Helena Frye
The Big Ten men's basketball conference is considered tough due to its talented teams and competitive nature. In the 2019-20 season, 12 of the 14 teams in the Big Ten ranked in the top 50 of NET rankings, with seven in the top 30. The conference has historically produced strong basketball teams, with Michigan State, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, and Ohio State being notable contenders. The level of competition within the conference is high, and even the best teams can struggle on the road. The Big Ten has also experienced a notable drought in the NCAA Tournament, with no conference member winning a championship since 2000. Despite this, the Big Ten continues to field competitive teams year after year, showcasing the depth and talent within the conference.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Publication | March 26, 2025 |
| Topic | Big Ten's 25-year absence from the men's basketball mountaintop |
| Details | Michigan Wolverines won the 2025 Big Ten tournament for its third-ever title; Michigan State has won the most titles, with six |
| Quotes | "I think this will be the single hardest league season that I'll go through as a player and/or as a coach to this point in my life" - Mark Turgeon, head coach of No. 17 Maryland men's basketball |
| "The Big Ten has had some unfortunate matchups, Purdue being the latest of that" - Fox/NBC college basketball analyst Robbie Hummel |
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What You'll Learn
The Big Ten's 25-year absence from the men's basketball mountaintop
The Big Ten Conference is one of the oldest in the nation, predating the NCAA by a decade and being one of the first collegiate conferences to sponsor men's basketball. However, it has been 25 years since a Big Ten member celebrated a championship win. The last time was in 2000 when Michigan State took the crown.
Since then, there have been several near misses and unfortunate matchups. In 2015, Wisconsin, considered one of the best Big Ten teams in the last 25 years, lost to Duke despite having a 9-point lead with 13 minutes remaining. Purdue has also come close in recent years, losing to UConn in 2025 and facing tough matchups against other powerhouse teams.
Bad luck has also played a part, with key player injuries derailing potential championship runs. Purdue in 2010, for example, lost All-American Robbie Hummel to an ACL tear, ending their legitimate title contention.
From 2021 to 2023, 26 Big Ten teams competed in the NCAA Tournament, but only one advanced to the Elite Eight, and a mere four reached the Sweet 16. This underperformance in the tournament has contributed to the 25-year drought.
Despite the long absence from the mountaintop, the Big Ten has a rich history in men's basketball and has produced many successful teams and players over the years. The conference has also attracted significant media attention and lucrative broadcasting rights deals, with major networks vying for coverage of its games.
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Michigan State's six titles
Michigan State has won six Big Ten tournament titles in men's basketball (1999, 2000, 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2019). The Spartans have a rich history in the sport, with their first Big Ten title coming in 1979, followed by another in 1980.
The 1979 championship was particularly notable as it also marked the school's first NCAA National Championship. Led by Magic Johnson, the Spartans had an impressive run, but their success was short-lived. Johnson left for the NBA, and the team struggled in the following years, finishing 9th in the Big Ten the next season. However, MSU showed their resilience by returning to postseason play in 1983 and qualifying for the NCAA tournament in 1985, this time led by the future MSU all-time scoring leader, Scott Skiles.
The Spartans continued to experience highs and lows over the years, with notable mentions including their 21 consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament, a record broken in 2013. In 2000, Michigan State won the National Championship, marking their second victory and the only championship to date for coach Tom Izzo. The Spartans also secured the Big Ten title that year, making it their fourth consecutive win.
In recent years, Michigan State has continued to add to their list of accomplishments. In 2018, they set a school record with 16 Big Ten wins and their first outright regular-season Big Ten title since 2009. They followed this up with another Big Ten tournament title in 2019. The Spartans' most recent success came in 2025 when they clinched the Big Ten Men's Basketball Championship, marking their 17th Big Ten championship and the 11th for coach Tom Izzo.
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The 2025 Big Ten tournament
The tournament schedule included the following games:
- Game 1: No. 13 Northwestern 72, No. 12 Minnesota 64
- Game 2: No. 15 Iowa 77, No. 10 Ohio State 70
- Game 3: No. 14 USC, 97, No. 11 Rutgers 89
- Game 4: No. 8 Oregon 72, No. 9 Indiana 59
- Game 5: No. 5 Wisconsin 70, No. 13 Northwestern 63
- Game 6: No. 7 Illinois 106, No. 15 Iowa 94
- Game 7: No. 6 Purdue 76, No. 14 USC 71
- Game 8: No. 1 Michigan State 74, No. 8 Oregon 64
The Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament has a long history, with Michigan State having won the most titles (six) as of 2025. However, the tournament had experienced a 25-year absence from the men's basketball mountaintop, with no member celebrating a conference-wide title since 2000. Despite producing strong teams and coming close on several occasions, the Big Ten conference had endured a string of unfortunate matchups and narrow losses, contributing to this extended drought.
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The Big Ten's tough league season
The Big Ten men's basketball league is considered one of the toughest leagues in the country. The 2019-20 season was no exception, with 12 of the 14 teams in the top 50 of NET rankings, including seven in the top 30. The league also boasted a total of 24 wins over ranked opponents, twice as many as any other conference in the US.
The season saw a highly competitive landscape, with Michigan State, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, and Ohio State combining for a 2-12 record in conference road games. Maryland, in particular, faced challenges, starting the season 0-4 in true road games. Despite their struggles, the Terps remained confident in their talent and focused on mental and physical toughness to improve their performance.
The Big Ten's strength was further highlighted by the performance of its teams in the NCAA Tournament. From 2021 to 2023, the league sent 26 teams to the tournament, with only one advancing to the Elite Eight and four reaching the Sweet 16.
The 2025 Big Ten tournament showcased the league's competitiveness, with the Michigan Wolverines claiming their third-ever title. They defeated Purdue, Maryland, and Wisconsin in a thrilling championship game, with coach Dusty May making history as the conference's first-ever first-year coach to win the tournament.
The Big Ten's reputation for toughness is well-deserved, and the league continues to produce highly competitive men's basketball teams year after year.
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Purdue's bad luck in 2019
Purdue's 2019 season was marred by a string of unfortunate events, leading many to believe that the team experienced a run of bad luck. According to KenPom, a college basketball analytics system, Purdue finished the 2019 season ranked 224th in luck, indicating that their performance was impacted by unfortunate circumstances.
One notable instance of Purdue's bad luck in 2019 was their loss to Virginia in the NCAA Tournament. Purdue guard Carsen Edwards had an impressive performance, averaging nearly 35 points in four NCAA games and scoring 42 points, including 10 3-pointers, against Virginia in the Elite Eight matchup. However, despite Edwards' stellar play, Virginia pulled off an improbable buzzer-beater off a missed free throw to force overtime and ultimately won the game, going on to become the national champions.
Another factor contributing to Purdue's perceived bad luck in 2019 was the team's performance in the Big Ten Conference. Purdue had a strong season, but they faced tough competition within their conference, which is known for producing top men's basketball teams. The Big Ten has had a string of unfortunate matchups in recent years, and Purdue's loss to UConn in the national championship game in 2019 was another example of this streak of bad luck.
Purdue fans and analysts alike have reflected on the team's run of misfortune in 2019. Some have even gone as far as to blame themselves for the team's losses, wondering if they did something differently that brought bad luck to the team. This sentiment is not uncommon in sports, where fans often look for explanations for their favourite teams' setbacks.
In conclusion, Purdue's 2019 season was characterised by a combination of strong individual performances and unfortunate circumstances. While skill and strategy play significant roles in the outcome of sporting events, luck, or the lack thereof, can also be a factor, as illustrated by Purdue's experiences in 2019.
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Frequently asked questions
The Big Ten men's basketball conference is considered tough due to the high level of competition and the depth of talent. In the 2019-20 season, 12 of the 14 teams were in the top 50 of NET rankings, with seven in the top 30. The conference also had a total of 24 wins over ranked opponents, twice as many as any other conference in the country.
Michigan State has won the most titles, with six. They last won the Big Ten tournament in 2019.
In 2015, the Wisconsin Badgers, considered one of the best Big Ten teams in recent years, lost a 9-point lead over Duke in the national title game, ultimately losing 68-63. In 2019, Purdue guard Carsen Edwards had a stellar performance in the NCAA Tournament, but his team lost to Virginia in a buzzer-beater in overtime.
From 2021 to 2023, the Big Ten sent 26 teams to the NCAA Tournament, but only one advanced to the Elite Eight, and four reached the Sweet 16.
Toughness and execution are key for teams hoping to find success in the Big Ten. The conference is known for its strong attendance and road games can be particularly challenging, with different environments and large crowds.
