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Big Ten basketball bubble watch: Who is in and who is out?

By Rees Woodcock

Nov 23, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; General view of the Big Ten logo at the Bryce Jordan Center prior to the game between the Colgate Raiders and the Penn State Nittany Lions. Penn State defeated Colgate 72-59. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 23, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; General view of the Big Ten logo at the Bryce Jordan Center prior to the game between the Colgate Raiders and the Penn State Nittany Lions. Penn State defeated Colgate 72-59. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 12, 2017; Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard directs his team during the game with the Northwestern Wildcats at the Kohl Center. Northwestern defeated Wisconsin 66-59. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 12, 2017; Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard directs his team during the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at the Kohl Center. Northwestern defeated Wisconsin 66-59. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports /

The Wisconsin Badgers are a lock for the NCAA Tournament. They are 21-4 overall and 10-2 in the Big Ten. Right now the Badgers are projected as the No. 5 seed in the Midwest Region of the bracket, but that could all change with their upcoming schedule and the Big Ten Tournament.

Wisconsin still has three games in the top 50 of the RPI, which would help them climb up the seedings. I think the highest they can get to is a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament. They can also fall as well. If they struggled down the stretch then I could see the Badgers falling to potentially a No. 7 seed. They control their own destiny right now.

Big Ten Basketball is down this year, but the Purdue Boilermakers are still having a good season. They are 21-5 overall and 10-3 in the Big Ten. I wouldn’t doubt if this team competes for a regular season conference title and a conference tournament title as well. They are currently projected as a No. 4 seed in the West Region of the bracket.

Purdue is sitting in a good position to move up in the seeding. They already have five wins in the top 50 of the RPI and they still have two games remaining against teams in the top 50. If Purdue wins out, which I think is possible, they can bolt up to a No. 2 seed. There is a possibility for the Boilermakers to stumble, though. I see the floor for Purdue being a No. 5 seed entering the postseason.

Heading into the 2016-17 season, the Maryland Terrapins were supposed to be down due to players moving onto the NBA. But, this team hasn’t missed a beat. They are 21-4 overall and 9-3 in Big Ten play. ESPN has the Terrapins projected as a No. 6 seed in the East Region of the bracket.

I am surprised that Maryland is this low on the bracket. While they haven’t played a tough schedule, they still have decent wins and they are a decent team. The Terrapins currently have three wins in the top 50 of the RPI and there is plenty of room for movement. With four games remaining against teams in the top 50, I see the highest position for Maryland being a No. 4 seed and the lowest being a No. 8 seed.