I believe you are correct, Dylan. Thank you, Indiana. I ran a few scenarios on bracket simulators and that’s what I got, too. U-M owns the tie breaker of wins against higher opponents both played, I believe. No worse than a 3-seed if they beat Maryland as well, but 1- and 2-seeds are realistically aiming a bit high; still, possible.
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FWIW if we do end up in a 3-way tie for first, then I think we would have the 1 seed in the BTT.
Michigan would be 2-1 against Purdue/MSU.
MSU would be 2-2
Purdue would be 1-2
Michigan has the best winning % of that group and would get the one seed correct?
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Iowa Head Coach Fran McCaffery Suspended 2 Games
IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa Director of Athletics Gary Barta announced on Wednesday a two-game suspension of head men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery for unsportsmanlike comments directed at an official following Iowa’s loss at Ohio State Tuesday in Columbus, Ohio. The suspension includes Iowa’s next two games versus Rutgers (Saturday) and at Wisconsin (March 7).
The Big Ten Conference supports the University of Iowa’s suspension and announced that the institution will be fined $10,000 as a result of violating the Big Ten Sportsmanship Policy, in addition to issuing a public reprimand.
“Following the basketball game at Ohio State, Coach McCaffery made unacceptable comments to a game official in the hallway headed to the locker room,” said Barta. “Fran’s comments do not represent the values of the University of Iowa, Hawkeye Athletics, and our men’s basketball program.
“Fran immediately accepted responsibility for his comments and understands the severe implications of his remarks. Fran fully understands this suspension and penalty imposed by the Big Ten Conference. Fran continues to have my full support moving forward."
“I am in total agreement with the suspension by Iowa Athletics and the fine levied by the Big Ten Conference,” said McCaffery. “My comments directed toward a game official were regretful. I apologize to Big Ten Conference officials, Iowa Athletics, my players and staff, and the tremendous Hawkeye fans. This behavior is not acceptable and I take full responsibility for my inappropriate comments.”
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I believe that’s correct.
This had to happen and was the right call.
I wonder what this does to Fran moving forward. Seems like Iowa fans are tiring of his antics and the fact they pulled 2 games out of their ass is the only thing keeping them from a "typical’ Iowa end-of-season free fall. They have basically everybody returning next year and it will either be a make-or-break year for Fran but I also wonder if they might think its time to try somebody else with the group they have coming back.
Can’t imagine they would fire Fran with his younger son an incoming freshman and his elder son becoming a bigger part of their rotation.
I do agree, though, that is antics are tired. I know I’d probably be sick of it (along with the constant late-season swoons) were I an Iowa fan.
I don’t envy athletic directors who have to make these kinds of calls. At some point you have to cut the cord, but there’s always the “next year is when everything REALLY comes together” burr in the saddle. Plus, the possibility of transfers when a transition occurs.
But Fran has been around for a long time and has had good rosters before.
One irrelevant tidbit: Minnesota-Duluth fired its coach after a bounce-back season last year, where the team was near .500 after an abysmal 16-17. Despite the improvement and the promising roster, they went in a different direction. The new coach put together the best record in 10 years; he also benefits from the guys (particularly the 6’7 wing who might be one of the best players in the history of the program) on his roster. I think they have an outside shot at the D-2 tournament if they make a run in the conference tourney this week.
Ironically, the new guy, Justin Wieck, is an alum of the Iowa basketball program. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him go to Iowa as an assistant in a couple of years.
A guy I recruited really hard is an assistant for UM-Duluth. It’s not the first time something like this has happened. Coaching change tends to bring a little different fire to the program (Willingham and Weis at ND), then it’s a matter of being able to recruit.
(Who is the assistant?)
This UMD/PSU game is like watching a carbon copy of Michigan’s game there two weeks ago. Maryland can’t do anything right and PSU can do no wrong. It’s eerie!
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Penn St. has quietly won 5 of their past 7.
Yep. They were never as bad as their record indicated. It’s a bummer that Michigan was the one that really got them going but at least that loss doesn’t look so bad anymore.
Side note: PSU really needs to swallow their pride and move the basketball team back into Rec Hall. They could actually have a halfway decent atmosphere. 
Good year to get the double bye in big ten tourney. Figures to be a few upsets and some hard fought games.
MD in a major beatdown at PSU - maybe they were looking past PSU and thinking about UM this weekend? Anyone else nervous about a ticked off desperate MD on Sunday besides me? Thank goodness that is not Sr. Day for them.
So, what about Pat Chambers? He seemed like a dead man walking but then the team started winning. He still is going to miss the tourney (barring a BTT miracle) once again - do you give him one more year?
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That’s an interesting discussion. I still don’t think he’s the guy for the job but I could see PSU admin deciding to keep him around for one more year based on the strong finish to the season and the fact that they only lose Josh Reaves from their rotation (not that him graduating is a small loss).
Casey Bruggerman
He did just get extended thru 2021-22, so the move financially is to keep him and hope for the best.
PSU has to be the hardest job in the conference. The support isn’t there from admin and to be honest Chambers is a great fit. He brings energy and has done a decent job recruiting. Imagine if this team has Tony Carr. This season could be a completely different story.
When PSU did have some success with Bruce Parkhill and Jerry Dunn, they were relatively quick to think they made it and got rid of Dunn. They’ve been to the NCAA Tournament only four times in the last 50 years. Expectations just can’t be high there unless coaches are throwing money at kids to get them there.Heck, their overall record, going back forever, is barely above .500