In the Agora: March Gladness

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March 28, 2005

March Gladness

March has been a tough month for Hoosiers like myself who have had to suffer through yet another year of no NCAA tournament play. In a state where basketball is the second religion, the question is not whether Indiana University will make the Big Dance, but how far it will go. Not so under Mike Davis.

Luckily this month has provided one source of satisfaction. The sports pundit establishment criticized the Big Ten as having an "off year," but the conference's tournament performance has forced most to eat their words. Two of the final four teams in the tourney are from the Big Ten. Only the Big Ten placed three teams among the final eight, and the Big Ten easily boasts the top winning percentage and most wins in the tournament. I'm sure Dick Vitale is squealing in sadness.

Does this mean the Big Ten is the nation's strongest conference? Not necessarily. But it does mean the constant derision was likely unjustified. Oh yeah, and Duke sucks.

Update: One of the Big Ten's most common critics is Michael Wilbon and he'll be taking questions in a "live" chat on the Washington Post webpage here at 1:15pm ET.

Posted by Joshua Claybourn at March 28, 2005 12:02 AM

Comments

I thought you'd get some satisfaction from this as well.

Posted by: Balta at March 28, 2005 12:39 AM | permalink

My Tarheels will go through three Big Ten teams to win the national championship (Well, that is if Illinois doesn't choke vs. Louisville). Watch.

Posted by: Expertise at March 28, 2005 02:50 AM | permalink

The Great Eight broke down by conference as always:
ACC - 1
Big East - 1
Conf USA - 1
Pac 10 - 1
SEC - 1
Big 10 - 3

I think all Hoosiers, left and right alike, can agree. Duke sucks. (I'm still angry from that '92 semifinal game with referee Ted Valentine whistling Duke to victory.)

Posted by: Doug at March 28, 2005 07:16 AM | permalink

Err not sure where that "as always" came from. Typo.

Posted by: Doug at March 28, 2005 07:17 AM | permalink

The good thing for me was that Duke was knocked out by Michigan State, so I still have a team to cheer for.

Posted by: Ed Brayton at March 28, 2005 09:44 AM | permalink

Poor Duke, just 3 years ago, they were a number one seed and got knocked out by Indiana. Hopefully next time the NCAA will arrange for Coach K to have a bracket that doesn't require them to go through a top 5 seed Big 10 team.

Posted by: Doug at March 28, 2005 11:05 AM | permalink