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The Big Ten didn’t make the headlines on Sunday night like the SEC did after getting a record-breaking 14 teams into the NCAA Tournament.
The Big Ten instead settled for a solid 8 bids when the full NCAA Tournament bracket was revealed, and the conference could’ve had a few more teams sneak into the field who were left out.
At the top of the heap this season in the Big Ten was Michigan State, which won the regular-season title but got bounced in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals on Saturday. Despite that, the Spartans are once again a national title contender under Tom Izzo and got a No. 2 seed in the South Region. Michigan State will face 15h-seeded Bryant in the first round.
The Big Ten’s other Michigan team stole its own headlines this weekend in winning the Big Ten Tournament, and Michigan was rewarded with a No. 5 seed in the South Region and a matchup with 12th-seeded UC San Diego.
Another Big Ten team, Oregon, also got a No. 5 seed, with the Ducks earning that seeding in their first season in the conference. Oregon will square off with 12th-seeded Liberty in the East Region. Wisconsin is also in the East Region, with the Badgers getting a No. 3 seed and a matchup with No. 14 Montana after their run to the Big Ten Tournament final this weekend.
Purdue earned a No. 4 seed in the Midwest Region and a first-round matchup with No. 13 High Point. Illinois was also put in the Midwest Region as the No. 6 seed, and the Fighting Illini will face the winner of the First Four game between 11 seeds Texas and Xavier.
A 3rd Big Ten team found its way into the Midwest Region, with UCLA earning a 7 seed in its first season in the conference. The Bruins will face 10th-seeded Utah State in the first round.
Last but not least among Big Ten NCAA Tournament teams is Maryland, which earned a No. 4 seed in the West Region and a first-round matchup with 13th-seeded Grand Canyon.
There easily could’ve been 10 Big Ten teams to make it in, too, but Indiana and Ohio State finished among the dreaded First Four Out teams that were good but just not quite good enough this season to go dancing.