Big Ten's March Madness Quest for Glory

0:00On March 16, the Big Ten conference heads into the NCAA men's basketball tournament, with big hopes to snap a 26-year championship drought. Their last title came in 2000 when Michigan State won it all under Coach Tom Izzo. This year, 19's punch tickets, led by top-seated Michigan in the Midwest region, number 2 Purdue in the West, and number 3 seeds. Illinois in the South and Michigan State in the East. Michigan barely made it through early Big Ten tournament games before falling to Purdue in the final, but their regular season run earned them a favorable path, starting Thursday against the 16th seed in Buffalo. Purdue opens against 15th-seated Queens in St. Louis, while Illinois faces 14th-seated Pan in Greenville. Michigan State plays 14th-seated North Dakota State, also in Buffalo, with other Big Ten squads like UCLA, Ohio State, Nebraska, Iowa, and Wisconsin sprinkled across brackets. Fans and analysts are putting heavy pressure on key figures to deliver.

1:01Illinois coach Brad Underwood faces heat after a late-collapse against Wisconsin. Purdue guard Braden Smith needs to shine after past tournament, struggles, and Michigan forward. Yoxa Linda Bork must get more aggressive despite his player of the year nod. Which is like UCLA's Micronin and Nebraska's Fred Hoyberg also carry expectations amid hot and cold finishes. The conference boasts a storied history with stars like Magic Johnson, yet only 10 titles since 1940 and just 2 in the last four. Decades Purdue, Illinois, and others chased their first ever while the group as a whole hungers to reclaim glory. All eyes turn to these matchups as the Big Dance tips off with the Big Ten poise for a deep run or another tough lesson.