Has anyone done a deep dive into playing more Big Ten Tournament possessions and doing worse in the NCAA Tournament? Seems like this thing has been killing us given that the conference has won one championship since it started.
I would also note that even though MSU won the BTT in 2000 before winning the NCAA Tournament, their 3 games in that tournament totaled 185 possessions. By contrast, our three games in the 2021 Big Ten Tournament totaled 226 possessions (while being stuck in the Indianapolis COVID bubble.)
We only played 196 possessions in 2005 when we made the Final Four, but that team also struggled for a half with a 16-seed and for a historically good team didn't really blow out 9-seed Nevada either.
I know UConn 2011 seemed immune to these effects but their tournament ended on a Saturday and Kemba Walker may have been one of the most well-conditioned players in NCAA history.
I would also note that even though MSU won the BTT in 2000 before winning the NCAA Tournament, their 3 games in that tournament totaled 185 possessions. By contrast, our three games in the 2021 Big Ten Tournament totaled 226 possessions (while being stuck in the Indianapolis COVID bubble.)
We only played 196 possessions in 2005 when we made the Final Four, but that team also struggled for a half with a 16-seed and for a historically good team didn't really blow out 9-seed Nevada either.
I know UConn 2011 seemed immune to these effects but their tournament ended on a Saturday and Kemba Walker may have been one of the most well-conditioned players in NCAA history.
