Talk in the Big Ten has turned to the postseason. And with three-quarters of the conference slate complete, Big Ten coaches still have several questions.

Who will capture the league title? How many teams will earn bids to the NCAA tournament?

“I think the league is wide open,” Iowa coach Steve Alford said. “I think one through 11, this is going to be the most parody and the most exciting Big Ten tournament to date.”

Six teams in the conference currently tout records at or above .500.

Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan State are the only teams in the league ranked in the top 50 this week in the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI), which NCAA officials use to evaluate teams for seeding and selection to the NCAA Tournament.

Throughout much of the season, critics have called the Big Ten weak and undeserving of more than three or four NCAA berths, despite the fact the conference has secured five or more in 19 consecutive seasons.

But Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said those claims are inaccurate and unwarranted.

“I get tired of the Big Ten getting abused,” Izzo said. “When you look at some of the other conferences, a lot of people are losing games in those conferences, too.

“The (Atlantic Coast Conference) is the best league right now, but after that I think we can play anybody as far as the conferences go.”

The Big Ten, however, ranks seventh in the RPI’s league power rankings behind the ACC, Southeastern Conference, Big East, Big 12, Pac-10 and Mountain West.