Seriously. In a normal year, with fans, I think the conference tournament is one of the most underrated parts of the season, and I actually get a little annoyed with older fans talking about how they hate how it was added.
FOTN, my wonderful younger brother: speaking as one of those older fans who cherished the 18-game round robin for ~20-25 seasons from the time I could watch Big Ten hoops as a little kid until the BTT started in '98(?), I'll defend the cranky elderly here before I yell at you to get off my lawn and then shuffle back to my Barcalounger to watch Lawrence Welk reruns .
Back in the day, many of us really loved that 18-game grind and what it took to become league champion. Those games in February and early March were do-or-die b/c there was no reprieve to get into the tourney (even when it expanded to 64 teams in the mid-'80s.) It really took consistency and tenacity to emerge at or near the top of the conference in early March.
As for the BTT, we've all seen seasons when, e.g., our Illini have ground it out with (say) Wisconsin, taking the league title, and then go to the BTT and lose (to Wisconsin) in the final. And vice versa. So what does the tourney really mean? Nothing to the team that actually won the regular season title, or really the top five in the league. They're perhaps at best trying to move up a seed in the NCAA tourney. Lots, to those who blew the midterms during the semester and are gunning for an A on the final in order to get to The Dance.
Yes, it can be exciting. I still recall fondly that second BTT in '99 when we absolutely blew chunks during the league season and yet had that marvelous run to the tournament title game until we ran out of gas at halftime against MSU. Wonderful sign of the promise that would materialize the following couple years. But really, I still find it superfluous.
But... call me a hypocrite. When I was at UIUC I really enjoyed watching the ACC tourney in March at the bars. I found it exciting, 'cause I hadn't really been exposed to it in high school. However, I've never been able to muster a great deal of love for the BTT. Frankly, I can't get interested in a single postseason tournament in any conference.
One man's opinion. I suspect I have company among my Geritol-chugging peers. Now please bring me my pipe, slippers, and a warm glass of milk. I need a nap before the Wisconsin game.