Anything goes in Big Ten basketball's last two weeks

The Big Ten men's basketball championship is up for grabs. 

I can see Indiana (12-3) winning it outright. I can see Iowa (11-3) winning it outright. I can see Maryland (11-4) getting a share of the title. I can even see Michigan State (9-5) getting a piece of the championship.

I wouldn't bet on any scenario, and I won't believe Ohio State (10-5) and Wisconsin (9-5) can't get a share of the crown until they lose another game.

Here are things that we know:

1. The Indiana-Iowa game of March 1 is enormous.

2. If Maryland wins its next game, at Purdue Saturday, its March 6 game at Indiana to close the regular-season for both teams will be enormous. Unless Iowa has finished its season the day before with a win at Michigan to be the league's outright champ at 15-3.

3. But what are the odds of Iowa running the table from now through March 5? Not great. And if the Hawkeyes play their last four games the way they've played their most-recent two? Nonexistent.

4. Tuesday's Michigan State-Ohio State is an elimination game.

5. Michigan State is the best team in the conference at this moment in time. At least so says Kenpom.com, which has the Spartans ranked third behind Villanova and Virginia. And Jeff Sagarin, who has MSU ranked second behind Villanova. Kenpom has Iowa eighth, Purdue (9-6 in the league) 16th, Indiana 19th and Maryland 20th. Sagarin has Iowa 10th, Indiana 14th, Purdue 15th and Maryland 17th.

Here is what's what for each contender and pseudo-contender:

Indiana (12-3)

Thursday: at Illinois

March 1: at Iowa

March 6: Maryland

The Hoosiers will probably use Illinois for a foot wipe. Then comes what will define their regular-season. If they lose at Iowa and beat Maryland, they'll need someone else to beat the Hawkeyes in order to get at least a share of the championship. If they win out, they are the champions, my friend.

Iowa (11-3)

Wednesday: Wisconsin

Feb. 28: at Ohio State

March 1: Indiana

March 5: at Michigan

The Hawkeyes obviously have to start this stretch by taking down Wisconsin, which has won eight of its last nine games. Then they must win at OSU, a team that is 10-0 against Illinois, Northwestern, Rutgers, Minnesota, Penn State, Michigan and Nebraska, but 0-5 against Indiana, Maryland, Purdue and Wisconsin.

Since Iowa just lost at Penn State, though, one would be nuts to consider a game at Columbus to be anything but difficult.

Then comes Indiana at home.

Finally, there's a trip to Michigan. If Iowa needs to win that game for a share of the Big Ten title or the whole enchilada, there are easier ways to get it than by going to Michigan, which played Maryland extremely tough in College Park Sunday.

Maryland (11-4)

Saturday: at Purdue

March 3: Illinois

March 6: at Indiana

The Terrapins almost surely need to win all three games to get some sort of championship hardware. At Purdue and at Indiana? If the Terps win those two games, they deserve a trophy and a banner.

Ohio State (10-5)

Tuesday: Michigan State

Feb. 28: Iowa

March 5: at Michigan State

The Buckeyes must beat Michigan State twice and Iowa once to have any chance of a title-share. Not bloody likely.

Michigan State (9-5)

Tuesday: at Ohio State

Feb. 28: Penn State

March 2: at Rutgers

March 5: Ohio State

If the Spartans win in Columbus Tuesday night, they'll end up 13-5 in the conference. Whether they get enough help to somehow share the title is highly unlikely, but not impossible. Still … highly unlikely.

Wisconsin (9-5)

Wednesday: at Iowa

Feb. 28: Michigan

March 2: at Minnesota

March 6: at Purdue

The Badgers have done very well to go from mediocrity to 9-5 in the league. But this team isn't getting a sniff of 13-5 with three road games including visits to Iowa and Purdue.

Who is your pick to win the Big Ten?

My prediction:

Rutgers goes 0-18.