There were a few mistakes in the print version of today's basketball guide, so I wanted to publish here my real predictions for this season. A "bubble" game is one I think could go either way:
@Evansville SHOULD WIN
Savannah State SHOULD WIN
Garnder Webb SHOULD WIN
Butler SHOULD WIN
@NC State (L) BUBBLE
Stetson SHOULD WIN
Kentucky REACH
Notre Dame(W) BUBBLE
Howard SHOULD WIN
UMBC SHOULD WIN
@Michigan State (L) BUBBLE
Ohio State REACH
Michigan (W) BUBBLE
@Penn State SHOULD WIN
Minnesota SHOULD WIN
@Ohio State REACH
@Nebraska SHOULD WIN
Penn State SHOULD WIN
@Wisconsin REACH
Iowa SHOULD WIN
@Michigan REACH
@Purdue(L) BUBBLE
Illinois (W) BUBBLE
Northwestern(L) BUBBLE
@Iowa(W) BUBBLE
NC Central SHOULD WIN
@Minnesota(L) BUBBLE
Michigan State (L) BUBBLE
Purdue(W) BUBBLE
SHOULD WIN: 13-0
BUBBLE: 5-6
REACH: 0-5
REGULAR SEASON RECORD: 20-11 in the regular season
FINISH: NIT SEMIFINALS
My biggest surprise wins for the season are IU beating Michigan and Purdue at home. Michigan has the potential to finish second or third in the Big Ten this season with a deep and talented squad. However, I like how IU matches up with the Wolverines, as the Hoosiers beat them in Bloomington last season and nearly came from behind to get the W in Ann Arbor. As for Purdue, with Senior Night, the last game of the season and sitting on the NCAA bubble, I think the importance of this chapter in the rivalry will be too big for the Hoosiers not to get the victory.
The biggest surprise loss of this year may be Northwestern at home. Let's be honest, IU isn't going to win every game they're supposed to win or lose every game they're supposed to lose. This is one of those cases where I just think the Hoosiers drop a game in which John Shurna can't be stopped.
But who knows?
These are only my predictions. I'm sure a lot of you out there will disagree with me. So tell me. What did I get wrong and why.
The truth is, sports are unpredictable and that's why we love them.
