OK, it's tournament time!

As mentioned in a previous thread, the Big Ten sent a record for them nine teams to the Big Dance (the conference record is 11 by the Big East in 2011). Two Big Ten teams (Illinois and Michigan) received #1 seeds and two more (Ohio State and Iowa) received #2 seeds. That means four of the top eight (actually top seven) teams in the country are Big Ten teams. That's not counting Purdue who is a #4 seed.

Is this the year the Big Ten wins the National Championship? Maryland is the last Big Ten member to win a title (2002) although they were an ACC member at the time. The last Big Ten member to win a national championship was Michigan State in 2000. Since Michigan State last won the championship, Indiana (2002), Illinois (2005), Ohio State (2007), Michigan State (2009), Michigan (2013 and 2018) and Wisconsin (2015) all played in the championship game only to lose. I think the Big Ten has been snake bit. Even when the Big Ten gets a #1 seed in the championship game (Illinois 2005, Ohio State 2007, Wisconsin 2015), they wind up vs. another #1 seed. Michigan is not a #1 and makes the championship vs. a #1 Villanova, Michigan's probably not going to win. Why couldn't Wisconsin in 2015 have played a #2 or #3 in the final?

So in the Big Ten, March should be all about basketball. No football talk! OK, if you're Penn State, you can talk about football. If you're Nebraska or Northwestern, you definitely can talk about football! If you're Ohio State, no! If you're Michigan, come on, why would you want to talk about football? Illinois? Don't worry. We won't be talking about football about August. In fact, if this NCAA Tournament run goes well, we won't be talking about football in September, October, or November either:)

I am straining to recall a year more wide open. It seems as though it's anyone's tourney to win.

(03-15-2021 11:20 AM)wetsu Wrote:  I am straining to recall a year more wide open. It seems as though it's anyone's tourney to win.

Not sure if I have ever been more excited about the NCAA tournament!?!?!

Rutgers makes the big dance.

Could have made it 2 years in a row if not for COVID last year.

(03-15-2021 02:15 PM)panite Wrote:  Rutgers makes the big dance.

Could have made it 2 years in a row if not for COVID last year.

Congratulations my friend!

I really hope this is Illinois' year.


Still bitter about the 5 on 8 2005 Natty vs the Tar Cheats

Here's an article from way back comparing the two greatest Illinois teams, the 1989 team and the 2005 team. Let's hope this year's team can join those two as Final Four teams!

https://www.news-gazette.com/sports/illi...D-zc4PIpGE

Oof... Buckeyes downed in OT by #15 Oral Roberts...

(03-19-2021 04:29 PM)BobcatEngineer Wrote:  Oof... Buckeyes downed in OT by #15 Oral Roberts...

I'll take the high road...
Best of luck to the Bobcats tomorrow.

Big Ten having a poor tournament.

RU with a minor upset. Our first NCAA appearance in 30 years and first win in 38.

After a bad Day 1, 3-0 on Day 2 and 6 teams in the Round of 32. Not the 6 we wanted and 3 teams that will be decided underdogs in the 2nd round (Wisconsin, Rutgers, and Maryland). Hopefully the Big 3 will keep it going and the one or more of the underdogs will shock the world, especially Wisconsin because who likes Baylor?

Something to watch out for future tournaments: Conference USA. Their champion has won a game in five of the last six NCAA Tournaments, three of them at the Big Ten's expense!

2015 UAB (#14)
2016 Middle Tennessee (#15), beat Michigan State
2017 Middle Tennessee (#12), beat Minnesota
2018 Marshall (#13)
2021 North Texas (#13), beat Purdue

Interestingly the one C-USA champ who didn't win was 2019 Old Dominion who was beaten by Purdue.

If you don't take C-USA teams seriously, they'll beat you. Five wins in six years for a mid major is spectacular.

(03-20-2021 08:57 PM)schmolik Wrote:  After a bad Day 1, 3-0 on Day 2 and 6 teams in the Round of 32. Not the 6 we wanted and 3 teams that will be decided underdogs in the 2nd round (Wisconsin, Rutgers, and Maryland). Hopefully the Big 3 will keep it going and the one or more of the underdogs will shock the world, especially Wisconsin because who likes Baylor?

Who says we're cheering for fellow Big Ten schools?

I really thought this was going to be the Big Ten’s year...I was terribly wrong

(03-21-2021 04:39 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  I really thought this was going to be the Big Ten’s year...I was terribly wrong

At least Ohio State has football to fall back on. Illinois? Life sucks for us right now. And we're probably losing Dosunmu and Cockburn to the NBA.

Congrats to Michigan! The Big Ten is finally in the Sweet 16!

Hey, it only takes one to win it all. All those people laughing and insulting the Big Ten won't be anymore if Michigan wins the national championship.

Can anyone explain to me what USC was doing with their zone defense concept last night? It appeared to have elements of a Box-and-One and Matchup Zone. I know that they have length and Mobley brothers neutralized the paint, but the guards seemed to be the ones charging the wings and then collapsing back to the middle when the ball reversed, at times it looked like a bastardized 3-2. It was completely disruptive.

One win away from Michigan going back to the Final Four!

The Daily Illini's (University of Illinois student newspaper) perspective on why Big Ten schools can't win national championships:

https://dailyillini.com/sports/2021/03/2...over-hump/