Big Ten announces tip-off time for pivotal conference showdown

As the Big Ten race heats up, the standings are tightly packed. Tuesday morning, the league announced the tip-off time for what could be a huge matchup prior to the conference tournament.

Michigan State and Purdue face off Feb. 26, and the Big Ten announced that game will tip-off at noon ET on ESPN. The two teams are right in the middle of the race to the top of the league. Purdue is a half game behind first-place Illinois while Michigan State is 1.5 games out.

The No. 5-ranked Boilermakers are 22-4 overall and 11-4 in Big Ten play. They were tied for first with Wisconsin and Illinois last week before a blowout loss to Michigan at the Crisler Center. Their next scheduled game is coming up Wednesday at Northwestern.

The Spartans, which came in at No. 19 in the latest AP Top 25, are 18-6 this year and 9-4 in league action. They’re coming off a big win over Indiana at the Breslin Center and are getting ready to take on Penn State Tuesday night.

The game between Purdue and Michigan State is 10 days before the Big Ten tournament tips off in Indianapolis. KenPom gives the Boilermakers a 54% chance to win the game.

Michigan State comes in as a No. 5 seed, Purdue a No. 2 seed in ESPN’s latest Bracketology

With just three weeks remaining before conference tournaments begin, the race for the 2022 NCAA Tournament is in full swing. Many teams need to finish strong in the regular season to have a shot at playing into March, setting up an intriguing end to the year. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi released his updated Bracketology, which has some interesting teams just on the outside looking in.

First four out/Last four in

Last four in (with byes): Wake Forest, UNC, San Francisco, Oklahoma

Last four in (without byes): Iowa State, Creighton, BYU, Oregon

First four out: Memphis, Michigan, San Diego State, Florida

Next four out: Rutgers, Kansas State, Virginia Tech, Belmont

West region

1. Gonzaga vs. 16. Colgate
8. Colorado State vs. 9. Notre Dame

5. Alabama vs. 12 Chattanooga
4. Wisconsin vs. 13. South Dakota State

6. LSU vs. 11. San Francisco
3. Texas Tech vs. 14. Montana State

7. Marquette vs. 10. Murray State
2. Duke vs. 15. Yale

East region

1. Kentucky vs. 16. Longwood/Norfolk State
8. Seton Hall vs. 9. Indiana

5. Texas vs. 12. North Texas
4. Houston vs. 13. Vermont

6. Arkansas vs. 11. Oklahoma
3. Providence vs. 14. Liberty

7. Wyoming vs. 10. Miami
2. Purdue vs. 15. Cleveland State

Midwest region

1. Auburn vs. 16. Southern/New Orleans
8. Saint Mary’s vs. 9. Loyola Chicago

5. Michigan State vs. 12. Davidson
4. Villanova vs. 13. Toledo

6. Xavier vs. 11. SMU
3. UCLA vs. 14. Seattle

7. Iowa vs. 10. Wake Forest
2. Kansas vs. 15. Long Beach State

South region

1. Arizona vs. 16. UNC Wilmington
8. Boise State vs. 9. TCU

5. Ohio State vs. 12. Creighton/Oregon
4. Tennessee vs. 13. Iona

6. UConn vs. 11. Iowa State/BYU
3. Illinois vs. 14. Wagner

7. USC vs. 10. UNC
2. Baylor vs. 15. Texas State