As the 2025 NCAA Tournament began, the SEC was widely considered the strongest basketball conference in the nation, with 14 teams securing spots in the tournament. However, following the Round of 64, it appears the Big Ten may have a stronger case for that title over the SEC.
Eight Big Ten teams earned spots in this year’s NCAA Tournament, including Michigan State, Wisconsin, Maryland, Michigan, Purdue, UCLA, Illinois, and Oregon.
All eight Big Ten teams entered the tournament as favorites in their Round of 64 matchups, and remarkably, each one delivered, advancing to the Round of 32. This achievement sets a record for the most teams from a single conference to win their opening-round games in an NCAA Tournament without suffering a single loss.
Interestingly, despite the SEC generating the most buzz entering the NCAA Tournament, it also advanced eight teams to the Round of 32. However, this feat is far less impressive given that the conference started with 14 teams in the field.
With plenty of games still to be played, other conferences have opportunities to step up and make deep tournament runs. However, it’s clear that the Big Ten was somewhat overlooked compared to the SEC and perhaps even the Big 12.
It will be intriguing to see if the Big Ten can sustain this momentum throughout the weekend. On Saturday, four teams—Purdue, Michigan, Wisconsin, and UCLA—will take the court, aiming to further showcase the strength of the conference.
