Big Ten Hopes to See Championship Drought End

Payne and Thomas will be key to their teams' success in March

There's hardly a question that the Big Ten has been the most dominant conference from top-to-bottom this season and the Selection Committee agreed, giving the conference seven teams in the tournament. The conference has four teams that pose as serious title threats in Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State while Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota have the potential to win a game or two. However, for a conference that is so highly regarded this season, anything less than a championship could be viewed as a failure. The Big Ten hasn't experienced the crystal ball, confetti and championship podium since Michigan State's title in 2000 behind Mateen Cleaves and the Flintstones. That's a drought that isn't something to brag about.

Since 2001 the ACC has won five championships while the Big East and SEC have each won three. The Big 12 has one title courtesy of Kansas in 2008, but the Big Ten is empty handed. Four times the conference has had the runner-up and they have sent eight teams to the Final Four since 2001, so it's not as though the conference has been unsuccessful. Still, championships are the ultimate barometer and the Big Ten is looking up at everyone else. The conference hasn't been this good in a long time, but, then again, neither has the tournament as a whole. There is no clear favorite and that may work in the Big Ten's favor. If they are going to get back on top then this is the year to do it. Here's a team-by-team look at the seven Big Ten tourney participants.

Indiana Hoosiers (27-6, 14-4 Big Ten)
Indiana can be the best team in the nation on any given night, but they have looked suspect of late. They lost at home to Ohio State and have been defeated by Wisconsin twice this season. However, the Hoosiers are 7-2 against ranked opponents and defeated every Big Ten team except the Badgers. IU scores the ball at ease and they shoot nearly 50 percent from the field. They have two of the best players in the nation in Cody Zeller and Victor Oladipo and, barring some major upset, should be in Atlanta. Prediction: National Runner-Up

Ohio State Buckeyes (26-7, 13-5 Big Ten)
The Buckeyes are interesting. It seems as if DeShaun Thomas (19.6 points per game) is their only weapon, but somehow they keep winning ball games. Thomas is the only player who averages double figures and as a team Ohio State doesn't do anything particularly well. However, they guard hard and have arguably the best perimeter defender in the country in Aaron Craft. The other thing to look for in March is who's hot and the Buckeyes have won eight in a row to finish the season. OSU is 5-7 versus ranked opponents. Prediction: Sweet 16

Michigan State Spartans (25-8, 13-5 Big Ten)
Tom Izzo knows a thing or six about the final Four and his Spartan squad may be there again. Michigan State has a nice mix of outside shooting and inside force and that makes them a hard team to guard. MSU scores just 68 points per game, but they hold their opponents to a mere 59 per game. Keith Appling is reliable point guard and a tandem of freshmen, Gary Harris and Denzel Valentine, have contributed valuable minutes. Adrien Payne and Derrick Nix rebound the ball well and complement each other in the post. Prediction: Elite 8

Hardaway and Watford were part of two thrillers between IU and UM

Michigan Wolverines (26-7, 12-6 Big Ten)
Since the calendar flipped to Febrary, Michigan is just 6-6 and finished the season losing two of their last three. Behind Big Ten Player of the year Trey Burke and athletic wing Tim Hardaway, the Wolverines have a dynamic duo that could carry them to Atlanta. Also, look for Mitch McGary to be a key part to Michigan's tournament run. What could hold them back though is rebounding (156th in the nation) and decision making. Burke, for as good as he is, is prone to lapses in judgment and poor shot selection at times. Prediction: Elite 8

Wisconsin Badgers (23-11, 12-6 Big Ten)
Bo Ryan and the Badgers get the job done and it's usually not in pretty fashion. Wisconsin finished second in the Big Ten tournament and they have compiled a 23-11 record on the same principles that we have become accustomed to seeing from Wisconsin: defense, rebounding and toughness. Count on the Badgers to slow down the pace and make it difficult for opponents to score, but don't count on them to go too far because of their inability to score. Ohio State held them scoreless for the last seven minutes in the Big Ten title game and Wisconsin doesn't really have someone to take over a game. Prediction: Two and Out

Illinois Fighting Illini (22-12, 8-10 Big Ten)
Which Illinois team will show up in the tournament? The Illini have been up-and-down this season and that's the reality for a team that relies on jump shooting. Some nights the Illini can shoot a team out of the gym, but other nights they struggle to throw the ball in the ocean. The other dowside to Illinois is the fact that they have a nonexistent interior game. They rely solely on the perimeter players and that doesn't always work. That said, if Illinois catches fire then watch out because who knows how far they can go. Prediction: Two and Out

Minnesota Golden Gophers (20-12, 8-10 Big Ten)
Tubby Smith's Gophers are similar to several other Big Ten teams. They can beat anybody, but they win ugly and they lose ugly. Minnesota sometimes struggles to score the ball, but they can guard the ball well and they rebound. Like other big Ten teams, Minnesota can win if they make teams play to their pace and they find consistent offense from someone like Andre Hollins. However, they won't go very far if Trevor Mbakwe disappears and the offense sputters for long stretches. Prediction: Two and Out

This could be the Big Ten's year, but it's all about consistent play. They have beaten up on each other all year long and that has earned the conference a reputation. Now it's time to finish it off with a title. Michigan State and Michigan will play on Thursday. Indiana, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota will all play on Friday.