Big Ten tournament shocker unlikely
March 11, 2010 7:33 AM
The Big Ten tournament had its share of surprises in the event's first 12 years.
Illinois reached the title game as a No. 11 seed in 1999 and a No. 10 in 2008, needing a win to advance to any kind of postseason. In 2001, Iowa became the first team to win the championship after starting the tournament run on Thursday. Indiana, still a traditional conference power when the tournament began at the United Center in Chicago in 1998, is one of four teams -- Northwestern, Penn State and Minnesota are the others -- without a conference tournament title.
The top four seeds are so superior, it's hard to bet against the chalk in this year's edition that begins Thursday at Conseco Fieldhouse and crowns a champion Sunday just minutes before the NCAA tournament field is announced. With such strong favorites to battle in the semifinals, let's take another look at the top four teams.
Supinie
Illinois reached the title game as a No. 11 seed in 1999 and a No. 10 in 2008, needing a win to advance to any kind of postseason. In 2001, Iowa became the first team to win the championship after starting the tournament run on Thursday. Indiana, still a traditional conference power when the tournament began at the United Center in Chicago in 1998, is one of four teams -- Northwestern, Penn State and Minnesota are the others -- without a conference tournament title.
The top four seeds are so superior, it's hard to bet against the chalk in this year's edition that begins Thursday at Conseco Fieldhouse and crowns a champion Sunday just minutes before the NCAA tournament field is announced. With such strong favorites to battle in the semifinals, let's take another look at the top four teams.
Supinie
Filed under: Illini Basketball
