There are two elite conferences in both basketball and football: the Big Ten and the SEC. This year the gap seems to have been widened even further as there are now 13 SEC teams predicted to make the NCAA college basketball tournament and nine SEC teams. The ACC currently only has around six teams projected and the Big East has a lowly number of four. However, there is one thing that the Big Ten is doing for college basketball fans that is outpacing every other conference including the SEC.
I've said this a few times in other posts, but one thing Big Ten has absolutely crushed this year with the four new PAC schools is their scheduling:
— JBR Bracketology (@JBRBracketology) January 30, 2025
-Games all 7 days a week (SEC only does Tues/Wed/Sat for comparison)
-Very few overlapping games
-Numerous standalone (P5) games/… https://t.co/J9o9bYOgSJ
The Big Ten has perfected basketball game scheduling for fans
The Big Ten has created a scheduling system that allows college basketball fans to essentially always watch their product. They do a great job of rarely overlapping games and matchups every day of the week, and the amount of standalone games this season has increased. Last night was another example of how the Big Ten killed in this department.
The Big Ten action started with an Ohio State at Penn State matchup that casually drifted into an Illinois and Nebraska game. When those teams forced overtime, the Big Ten allowed Oregon vs. UCLA to tipoff but kept the fans waiting for that game abreast of what was happening while Nebraska finished off the Illini. It was a remarkable showcase. What did the SEC offer last night? Nothing.
Friday night (tonight), another Big Ten scheduling masterclass is happening. There's a standalone game between Purdue and Indiana. It's the only ranked game of the evening and it's the only marquee game at all tonight. Once again, what about the SEC? No games.
This model is not only causing more college basketball fans to watch Big Ten basketball, but the pundits will also be more tuned in to what is happening in the Big Ten. This is exceptional work for the conference, the only beef that many fans have is that there are some games buried on Peacock. That being said, the scheduling is superb.