Ok it is like way premature for this kind of post, but i'm high on moms thanksgiving dinner and seeing the good ol' crystal ball.
Assumptions:
Big Ten has highest or second highest RPI.
At least one of NU's non-conference opponents makes the NIT or better.
We say 20 wins and NU is in.
10-1,9-9,1-1
Or
11-0,9-9,0-1
Or
11-0,8-10,1-1
Or
...
I don't think it matters how nu gets there but 20 is the target ladies and gents. Now I know 20 wins got us to the NIT last year, but the combo of 68 teams invited to the big dance and an improved big ten will be enough to make the difference this year.