In reviewing the bracket (pdf) for the B1G tournament, I had a silly, and, as is not unusual for me, hopelessly optimistic, thought. As everyone knows, we are the 10 seed and face the 7 seed, Northwestern, in game one (4:30 on Thursday, I'm going to be leaving work early). That's a game we can win. Earlier this year, I would have said that's a game we should win, and I still think that, but we haven't exactly been winning the games we should win.

But bear with me and assume we take out Shurna and crew. Then it would be on to Michigan. That's not a game I'd say we should win, but it really is a game would could win. For the sake of speculation, let's say Dre controls the game with penetration and pressure defense. Chip and Austin rain from three point range. Rodney throws in some massive dunks. Ralph dishes the rock playing in-and out. All together that's a win (and now I'll stop bloviating as I've reached the word requirement).

IF we manage to take out Northwestern and Michigan, we'd likely play Ohio State and not even I think we can win that one. But that means we'd be 20-14, with a 8-13 conference record counting the tournament. If that's the case, is there any shot of an NCAA bid? In the pre-conference tournament days, 20 wins for a B1G team used to be basically a lock, but with the extra games and the losing conference record, it's probably not enough. Would it be the outside of the bubble?

Okay, Jimi, please talk some sense into me.