Focus of Big Ten Tournament: Howard's return, Davis' health

Updated Mar. 8, 2022 5:13 p.m. ET

Associated Press

Michigan coach Juwan Howard’s return and Wisconsin guard Johnny Davis’ injury are the major plotlines heading into the Big Ten Tournament that starts Wednesday in Indianapolis.

Howard is returning from a five-game suspension as the Wolverines attempt to play their way off the bubble and into the 68-team NCAA Tournament field. Michigan announced Monday that it had reinstated Howard, who served a

“He’s going to come in, he’s going to bring that juice and we’re going to match that intensity,” Michigan guard DeVante' Jones said Sunday after the Wolverines’

Wisconsin fans hope this tournament also represents Davis’ return to action.

Davis,

“I’m optimistic that he’s going to be fine,” Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said after the Nebraska game. Davis told the Big Ten Network on Tuesday that he's “feeling fine” and “should be ready to go.”

The tournament starts Wednesday with No. 12 seed Northwestern (14-15, 7-13) facing No. 13 seed Nebraska (10-21, 4-16) and No. 11 seed Penn State (12-16, 7-13) meeting No. 14 seed Minnesota (13-16, 4-16).

Illinois (22-8, 15-5) is the top seed in after

Even though his team already has essentially locked up a bid based on the way it performed the last few months, Illinois guard Trent Frazier wants to make sure the Illini approach this week with the mentality they’ll need to have once they begin NCAA Tournament play.

“Our mindset’s got to be we can’t lose no more games,” Frazier said.

Illinois, Wisconsin, No. 9 Purdue (25-6, 14-6) and Rutgers (18-12, 12-8) received byes into Friday’s quarterfinals. Thursday’s action has Michigan (17-13, 11-9) facing Indiana (18-12, 9-11), No. 24 Iowa (22-9, 12-8) meeting the Nebraska-Northwestern winner, Michigan State (20-11, 11-9) taking on Maryland (15-16, 7-13) and Ohio State (19-10, 12-8) facing the Minnesota-Penn State winner.

“You look at the Thursday games, my God, there's a lot of big games, big matchups on Thursday,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. “I think it's going to be a hell of a weekend of basketball. We'll see who survives.”

BUBBLE WATCH

Heading into Tuesday’s action, the mock draft consensus according to

That makes Thursday’s Michigan-Indiana matchup particularly compelling. Indiana likely needs to win that game and may have to do even more damage this week to earn a bid.

“I think everyone in the locker room knows how much we need this game,” all-conference forward Trayce Jackson-Davis said. “We know where we stand and we know we have to go get this one.”

Michigan and Rutgers both could have reason to worry if they go one-and-out this week.

STAR-STUDDED AFFAIR

This tournament features a number of All-America candidates in Davis, Illinois center Kofi Cockburn, Iowa’s Keegan Murray and Purdue’s Jaden Ivey.

COMPETING FOR SEEDING

While it’s unlikely any Big Ten team will earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, Purdue, Illinois and Wisconsin could play their way into consideration for a No. 2 seed. Bracket Matrix currently projects Purdue and Wisconsin as No. 3 seeds, Illinois as a No. 4 seed, Iowa and Ohio State as No. 6 seeds and Michigan State as a No. 8.

POTENTIAL SLEEPER

Nebraska struggled so much that

The Huskers have played much better since that announcement. Nebraska is on a three-game winning streak and closed the regular season by beating

Nebraska was missing leading scorer Bryce McGowens for the Wisconsin game due to a wrist injury.Hoiberg said McGowens wasn’t a full participant in Tuesday’s practice but expressed optimism the freshman guard would play Wednesday.

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AP Sports Writers Larry Lage, Michael Marot and Eric Olson contributed to this report.

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