As the NCAA Tournament kicks off, this year once again proved that the Big Ten has some changes that need to be made. Primarily because they play the Big Ten Tournament Championship on Selection Sunday. As has been the case for years, the winner of that tournament has more often than not found itself in a less-than-desirable draw for March Madness.
That was again the case this year, as the Michigan Wolverines made a run of three wins in three days against some of the best teams in the Big Ten. Only to find themselves at a lower seed than the teams they beat. It only further proved that the conference needs a change.
Good night, #B1GMBBT fans
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— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) March 16, 2025
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It’s Time to Change When the Big Ten Tournament is Played
It isn’t that much of an ask, really when it comes down to it. Heck even just one day early might make all the difference. The Wolverines aren’t the only team this has ever bitten. More often than not winning the Big Ten tournament doesn’t help a deep run in March Madness.
That might be a bigger league problem than anything. But in this case, Michigan got a five-seed after winning the Big Ten tournament and beating Purdue, Maryland, and Wisconsin. Each of those teams ended up with a better seed. The Badgers got a three-seed, and the Terrapins and Boilermakers each were selected as four-seeds.
It’s time to 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦
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— Big Ten Men’s Basketball (@B1GMBBall) March 16, 2025
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I’m not saying they are better off, but it does continue to prove that the Big Ten Tournament means nothing at this point. Whether you win it or not, Big Ten teams have been getting a rough draw so to say ever. Maybe that’s why the league has won it all since Michigan State did in 2000.
Selection Committee Defends Placement of Big Ten Teams
The NCAA selection committee certainly made it seem that the Big Ten team’s placements were already set in stone before Sunday’s final, which has been the case in my opinion for years. The chairman of the selection committee Bubba Cunningham , was asked by CBS Sports Matt Norlander about the way the bracket shook out for the Big Ten. He stood by the reason that they had plans for both Wisconsin and Michigan depending on who had won Sunday’s game.
“No, that’s always the last tournament that completes. We had contingency brackets based on Wisconsin winning or based on Michigan winning, and they did get scrubbed up assuming they had won in the contingency bracket that we had reviewed. That game was important… And it was considered by the entire committee.” Cunningham said.
Whatever you say. If it truly matters, I think Michigan would’ve been closer to a four-seed than a five, not to mention the Badgers wouldn’t have been two seeds higher, given the Wolverines beat them in both meetings this season.
History of Winning Conference Tourney and Losing Early in NCAA’s
Is Michigan going to make a deep run? They could, but just because they won the Big Ten Tournament doesn’t guarantee a thing. If you look back over the years, winning this conference’s league tournament hasn’t resulted in very many trips deep into the tournament.
Since 1999, only seven Big Ten Tournament champions have reached the Final Four. The trend is even worse since the 2021 tournament. Last season’s Big Ten Tournament champions Illinois was the team that has gotten the furthest as they reached the Elite Eight, in the last five seasons now.
Can Michigan break that trend? It’s going to be hard. One thing is for sure: the lack of success after winning a Big Ten Tournament is less than ideal. Look how much hope the 2016 Michigan State team had coming off winning this tournament just to lose to 15-seeded Middle Tennessee. Or even in 2023 when FDU took down No. 1 seeded Purdue in the first round.
It’s clear that the Big Ten needs to change up when the Big Ten Tournament finishes. Maybe then the league will get some respect from the committee. We shouldn’t been going on 26 years since winning the National Title. This conference deserves better.
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