Big Ten Rising
The Big Ten receives the stiff end of many conference vs. conference battles. Big Ten football has been beaten up in bowl games as of late, accumulating a 14-22 (.389) record over the last five seasons. The SEC is faster, the Big 12 has more talent, the list goes on, and even Big Ten fans will admit it; the conference is down. No other single event captured this notion as well as Ohio State's embarrassing 27 point loss in the national championship game last season. The Big Ten ACC basketball challenge has been dominated by the ACC in the last decade by a staggering 9-0 record. The Big Ten only received four bids to the NCAA tournament this year, seemingly a gift, thanks to the efforts of Matt Painter at Purdue. Fans were glum in Big Ten country this post season.
That is all about to change.
With the hiring of Tom Crean at Indiana, the Big Ten now has the premier coaching of all of the conferences in the Nation.
Tom Crean, Indiana (.664) - Crean has five NCAA tournament appearances in nine seasons as a head coach, including a Final Four appearance with Dwayne Wade in 2003. Crean's recruiting combined with the program prestige of Indiana will bring Indiana back to the glory days.
Tom Izzo, Michigan State (.702) - Izzo is regarded as one of the best tournament coaches in the nation. In his thirteen NCAA tournament appearances, Izzo has brought five to the Elite Eight, and seven to the Sweet Sixteen. You know a program has reached the top tier when a loss in the Sweet Sixteen is unacceptable. Nobody overlooks the Spartans, especially in the post season.
Tubby Smith, Minnesota (.719) - Tubby got bored...of winning. Well not exactly, but to go back to his last sub-20 win season, you would find him coaching the Tulsa Golden Hurricane in '92-'93 (15-14), a team he took to the Sweet Sixteen the two subsequent years. Tubby came into the Minnesota program with less than talented players, and improved their record from 8-22 in 2006-07 to 20-13 in 2007-08. Look for him to bring this program into the spotlight, he certainly knows how.
Matt Painter, Purdue (.643) - Painter is new to this whole coaching thing, but don't overlook his inexperience. In his first four seasons, he has produced three tournament teams, making it to the second round twice. Painter took his team from the worst in the conference to the to the vice president position in only three seasons. He has already produced on the recruiting end, with a top 5 class for 2007. Watch out for his Boiler Babies in the next couple of seasons.
Bo Ryan, Wisconsin (.773) - Ryan is a system man, and that is why he has year after year of success. It seems his only weakness is recruiting, but that does not stop him from winning. Ryan's last nine seasons at the Division III level produced four national championships. Bo has achieved an NCAA berth in all of his seven seasons at Wisconsin. Don't plan on him going away anytime soon.
Thad Matta, Ohio State (.755) - Matta has only been a head coach for eight seasons, producing six tournament berths, an Elite Eight showing, and the opportunity to play for the National Championship in 2007. Matta knows how to bring a team deep into the tournament. Recruiting never dies down at the Ohio State University, so don't wipe them of the national stage after that embarrassing NIT appearance in 2008 just yet.
John Beilein, Michigan (.607) - Beilein has not been able to produce at all the schools on his way to Michigan, but he did produce at West Virginia, with a Sweet Sixteen, and an Elite Eight under his belt. His last season at West Virginia was three wins short of 30, and crowned with the title of NIT Champion. Beilein's first season at Michigan was less than stellar, in fact, almost reminiscent of his first season at West Virginia, when the Mountaineers went 14-15. Beilein has the know how and recruiting power to bring Michigan back to where is was in the late 80s, early 90s.
Bruce Weber, Illinois (.696) - Last season was rough on Fighting Illini fans, but Weber has proved before he has the coaching prowess to bring Illinois out of the Big Ten dump. Last season was the first season he did not take the Illini to the tournament in his five seasons there. Weber knows how to play in the post season, bringing his team to the title game in 2005. the Fightin Illini are not going anywhere soon.
The Big Ten is down on it's luck right now; no teams in the Final Four, two in the Sweet Sixteen, and only four competing in the tournament this year, but things are looking up thanks to the elite coaching that now runs deep.
These coaches all know how to not only bring their team to the post season, but how to play effectively in the post season. Some programs are having recent lows, but don't be naive enough to look at where they are, and not where they are going. Coaches like Painter, Smith, and Beilein will bring middle of the road programs in the Big Ten up to the level of competition that the perennial conference elite teams Wisconsin, Ohio State, Michigan State, and Indiana are known for around the nation. Deep conference competition will only increase the strength of the conference, and prepare Big Ten teams for deep NCAA Tournament runs. The Big Ten might not win their challenge against the ACC next year, but its looking like, after ten years of domination by the ACC, they will be poised to ride north with a victory.
The sun is rising again on Big Ten country.
