To quote our friends at The Champaign Room describing league-worst Illinois: “Jon said we’re a good bottom!”
Yes, that’s referring to popular college basketball analyst Jon Rothstein, who said the Big Ten is cannibalizing itself after the Illini picked off 13th-ranked Maryland at Madison Square Garden Saturday. During the next Big Ten basketball broadcast, there should be a prop bet for over/under how many times the word “gauntlet” is used to describe the conference this year. While certainly overused, it is true: this season’s Big Ten is enjoying a rebound year after receiving just four NCAA tournament bids last March.