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5 Big 10 Teams That Are on the 2015 NCAA Tournament Bubble Entering February

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By @Bigwoolf5

5 Big 10 Teams That Are on the NCAA Tournament Bubble Entering February

Big Ten
Mary Langenfeld-USA Today Sports

At this point, it seems as though the Big Ten has two locks for the NCAA tournament, Wisconsin and Maryland. Besides those two teams there are a lot of decent teams with a lot of work to do if they want to be in the Big Dance come March. Here is a look at five of those teams.

5. Michigan State

Michigan St
Bruce Thorson-USA Today Sports

5. Michigan State

Michigan St
Bruce Thorson-USA Today Sports

Michigan State has dealt with a lot of injuries this year, mostly in non-conference play. It is 4-3 in conference play and 13-7 overall. While it has played a tough schedule, it has yet to record a marquee win. So far its best wins are Marquette (neutral site) and at Iowa. Couple that with a really bad loss at home against Texas Southern, and you have a team with a lot of work to do.

4. Ohio State

Ohio State
Jeffrey Becker-USA Today Sports

4. Ohio State

Ohio State
Jeffrey Becker-USA Today Sports

Ohio State might have one of the best players in the nation in D'Angelo Russell, but like Michigan State, its resume is missing the key win. Unlike MSU, it hasn't suffered any bad losses, but its best wins are against Marquette and at Minnesota. Ohio State is currently 5-3 in the Big Ten, and it needs to continue to rack up wins to make up for the lack of marquee victories.

3. Iowa

Iowa
Jeffrey Becker-USA Today Sports

3. Iowa

Iowa
Jeffrey Becker-USA Today Sports

Unlike the first two teams listed, Iowa has a marquee win on its resume. It went into Chapel Hill and defeated North Carolina, a victory that continues to look better and better. When you add that to the fact that the Hawkeyes don't have any really bad losses, you would think they would be safe, but they have been far too inconsistent. The 13-7 overall record isn't pretty, but the UNC win is a huge notch on the Hawkeyes' belt.

2. Indiana

Indiana
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA Today Sports

2. Indiana

Indiana
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA Today Sports

Right now Indiana appears to be on the right side of the bubble, but it isn't quite a lock at 15-5 overall and 5-2 in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers have big wins over Maryland and Butler (neutral site), but one bad loss to Eastern Washington, which is keeping them from being safely in. Odds are they will get in, but they still have a little bit of work to do to guarantee that.

1. Illinois

Illinois
Brad Rempel-USA Today Sports

1. Illinois

Illinois
Brad Rempel-USA Today Sports

Illinois is definitely on the outside looking in, just like Michigan, Nebraska and Minnesota, but it has the best RPI of the four and some nice wins as well. It beat Baylor at a neutral site and also beat Maryland. The injury to Rayvonte Rice and the 3-5 conference record make this an unlikely bid, but at least it has a shot with a couple of really good wins and no bad losses.

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