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Iowa basketball: 2019 Big Ten Conference Tournament predictions

By Andrew Wade

EAST LANSING, MI - DECEMBER 03: Jordan Bohannon #3 of the Iowa Hawkeyes drives to the basket while defended by AAron Henry #11 of the Michigan State Spartans in the second half at Breslin Center on December 3, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - DECEMBER 03: Jordan Bohannon #3 of the Iowa Hawkeyes drives to the basket while defended by AAron Henry #11 of the Michigan State Spartans in the second half at Breslin Center on December 3, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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MADISON, WISCONSIN – FEBRUARY 12: Ethan Happ #22 of the Wisconsin Badgers dribbles the ball while being guarded by Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans in the second half at the Kohl Center on February 12, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MADISON, WISCONSIN – FEBRUARY 12: Ethan Happ #22 of the Wisconsin Badgers dribbles the ball while being guarded by Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans in the second half at the Kohl Center on February 12, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Pretenders

The teams on the list are teams that I think will fail to live up to expectations or fall flat on their face.

You may expect to find the Iowa basketball team here, but we will dedicate the next page fully to them.

Wisconsin

Call me a hater, but I just don’t see it with the Wisconsin Badgers. Much like the Iowa basketball team, the Badgers struggled late in the season. They lost 3 of their last 8 games and were on the ropes in 4 others. The only game the Badgers won handily in the last few weeks was against the Iowa basketball team.

Personally, I just don’t think Wisconsin matches up well in the Big Ten. First Team All-Big Ten forward Ethan Happ is about as technically sound as it gets but can be beaten by more superior athletes. If Maryland wins their second-round matchup, it means a battle between Happ and Maryland’s Bruno Fernando, who is 2nd in the Big Ten in rebounds (10.5) and shooting percentage (62%) while finishing 3rd in blocks with 1.9.

Indiana

Is there a more inconsistent team in the Big Ten than Indiana?

They started off the season incredibly strong going 12-2 before injuries hit the team hard, and they went on quite a skid. They would finish the season with just five more wins. Fortunately for the Hoosiers, they are starting to peak at the right time having won their last four games including two wins over a ranked Michigan State and Wisconsin team.

Furthermore, they have five-star and possible lottery pick Romeo Langford leading the charge, and anytime you have a player like that, you need to be worried.

That being said, the Hoosiers face a stiff contest against a rising Ohio State team who they have already lost to once this season. I believe they are going to lose this game, and if they somehow do win, there is no way I would bet on Michigan State losing for a third time this season.

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