Big Ten Tournament returns to Bloomington, begins today

After a five-year hiatus, the Big Ten Tournament makes its way back to Bloomington and Bill Armstrong Stadium this year, marking the fourth time IU has hosted the conference tournament and the first time since 1997. \nThe winner receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.\nIU coach Jerry Yeagley said he views the conference tournament as preparation for the Tournament for his team. \n"We like to look upon the Big Ten Tournament the same as the NCAA Tournament," Yeagley said. "Every game is the championship game. We have to be prepared though. Upsets have taken place." \nThe Big Ten Tournament boasts a strong field, with three teams recording 11 or more wins. Michigan enters the tournament with the most victories, as they have 13. But IU was able to win the regular season title by going undefeated through the conference season. The Hoosiers edged the Wolverines as IU compiled 16 points, while Michigan finished with 15.\n"I think looking at them all if we don't come out and play our game all of them are pretty dangerous on the same level," senior midfielder Vijay Dias said. "We always believe we will win when we go out but if we don't go out and do our job I think it's in anyone's hands."\nYeagley is also aware of the challenges this tournament is going to bring.\n"I have my eye on everyone," Yeagley said. "There's so much parity in the Big Ten. There's no game that's a sure thing. Everyone is going to be ready." \nLast season, the Hoosiers were bounced from the Big Ten tournament in the semifinals by Penn State 2-1 (penalty kicks) in University Park, Penn. This time, the Hoosiers are glad to be at home, a place they have not lost in 22 matches. \n"Look at our record at home, there is just an atmosphere there that gives us an extra push," junior goalkeeper Jay Nolly said. "I think it is a huge advantage for us. Hopefully, we can get a huge crowd for the game." \nTeam-by-team preview\nof the Big Ten Tournament:\nNo. 1 IU (11-3-4 Overall), 5-0-1 Big Ten\nThe Hoosiers, who were picked to win the conference regular season in the preseason coaches' poll, struggled in the early part of the season, but have rebounded and have the second longest winning streak in the nation. They have quality victories over No. 2 seed Michigan, No. 5 St. Louis, and No. 6 Penn State. They recorded a mere two wins in their first nine matches, but since then they have won nine straight, including a shutout streak of four consecutive games.\nIU is led offensively by junior forward Ned Grabavoy, who leads the team with 10 goals and 29 points. In addition, Grabavoy has two game-winning goals for the Hoosiers this year. IU has a first round bye in the Big Ten Tournament. They play the winner of the No. 4 Ohio State-No. 5 Wisconsin match on Friday at 5 p.m.\nNo. 2 Michigan (13-5-0 Overall), 5-1-0 Big Ten\nThe Wolverines finished the regular season strong by winning six of their last seven matches. Earlier this year, they outlasted then No. 22 Loyola Marymount and then No. 17 Oakland, but a conference overtime loss at home to IU, 2-1 on Oct. 5 cost them the regular season championship. Michigan was picked to finish third in the Big Ten preseason coaches' poll. Junior Knox Cameron has notched a team-high 31 points on 11 goals this year. He is the Michigan single season and career scoring leader with 67 points in his three-year career. They play the No. 7 seed Northwestern on Thursday at 4 p.m. Michigan was victorious against the Wildcats, 2-1 in Ann Arbor earlier this season.\nNo. 3 Michigan State (11-4-2 Overall), 3-1-2 Big Ten\nThe Spartans dropped the season finale against Notre Dame at home. But before that loss they reeled off seven victories in eight matches. The lone loss during that stretch came to in-state rival Michigan on Oct. 12. They also tied IU, 1-1 in Bloomington on Sept. 21.\nThey were picked to finish tied for fourth with Ohio State in the Big Ten preseason coaches' poll. Michigan State plays No. 6 seed Penn State Thursday at 11 a.m. \nNo. 4 Ohio State (4-11-4 Overall),\n2-3-1 Big Ten\nThey have been outscored 8-2 in their last five games going 1-3-1 having lost their last regular season match 3-0 to No. 2 Maryland. Nine different players have recorded at least one goal, while the Buckeyes leading goal scorer has just two.The Buckeyes defeated the Badgers 1-0 in Madison for one of their two conference victories Sept. 28. They play the No. 5 seed Wisconsin Thursday at 1:30 p.m. \nNo. 5 Wisconsin (10-9-1 Overall),\n1-4-1 Big Ten \nIt was a seesaw season for the new-look Badgers, as their record never jumped higher than one game over .500 yet ceased to dip more then one game below .500. Wisconsin entered the season with 13 new faces, including one transfer. Their lone conference victory was a 1-0 shocker in Happy Valley Oct. 5. UW lost 1-0 to Ohio State Sept. 28 in Madison and will face the Buckeyes Thursday at 1:30 p.m. \nNo. 6 Penn State (7-10-0 Overall), 1-5-0 Big Ten\nThe Nittany Lions dropped seven of their last eight matches to end the regular season. But during that span, they lost to then-No. 2 Maryland, 1-0 on a neutral site. They surrendered three or more goals in three of their last five matches, including allowing three goals to IU in a 3-2 loss Saturday in Bloomington. Penn State gave up three straight second half goals to IU. They won the Big Ten Tournament last year by outlasting Michigan, 2-1, when they hosted the event. The Lions play Michigan State Thursday at 11 a.m.\nNo. 7 Northwestern (6-6-6 Overall), 0-3-3 Big Ten\nThe only team to go winless in Big Ten action, they lost and tied three conference games. They won one of their final six matches, which came against IPFW on the road. The Wildcats lost to Michigan earlier this season in Ann Arbor, 2-1. They also tied the No. 3 seed Michigan State in Big Ten play. They play Michigan Thursday at 4 p.m. \nBig Ten Tournament Schedule\n(All games played at Armstrong Stadium)\nThursday, Nov. 13\nNo. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 6 Penn State 11 a.m. \nNo. 4 Ohio State vs. No. 5 Wisconsin 1:30 p.m. \nNo. 2 Michigan vs. No. 7 Northwestern 4 p.m. \nFriday, Nov. 14\nNo. 1 IU vs. No. 4/No. 5 Winner 5 p.m. \nNo. 7 /No. 2 Winner vs. No. 3/No .6 Winner 7:30 p.m.\nSunday, Nov. 16 \nChampionship Match -- Friday's winners play Sunday at 2 p.m. at Armstrong Stadium (Televised Live by College Sports TV)\n-- Contact staff writers Zack Eldridge and Daniel Cohen at zeldridg@indiana.edu and djcohen@indiana.edu.