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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ANN ARBOR, MI – NOVEMBER 28: Cameron Johnson #13 of the North Carolina Tar Heels defends as Charles Matthews #1 of the Michigan Wolverines shoots the ball during the first half of the game at Crisler Center on November 28, 2018 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI – NOVEMBER 28: Cameron Johnson #13 of the North Carolina Tar Heels defends as Charles Matthews #1 of the Michigan Wolverines shoots the ball during the first half of the game at Crisler Center on November 28, 2018 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

Comparison to the ACC

Michigan State won a share of the Big Ten title and claimed the Big Ten Tournament title. They in the eyes of the NCAA Tournament was not awarded a #1 seed even though others argued Deserved #1 Seed other wise. The ACC had three of their teams awarded #1 seeds in Virginia, Duke, and North Carolina. However, in the annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge which ended in a tie at seven wins a piece, the ACC did not show at that time that they were deserving of three #1 seeds in comparison to the Big Ten receiving none.

Besides victories from Duke, Boston College, and Syracuse, the other four ACC victories were by 1, 5, 4, and 2 points. The Big Ten from top to bottom, played better overall than the ACC in the annual challenge. Michigan for example beat North Carolina by 17 points. Nebraska and Rutgers went on the road and beat Clemson and Miami (FL.) respectively.  The argument is not that the Big Ten is vastly superior than the ACC, it is that when ranking conferences, the Big Ten should be considered #1 and the ACC is #2.

As the Big Ten has flourished in the NCAA Tournament, the ACC has been up and down. Duke, Virginia, and North Carolina won as #1 seeds but that is expected when playing #16 seeds. Louisville lost to a lower seed by 10, Syracuse lost by 9, and Florida State as a #4 seed struggled against #13 seed Vermont before winning by 7. Once again, the argument is not that the ACC is inferior to the Big Ten, it is that the overall regular season resumes and post season results are not on par with the Big Ten.

Unlike college football, college basketball has a larger sample size as teams play more non-conference games against quality opponents and more teams are allowed to participate in post season play. Even though, there are no real benefits for being ranked and or considered the #1 conference in college basketball, clearly the NCAA Tournament committee heavily favored the ACC over the Big Ten by awarding three ACC teams #1 seeds and the Big Ten none.

Next. Non-tournament teams building on recruiting trail. dark

The hope is that the Big Ten teams will continue to have success in the NCAA Tournament and prove that they deserved more respect and that in the future will be awarded more favorable seeding for next year’s NCAA Tournament.

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