Bracketology 2023: Analyzing each Big Ten teams chances at NCAA Tournament

The NCAA Tournament will begin in less than two weeks, which means the numbers of days of regular season play is rapidly decreasing. A number of conference tournaments have already begun, and we’ll find out the names of the 68 teams in the Big Dance on Selection Sunday not too long from now. There will always be surprises in the mid-major conference tournaments and other teams that really stand out when the games matter most, but we’re focusing on a bigger league today.

The Big Ten often gets a slew of teams into the NCAA Tournament, but it’s also got a cloud hanging over its head. Despite numerous bids each year, the conference has not had a team win the national championship since 2000. Six different Big Ten teams have lost the national championship game in the last 22 years but none have them have cut down those nets. Last season, nine Big Ten teams made the NCAA Tournament but only two made the second weekend and none advanced beyond the Sweet Sixteen, with three of them upset by double-digit seeds.

Today, we’ll be taking a look at all 14 teams in the Big Ten and establishing where they stand in regards to making the NCAA Tournament. Obviously, not all 14 teams will make the Big Dance, and we won’t be talking about Minnesota and Ohio State, who are both below .500 and have struggled for the most part during conference play. Everyone else has at least 8 conference wins and has at least some sort of shot at the Big Dance, while other teams have certainly locked up their bids already. We’re diving the remaining teams into tiers, and we’ll start with the teams on the outside of the bubble who might still have a chance.