What the Big Ten tournament means for your team

Conference tournaments are in bloom and so are hopes of renewal.

Of course, "renewal" means can (fill in your favorite Big Ten basketball team) trade up to tournament throttle? For some Big Ten teams (Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin), that's a quest for hardware. For others (Nebraska, Minnesota), that's a quest for a bid to the NCAA tournament.

It's a quest, a quest for fun.

Here's tournament reality for each Big Ten team:

Illinois (18-13, 7-11 Big Ten)

Record in last five: 4-1 (wins over Michigan State, Iowa)

The quest: The Fighting Illinois is the ninth seed in the tournament, opposite eight-seed Indiana. Illinois is on the charge in the final month. That probably won't be enough for an NCAA bid, but, rest assured, the loser in Thursday's first-round game will be checking the home arena to see if an NIT home weekend is feasible. That should be a grubby, gritty elimination match. Illini's RPI (68) is giving them a pulse.

Indiana (17-14, 7-11)

Record in last five: 2-3 (wins over Iowa, Ohio State)

The quest: The league record says N-I-T. The RPI (93) says N-I-T. The Hoosiers have had quality wins, but likely not enough to crack the field. What's the national perception of the Big Ten? If it were better, the Hoosiers might have a better hand. A victory over Illinois on Thursday would help and could be a springboard to a run. That's the optimistic view.

Iowa (20-11, 9-9)

Record in last five: 1-4 (win over Purdue)

The quest: Sixth-seeded Iowa will earn its first trip to the NCAA tournament since 2006. Probably. The record for the last five is ugly, but the league record, RPI (52) are steady. Why is this team deemed better than the 2013 Hawkeyes who had the same overall and league record? The Hawkeyes' RPI was No. 78 at the end of 2013 with a strength of schedule ranked No. 129. This year? Strength of schedule is No. 44. The vocal minority is nervous, but Iowa is a lock. Probably.

Michigan (23-7, 15-3)

Record in last five: 5-0 (wins over Michigan State, at Illinois, Indiana)

The quest: Michigan coach John Beilein is the league coach of the year. He lost Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. to the NBA. He lost big man Mitch McGarry to season-ending back surgery. He still won the Big Ten title by three games. Caris LeVert's development was phenomenal. Nik Stauskas was a consistent threat. The Wolverines should benefit geographically in the tournament from their title.

Michigan State (23-8, 12-6)

Record in last five: 2-3 (wins over Purdue, Iowa)

The quest: MSU coach Tom Izzo changes his approach to the tournament on a yearly basis. Of course, the Spartans always prefer to win the title, but if Izzo has a bona fide tournament threat, he might pull on the reigns. If he has a team he believes needs to come together or if he wants to prove a point, the Big Tournament becomes a gilded journey. After injuries and absences, Izzo probably wants this team to show some teeth.

Minnesota (19-12, 8-10)

Record in last five: 2-3 (wins over Iowa, Penn State)

The quest: The Gophers are the No. 7 seed and face Penn State's talented backcourt in the first round. A loss and forget it. Probably forget it. Minnesota has some sterling numbers, mainly an RPI of 49 and an SOS of No. 7. But the losing record in the Big Ten stings. Gophers are quality, but they need to seal the deal in Indianapolis.

Nebraska (19-11, 11-7)

Record in last five: 4-1 (wins over Wisconsin, Indiana)

The quest: Nebraska could -- could -- clinch its first NCAA tourney bid since 1998 with a quarterfinal victory Friday over either No. 5 Ohio State or No. 12 Purdue (probably Ohio State). The Huskers have an 11-7 conference record, RPI of 42 and SOS of 25. Those are tournament numbers. Indiana has to win. Minnesota probably has to win. Nebraska? The Huskers have a solid profile. A win would leave no doubt. A loss, the Huskers might still be OK.

Northwestern (13-18, 6-12)

Record in last five: 1-4 (win over Purdue)

The quest: If Iowa loses to Northwestern on Thursday is it out of the NCAA tournament? Probably not, but it's a reasonable question. One everyone Iowa probably doesn't want to even think about. Chris Collins will change the face of his team next season with five incoming recruits, including four-star forward Victor Law out of Chicago.

Ohio State (23-8, 10-8)

Record in last five: 3-2 (victory over Michigan State)

The quest: The Buckeyes are a tourney lock. They're competitors. They'll want to show well and do what they can to win the B1G. And a tournament victory is probably the only thing they can do to influence their seed/location.

Penn State (15-16, 6-12)

Record in last five: 2-3 (win over Ohio State)

The quest: The Nittany Lions need at least one win for an NIT bid. That would be a sign of progress for coach Pat Chambers. Since an NCAA tournament appearance in 2011, PSU is 37-57. Chambers remains in "changing the culture" mode as he finishes his third season. (Iowa people know changing culture as "Licklitering.")

Purdue (15-16, 5-13)

Record in last five: 0-5

The quest: Coach Matt Painter will look to return to prominence (and the NCAA tournament, which it will miss for the second consecutive year) in 2014-15 with four recruits, including four-star center Isaac Haas, a 7-2, 275-pounder from Piedmont, Ala. The 5-12 matchup the Boilers face against Ohio State is second-worst opening-round matchup. Iowa has beaten Northwestern twice (93-67 and 76-50).

Wisconsin (25-6, 12-6)

Record in last five: 4-1 (wins over Iowa, Indiana, Penn State and Purdue)

The quest: The Badgers are the No. 2 seed and will face the Penn State-Minnesota winner on Friday. The Badgers opened the season 16-0 and then lost five of six during a dreadful January stretch. After that it was an eight-game winning streak that ended Sunday at Nebraska. The Badgers have seen the abyss and didn't much care for it. As for B1G tourney prospects, the bottom of the bracket has Wisconsin, Michigan State and Iowa. The potential is there to produce a tested and angry finalist for Sunday's title game.