Busting Brackets
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Big Ten Basketball: Postseason success proves league best in college hoops

By Ryan Kay

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 17: The Michigan State Spartans pose for photos after beating the Michigan Wolverines 65-60 in the championship game of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 17, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 17: The Michigan State Spartans pose for photos after beating the Michigan Wolverines 65-60 in the championship game of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 17, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 14: Isaiah Roby #15 and Thorir Thorbjarnarson #34 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers celebrate a win over the Maryland Terrapins at the United Center on March 14, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. Nebraska defeated Maryland 69-61. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 14: Isaiah Roby #15 and Thorir Thorbjarnarson #34 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers celebrate a win over the Maryland Terrapins at the United Center on March 14, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. Nebraska defeated Maryland 69-61. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

NIT success

Even though most people are following only the NCAA Tournament, there is another notable post season college basketball tournament going on. The National Invitational Tournament commonly known as the NIT, has the Hoosiers as a participate in their post season tournament. Indiana who had a roller coaster season opened up the 1st round of the NIT with a 17 point victory. The Hoosiers next face SEC foe Arkansas in the 2nd round and look to keep their season going.

Indiana is not the only Big team in the NIT tournament, Nebraska who has had to overcome rumors of the possibility of letting go of their current coach and replacing him with a higher profile former NBA coach has not allowed outside noise to distract them. The Cornhuskers in their first round game defeated Butler to advance to the 2nd round of the tournament. Nebraska next faces Big 12 opponent TCU as they look to prolong their season with a victory over the Horned Frogs.

The Big Ten teams that did not qualify for any post season tournaments still showed through out the regular season that they were not push overs. Northwestern who finished last in the 14 team Big Ten conference still had wins over Power 5 conference opponents in Georgia Tech and Utah. Penn State who finished tied for 10th in the conference beat top 20 ranked Virginia Tech in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Rutgers won at Miami (Fl.), in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge and also beat Missouri Valley Conference Tournament champion Bradley.

Even though the teams at bottom of the Big Ten didn’t have a good year, they still were competitive in non-conference play and even won some quality games against top-tier Big Ten teams this season. However, you have to look at what the top teams of the Big Ten have done when arguing that the Big Ten is the best conference in America.

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