other next Friday in Champaign, which could mean a great deal regarding seeding and other factors in the lead-up to the NCAA Tournament.
Unlike the Wolverines, Illinois has wrapped up its nonconference slate, which could give it a distinct advantage when it's all said and done to decide the league by season's end, with it being the primary focus. The Wolverines have a potential tournament preview game against the No. 3-ranked Duke Blue Devils (24-2, 13-1 ACC) before they shift their focus to the Illini.
Big Ten Network's Andy Katz is not only looking forward to seeing the game unfold, but also has high expectations about what the game may represent for both teams moving forward.
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"We've got two teams in Michigan and Illinois that I think are two of the best offenses in the country—the two teams that could go in as two of the favorites to win the national championship," Katz said on "B1G Today."
Katz doesn't see Illinois earning a No. 1 seed, with the Wolverines going in favor instead. However, it could work out in both teams' favor, he said.
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"Illinois can't get to the one [seed] line, I don't think, over the next couple of weeks," Katz said. "Can they get to a two [seed]? Certainly, they can get up to a two [seed] and stay there."
Katz suggests both may end up on the same side of the bracket. Depending on seeds for the Big Ten Tournament, too, it may be the first of three games between the two teams over the course of the month.
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For now, though, there is still much to be decided.