The Second Annual and World’s Only (As Far As We Know) Big Ten Tournament Bracket Contest

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The Second Annual and World’s Only (As Far As We Know) Big Ten Tournament Bracket Contest

March 9, 2009 by kj

The BTT bracket is now set. Why wait to make predictions about a bunch of teams you know almost nothing about (Robert Morris? Stephen F. Austin? Binghamton?) when you can make predictions right now about the 11 teams you’ve been watching nonstop for the past 10 weeks?

Same rules as last year:

To submit an entry in the contest, post a comment to this blog post. Include your pick for the winner of each of the 10 games of the tournament. Scoring will be as follows:

Round 1 winners (3): 1 point each
Semi-finalists (4): 2 points each
Finalists (2): 4 points each
Champion (1): 8 points
Total points available: 27

In keeping with the tempo-free statistics bent of this blog, the tie-breaker will be the number of possessions in the final game of the tournament. The official data source for that number will be StatSheet. For the less statistically-inclined, go ahead and pick a random number between 55 and 75.

Here’s an example of a contest entry, based on the assumption of the higher seed winning each game:

Game 1: Minnesota
Game 2: Michigan
Game 3: Penn State
Game 4: MSU
Game 5: Wisconsin
Game 6: Illinois
Game 7: Purdue
Game 8: MSU
Game 9: Illinois
Game 10: MSU
Tie-breaker: XX possessions

(Feel free to drop the “Game” on each line to save time, but please include the numbers.)

Legal boilerplate:

All entries must be received by noon on Thursday (before the tip-off of Game 1) to be valid.
In the case of a tie between one or more contestants in both contest points and the number of possessions in the final, the winner will be determined by coin-flip or other random mechanism determined by the Spartans Weblog.
The prize for the contest winner consists of one The Greatest Stories of Michigan State Basketball DVD.
The Spartans Weblog is the final authority regarding interpretation of the contest rules and determination of the winner.

This year’s Big Ten Tournament looks to be the most competitive to date, with 8-9 teams in the running for an NCAA tournament bid. That should make the bracket prognosticating all that much more challenging.

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Posted in contest | Tagged big ten tournament | 40 Comments

40 Responses

on March 9, 2009 at 7:29 am matt

Hooray for March! I wonder who will pick someone besides MSU to win it.

Game 1: Minnesota
Game 2: Iowa
Game 3: Penn State
Game 4: MSU
Game 5: Ohio State
Game 6: Illinois
Game 7: Penn State
Game 8: MSU
Game 9: Penn State
Game 10: MSU
Tie-breaker: 69 possessions
on March 9, 2009 at 8:11 am Zeke

Game 1: Minnesota
Game 2: Michigan
Game 3: Penn State
Game 4: MSU
Game 5: Ohio State
Game 6: Illinois
Game 7: Purdue
Game 8: MSU
Game 9: Purdue
Game 10: MSU
Tie-breaker: 65 possessions
on March 9, 2009 at 8:17 am TMadison25

Game 1: Northwestern
Game 2: Michigan
Game 3: Penn State
Game 4: MSU
Game 5: Ohio State
Game 6: Michigan
Game 7: Purdue
Game 8: MSU
Game 9: Michigan
Game 10: MSU
Tie-breaker: 60 possessions
on March 9, 2009 at 8:43 am Chris

Game 1: NW
Game 2: UM
Game 3: Indiana
Game 4: MSU
Game 5: Wisky
Game 6: UM
Game 7: Purdue
Game 8: Wisky (I hope I’m wrong!)
Game 9: Purdue
Game 10: Purdue
Tie-breaker: 62 possesions
on March 9, 2009 at 8:47 am msufan23

Game 1: Minnesota
Game 2: Michigan
Game 3: Penn State
Game 4: MSU
Game 5: Ohio State
Game 6: Illinois
Game 7: Purdue
Game 8: MSU
Game 9: Illinois
Game 10: MSU
Tie-breaker: 62 possessions

I know there are 8-9 teams that all have a good shot but with the way the bracket broke just dont see a lot in the way of upsets
on March 9, 2009 at 8:50 am nick!

1 Minny
2 UM
3 PSU
4 MSU
5 OSU
6 Illinois
7 PSU
8 MSU
9 Illinois
10 MSU
edit: tiebreaker 66 possessions
on March 9, 2009 at 9:53 am spartanproducer

Game 1: NW
Game 2: Iowa
Game 3: Penn St.
Game 4: MSU
Game 5: Wisconsin
Game 6: Illinois
Game 7: Penn State
Game 8: Michigan State
Game 9: Illinois
Game 10: MSU

total possessions: 63
on March 9, 2009 at 9:54 am SpartanDan

Game 1: Minnesota
Game 2: Michigan
Game 3: Penn State
Game 4: MSU
Game 5: Wisconsin
Game 6: Michigan
Game 7: Purdue
Game 8: MSU
Game 9: Purdue
Game 10: MSU
Tiebreaker: 67

With teams 6-7-8 possibly playing for their tournament lives, I don’t see any of the bottom 3 (not even Northwestern, who’s well ahead of the other two) pulling the upset. Michigan-Illinois is going to be a really hard game to predict, because both teams are very streaky.
on March 9, 2009 at 10:50 am Ground Zero East Lansing

Game 1: Northwestern
Game 2: Michigan
Game 3: Penn State
Game 4: MSU
Game 5: Wisconsin
Game 6: Illinois
Game 7: Penn State
Game 8: MSU
Game 9: Illinois
Game 10: MSU
Tiebreaker: 66

I’m tempted to call more upsets, but then again, who knows what’ll happen. Perhaps the craziest thing that could happen in a muddled Big Ten this year is most of the top seeds winning out.
on March 9, 2009 at 11:10 am Gordy Hulten

1. Minnesota
2. Iowa
3. Penn State
4. Michigan State
5. Wisconsin
6. Illinois
7. Penn State
8. Michigan State
9. Illinois
10. Michigan State

Tiebreaker: 60
on March 9, 2009 at 12:07 pm Rewerts

Game 1: Minnesota
Game 2:Iowa
Game 3:Penn St
Game 4:MSU
Game 5:OSU
Game 6:Illinois
Game 7:Purdue
Game 8:MSU
Game 9: Illinois
Game 10: MSU
Tiebreaker: 64
on March 9, 2009 at 12:51 pm mjos22

Game 1: Minnesota
Game 2: Michigan
Game 3: Penn State
Game 4: MSU
Game 5: Wisconsin
Game 6: Illinois
Game 7: Purdue
Game 8: MSU
Game 9: Purdue
Game 10: MSU
Tie-breaker: 62 possessions
on March 9, 2009 at 12:56 pm Seer

Since I already have the DVD, I’m just submitting for fun/bragging rights.

Game 1: Minnesota
Game 2: Michigan
Game 3: Penn State
Game 4: MSU
Game 5: OSU
Game 6: Illinois
Game 7: Purdue
Game 8: MSU
Game 9: Illinois
Game 10: MSU

Tie-breaker: 66 possessions.
on March 9, 2009 at 1:21 pm Sam

Game 1: Minnesota
Game 2: Michigan
Game 3: Penn State
Game 4: MSU
Game 5: Wisconsin
Game 6: Michigan
Game 7: Purdue
Game 8: MSU
Game 9: Purdue
Game 10: MSU
61 posessions
on March 9, 2009 at 1:38 pm witless chum

Game 1: Minnesota
Game 2: Michigan
Game 3: PSU
Game 4: MSU
Game 5: Wisconsin
Game 6: Illinois
Game 7: PSU
Game 8: MSU
Game 9: PSU
Game 10: MSU

67 possessions
on March 9, 2009 at 1:54 pm DP99

Game 1: Northwestern
Game 2: Michigan
Game 3: Indiana
Game 4: MSU
Game 5: Wisconsin
Game 6: Michigan
Game 7: Purdue
Game 8: MSU
Game 9: Purdue
Game 10: MSU
65 possessions
on March 9, 2009 at 4:09 pm dougieb

1. NW
2. UM
3. PSU
4. MSU
5. Wisky
6. UM
7. PSU
8. MSU
9. PSU
10. MSU
63 possesions
on March 9, 2009 at 4:12 pm BigCenter

Game 1: Minnesota
Game 2: Iowa
Game 3: Penn State
Game 4: MSU
Game 5: Wisconsin
Game 6: Iowa
Game 7: Penn State
Game 8: Wisconsin
Game 9: Iowa
Game 10: Wisconsin

Possessions: 62

A #1 seed in the Big Dance would be nice, but give us a #2 in the Midwest with Pitt as the #1 and I’ll be just as happy.
on March 9, 2009 at 5:24 pm dan

Game 1 – Northwestern
Game 2 – Michigan
Game 3 – Penn State
Game 4 – Michigan State
Game 5 – Wisconsin
Game 6 – Illinois
Game 7 – Penn State
Game 8 – Michigan State
Game 9 – Penn State
Game 10 – Michigan State
63 Possession game

I think State wins it all and locks up a #1 seed. (fingers crossed)
on March 9, 2009 at 8:00 pm mk

Game 1: Northwestern
Game 2: Michigan
Game 3: Penn State
Game 4: Michigan State
Game 5: Ohio State
Game 6: Michigan
Game 7: Purdue
Game 8: Michigan State
Game 9: Purdue
Game 10: Michigan State

Tiebreaker: 66

#2 at midwest would be as nice as (or much nicer than) #1 far far away. However, the first thing is to win the BigTen Tournament, and somehow, somehow, to get to Detroit!!!!
on March 9, 2009 at 8:35 pm matt

#1 Minnesota
#2 Michigan
#3 PSU
#4 MSU
#5 Wisconsin
#6 Michigan
#7 Purdue
#8 MSU
#9 Purdue
#10 MSU

# 65

i see there is another matt now. i’ll go by matt t. if it helps.
on March 9, 2009 at 11:07 pm Adam

1. Minnesota
2. Iowa
3. Penn St.
4. MSU
5. Ohio St.
6. Illinois
7. Penn St.
8. MSU
9. Illinois
10. MSU

Tiebreaker: 63
on March 10, 2009 at 5:35 am Otto

Game 1: Northwestern
Game 2: Michigan
Game 3: Penn State
Game 4: MSU
Game 5: Wisconsin
Game 6: Illinois
Game 7: Purdue
Game 8: MSU
Game 9: Purdue
Game 10: MSU

Tiebreaker: 66
on March 10, 2009 at 6:07 am Bobbie

1. Minnesota
2. Michigan
3. Indiana
4. MSU
5. Wisconsin
6. Illinois
7. Purdue
8. MSU
9. Illinois
10. MSU

Tiebreaker: 67
on March 10, 2009 at 6:08 am Barbara

1. Minnesota
2. Michigan
3. Indiana
4. MSU
5. Wisconsin
6. Illinois
7. Purdue
8. MSU
9. Illinois
10. Illinois

Tiebreaker: 61
on March 10, 2009 at 8:57 am Jackson22

1. Northwestern
2. Iowa
3. Penn State
4. MSU
5. Ohio State
6. Illinois
7. Purdue
8. MSU
9. Illinois
10. MSU
on March 10, 2009 at 5:30 pm Zack

1. Minnesota
2. Michigan
3. Penn State
4. MSU
5. Wisconsin
6. Michigan
7. Purdue
8. MSU
9. Purdue
10. Purdue

Tie-breaker: 67
on March 10, 2009 at 5:31 pm Grover

Game 1: Northwestern
Game 2: Michigan
Game 3: Penn State
Game 4: MSU
Game 5: Ohio State
Game 6: Illinois
Game 7: Penn State
Game 8: MSU
Game 9: Illinois
Game 10: MSU
Tie-breaker: 66 possessions

Grover for gold! I’m taking home that DVD! Woo!
on March 10, 2009 at 6:11 pm Andrew

Game 1: Northwestern
Game 2: Michigan
Game 3: Penn State
Game 4: Michigan State
Game 5: Wisconsin
Game 6: Michigan
Game 7: Purdue
Game 8: Michigan State
Game 9: Purdue
Game 10: Michigan State
Tie-breaker: 65 possessions
on March 10, 2009 at 6:12 pm Mark in Chicago

Game 1: Minnesota
Game 2: Michigan
Game 3: Penn State
Game 4: MSU
Game 5: Ohio State
Game 6: Illinois
Game 7: Purdue
Game 8: MSU
Game 9: Purdue
Game 10: MSU

Tie breaker: 63 possesions.

How original, I know. Picking the highest seed in 8 out of 10 games. Whee.
on March 10, 2009 at 8:10 pm State of the Blog Address: A-Change-is-a-Comin’ Edition | Spartans Weblog

[...] There’s still time to enter the The Second Annual and World’s Only (As Far As We Know) Big Ten Tournament Bracket Contest. I admire everyone’s fidelity to MSU, given the fact that picking the same team as 90% of [...]
on March 10, 2009 at 8:26 pm Northern Sparty

1: Minnesota
2: Michigan (ugh)
3: Indiana
4: MSU
5: Ohio St.
6: Illinois
7: Purdue
8: MSU
9: Illinois
10: MSU
on March 10, 2009 at 9:29 pm Sparty in Badgerland

1: Minnesota
2: Michigan
3: Penn State
4: MSU
5: Wisconsin
6: Illinois
7: Penn State
8: MSU
9: Illinois
10: MSU

Tie breaker: 62 possessions
on March 10, 2009 at 9:36 pm kj

My entry (I’ve decided to embrace the Northwestern nightmare I’ve been having in hopes of creating a reverse jinx effect):

1. Northwestern
2. Michigan
3. Penn St.
4. Northwestern
5. Wisconsin
6. Michigan
7. Purdue
8. Wisconsin
9. Purdue
10. Wisconsin

62 possessions
on March 10, 2009 at 9:43 pm wife of a spartan

1. Northwestern
2. Michigan
3.Penn State
4. MSU
5. OSU
6. IL
7. Penn State
8. MSU
9. Penn State
10. MSU

58 possessions
on March 11, 2009 at 9:54 am Tuxster

1. Northwestern
2. Michigan
3. Penn State
4. Michigan State
5. Wisconsin
6. Illinois
7. Purdue
8. Michigan State
9. Illinois
10. Illinois

61 possessions
on March 11, 2009 at 10:59 am GBBound

1 – Minnesota
2- Michigan
3 – Penn State
4 – MSU
5 – Wisconsin
6 – Illinois
7 – Purdue
8 – MSU (revenge for last year)
9 – Purdue
10 – MSU
Tie-breaker: 65 possessions
on March 11, 2009 at 12:25 pm Jumpin' Johnny G

1 – Northwestern
2- Iowa
3 – Penn State
4 – MSU
5 – Ohio State
6 – Illinois
7 – Penn State
8 – MSU
9 – Penn State
10 – MSU
Tie-breaker: 62 possessions
on March 11, 2009 at 4:48 pm Phil

1.) Minnesota
2.) Michigan
3.) PSU
4.) MSU
5.) Wisconsin
6.) Illinois
7.) PSU
8.) MSU
9.) PSU
10.) MSU

Tiebraker: 61
on March 12, 2009 at 10:24 am Jon Spartan

1. Northwestern
2. Michigan
3. Indiana
4. Michigan State
5. Wisconsin
6. Michigan
7. Purdue
8. Wisconsin
9. Illinois
10. Wisconsin

Tiebreaker: 57