Being battle tested is often a good thing in college basketball. A high major team from a competitive conference often earns that cliché moniker come March as a way of referencing a just above .500 conference record and a high KenPom ranking. Teams that have been through the wringer often handle lesser competition without much trouble. Schedule aggressively, play tough teams, reap the rewards.
That’s not always the case though. The French Army in World War II was also battle tested, but no one associates them with rampant (or any) success. The Central Michigan Chippewas are taking that particular path this season.