Bilodeau was ruled out for the Bruins' Big Ten tournament semifinal against Purdue -- and likely for a possible conference title game -- but the injury update was positive for a Bruins team listed as a No. 7 seed in ESPN's Joe Lunardi's latest bracket projection.
Purdue is outscoring opponents by 11.8 points per game with a +388 scoring differential overall. It puts up 82.0 points per game (53rd in college basketball) and allows 70.2 per contest (76th in college basketball). The 82.0 points the Boilermakers average are 11.1 more than the Bruins allow.
Michigan outscores opponents by 18.9 points per game (scoring 87.9 per game to rank ninth in college basketball while giving up 69 per outing to rank 56th in college basketball) and has a +604 scoring differential overall.
Michigan State's +341 scoring differential (outscoring opponents by 11 points per game) is a result of scoring 78.8 points per game (104th in college basketball) while giving up 67.8 per outing (40th in college basketball). The Spartans are averaging 78.8 points, 8.3 more than the Bruins give up.
Bennett Stirtz and Ben McCollum are now 14-3 in win-or-go-home games over their four-year tenure together. That kind of experience matters in a neutral-site tournament setting. This matchup is tight from a seeding standpoint, and either team could win. The edge goes to Iowa based on momentum and their coaching staff's track record in elimination games.
Iowa is outscoring opponents by 9.6 points per game with a +308 scoring differential overall. It puts up 75.4 points per game (187th in college basketball) and allows 65.8 per outing (17th in college basketball). Iowa connects on 7.9 three-pointers per game (166th in college basketball), 1.4 more than its opponents (6.5).
Starting Tuesday, our Chicago Bulls' homecourt, the United Center, will host the Big Ten Tournament - giving Windy City fans a first-hand scouting look at several potential future Bulls. Illinois standout guard Keaton Wagler, Washington forward Hannes Steinbach, and multiple Michigan Wolverines all have a shot at donning the red, white, and black next fall.
Nebraska averages 79.7 points per game (19th in college basketball) while giving up 67.6 per outing (258th in college basketball). It has a +352 scoring differential overall and outscores opponents by 12.1 points per game.