The Indiana men's soccer team may have run away with the Big Ten regular season championship, but that will mean nothing when the Big Ten tournament starts tomorrow at the University of Wisconsin.
The Hoosiers compiled a 6-0 record within the conference and are the first seed in the tournament for the sixth year in a row. Many people consider them the odds-on favorite to walk away as champions this weekend. However, there are a few teams who have a shot at derailing the dynasty. Here is how the tournament bracket shapes up:
No. 1 Indiana
With offensive stars like Hermann Award candidate Pat Noonan, Indiana has crushed the opposition all year. But the No. 4 team in the country also sports one of the best defenses in the conference. They have only given up one goal in Big Ten play which came in a 3-1 victory against Penn State. Winning is something Indiana expects every year and that is something Northwestern coach Tim Lehahan says favors the Hoosiers.
"They have something called tradition that no one else has," Lehahan said. "(Indiana) coach (Jerry) Yeagley does a great job and everybody on that team plays for what's on the front of their jersey, not what's on the back. There are six teams (in the Big Ten) and then there's Indiana. You have to go through Indiana."
As the first seed the Hoosiers receive a first round bye. They will play either Wisconsin or Michigan in a second round matchup on Friday.
No. 2 Penn State
The Nittany Lions enter the tournament with a five-game winning streak and a 4-1-1 mark in the Big Ten. They will take on a Northwestern squad that has not won a game since 1999. The Lions have said all along that winning the Big Ten tournament is a top priority this season and now is the time for them to take aim at that goal.
No. 3 Michigan State
The Spartans are 3-3-0 this season in the Big Ten and are 10-4-1 overall. Michigan State may wish that they were playing the tournament on its home field. They are an impressive 7-2 at Old College Field, but the Spartans are only 3-2-1 away from East Lansing. Tomorrow they will take on last year's champion Ohio State.
No. 4 Wisconsin
The Badgers may be considered the dark horse in this year's tournament. An even 3-3 in conference play, Wisconsin has the top offensive force in the Big Ten, senior forward Dominic DaPra. DaPra leads the conference with 34 points, more than both Noonan and Penn State senior midfielder Ricardo Villar. The Badgers will be looking for redemption in their first round game against Michigan, who upset them 2-1 earlier in the year.
No. 5 Michigan
In only their second year of existence as a Big Ten team the Wolverines have proven they can hang with the big boys. With wins against Northwestern, Wisconsin and Ohio State, the Wolverines hope to slip into the tournament finals this season.
If Michigan gets past Wisconsin they will have a date with Indiana in the semifinals.
No. 6 Ohio State
Last season's surprise champions, the Buckeyes will have to travel a very rocky road if they are to defend their title.
It is one thing to sneak up on teams one year, but to do it two years in a row is something else.
Ohio State head coach John Bluem has already found that to be the case this season.
"It's funny, we're 9-1-1 outside our conference and 1-4-1 in the Big Ten," Bluem said
"Maybe teams are after us this year because we snuck a Big Ten Championship last year. We've had a big target on our backs this year and our guys maybe didn't respond well."
They will have to be ready tomorrow because they will have their hands full with Michigan State.
No. 7 Northwestern
If there ever was a team that someone might look past it is the Wildcats. They are 0-12-3 this season and have lost all six of their games in the Big Ten. Penn State has said all season that they take every team seriously and the records indicate that underestimating the Wildcats may be the only way the Lions could lose.
If the Lions do concentrate on the task at hand, it is very possible that they could find themselves in the finals. Infact, even coaches in the Big Ten feel that the championship matchup may be inevitable.
"Indiana and PSU are probably destined to play in the final game," Bluem said.
"Indiana has to be a heavy favorite. It's a very even league with the exception of Indiana. I think Indiana is going to be in it — they always are.
"The question is, can somebody knock them off?"
