NCAA Tournament Bracket Watch: Big Ten’s year? It has several legit contenders

It’s brought up every year, more often than usual last year because it marked a quarter century since the Big Ten had won a national championship in men’s basketball.

The league celebrated by advancing no team to the Final Four. Maybe it will finally happen 26 years later. Certainly, it would be a disappointment if at least one of the five Big Ten teams that should be considered title contenders doesn’t reach the national semis in Indianapolis. This week’s Bracket Watch has those five teams among the top 10 seeds overall — No. 2 Michigan, No. 5 Nebraska, No. 7 Michigan State, No. 8 Illinois and No. 10 Purdue.

Those five teams have nine games among each other before the conference tournament, including national headliners this week — Nebraska at Michigan on Tuesday, then Michigan at Michigan State on Friday, then Illinois at Nebraska on Sunday. The 20-0 Cornhuskers make history basically every time they lace up their shoes, while the in-state rivalry will feature the highest combined AP ranking of the Wolverines (No. 3) and Spartans (No. 7) for one of their meetings. It’s the sixth with both in the top 10.

Tom Izzo’s Spartans of 1999-2000 were the last Big Ten group to cut the nets down on the final night. All five of these teams (listed in order of contending viability) have cases and questions.

Michigan: Dusty May’s Wolverines have the best shot with the most talented frontcourt in the sport, which is overshadowing the brilliant play of point guard Elliot Cadeau. This was the most dominant defensive team before it was recently overtaken by Michigan State for tops in KenPom’s adjusted defensive efficiency. Turnovers and a cold night from 3 are the concerns.

Illinois: Saturday’s Keaton Wagler-led win at Purdue, earned despite the absence of injured guard Kylan Boswell, left the Illini with KenPom’s No. 1 offense and everyone with an eyeful of a terrifying collection of skill. This is a top-30 defense and top-five offensive rebounding team, too, so biggest concern? Too many European players? Big games ahead will be telling.

Michigan State: Jeremy Fears had 17 points and 17 assists in Saturday’s 91-48 rout of Maryland and has a case as the best all-around point guard — defense factoring in heavily — in a sport loaded with great ones. This is a deep, cohesive, defensively elite team. But it lacks obvious pros, has a revolving door at shooting guard and hits half-court offensive lulls.

Purdue: One paragraph after suggesting Fears as the top point guard, here’s a quick contradiction: Smith might be the best player, period. He can carry this team as a shot maker now, and any team with this version of Smith on it can’t be discounted. But an 0-2 week made you wonder if the Boilers can help him enough and get enough stops against the best.

Nebraska: You can’t argue with what Fred Hoiberg’s team does in the second halves of games when trouble arises. The Cornhuskers dominate. This is the best story in the sport. Can it be the best team? Ehhh. Despite the metrics suggesting so, despite close wins already earned against Michigan State and at Illinois, I lack belief in the assembled talent. If Nebraska wins or even takes it to the end at Michigan, come right back here and let me know I lack a clue.