May 13, 2008

Minnesota Series Notes (pdf)

University Park, Pa. - Penn State will close out its 2008 regular season this weekend as the Nittany Lions travel to Minneapolis, Minn. to take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers. All of the Big Ten series this weekend will run from Thursday through Saturday as opposed to the usual Friday-Sunday format in order to give teams moving on to the Big Ten Tournament an extra day of rest prior to the tournament beginning next Wednesday.

Speaking of the Big Ten Tournament, the Nittany Lions (24-27, 15-13 Big Ten) are one of six teams that are fighting for the remaining four spots in the six-team tournament. Michigan has already clinched the regular season championship and will host the tournament while Purdue has already clinched a berth in the tournament as well. Beyond that, only the Golden Gophers (18-33, 8-19 Big Ten) and Iowa have been mathematically eliminated from contention for a tournament berth. Although not mathematically in the tournament yet, the Nittany Lions are in good shape for a tournament berth.

Penn State will clinch a Big Ten Tournament berth in one of the following scenarios.

- Win at least three games vs. Minnesota
- Win two games vs. Minnesota AND have Michigan State lose at least one game vs. Indiana OR have Northwestern lose at least one game vs. Michigan OR have Ohio State no more than split vs. Iowa
- Win one game vs. Minnesota AND have Michigan State no more than split vs. Indiana OR have Northwestern no more than split vs. Michigan OR have Ohio State lose at least three games vs. Iowa
- Win no games vs. Minnesota AND have Michigan State no more than split vs. Indiana OR have Northwestern lose at least three games vs. Michigan OR have Ohio State lose at least three game vs. Iowa

Furthermore, Penn State can clinch third place by one of the following scenarios.

- Win four games vs. Minnesota AND have Purdue defeat Illinois at least once OR have Illinois sweep Purdue OR have Illinois and Purdue split
- Win three games vs. Minnesota AND have Illinois and Purdue split OR Purdue win three or more games AND have Ohio State lose at least one game to Iowa
- Win two games vs. Minnesota AND have Purdue win at least three games over Illinois AND have Ohio State no more than split vs Iowa AND have Northwestern lose at least once to Michigan AND have Michigan State lose at least once to Indiana
- Win one game vs. Minnesota AND have Purdue sweep Illinois AND have Ohio State lose at least three games vs. Iowa AND have Northwestern lose at least once to Michigan AND have Michigan State no more than split vs Indiana