There's a sense of excitement in the Big Ten this week. But for the most part, it's in all of the wrong places.\nWhile the Big Ten's best are reeling from losses, it's the teams scrapping for a playoff bid and teams fighting for pride that are most enthused about the Big Ten tournament, which gets underway Thursday in Grand Rapids, Mich.\nHere's a preview of what to expect from the other games inside Van Andel Arena.
No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 9 Michigan State\nThe best players in the Big Ten tournament's opening round game will be on the sidelines in street clothes. LaToya Turner, Candice Jackson and Becky Cummings are all out with injuries, making this play-in contest more like a battle of attrition than a battle of basketball talent.\nTurner and Jackson were definitely out, and Cummings -- bothered by a foot problem all season -- won't dress either, Spartan coach Joanne McCallie said.\n"Becky's career is officially over," McCallie said. "Her complications with her foot are so severe that she can't practice."\nThat said, this should be the best game on the tournament's first day, boasting the best match-up. The key match-up is OSU's Courtney Coleman and MSU's Julie Pagel. Two of the biggest surprises in the league this season, mainly because the known commodities such as Cummings and Turner got hurt, they have been bright spots in otherwise forgettable years for the Spartans and Buckeyes.\nComing off a win against Minnesota -- only their second win in nearly 50 days -- McCallie said the Spartans (10-17, 4-12 Big Ten) are ready to get back on the court.
No. 6 Illinois vs. No. 11 Northwestern\nThe Fighting Illini (14-14, 9-7 Big Ten) are also on the bubble for NCAA selection and must defeat Northwestern to be considered. According to NCAA selection rules, a team must have a .500 record to be considered for postseason play.\nNorthwestern (4-22, 0-16) is just playing out its season. It looked better in its home finale against Indiana, but the Wildcats just don't have the talent to match up with Allison Curtin and company.\n \nNo. 4 Penn State vs. No. 5 Michigan\nThe Wolverines are still shaking after their last-second defeat of the Lady Lions Sunday. The three from the corner of the Bryce Jordan Center with just more than five seconds left is a shot Anne Thorius won't forget any time soon.\nPenn State won't, either.\n"It was a great comeback," Penn State coach Rene Portland said. "And it's not the first time it's happened. We've struggled, and have been very honest about it, at our point guard spot all year."\nThe Wolverines (17-10, 10-6 Big Ten) have beaten PSU (19-8, 11-5) twice this year -- no other team can say that. Besides being a dramatic shot in the arm for its NCAA tournament chance, Michigan will have confidence -- and the friendly Michigan crowd -- on its side. Michigan also touts the player of the week in LeAnn Bies.\nMeanwhile, Penn State has struggled lately, sinking from a national contender to a team that might not play host to NCAA tourney games. \nAll the signs point to Michigan getting its third win against Penn State in one season. But don't count on it happening. Portland knows how to win tournament games and will pepper the ball down low to Maren Walseth, who has sat in Lisa Sheperd and Kelly Mazzante's shadow this season.\n"Somebody got us twice," Portland said. "Michigan certainly feels like they have our number. We're going in as underdogs. It's our job as coaches to figure out how to win"
