The 2023 season marked yet another in which the Big Ten came up lame in March. Last season, the conference sent eight teams (tying the SEC for most bids) but only earned six combined wins in the NCAA Tournament. Purdue became just the second No. 1 seed to lose in the first round. Only Michigan State reached the Sweet 16 as the Big Ten failed to send any school to the Elite Eight.
The Big Ten has failed to send a team to the Final Four since 2019 (Michigan State). But that is not the worst of it as it translates to success in March. The last time a Big Ten team won the National Championship was in 2000 with, you guessed it, Michigan State. There are many theories and legitimate discussion points for why the conference has not gotten it done in the NCAA Tournament including styles of play and the conference’s physical play being officiated differently in March.
Perhaps Purdue (+220) will earn redemption for the conference and for itself after being knocked out of last year's tournament by 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson. National Player of the Year Zach Edey is back and attempting to become the first repeat National Player of the Year since Ralph Sampson in 1982-1983. The Boilermakers also welcome back all five starters from a team that swept the regular season and conference tournament titles.
Michigan State (+260) returns five of its top six scorers and adds a top-five national recruiting class with two McDonald's All-Americans.