Big Ten Down this year

[StickPurdue]

I got into a discussion with a buddy of mine that happens to be an IU fan. He essentially gave me the 'ol the Big Ten is Down and the whole league is down as a whole. Meaning the only reason Purdue is a 5 is because everybody else is bad.

I first addressed the Big Ten as being a down year. Northwestern and Minnesota have been a dissapointment. Minnesota has been battling injuries and a starter that is facing expulsion. Maryland is down (due to injuries) and Wisconsin is down. My counter argument was that the Big Ten has two top 5 teams and two more teams that will end up in the top 25 (Michigan and OSU). Also, Nebraska is right there as a bubble team. It's hard to argue a conference isn't any good when they have two top 5 and 2 more recieving top 25 votes. Not to mention, they likely have 5 tournament teams. I think when you compare it to past seasons, it may have fewer top teams, but I would hardly say it's a bad conference. Certainly would put them ahead of the SEC and Pac12. ACC and Big East seem to be the better conferences as far as depth goes, but that isn't unusual. I would say Big Ten is smack dab in the middle of the P5 conferences.

The Big has certainly had stars with a lot more top level teams, but Purdue can't help that. They can only beat who they play and even on a down year this is a tough conference. Winning the Big Ten is never easy and Purdue got a very tough conference schedule.

As for the rest of the league, the usual top teams aren't there, but that doesn't mean they aren't any good. Talent is just spread out because more teams have been recruiting the top players instead of them all going to Duke, Kansas, and Kansas. Virginia, WVU, MSU, and Villanova are all playing very well right now. Regardless of how "good" the NCAA is as a whole, being a top 5 team is very impressive. IU fans have such a strange complex with Purdue is good and this Purdue team is a very complete team. Winning a championship is always about being the best team, it's about getting hit at the right time and having a little luck. Otherwise teams like George Mason and Butler wouldn't make the noise they did.

Final comment is that although it's nice to be a top 5 team, the ranking means nothing to me in January. I want to see where we are ranked in March and I really want to see this be the year Purdue makes some noise and plays for a national championship. I am not sure what IU fans would do with themselves if they didn't have the "you have no banners argument". 30 years ago. In a few years, those banners will all be old enough to run for president.

 

[Boilersss]

I got into a discussion with a buddy of mine that happens to be an IU fan. He essentially gave me the 'ol the Big Ten is Down and the whole league is down as a whole. Meaning the only reason Purdue is a 5 is because everybody else is bad.

I first addressed the Big Ten as being a down year. Northwestern and Minnesota have been a dissapointment. Minnesota has been battling injuries and a starter that is facing expulsion. Maryland is down (due to injuries) and Wisconsin is down. My counter argument was that the Big Ten has two top 5 teams and two more teams that will end up in the top 25 (Michigan and OSU). Also, Nebraska is right there as a bubble team. It's hard to argue a conference isn't any good when they have two top 5 and 2 more recieving top 25 votes. Not to mention, they likely have 5 tournament teams. I think when you compare it to past seasons, it may have fewer top teams, but I would hardly say it's a bad conference. Certainly would put them ahead of the SEC and Pac12. ACC and Big East seem to be the better conferences as far as depth goes, but that isn't unusual. I would say Big Ten is smack dab in the middle of the P5 conferences.

The Big has certainly had stars with a lot more top level teams, but Purdue can't help that. They can only beat who they play and even on a down year this is a tough conference. Winning the Big Ten is never easy and Purdue got a very tough conference schedule.

As for the rest of the league, the usual top teams aren't there, but that doesn't mean they aren't any good. Talent is just spread out because more teams have been recruiting the top players instead of them all going to Duke, Kansas, and Kansas. Virginia, WVU, MSU, and Villanova are all playing very well right now. Regardless of how "good" the NCAA is as a whole, being a top 5 team is very impressive. IU fans have such a strange complex with Purdue is good and this Purdue team is a very complete team. Winning a championship is always about being the best team, it's about getting hit at the right time and having a little luck. Otherwise teams like George Mason and Butler wouldn't make the noise they did.

Final comment is that although it's nice to be a top 5 team, the ranking means nothing to me in January. I want to see where we are ranked in March and I really want to see this be the year Purdue makes some noise and plays for a national championship. I am not sure what IU fans would do with themselves if they didn't have the "you have no banners argument". 30 years ago. In a few years, those banners will all be old enough to run for president.

The Big 12 is better than the Big Ten this year as well.

 

[BoiledSteel]

I got into a discussion with a buddy of mine that happens to be an IU fan. He essentially gave me the 'ol the Big Ten is Down and the whole league is down as a whole. Meaning the only reason Purdue is a 5 is because everybody else is bad.

I first addressed the Big Ten as being a down year. Northwestern and Minnesota have been a dissapointment. Minnesota has been battling injuries and a starter that is facing expulsion. Maryland is down (due to injuries) and Wisconsin is down. My counter argument was that the Big Ten has two top 5 teams and two more teams that will end up in the top 25 (Michigan and OSU). Also, Nebraska is right there as a bubble team. It's hard to argue a conference isn't any good when they have two top 5 and 2 more recieving top 25 votes. Not to mention, they likely have 5 tournament teams. I think when you compare it to past seasons, it may have fewer top teams, but I would hardly say it's a bad conference. Certainly would put them ahead of the SEC and Pac12. ACC and Big East seem to be the better conferences as far as depth goes, but that isn't unusual. I would say Big Ten is smack dab in the middle of the P5 conferences.

The Big has certainly had stars with a lot more top level teams, but Purdue can't help that. They can only beat who they play and even on a down year this is a tough conference. Winning the Big Ten is never easy and Purdue got a very tough conference schedule.

As for the rest of the league, the usual top teams aren't there, but that doesn't mean they aren't any good. Talent is just spread out because more teams have been recruiting the top players instead of them all going to Duke, Kansas, and Kansas. Virginia, WVU, MSU, and Villanova are all playing very well right now. Regardless of how "good" the NCAA is as a whole, being a top 5 team is very impressive. IU fans have such a strange complex with Purdue is good and this Purdue team is a very complete team. Winning a championship is always about being the best team, it's about getting hit at the right time and having a little luck. Otherwise teams like George Mason and Butler wouldn't make the noise they did.

Final comment is that although it's nice to be a top 5 team, the ranking means nothing to me in January. I want to see where we are ranked in March and I really want to see this be the year Purdue makes some noise and plays for a national championship. I am not sure what IU fans would do with themselves if they didn't have the "you have no banners argument". 30 years ago. In a few years, those banners will all be old enough to run for president.

Anyone saying the B1G is down or conference X is better than Y at this point int he season is just ridiculous because it is an impossible thing to measure right now. Wait and see how many teams make the tourney and how far they go before that assumption is made.

But then again, IU always thinks the conference is down when they are when in fact they just suck.

 

[Do Dah Day]

I got into a discussion with a buddy of mine that happens to be an IU fan. He essentially gave me the 'ol the Big Ten is Down and the whole league is down as a whole. Meaning the only reason Purdue is a 5 is because everybody else is bad.

I first addressed the Big Ten as being a down year. Northwestern and Minnesota have been a dissapointment. Minnesota has been battling injuries and a starter that is facing expulsion. Maryland is down (due to injuries) and Wisconsin is down. My counter argument was that the Big Ten has two top 5 teams and two more teams that will end up in the top 25 (Michigan and OSU). Also, Nebraska is right there as a bubble team. It's hard to argue a conference isn't any good when they have two top 5 and 2 more recieving top 25 votes. Not to mention, they likely have 5 tournament teams. I think when you compare it to past seasons, it may have fewer top teams, but I would hardly say it's a bad conference. Certainly would put them ahead of the SEC and Pac12. ACC and Big East seem to be the better conferences as far as depth goes, but that isn't unusual. I would say Big Ten is smack dab in the middle of the P5 conferences.

The Big has certainly had stars with a lot more top level teams, but Purdue can't help that. They can only beat who they play and even on a down year this is a tough conference. Winning the Big Ten is never easy and Purdue got a very tough conference schedule.

As for the rest of the league, the usual top teams aren't there, but that doesn't mean they aren't any good. Talent is just spread out because more teams have been recruiting the top players instead of them all going to Duke, Kansas, and Kansas. Virginia, WVU, MSU, and Villanova are all playing very well right now. Regardless of how "good" the NCAA is as a whole, being a top 5 team is very impressive. IU fans have such a strange complex with Purdue is good and this Purdue team is a very complete team. Winning a championship is always about being the best team, it's about getting hit at the right time and having a little luck. Otherwise teams like George Mason and Butler wouldn't make the noise they did.

Final comment is that although it's nice to be a top 5 team, the ranking means nothing to me in January. I want to see where we are ranked in March and I really want to see this be the year Purdue makes some noise and plays for a national championship. I am not sure what IU fans would do with themselves if they didn't have the "you have no banners argument". 30 years ago. In a few years, those banners will all be old enough to run for president.

I truly believe there is a chance the B1G will have the top two ranked teams at least one week this year ... probably more.

Are we supposed to apologize for being the best team in a down year? Yes, I have a deeply embedded hatred of IU supporters ...based on many years of illogical belittling and emotional abuse. I honestly shake and use language I never use when they are mentioned.

Playing most B1G teams at their place (well, other than at PU, which I swear never seems to have a homer advantage) is never easy.

WHO CARES whether our conference is up or down? Really, it only makes for an illogical argument by our nay-sayers. That game last night was between two damn good teams playing very, very well. I challenge any team from any conference to go play M at their place right now.

 

[purduepat1969]

The conference is only 4 to 5 games into the season. Purdue isn’t ranked #5 because of their conference record. It’s because of who they’ve beaten both in and out of conference.

And if the IU fan wants to get a barometer on how good Purdue is, they just beat Michigan on Michigan’s court, which is the same locale where IU got thumped earlier this year.

 

[BoilerDaddy]

The Big Ten has some good teams, but overall I believe that the conference is down. The bottom 9, after Purdue, MSU, Michigan, OSU, and Maryland, is not good. Purdue is going to have to have a great record to get a top seed.

 

[JJBoiler2021]

This is a weaker year compared to some of the years past; however, I think this may be the Big Ten's best chance to end the national championship drought (since Sparty in 2000) since Illinois in 2005

 

[icewind7]

The "down" year was probably defined by the big 10 teams vs non conference opponents record. It's only way to measure but already in the past. It will be redefined again during tourney.

 

[Inspector100]

I truly believe there is a chance the B1G will have the top two ranked teams at least one week this year ... probably more.

Are we supposed to apologize for being the best team in a down year? Yes, I have a deeply embedded hatred of IU supporters ...based on many years of illogical belittling and emotional abuse. I honestly shake and use language I never use when they are mentioned.

Playing most B1G teams at their place (well, other than at PU, which I swear never seems to have a homer advantage) is never easy.

WHO CARES whether our conference is up or down? Really, it only makes for an illogical argument by our nay-sayers. That game last night was between two damn good teams playing very, very well. I challenge any team from any conference to go play M at their place right now.

Tell them that "bullying" is against the law. At least per the liberals.

 

[Do Dah Day]

Tell them that "bullying" is against the law. At least per the liberals.

I usually just suggest that name calling and chest puffing is clearly middle school bullying ... so why do they have the right to "represent" a university. About that time they usually get the coon-rifle down from over the fireplace.

 

[FirstDownB]

Based on objective data from out of conference games, the Big Ten is "down" relative to other P5 conferences, top to bottom. You can argue that is flawed due to limited sample size or have a different opinion based on the eye ball test, but that is what the data says. Big Ten teams lost more than usual out of conference this year.

But this conclusion that we are "only good" because the Big Ten is down is unprovable and basically illogical. We've only played a few conference games, so the relative strength of our conference has little effect on our metrics our ranking. Our resume is filled with wins over teams from other conferences, who beat lots of other teams from other conferences.

The Big Ten being "down" overall actually presents a greater challenge for this Purdue team. Here is what you tell your friend... It is more difficult to win a Big Ten championship when there is one really good team you are competing with (like this year with us and MSU) than when there are several good-but-not-great teams (like IU in 2014). 14-4 probably isn't going to be good enough this year. Heck, 15-3 might not be good enough.

If finishing in the top half is your goal, then the "down" conference argument makes sense. If finishing #1 is the goal, all that matters is how good #2 is.

 

[SqueakyClean]

The biggest problem is that most of the Big Ten teams have had at least one WTF loss. Buckeyes lost to Butler (that one's relatively forgivable), Michigan lost to LSU, Maryland lost to St. Bonaventure, Nebraska lost to St. Johns and UCF, IU....., Minnesota lost to Miami at home as a favorite and almost lost to Alabama with only three players on the floor, Penn State lost to Rider, Illinois lost to UNLV and MexSt., Iowa lost to ....everybody.
Then of course, there's our hangover game against Western Kentucky.
It's pretty typical for the bottom half of the league to have some crappy non-con losses. This year, it's 90%.

 

[buffboiler]

We shall see who are improving and who are imploding soon enough.
The league play is still very robust and rogue. Top 6 for certain, perhaps 8 may still make the tourney. Just look at how Rutgers hung around with MSU at East Lansing.

 

[Wildmanroom]

As of today, Teamrankings (RPI) has the conferences ranked:
1). Big 12
2). Big East
3). SEC
4). ACC
5). Big10

Don’t have access to kenpom.

 

[BoilerAndy]

I got into a discussion with a buddy of mine that happens to be an IU fan. He essentially gave me the 'ol the Big Ten is Down and the whole league is down as a whole. Meaning the only reason Purdue is a 5 is because everybody else is bad.

I first addressed the Big Ten as being a down year. Northwestern and Minnesota have been a dissapointment. Minnesota has been battling injuries and a starter that is facing expulsion. Maryland is down (due to injuries) and Wisconsin is down. My counter argument was that the Big Ten has two top 5 teams and two more teams that will end up in the top 25 (Michigan and OSU). Also, Nebraska is right there as a bubble team. It's hard to argue a conference isn't any good when they have two top 5 and 2 more recieving top 25 votes. Not to mention, they likely have 5 tournament teams. I think when you compare it to past seasons, it may have fewer top teams, but I would hardly say it's a bad conference. Certainly would put them ahead of the SEC and Pac12. ACC and Big East seem to be the better conferences as far as depth goes, but that isn't unusual. I would say Big Ten is smack dab in the middle of the P5 conferences.

The Big has certainly had stars with a lot more top level teams, but Purdue can't help that. They can only beat who they play and even on a down year this is a tough conference. Winning the Big Ten is never easy and Purdue got a very tough conference schedule.

As for the rest of the league, the usual top teams aren't there, but that doesn't mean they aren't any good. Talent is just spread out because more teams have been recruiting the top players instead of them all going to Duke, Kansas, and Kansas. Virginia, WVU, MSU, and Villanova are all playing very well right now. Regardless of how "good" the NCAA is as a whole, being a top 5 team is very impressive. IU fans have such a strange complex with Purdue is good and this Purdue team is a very complete team. Winning a championship is always about being the best team, it's about getting hit at the right time and having a little luck. Otherwise teams like George Mason and Butler wouldn't make the noise they did.

Final comment is that although it's nice to be a top 5 team, the ranking means nothing to me in January. I want to see where we are ranked in March and I really want to see this be the year Purdue makes some noise and plays for a national championship. I am not sure what IU fans would do with themselves if they didn't have the "you have no banners argument". 30 years ago. In a few years, those banners will all be old enough to run for president.

The flaw in declaring a conference like the B1G to be down just because of pre-conference results is that it assumes that teams can't improve beyond that point. Three B1G coaches are just getting up to speed with their teams and another is only in his 2nd year.

I remember many years when the selection committee figured the B1G was down, so they didn't bother placing them in the brackets where they wouldn't meet until deep in the tourney? Instead, after "upsets" over the higher seeds, they met early in the brackets and knocked each other out.

 

[Jack_Ripper]

Every conference has an ebb and flow. How many times did Kentucky win the
NCAA when the sec was absolute crap ? or UMASS ? How good/bad the B1G is/isn't will shake out in March. Until then, I'm gonna enjoy the ride.

 

[Born Boiler]

Like it or not, the 3-11 showing in the ACC Challenge will haunt the Big Ten until next December ... except for us and Sparty, of course.

 

[JohnnyDoeBoiler]

As of today, Teamrankings (RPI) has the conferences ranked:
1). Big 12
2). Big East
3). SEC
4). ACC
5). Big10

Don’t have access to kenpom.

Believe the teams at the top are likely about the same in these conferences...what makes the B1G bad is the bottom and middle of the barrel when you get past the 5th best team. Purdue, MSU, Michigan, and OSU are high quality teams yet after that, there doesn't appear to be much separation and the middle portions of other conferences would trounce those teams.

 

[Do Dah Day]

I understand the theory that the next 12 games will or will not be against better competition, but reality, IMHO, is that there is greater risk for teams to lose to "lesser" teams in highly competitive conferences than in less competitive ones.

So, if a team (PU) can win-out or with one loss, isn't that better than a team in a highly competitive conference having three "good" wins????

 

[StickPurdue]

As of today, Teamrankings (RPI) has the conferences ranked:
1). Big 12
2). Big East
3). SEC
4). ACC
5). Big10

Don’t have access to kenpom.

Big 12 is completely overrated. Let's take the top 5 teams of each Big 12 and Big Ten and play a game who you think would win:

1) Purdue vs WVU. We played them in a closed scrimmage and beat them by double digits. Our ability to break the press and shoot makes us a nightmare for them. Advantage Purdue.

2) MSU vs Oklahoma. Essentially Young Vs MSU. I think the size of MSU would tear up OK and MSU would have the advantage here.

3) Ohio State vs Kansas. Ohio State has been playing incredibly well. Bates-Diop seems to be a rising star and Kansas has struggled. OSU has zero bad losses and a win over MSU. Kansas loss to Washington and has only one quality win over TCU. I would call this a push, but to be honest, OSU would likely take this if I had to pick.

4) Michigan vs Texas Tech: Texas Tech is incredibly overrated. They have a handful of decent wins and zero bad losses. Michigan is a tough matchup, but advantage Texas Tech.

5) Nebraska vs TCU. I love Bane and TCU, but they have not played like a top 25 team where they are currently ranked. 1-3 in conference with a loss to Texas. Baylor and Nevada are their best wins. That doesn't scream unbeatable. This should be Maryland or Minnesota but unfortunate circumstances with injuries and criminal activity took away the two starters from each team at this time. Northwestern is a dumpster fire and should be much better, but they aren't. Nebraska is much improved and could sneak into the tournament, but advantage TCU.

Anything outside of the top 5 shouldn't matter because those teams aren't going to make the tournament, thus have zero impact on the tournament and deciding how strong a conference is. The Big matches up very well against the Big 12 which you placed 1.

I would put in this order
1) Big East
2) ACC
3) Big 12
3) Big Ten
5) SEC
6) PAC 12

Big Ten is right in the middle with two teams that have a shot to get to the final four. It's way to soon to tell, but it wouldn't shock me to see OSU or Michigan make an upset run or MSU and Purdue making deep runs as a favorite. I wouldn't call it a down year, but it is dissapointing compared to what as expected. Maryland, Minny, and Northwestern were a let down but Purdue, Michigan, and OSU are currently better than expected.

As for the league, just because the typical teams aren't at the top doesn't mean college basketball is down as a whole. It's refreshing to see a top 6 that doesn't have Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, or Arizona. It also has frequent fliers like Nova and MSU. I would like to see Purdue get as highly ranked as they can, but teams are going to come after them with nothing to lose so they have to come to work every game. And as proven in the past, rank doesn't matter. Only how you do come tournament times. Even ranked high they will always have doubters until they show they can do it!

 

[BigRed3588]

It’s always kind of hard to gauge these kinds of seasons until tournament time comes around. When you only have two teams separating themselves with the rest of the conference being a toss-up, people interpret it as a down year. But, the B1G’s tournament performance in past seasons has shown that supposed “down seasons,” end up being, in reality, competitive play between solid teams.

That said, the beatdown the conference took in the B1G/ACC Challenge has me leaning toward “down season.” We’ll just have to wait until March to find out.

 

[StickPurdue]

It’s always kind of hard to gauge these kinds of seasons until tournament time comes around. When you only have two teams separating themselves with the rest of the conference being a toss-up, people interpret it as a down year. But, the B1G’s tournament performance in past seasons has shown that supposed “down seasons,” end up being, in reality, competitive play between solid teams.

That said, the beatdown the conference took in the B1G/ACC Challenge has me leaning toward “down season.” We’ll just have to wait until March to find out.

The Big Ten got whooped for sure. Neutral site at the end of the season I don't think it is as lop sided as it was. Especially if you actually had the teams play via the seeding in their league. For example, currently it would be:

Purdue vs Virginia. I think Neutral site we should win that one.

OSU vs Clemson (Clemson's game isn't final, if they lose it would be va ND). I would say advantage OSU right now. Neither one of those teams isnscary and OSU is hot right now.

MSU vs Notre Dame would be MSU easy.

Michigan vs Miami: tough call. Miami is very athletic but Michigan can defend at an elite level and shoot. I am not high on Miami so I would say push.

Nebraska vs Louisville: not overly impressed with Louisville and Nebraska is much better. I would still say advantage Louisville.

Conservatively 3-2 out of the top 5 best teams. Now... obviously that will change as Duke and UNC start getting wins. Duke has lost two head scratcher conference games.

FSU is 1-3 in conference play so far.

I know the Big got whipped but it was early and they weren't neutral site games. The ACC has enough teams that will get into the tournament so it's likely they will make some noise. Purdue has two top 5 teams. More than any other conference. MSU will slip out if they lose to Michigan (and I think they will just how Michigan is built).

It just goes to show how hard it is to say it's a down year for a conference this early into conference play. The Big 12 has 3 top 10 teams, but we will see if they have any elite teams that dominate the conference if will they beat each other up.

I think outside of the Big Ten the next conference you think that has a shot at two final four teams would maybe be the Big 12? Young may be good enough to steal some gays and give them just enough, WVU may use their press and bother enough teams to make it. Maybe the ACC? Is Virginia for real? Can Duke or UNC use their coaching and beneficial calls to slip in? Big East Nova looks like a legit final 4 but anybody else would be a huge surprise/upset to make it. PAC 12 maybe AZ State gets a cake path and makes it, but certainly wouldn't call them a favorite. SEC looks like hot garbage. It generally relies on Kentucky to be respectable and they don't look great. Maybe Coach Cal can pull out a miracle who knows.

Purdue has all the makings. Senior leadership, star power in Carsen/Vince. One of the best defenders in the nation, one of the best post scorers (Haas) and one of the best post defenders (Haarms). A pg that doesn't turn it over and can stroke it. The key will be can Cline get it together and provide a punch off the bench and can Nojel continue to impress with rebounding and defense while providing points when needed. And then MSU has a pre season favorite for player of the year and likely the Big Ten Freshman of the year. Loaded with talent and it's hard to count Izzo down in the tournament as much as I would love to. I would say at this moment, the Big Ten has the best shot at 2 final four teams. I also wouldn't count out OSU and Michigan just yet either as a dark horse to make an elite 8.

 

[BigRed3588]

It’ll be interesting to see how things play out, that’s for sure. I’ve yet to see a team from any conference that looks like a surefire bet for the Final 4. Nova and MSU have a history of turning it up during the tourney so they’re two that I’d put in at this point. I’m not very impressed with Duke but they always get the easiest path so that wouldn’t shock me. Then again, it also wouldn’t shock me if they lost to a 15 seed again. We’ve seen a lot of PG’s lead their team to the last weekend and that kid from OU could have a Napier-esque run. PU has a really good team but they’ve had a couple head-scratchers. I don’t see it with UK or UNC this year. I never put much faith in WVU. Virginia...maybe.

I could keep going, but at this point I’m just going to say MSU, PU, Nova, and either VA or a cinderella. I think PU and VA are the question marks in that group. PU shouldnt be a question mark but they always seem to draw the short straw with the committee and will probably get the most difficult path. As for Virginia...I just have a hard time seeing them get there with their style of play.

 

[TC4THREE]

The Big Ten is down and the IU fan claiming that should be apologizing on behalf of their team for that. Next year maybe they should win their home games against in-state mid-majors that are a laughingstock nationwide.

 

[BoilerTom90]

I got into a discussion with a buddy of mine that happens to be an IU fan. He essentially gave me the 'ol the Big Ten is Down and the whole league is down as a whole. Meaning the only reason Purdue is a 5 is because everybody else is bad.

I first addressed the Big Ten as being a down year. Northwestern and Minnesota have been a dissapointment. Minnesota has been battling injuries and a starter that is facing expulsion. Maryland is down (due to injuries) and Wisconsin is down. My counter argument was that the Big Ten has two top 5 teams and two more teams that will end up in the top 25 (Michigan and OSU). Also, Nebraska is right there as a bubble team. It's hard to argue a conference isn't any good when they have two top 5 and 2 more recieving top 25 votes. Not to mention, they likely have 5 tournament teams. I think when you compare it to past seasons, it may have fewer top teams, but I would hardly say it's a bad conference. Certainly would put them ahead of the SEC and Pac12. ACC and Big East seem to be the better conferences as far as depth goes, but that isn't unusual. I would say Big Ten is smack dab in the middle of the P5 conferences.

The Big has certainly had stars with a lot more top level teams, but Purdue can't help that. They can only beat who they play and even on a down year this is a tough conference. Winning the Big Ten is never easy and Purdue got a very tough conference schedule.

As for the rest of the league, the usual top teams aren't there, but that doesn't mean they aren't any good. Talent is just spread out because more teams have been recruiting the top players instead of them all going to Duke, Kansas, and Kansas. Virginia, WVU, MSU, and Villanova are all playing very well right now. Regardless of how "good" the NCAA is as a whole, being a top 5 team is very impressive. IU fans have such a strange complex with Purdue is good and this Purdue team is a very complete team. Winning a championship is always about being the best team, it's about getting hit at the right time and having a little luck. Otherwise teams like George Mason and Butler wouldn't make the noise they did.

Final comment is that although it's nice to be a top 5 team, the ranking means nothing to me in January. I want to see where we are ranked in March and I really want to see this be the year Purdue makes some noise and plays for a national championship. I am not sure what IU fans would do with themselves if they didn't have the "you have no banners argument". 30 years ago. In a few years, those banners will all be old enough to run for president.

You lost me at "I have a buddy that's an IU fan..."

 

[boilernuke]

I truly believe there is a chance the B1G will have the top two ranked teams at least one week this year ... probably more.

Wow, how cool would it be if the Purdue MSU conference game is a 1 vs 2 matchup?