Here is my breakdown and analysis of each of the ten remaining teams, heading into the Sweet 16 matchups:
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No. 1 Michigan
Michigan had its way with its opponents early in the tournament, winning its first two games by a convincing margin. The Wolverines will have to maintain their dominant play, and defenders like Aday Mara will have to show up to welcome the nation’s No. 1 scoring offense in Alabama. Yaxel Lendeborg will also have to be every bit the star he was in the last game, or they could see a game similar to the Big Ten tournament title game.
Purdue has shown that its title win over Michigan was no fluke; This team, in fact, is one of the best left. Their offense shows no signs of slowing down, and every game, there is a different player who answers the bell as a leader. All while Braden Smith remains the best facilitator left in the tournament. Purdue no longer surprises teams, and since they are 7.5 favorites against Texas, the expectation is that this team moves on to the Elite Eight.
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No. 3 Michigan State
Tom Izzo is showing his greatness once again as Michigan State continues to take care of business during this tournament. Coen Carr has proven that he is a star and much more than his highlights. Jeremy Fears Jr. and Coen Carr will have to match the abundance of talent that UConn has to have any hope of having a different result than what UCLA faced last weekend. I still can’t rule out this version of the Spartans.
No. 3Illinois
The Fighting Illini have been at their best to start the tournament and haven’t even had to deal with close games. He has dominated his rival on the glass and the shots have been falling beyond the arc. When we face Houston, it will take a lot more than that. The Fighting Illini will have a chance to put their close game issues behind them and really show how good they are.
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No. 4 Nebraska
Nebraska had a great record and is having a dream season. They gave great reasons to doubt that they could win important games, but so far in the tournament they have corrected those mistakes. Nebraska finally looks like the team that reflects its record. Now they will face the challenge of defeating a familiar foe that they parted ways with in the regular season.
No. 9Iowa
Iowa proved itself to the fullest last week in its upset win over No. 1 Florida. It was a win that really showed what this Hawkeyes team could accomplish even without Bennett Stirtz having a strong game, which previously seemed like the only recipe for success. Iowa now faces a team they already beat this season. The Hawkeyes should feel confident heading into this matchup.
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Overview
Two of the most surprising teams left will face off in Nebraska and Iowa for the right to stay in the tournament and a chance to reach the Elite Eight. That game will further demonstrate how good the Big Ten has been this season if the first two rounds didn’t already prove it. Some contending teams have a favorable matchup and a great chance to advance to the next round, while others will face the toughest team they’ve faced all season, with their tournament lives on the line. However, the Elite Eight will feature a handful of Big Ten teams, a feat few conferences can boast.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Big Ten Has Big Chances of Putting Multiple Teams in Final Four