According to ESPN Bracketologist Joe Lunardi, seven Big Ten teams are currently in the field of 68 for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. That is second only to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) who boasts ten as of Feb. 23.

For much of the season, the Big Ten has not been given a whole lot of national respect.

On Feb. 11, the NCAA Selection Committee released their first ever mid-season top-16 bracket to give fans a sneak peak of where teams were stacking up. Not one team from the Big Ten was listed in the bracket, despite having two teams (Wisconsin and Purdue) in the top 16 of the AP poll at the time.

Leaving out Wisconsin, a team ranked seventh in the AP poll, was a message to every team in the conference. The committee did not respect the best team in the conference, which meant they didn’t respect the conference as a whole.

Since then, conference play has picked up and upsets are becoming more likely. Minnesota has almost single-handedly brought the Big Ten back into the picture thanks to their current six-game winning streak. They are now one of three Big Ten teams listed as locks for the tournament, this according to ESPN’s Eamonn Brennan.

That means that for four of the seven teams currently in the field, and one that is still on the outside looking in, there is some work yet to be done.

Here’s a guide for how the Big Ten fairs as of now and what teams not considered locks need to do to find their way into the dance:

LOCKS: Wisconsin, Purdue, Minnesota

CURRENTLY IN:

MARYLAND – current 7-seed, 22-6 overall, 10-5 Big Ten (3^rd), SOS: 36, RPI: 22

It seems kind of absurd that a team who has been in the AP Top-25 for the last six weeks isn’t a lock to make the tournament, but that’s just how it is. The Terps have been hanging around the top of the league without ever really getting that statement win needed to solidify themselves as being legit. Their best two wins have both come on the road. One was at Minnesota before the Gophers caught fire, and the other at Northwestern who was without leading-scorer Scottie Lindsey. Currently on a two-game losing streak, they’ve lost four of their last six and are slowing down at the wrong time. However, their final three games of the regular season (vs. Iowa, @ Rutgers, vs. Michigan State) should result in wins. If Melo Trimble keeps shooting like he has been recently and the Terps win out, they should find themselves comfortably in the NCAA Tournament.

NORTHWESTERN – current 9-seed, 20-8 overall, 9-6 Big Ten (5^th), SOS: 66, RPI: 44

The boys in purple are eyeing the school’s first ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament, but the team has hit a rough patch as the season winds down.  After starting conference play 7-2, the Wildcats have lost four of their last six, and were without their leading scorer Scottie Lindsey for a significant chunk of that skid. They did beat Wisconsin in Madison during that time without Lindsey, and that win alone may be enough to elicit them getting an at-large bid. Two of their final three games are at home (Michigan, Purdue), and their one road game is at Indiana, who has lost seven of their last eight. Not the easiest schedule for the Wildcats to finish the regular season, but if they can win one of them and finish above .500 in conference play, that should be enough to punch their first ticket to the big dance.

MICHIGAN STATE – current 10-seed, 17-11 overall, 9-6 Big Ten (6^th), SOS: 14, RPI: 43

This season hasn’t gone as smoothly for the Spartans as they might have liked, but they’re still clinging to seat at the tournament table. Currently listed as one of Joe Lunardi’s “Last Four Byes,” there is little room for Sparty to falter as the season closes. Their tough non-conference schedule they always play is a plus for them, but they have very few good wins outside of East Lansing. In conference play, their longest winning streak was three games, which is true for their longest losing streak as well. You know what you’re going to get each night from Miles Bridges and his counterparts, and that eliminates any uncertainty the committee may have about the Spartans. Two of their final three games are against ranked opponents, including a home game against Wisconsin this weekend. If Sparty can find a way to beat the Badgers or win in College Park, Maryland in the season finale, that should be enough to give them the nod in the tournament.

MICHIGAN – current 9-seed, 18-10 overall, 8-7 Big Ten (7^th), SOS: 41, RPI: 52

The Wolverines have flown under the radar for most of this Big Ten season, but they’ve managed to do enough to be in the tournament as of now. Only one loss on the season to teams outside the RPI top 100, and that was an overtime defeat in Iowa City to the Hawkeyes (RPI: 112) in the Wolverines’ conference opener. Michigan sits just outside the top 50 in RPI, and has only gone 3-7 against the top 50 this season. But like their in-state rivals, the difficult schedule gives them brownie points for trying to compete with some of the top teams in the country. Five of their seven RPI top-50 losses came on the road, too. Derrick Walton, Jr. and company have struggled when away from Ann Arbor this season, and they will have to play two road games to finish out the season at Northwestern and Nebraska. This weekend, they host Purdue, which is a tough way to spend your final day in the Crisler Center before packing for the road. The Wolverines need to finish with at least one win in the stretch to maintain their positioning in the tournament, but a three-game skid could put them on the wrong side of the bubble.

IN THE HUNT:

INDIANA – currently not seeded, 15-13 overall, 5-10 Big Ten (13^th), SOS: 43, RPI: 101

Even though they’ve lost seven of their last eight and are second to last in the conference, the Hoosiers remain one of Joe Lunardi’s “Next Four Out” teams. Injuries have plagued Indiana after their season started out with so much promise. They beat Kansas in the season opener and North Carolina just a few games later. Both of those teams have legitimate chances of being 1-seeds in the tournament. However, the season shifted when they lost OG Anunoby for the season after knee surgery and missing James Blackmon, Jr. for an important four-game stretch didn’t help either. Playing 11 games versus the RPI top-50 helps their cause, but losing eight of them hurts. They also have two losses to teams outside of the RPI top-100 in Iowa and Indiana University-Purdue University For Wayne (RPI: 176). Despite the downward trend, the early success has been enough to keep them on the bubble. They likely will need to win at least two of their final three regular season games (vs. Northwestern, @ Purdue, @ Ohio State) and win at least one Big Ten tournament game if they want any chance of sneaking into the field of 68.

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Keith Duncan’s 33-yard field goal as time expired lifted Iowa to a thrilling 14-13 upset victory over #3 Michigan (9-1, 6-1) as the Iowa faithful stormed the field to celebrate the team’s first home win over a ranked opponent since they beat Michigan 37-6 in 2010.

“It was an incredible feeling kicking that in front of 70,000 fans,” said the freshman kicker following his first career game-winner. “I can’t even speak right now.”

The kick sent Kinnick Stadium into an all out frenzy, and it sent Michigan back to the pink visitor’s locker room (that they decorated maize and navy before the game) with their first loss of the season.

“We didn’t make enough plays to extend drives and convert first downs,” said Michigan Head Coach Jim Harbaugh. “Give Iowa credit, they tackled, they blocked, they played a really good football game.”

The Iowa defense certainly brought their A-game as they went up against one of the most efficient offenses in the country. The Hawkeyes kept the Wolverines 35 points below their season average, 296 yards below their season average, and held them to 77 total yards in the second half.

“We put our minds to it before the game,” said cornerback Desmond King. “We knew we had an opportunity (to win) coming into this game and you have to be ready.”

Arguably the most important play of the game came with just over six minutes remaining in the second quarter when Jaleel Johnson recorded a safety after dropping Michigan running back De’Veon Smith for a two-yard loss in his own end zone. The play was set up by a booming 54-yard punt by Ron Coluzzi, which pinned Michigan at their own 1-yard line. The Wolverines only managed three points the remainder of the game following that play.

“That definitely gave our team momentum,” said Johnson after the game. “It kind of gave our offense some juice to go out there and perform at their best.”

That’s exactly what the offense did. Just a couple possessions later, the Hawkeyes capped off their most impressive drive of the game with an Akrum Wadley touchdown reception that made the score 10-8 after a failed two-point conversion.

Wadley proved to be the team’s most dynamic player yet again as he led the team with 115 net yards on the ground and 52 receiving yards.

“I guess I had the hot hand today,” said Wadley following his performance. “We needed this really bad for ourselves and for our fans.”

“He came up with a lot of big plays,” said Iowa Head Coach Kirk Ferentz of Wadley. “I think he really rose to the occasion and did a great job for us.”

History repeated itself in a weird way as the game played out, and it all worked out in the Hawkeyes’ favor. In 1985, the #1 ranked Hawkeyes defeated #2 Michigan at Kinnick Stadium on a game-winning field goal as time expired. The Michigan quarterback for that game? Current head coach Jim Harbaugh. While that stat is intriguing for fans, the players thought nothing of it. They were only worried about the task at hand.

“The only time I saw (that stat) was today watching Penn State-Indiana,” said quarterback C.J. Beathard. “The Aflac Trivia question was ‘When was the last time Iowa beat a number one or two ranked team?’ and it was 1985.”

While Beathard and his teammates weren’t worried about the past, it’s possible that one of the guys on the team knew what was coming up in the future. Apparently in a conversation earlier in the week between Beathard and linebacker Josey Jewell, the senior defensive captain had a good idea of what it would take for Iowa to pull off the upset.

“Josey told me ‘We’re ready to go. Give us 14 points and we’ll win the game,’” said Beathard. “It just happened to be that exact thing.”

“I believed it,” said Jewell of his prediction after the 14-13 victory. “We trusted in ourselves and trusted in everybody else around us, and if we did our jobs I thought we could play a good enough game.”

Even though the season hasn’t gone as planned for the Hawkeyes, a signature win on national television against a solid Michigan team might just be exactly what they needed as they try to finish out the regular season on a good note.

The Hawkeyes (6-4, 4-3) are back in action Saturday November 19^th as they travel to Champaign to take on the Illinois Fighting Illini (3-7, 2-5) at 11 a.m. on BTN and KRUI Sports 89.7 fm.

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Over the past couple of weeks Harbaugh had been recruiting Higdon heavily, and scheduled an official visit with him last weekend. This morning (Wednesday) Higdon switched his commitment from the Hawkeyes, to the Wolverines.

With Higdon deciding to go a different direction, that left Iowa with signing 20 incoming freshman—so we thought.

“We were a little concerned with our running back depth, and you just never know how things are going to go in recruiting,” Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz said.

It turns out the program did in fact have their eyes on another running back. 5’9” 195lbs. Eric Graham from Prattville, Alabama signed with the Hawkeyes and put the total at 21 new Hawkeye’s for the 2015 season.

“We found Eric late in the process,” Ferentz said Wednesday at his National Signing Day press conference. “When he (Graham) came to campus we were all very, very impressed.”

Rivals.com lists Graham as a two-star athlete, but take that for what it’s worth. Graham went to a small high school in Autauga Academy. He rushed for nearly 2,000 yards in his senior season, along with 27 touchdowns. He was also an All-State selection.

Notre Dame and Kentucky had interest in Graham, but when Iowa came calling Graham knew Iowa City was home. “I was excited. My parents were excited,” Graham told hawkeyeinsider.com. “I’m a very strong Christian. My mom and my dad are pastors. We prayed and prayed and kept on praying. We just had God on our side,” he said.

When Graham came on his visit to Iowa City he was hosted by current Hawkeye junior cornerback Maurice Fleming, who grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, which is near where Graham went to high school.

Graham is set to finish out his senior year in Alabama and will officially join the Hawkeyes this summer in either June or early August.

Of the 21 scholarship recruits, three of them are already enrolled in the University to try and get a head start on things.

“ The whole group from our vantage point is a very quality group,” Ferentz said. We’re very impressed with each and every one of the players who have chosen to join us.”

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Cold and windy conditions were expected in Iowa City, but after Iowa’s 22-21 loss to Minnesota last week, a win over #13 ranked Michigan was not in the forecast for football fans.  Iowa delivered, never giving up the lead and winning it all 24-16.  This is the first time in the series Iowa has beaten the Michigan Wolverines three years in a row.

Head Coach Kirk Ferentz doubts the Hawks had the loss last week completely out of their minds, but James Vandenburg thinks the defeat helped his teammates to focus, “I think we knew we didn’t play as well as we could have last week, and we knew this was a good team coming in here, but we feel like we can play with anybody, we just have to play well.”

Iowa has to feel good about holding the lead throughout, but the big debate is whether Iowa won, or Michigan lost.  The Hawks definitely stepped up the defense this week, especially in the red zone, which they’ve actually been pretty consistent with this season, but something has got to be said about Denard Robinson’s game today.

Robinson totaled thirty-eight incomplete passes Saturday afternoon, some of course to the credit of the Hawks defense, Broderick Binns with a career high three pass breaks-ups, but in the fourth, the Hawks were just getting lucky.  Robinson threw twelve incomplete passes in the last 10 minutes of the game, some that would have been worth some serious yardage.

Vincent Smith also made jaws and stomachs drop when he emerged sprinting from a tackle and kept running for the goal line!  Officials actually called the touchdown while everyone in the stadium, save Michigan fans, stood dumbfounded and all play had stopped mid-field. The play was recalled after review finding Smith’s right elbow was down at the twenty-nine.  Phew.

But none of these “hold your breath moments” even compared to the last sixteen seconds… 3 yards from the Wolverine goal line, with a first down:

Robinson to Hemingway incomplete.

Robinson to Hemingway… incomplete?  The second and goal play was under review after Hemingway actually made the catch juuussst out of bounds.  Again, Hawks got lucky and the ruling on the field stood, incomplete.

Robinson to Smith incomplete.

Robinson to Roundtree incomplete, pass broken up by Iowa’s B.J. Lowery.

Hawks win 24-16.

The Hawkeyes could easily set their eyes too far into the future, but Coach Ferentz says thinking about a division title now would be idiotic, “What we’ve got to do is worry about next week, so I hope we don’t have any idiots on our team.”  Marvin McNutt is also keen on holding focus and not letting this win, and especially games like last week’s distract his team, “knowing you have four weeks left you know not to put your head down and give up, you have to keep going.”

Iowa had a good game Saturday, and a lot of things came together that were just absent in Minnesota last week, but the Hawks are going to need to keep up the energy and rally for next weeks match-up with Michigan State.  The Spartans won their game Saturday 31-24 against Minnesota after trailing the Gophers for a good portion of the game.  Michigan State is ranked No. 17 in the BCS.

NOTE: DE Dominic Alvis went down in the fourth with an ACL injury.

Coach Ferentz on Alvis: “We lost him to an ACL injury. The only thing that would have been worse is if he was s senior, but you hate for any player to deal with something that’s going to require surgery and rehab and all those types of things.  He’s a young guy that’s been working really hard and playing a lot better and improving each week, so it’s a loss to our team, but our thoughts are more so with him right now.”

Featured image credit to (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

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This week I am pumping my fists fast and hard in the cool Iowa air to these sports tidbits—some Iowa-related, some feel-good, some absurdly hilarious!

10.       On April 13^th (I know, a little dated), Indianapolis Colts Tight End and former Hawkeye All-American, Dallas Clark, appeared as detective Austin Kent on the CBS show, “Criminal Minds” in the episode, “The Stranger.”  I did not get to see it, but from what I’ve read it was a brief cameo.  Check out the hyperlink too see Dallas’ goofy, cop comb over.  Detective Kent must be related to Clark Kent, because he’s not fooling anyone.  I know it’s you, Mr. All-Pro Tight End.  Overall, though, it was a neat opportunity for Mr. Clark.  I think it would be hysterical if Peyton Manning showed up in the same episode as Detective Milton Henning.  Manning does appear in about a thousand commercials a year, after all.  Here’s a bit of spoof dialogue.  I’ll set up the scene:  A baby is trapped on the third floor of a burning building, but some junkies are standing around looking to make trouble.

Detective Milton Henning: Austin, you go left and block those two junkies wearing Patriots jackets while I dash in and get the baby.

Detective Austin Kent: Alright, but you might have to fake them out.  Be quick, too, those junkies are strong and love to cheat.  Sergeant Ricky Payne is standing in the safe zone ready to catch the baby.  He’s got such great hands!

Detective Milton Henning: On two, on two.

9.         I am pumping my fists for the Hawks.  The Atlanta Hawks are up 3-1 in the opening round of the NBA Eastern Conference playoff series on the better-seeded Orlando Magic after an 88-85 win.  Jamal Crawford came off the bench to score twenty five points.   I don’t know much about the Atlanta Hawks, but since the Iowa Hawks are in building mode for the foreseeable future, I have to root for some Hawk team.  Teams like Atlanta and the Memphis Grizzlies are obscure enough that I can get excited about them.  Go Hawks!

8.         University of Iowa Video Coordinator Matt Engelbert was recently named the 2011 Collegiate Sports Video Association’s Big Ten Conference Video Coordinator of the Year.  What a title!  Honestly, I have little knowledge of what it takes to be an elite Video Coordinator, but Mr. Engelbert—employed 22 years at Iowa—seems to be pretty good.  He was also recognized with the same award in 1998 and 2008.  Kirk Ferentz and his staff have always seemed adept at correcting mistakes after a loss.  I’ll go ahead and credit Mr. Engelbert for helping with his savvy digital editing.

7.         I did some Iowa Men’s Golf recaps for Kif Richmann’s “From the Cheap Seats” show in the fall, but I have to admit I lost track of their play when school got more chaotic.  Lo and behold, they are driving, chipping, and putting like mad fiends again. Coach Mark Hankins’ crew, lead by senior dynamo Vince India—along with major contributors Brad Hopfinger, Chris Brant, and Barrett Kelpin—continue to land top five finishes in major tournaments.  The 11^th– ranked Hawkeyes finished fourth at the Kepler Invitational in Columbus, Ohio on Sunday.  Mr. India finished fourth at the tournament and also finished second at the LSU Collegiate Invitational on April 3^rd.  As a team, the Hawkeyes have five first-place finishes in major tournaments since September and eight top-four finishes in that span.  Astounding, considering that before Mr. Hankins’ arrival, the Hawkeyes were ranked 155^th and in the bottom of the Big Ten.  They have improved markedly since Mr. Hankins’ first year in 2007.  Later this week (April 29^th) begin the Big Ten Conference Championships in West Lafayette, Indiana.  Stay tuned.

6.         Last year’s Stanley Cup participants—the champion Chicago Blackhawks and the Philadelphia Flyers—both won in overtime on Sunday to force a Game 7 in the opening round of the NHL playoffs.  The Blackhawks beat the Vancouver Canucks, 4-3, and the Flyers bested the Buffalo Sabres, 5-4, in extra time, respectively.  That’s some good hockey, eh?  While the weather is cool and the Flyers are winning, I best break out my Simon Gagne road jersey.  It doesn’t matter that he plays for the Tampa Bay Lightning now, because Game 7 is in Philadelphia!  Fist pump holding a drippy cheese steak!

5.         I will be frank. I know less about the NBA D-League than I do the Atlanta Hawks.  I know virtually nothing about Iowa’s NBA Developmental League team, the Iowa Energy.  I think of D-League and I think of D-Grade meat, for some reason (if that even exists anymore—dog food?).  Or the players are one air ball away from being F-Grade players.  Yeah, yeah, I know it’s a farm team NBA system.  But I’d rather read about Iowa Football practices than D-League coverage.  Apparently, though, the Iowa Energy are one victory away from winning the NBA D-League Championship.  That’s pretty swell.  Way down in the booming town of Hidalgo, Texas, the Iowa Energy swatted the Rio Grande Valley Vipers 123-106 on Sunday night.  One more win with triple-double man Curtis Stinson and the Iowa Energy are champions!  Who they play for the title?  I don’t know.  The article did not say.  I am not even sure if it will be televised.  Perhaps ESPN Deportes de América Central will pick it up.  Ok, moving on.

4.         On Saturday, junior college player, Anthony Hubbard, picked the Iowa Men’s Basketball team as his future home.  Hubbard, a 6-5 guard, averaged about 20 points and 10 rebounds for Frederick Community College in Maryland.  He will have two years of eligibility remaining.  He picked Iowa over future rival Nebraska.  Apparently, Mr. Hubbard is an athletic scorer.  He is also a felon.  He went to prison for four years when he was 18 after being convicted of robbery.  He’s 26 now, and from what I’ve read he’s focused on basketball and being a solid citizen.  If this all works out for him, it would make a great story.  Let’s hope.

3.         I am pumping my fists with a sense of feverish mockery on this one!  Mike Hlas of the Cedar Rapids Gazette posted the ESPN College Football Live Preseason Top 25 on his blog, The Hlog (it’s great).  College Football Live is a decent show on ESPN that covers current events in college football, even in the offseason.  I am sure this Preseason Top 25 list is subject to change.  But for the fun—and fury—of it, I’m going to share my opinion on a few poll positions I take issue with.  Florida State at number six: I don’t know if they’re there yet.  First year with Jimbo Fisher last season was a nice ten-win campaign.  Just don’t know if they’re there yet.  Stanford at number seven: I can’t say I like this.  New head coach, lots of replacements on defense.  Andrew Luck is back, but things won’t be the same.  South Carolina at number eight: Steven Garcia was recently suspended for the fifth time.  He’s a punk and his future is in jeopardy.  Even when he played he was no Richard Stanzi.  I seem to remember Iowa torturing him as a freshman in the 2009 Outback Bowl.  Steve Spurrier does not have the same magic that he did at Florida.  Yes, they won their division in the SEC, but got crushed by Auburn in the title game and then lost to Jimbo’s Seminoles in the bowl game.  Oh, hey look everyone!  There is no Iowa!  Thank the maker.

2.         The NFL Draft starts Thursday and ends on July 20^th.  Just kidding, it ends Saturday.  I look forward to reading about the picks after it’s over.  I’ve got no time to watch three days of hootin’ and hollerin’ and Adrian Clayborn in a giant striped suit.  Between now and Thursday, Mel Kiper will blast into Ultra-Productive mode and crank out thirty more Mock Drafts, all of which will be wrong.

1.         I’m pumping my fists until I get arthritis in my elbows over the Iowa Women’s Softball team beating the top-ranked Michigan Wolverines 4-2 on Saturday night in Ann Arbor.  Katie Keim scored two runs later in the game after Jenny Schuelke smashed a home run with pinch runner Jordan Goschie on base for a 2-0 lead in the second inning.  Iowa came into the game at a respectable 7-3 in the conference and 25-16 overall.  But to put this win in perspective, number one Michigan came into the game at 41-3 and 9-1 in the Big Ten.

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