Beware. You’re not gonna like this, B1G fans.

Why? Well, let’s just say I don’t have an all-B1G Final Four. In fact, I only have 3 B1G teams winning their first games and 2 making it to the Sweet 16.

That’s not necessarily a knock on the conference, which had an extremely solid year. This comes down to matchups, and if we’re being honest, I don’t like a lot of them.

So let’s try and tackle the ultimate question — how far will each B1G team go?

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Iowa — First Round

That’s a tough draw to have to go play Cincinnati in Columbus, yes, but I’d be a little bit more confident in Iowa if it actually played well down the stretch. Facing a hot Bearcats squad in what could feel like a road game will be an extremely difficult challenge. Fran McCaffery’s squad once looked like it was in line for a 5-6 seed and a somewhat favorable path to the Sweet 16, but defensive deficiencies caught up with them and now, it’d be a surprise to see the Hawkeyes in Round 2.

Maryland — First Round

I know, I know. Maryland is sort of the under-the-radar B1G team that could make some noise. And I know how ideal that would be if the Terps got to the Sweet 16 in Washington D.C. But a Belmont team that will play with nothing to lose will be too much for Bruno Fernando and Maryland. Getting Nick Muszynski back in the lineup paid dividends for Belmont in the First Four matchup vs. Temple, and I think it’ll help the Bruins stretch the floor en route to a first round upset against the Terps.

Michigan — Final Four

John Beilein in March. Need I say more? Even with the loss to Michigan State, I love how Michigan played down the stretch. They were aggressive offensively with Zavier Simpson looking like a trusty veteran guard. The Wolverines flourished even without Charles Matthews playing particularly well to close the regular season. I think he turns it on like he did last March and the Wolverines come out of the West Region for their third Final Four trip under Beilein…but run into the Zion Williamson buzzsaw once they get there.

Michigan State — Elite Eight

Speaking of running into the Zion buzzsaw, poor MSU got robbed by landing in the same region as the top-seeded Blue Devils. I think they get there to that Elite Eight matchup, but I’m not sure if the Spartans are healthy enough to slow down Duke. Losing Kyle Ahrens wasn’t ideal and a banged up Nick Ward certainly makes it questionable for the Spartans to reach their first Final Four since 2015. MSU hasn’t even made it to the Sweet 16 since then. Despite the frustrations about being in the same region as Duke, I do think the early round draw is super favorable. And hey, you could do a lot worse than having Cassius Winston run your team in March.

Minnesota — First Round

The Pitino revenge game against Louisville could be a good, down-to-the-wire battle. It could also be a reminder that this Minnesota team is wildly inconsistent. They can frustrate elite teams like Purdue and also look completely lost against quality foes like Michigan. In what I think will be a thrilling early-round game, it’s Chris Mack’s tournament experience that pays off. And even if they do get out of the first round, an MSU squad that clubbed the Gophers by 24 could be waiting.

Ohio State — First Round

As I outlined yesterday, Kaleb Wesson getting in foul trouble worries me if I’m an Ohio State fan. You know what else does? The fact that Iowa State went 6-3 against top-25 foes and looks like it’s playing its best basketball down the stretch. That’s a daunting thought for an OSU team that went 1-8 against top-25 teams this year. It’s not an ideal first round draw, but then again, maybe with Wesson back, the Buckeyes find their identity at the perfect time.

Purdue — Second Round

I’d love to see Carsen Edwards against Tennessee in the Sweet 16. They don’t defend particularly well and he could have one of those 38-point games if he gets on a roll. The problem is that I don’t think the Boilermakers will reach the second weekend. I understand that Villanova is a vastly different team than the squad that won 2 of the last 3 national titles, but it’s still Jay Wright on a quick turnaround. As great as Matt Painter has been in the regular season, the tournament struggles are real. I give Wright and the Wildcats the edge in that situation.

Wisconsin — First Round

A team that’s been struggling offensively is traveling to the West Coast to face an Oregon team that’s been stymying foes left and right? Yeah, that’s not a recipe for a victory. Oregon figured out how to defend without Bol Bol, and Dana Altman’s squad looks like the group that started the year as a top-15 team. I’d hate to see the great career of Ethan Happ end in such crushing fashion, but it feels like the Badgers will come up just short in one of those 57-55 grinders.