As soon as the final seconds of the Super Bowl tick away, the mind of a sports fan immediately turns to college basketball. This sport takes center stage for the next two months, but things really start to get fun in March.
Making March Madness predictions is one of the most enjoyable things to do during the NCAA Tournament and all eyes should be on the Big Ten Conference this season. The Big Ten will likely get at least nine teams into the NCAA Tournament, and one of those teams is going all the way.
It’s amazing to think that the Big Ten has not had a national champion since the 1999-2000 season when Tom Izzo and the Michigan State Spartans cut down the nets. There have been plenty of Big Ten teams in the Final Four since that time, but none have been good enough to go all the way.
There have been a number of close calls for the Big Ten Conference, and some bad luck has also played a role. Teams in this conference sometimes miss out on getting the most elite players in the country, but there are still plenty of talented teams.
This long drought has to end at some point for the Big Ten Conference, and it just feels like that time will be now. There are going to be many teams from this league in the NCAA Tournament and that will give them plenty of opportunities to get the job done.
There are some other specific reasons that a team from the Big Ten Conference is going to win the title this season.
Finally Some Offensive Teams
The Big Ten Conference is typically known for its lockdown defense and physical play, but that isn’t necessarily the case this season. Teams from the Big Ten Conference are now capable of putting up some points as well, and that will matter in the month of March.
Even if the Big Ten teams still don’t have the elite talent of some other leagues, there are enough players that can go out and get some buckets when needed.
No Dominant Teams
One of the biggest reasons that this will be the year for the Big Ten Conference is that there are no really dominant teams throughout the country. This is pretty unique as there is usually at least one or two teams that seem to stand out above the rest.
Teams from the Big Ten Conference have spent some time in the top-10 this season, and no team has gone undefeated during the regular season. There are still some great teams outside of the Big Ten, but there aren’t any teams that are unbeatable.
League Loaded With Veterans
Experience matters in the NCAA Tournament and some of these Big Ten teams are absolutely loaded with veterans this season. The NCAA allowed players to return for an extra season due to COVID, and several Big Ten players took advantage.
Having the most experienced teams doesn’t always mean that a deep run in March is coming, but it can certainly help along the way. Some of these Big Ten teams have been through a deep run in the past, and that should help them navigate a difficult journey in March Madness.
Trio of Title Contenders
We have discussed some of the top attributes of the best teams from the Big Ten Conference, but the reality is that just three teams have a chance at winning the title. The teams with the best chance at cutting down the nets are Illinois, Iowa, and Purdue.
Illinois has the best big man in the country in Kofi Cockburn and he has been an unstoppable force all season long. Guard play usually dominates in the NCAA Tournament, but Illinois can get plenty of points in the paint.
Iowa and Purdue are just loaded with offensive talent, and that is going to make them a tough team to beat. A bad shooting night could ultimately derail their chances, but both teams are able to get some scoring on the inside as well.