2. Big Ten
The Big Ten is one of the most competitive and intense conference tournaments in basketball. Not to mention the fact that it is played at the place where Michael Jordan used to play home games for the Chicago Bulls. The outstanding athletes in the Big Ten come together once a year to compete in this awesome tournament, where the fans are loud, the play is competitive for the most part, and rivalries are abundant.
The Big Ten is home to some of the most iconic coaches in college basketball. Whether it is Tom Izzo from Michigan State, Tom Crean from Indiana, or John Beilein for Michigan, these coaches always get there teams ready to go when tournament time comes around. This is also part of the reason the games are always so competitive. Even when teams like the Michigan Wolverines aren’t having the best year, they still always compete with a ranked opponent.
Years of this competitive play has sparked rivalry after rivalry to emerge. One of the most classic of these heated battles is the Michigan-Michigan State match up. The two teams are only 60 miles from one another, but when the Wolverines and the Spartans head to Chicago during the conference tournament there is no home court advantage. Just two teams colliding with one another for forty minutes.
Perhaps even a more storied rivalry is when Michigan faces off against the Ohio State Buckeyes. The teams have played each other 157 times over the years, and the win differential between the two is surprisingly small.
Additionally, these two teams are continually power houses in the Big 10. So when they play each other in conference play, it typically involves a high amount of stakes. Even though both of these teams are having disappointing seasons, it does not subtract from the emotional contest if they step of the court against one another when next weekend comes along.
Another interesting thing about the Big Ten tournament is that it always allows for an upset to take place.
The conference frequently has ranked teams who have their eyes set on a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament. This year three teams are ranked in the top 25: Maryland, Wisconsin, and Ohio State. None of which will be able to stroll past any team in the Big Ten tournament. Upsets are as common as a team is to be nationally ranked in the Big Ten. This year, look for teams such as Michigan or Illinois to hit their stride late and come out on top in the tournament.
Excitability is at an all-time high this year in the Big Ten. Wisconsin is looking to hold on to that #6 ranking and maybe snag a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament. While teams like Northwestern (15-16), Indiana (19-12), Purdue (20-11), and Iowa (21-10) are looking to be the next Cinderella story and gain some momentum moving forward in March. Whatever the case may be for each team the hype will be at maximum capacity come March 12th.
Next: 1. ACC