High school Winter sports are on their way to conclusions with only boys basketball champions remaining to be decided in four classes by enrollment. Big Ten Conference, with 14 schools, determined wrestling champions last weekend in 10 weight classes. It is busy times for both participants who have worked hard for many months and the true sports fan who is busy keeping up with the twists and turns. Twists and turns certainly describes the Big Ten Conference men’s Conference standings.
Northwestern University and Indiana University tied for second place, each 12-8 in the Big Ten, however, Northwestern will receive the second-place tournament seeding. Northwestern will receive byes until Friday, however, two games will be played Wednesday, March 8 and four games will be played Thursday, March 9.Seven of the 14 Big Ten teams either lost eight or nine conference games. March Madness only accelerates from here.
The final four teams in each of four classes in boys high school will end Saturday, March 11. The Division I, II, III, college basketball tournaments across the country, men and women, accelerate and draw to conclusions in late March and early April. The Madness stimulates fans with victory and defeat and agony and ecstasy. Is not that what it is all about in the sports whirl?
Winter basketball only will overlap with Summer Major League Baseball with (MLB) openers in late March. The men’s basketball announcement of 68 teams in the tournament field will be made Sunday, March 12. How many Big Ten Conference teams will be accepted into the tournament of 68 teams? Men and women both will have eight or nine teams in postseason play. Different than Major League Baseball World Series is that in baseball there is more than one game, in fact the best of seven. Bad breaks, injuries, bad luck, can force out teams which are even with other teams. Big Ten men nearly all are close to being even in capabilities, accomplishments, and abilities.
One-game elimination in basketball tournaments keep up the interest, force strong competition, and bring out the best teams.