The Northwestern Wildcats may not have played the season they hoped for, ending the year 18-12 and 8-10 in Big Ten play, but they still have a chance to finish it like they wanted. With the Big Ten Basketball Tournament starting this Thursday in Indianapolis, the Wildcats have a chance, according to Chris Dobbertean of SB Nation College Basketball, to catch a spot in the upcoming NCAA championship tournament:
Northwestern (18-12, 8-10 Big Ten, RPI: 48, SOS: 14, non-conf. SOS: 8)
To remove all doubt, Northwestern will need to impress in Indianapolis -- first against Minnesota on Thursday. Win that and another shot at the Wolverines would await in Friday's quarterfinals.
Dobbertean names the Wildcats as one of the last four in teams, meaning they are truly teetering on the bracket's fence, capable of falling in or out based on their performance in the Big Ten tournament.
The Wildcats start the tourney at 4:30 p.m. CST on Thursday, facing the Minnesota Golden Gophers (18-13, 6-12)
For updates on Chicago-related March Madness, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago or drop by the Northwestern blog Sippin' On Purple. For more news and notes from around the country, visit SB Nation's men's basketball news hub or the bracketology blog Blogging the Bracket.