For the Northwestern Wildcats, it all comes down to this. All eyes will be on the Wildcats today when they tip-off against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament at 4:30 p.m. locally. Northwestern is the quintessential bubble team this year, and it's all surrounded by the fact that the Wildcats are the only power conference team never to make the NCAA Tournament. If Northwestern is to break their historic streak, they will certainly need a victory today against Minnesota.

Northwestern and Minnesota have met twice this year, splitting the season series. The Gophers won the first meeting on Jan. 22 on their homecourt by defeating the Wildcats 75-52. More recently, Northwestern topped Minnesota on its home floor 64-53.

The winner plays second-seeded Michigan on Friday.

Game date/time: 4:30 a.m., Thursday, March 8, 2012

Location: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Ind.

TV: ESPN2

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