The Big Ten, a dominant force in college sports with 18 member schools, has not won a men’s basketball national championship since Michigan State’s victory in 2000. As the 2026 NCAA Tournament begins, the conference hopes to end this 25-year drought, despite having 15 teams reach the Final Four and eight advance to the championship game since then, all without success. Factors such as tough competition and the unpredictability of the single-elimination format have contributed to this ongoing struggle. Meanwhile, the women’s side has seen an even longer wait for a champion, with Purdue’s 1999 title being the last for the conference.
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Big Ten Last Won NCAA Tournament in 2000 Will Drought Continue This Year?
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