Can the Big Ten get six teams in the NCAA tournament?
Depending on how they finish the season, Minnesota and Northwestern still have an outside chance to become the sixth team to make the NCAA tournament. But both teams have to start a winning streak right now. The Wildcats are in better shape, because they only have one bad loss (at Iowa this week) along with quality wins against Notre Dame, Purdue and Illinois. The Gophers have a better RPI than their opponent (No. 77 to No. 79) entering Sunday’s game at Northwestern. But they have three bad losses to Portland, Indiana and Michigan along with only two quality wins against Butler and Ohio State. I think both teams basically could make it interesting on Selection Sunday by winning six of their last seven Big Ten games. For one team, that won’t be possible after today. Northwestern’s schedule is easier down the stretch with games against Penn State, Indiana, Iowa and Chicago State. If the Wildcats beat the Gophers, win the games they’re supposed to win against the bottom half of the Big Te
