With the regular season winding down, let’s take a look at how each Big Ten team stacks up in the battle for NCAA Tournament entry:

Ohio State (23-7, 13-4)
The injury to Purdue forward Robbie Hummel completely shifted the Big Ten landscape. It devastates the Boilermakers and gives an opportunity to both Ohio State and Michigan State to enhance their resumes over the next two weeks. In the event that OSU, MSU and Purdue all finish tied for first in the conference (a very realistic scenario), the Buckeyes would earn the top seed in the conference tournament based on tiebreakers. A win tonight against Illinois would clinch OSU a share of the Big Ten title. Thad Matta’s crew has won nine of its last 10 games and could be looking at a No. 2 seed for the NCAA Tournament if it wins the Big Ten Tournament. Otherwise, OSU will likely fit the bill for a No. 3 seed.

Purdue (24-4, 12-4)
The loss of Hummel to a torn ACL last week sucked the life out of West Lafayette after plenty of buzz about the Boilermakers’ realistic Final Four aspirations. Now, with perhaps their most valuable player sidelined for the rest of the year, Purdue will be saying, “What could have been.” The Boilermakers nearly blew a sizeable lead against Minnesota when Hummel went down. Unless they somehow capture the Big Ten Tournament title, his injury probably cost the team a No. 1 seed. Still, a No. 2 or No. 3 seed seems likely as long as Purdue doesn’t bow out too early in the conference tournament. Purdue can still win the regular season title if Ohio State falters against Illinois and the Boilermakers win their remaining two games.

Michigan State (22-7, 12-4)
The Spartans took advantage of Hummel’s absence in Sunday’s victory at Purdue. The NCAA Tournament Committee takes into account recent play and that victory certainly helps Tom Izzo’s squad, which had lost four of its last six games entering the matchup with the Boilermakers. Michigan State reached the National Championship Game a year ago as a No. 2 seed. A conquest through the Big Ten Tournament could result in another deuce for Sparty. Otherwise, a No. 3 seed appears probable.

Wisconsin (21-7, 11-5)
The quiet team that nobody talks about, Wisconsin has the same number of losses as both Ohio State and Michigan State. Just like those teams, the Badgers were forced to play a stretch of their schedule without a crucial player, forward Jon Leuer. The Badgers split their two meetings with all three Big Ten teams ranked ahead of them, making Wisconsin a dangerous sleeper in the conference tournament. A series of victories in Indianapolis could vault the Badgers from a likely No. 5 seed to a No. 3 slot.

Illinois (18-11, 10-6)
Illinois missed a critical opportunity to move a step closer to locking up an NCAA Tournament bid with a 62-60 loss to Minnesota on Saturday. Bruce Weber’s crew probably needs two more victories, whether they come against OSU or Wisconsin or in the Big Ten tournament.

Minnesota (17-11, 8-8)
The Gophers really needed to pull out last Wednesday’s game against Purdue, but even without Hummel’s services, the Boilermakers eked out a victory, delivering a crushing blow to Minnesota’s postseason hopes. Sunday’s victory at Illinois certainly helped Minnesota’s case and wins at Michigan and against Iowa this week would give the Gophers a more realistic shot at an at-large bid. A win or two in the Big Ten Tournament wouldn’t hurt either.