B1G Disappointment: The teams that have won national titles since the Big Ten last cut down the nets

B1G Disappointment: The teams that have won national titles since the Big Ten last cut down the nets

The Big Ten hasn’t won the men’s NCAA Tournament since Michigan State did it in 2000

We may earn a commission from links on this page.
Start Slideshow
Image for article titled B1G Disappointment: The teams that have won national titles since the Big Ten last cut down the nets
Illustration: Getty Images

Facebook hadn’t been invented yet, Zion Williamson didn’t exist, Mad Cow Disease was the “pandemic” of the time, and Y2K is what so many thought would be the end of modern civilization. The year 2000 feels like it was so long ago, but it feels even further away for Big Ten hoops fans. Twenty-three years ago, Tom Izzo’s Michigan State Spartans won their second national title in program history. But, it was also the last time the Big Ten won the Big Dance.

One Shining Moment - MSU 2000 NCAA Tournament Highlights

The Big Ten Tournament kicks off this week in Chicago, as 14 teams will compete for a conference tournament title. Over the last 20-plus years, the winner of this tournament has been the only net a Big Ten team has cut down. And if it wasn’t for the Spartans’ upset win over the Florida Gators in 2000, the league’s drought would be even longer as Michigan’s national title win from 1989 is the only one that precedes Michigan State’s.

One Shining Moment | 1989 March Madness

With Purdue (No. 5) being one of the best teams in the country all season, and the best team in the Big Ten by a country mile, it feels like the league’s dreams now rest on the Boilermakers’ shoulders. And as we get ready to enter March Madness, here’s a look back at the teams that have won it all since the Spartans did it in 2000.

Advertisement
Previous Slide
Next Slide

2 / 24

Duke 2001 — ACC

Duke 2001 — ACC

Image for article titled B1G Disappointment: The teams that have won national titles since the Big Ten last cut down the nets
Photo: Getty Images

This is just the first time you’ll see this school on this list, but it was Coach K’s third national title. Between Jay Williams, Chris Duhon, Shane Battier, Mike Dunleavy Jr., and Carlos Boozer — this team was loaded.

Advertisement
Previous Slide
Next Slide

3 / 24

Maryland 2002 — ACC

Maryland 2002 — ACC

Image for article titled B1G Disappointment: The teams that have won national titles since the Big Ten last cut down the nets
Photo: Getty Images

The Terps may be in the Big Ten now, but back then they were in the ACC. And crazy enough, Maryland beat Indiana — a Big Ten program — to win it all that season.

Advertisement
Previous Slide
Next Slide

4 / 24

Syracuse 2003 — Big East

Syracuse 2003 — Big East

Image for article titled B1G Disappointment: The teams that have won national titles since the Big Ten last cut down the nets
Photo: Getty Images

While it feels like Jim Boeheim has been at Syracuse for 100 years, this is still the lone NCAA Tournament national title the program has ever won.

Advertisement
Previous Slide
Next Slide

5 / 24

UConn 2004 — Big East

UConn 2004 — Big East

Image for article titled B1G Disappointment: The teams that have won national titles since the Big Ten last cut down the nets
Photo: Getty Images

With two national titles within six years, the Huskies were turning into a program that was putting the sport’s bluebloods on watch.

Advertisement
Previous Slide
Next Slide

6 / 24

North Carolina 2005 — ACC

North Carolina 2005 — ACC

Image for article titled B1G Disappointment: The teams that have won national titles since the Big Ten last cut down the nets
Photo: Getty Images

The Tar Heels were loaded that season and were really good. And to win it all they had to beat a loaded and really good Fighting Illini team from the Big Ten.

Advertisement
Previous Slide
Next Slide

7 / 24

Florida 2006 — SEC

Florida 2006 — SEC

Image for article titled B1G Disappointment: The teams that have won national titles since the Big Ten last cut down the nets
Photo: Getty Images

This was a really good college basketball team that played its best basketball in March and April.

Advertisement
Previous Slide
Next Slide

8 / 24

Florida 2007 — SEC

Florida 2007 — SEC

Image for article titled B1G Disappointment: The teams that have won national titles since the Big Ten last cut down the nets
Photo: Getty Images

This was a really, really good college basketball team that played its best basketball in March and April for two years in a row. Ohio State was the Big Ten’s sacrificial lamb this time in the national title game.

Advertisement
Previous Slide
Next Slide

9 / 24

Kansas 2008 — Big 12

Kansas 2008 — Big 12

Image for article titled B1G Disappointment: The teams that have won national titles since the Big Ten last cut down the nets
Photo: Getty Images

People remember this game for two reasons: All the free throws Memphis missed down the stretch or the miraculous shot that Mario Chalmers knocked down to send the game into overtime.

Advertisement
Previous Slide
Next Slide

10 / 24

North Carolina 2009 — ACC

North Carolina 2009 — ACC

Image for article titled B1G Disappointment: The teams that have won national titles since the Big Ten last cut down the nets
Photo: Getty Images

Guess who the Tar Heels blew out in this national title game that was played in Detroit? Michigan State.

Advertisement
Previous Slide
Next Slide

11 / 24

Duke 2010 — ACC

Duke 2010 — ACC

Image for article titled B1G Disappointment: The teams that have won national titles since the Big Ten last cut down the nets
Photo: Getty Images

Gordon Hayward and Brad Stevens were so close to turning Butler into the school from the movie Hoosiers. But, their fairytale moment wasn’t meant to be.

Advertisement
Previous Slide
Next Slide

12 / 24

UConn 2011 — Big East

UConn 2011 — Big East

Image for article titled B1G Disappointment: The teams that have won national titles since the Big Ten last cut down the nets
Photo: Getty Images

Butler shot 18.8 percent from the field. UConn made 9.1 percent of their three-pointers. It might have been the worst national title game of all time.

Advertisement
Previous Slide
Next Slide

13 / 24

Kentucky 2012 — SEC

Kentucky 2012 — SEC

Image for article titled B1G Disappointment: The teams that have won national titles since the Big Ten last cut down the nets
Photo: Getty Images

If I told you that this was the only national championship that John Calipari has ever won would you believe me? Welp, it’s true.

Advertisement
Previous Slide
Next Slide

14 / 24

Louisville 2013 — Big East

Louisville 2013 — Big East

Image for article titled B1G Disappointment: The teams that have won national titles since the Big Ten last cut down the nets
Photo: Getty Images

According to the NCAA, this game never happened as the win had to be vacated. But, we all saw it. Louisville beat Michigan — a Big Ten team.

Advertisement
Previous Slide
Next Slide

15 / 24

UConn 2014 — Big East

UConn 2014 — Big East

Image for article titled B1G Disappointment: The teams that have won national titles since the Big Ten last cut down the nets
Photo: Getty Images

I think many of us are still wondering how this team pulled it off. But, it happened, as the veteran Huskies knocked off a Kentucky team that started five freshmen.

Advertisement
Previous Slide
Next Slide

16 / 24

Duke 2015 — ACC

Duke 2015 — ACC

Image for article titled B1G Disappointment: The teams that have won national titles since the Big Ten last cut down the nets
Photo: Getty Images

A year after Kentucky couldn’t win with all freshmen, Duke won with four freshmen leading the way and beat Wisconsin — another Big Ten team.

Advertisement
Previous Slide
Next Slide

17 / 24

Villanova 2016 — Big East

Villanova 2016 — Big East

Image for article titled B1G Disappointment: The teams that have won national titles since the Big Ten last cut down the nets
Photo: Getty Images

Marcus Paige hit a crazy shot to tie the game. Kris Jenkins followed that up with a walk-off buzzer-beater to win it all. It was amazing.

Advertisement
Previous Slide
Next Slide

18 / 24

North Carolina 2017 — ACC

North Carolina 2017 — ACC

Image for article titled B1G Disappointment: The teams that have won national titles since the Big Ten last cut down the nets
Photo: Getty Images

A year after experiencing heartbreak, the Tar Heels redeemed themselves by beating the biggest fraud in the history of the sport — Gonzaga.

Advertisement
Previous Slide
Next Slide

19 / 24

Villanova 2018 — Big East

Villanova 2018 — Big East

Image for article titled B1G Disappointment: The teams that have won national titles since the Big Ten last cut down the nets
Photo: Getty Images

The Wildcats were back again as they won their second title in three years over Michigan — another Big Ten program.

Advertisement
Previous Slide
Next Slide

20 / 24

Virginia 2019 — ACC

Virginia 2019 — ACC

Image for article titled B1G Disappointment: The teams that have won national titles since the Big Ten last cut down the nets
Photo: Getty Images

It’s one of the greatest turnarounds in college basketball history. A year after the Cavaliers were the first No. 1 seed to lose to a No. 16 seed, they won it all the following season.

Advertisement
Previous Slide
Next Slide

21 / 24

Covid-19 2020 — Earth

Covid-19 2020 — Earth

Image for article titled B1G Disappointment: The teams that have won national titles since the Big Ten last cut down the nets
Photo: Getty Images

The Coronavirus won.

Advertisement
Previous Slide
Next Slide

22 / 24

Baylor 2021 — Big 12

Baylor 2021 — Big 12

Image for article titled B1G Disappointment: The teams that have won national titles since the Big Ten last cut down the nets
Photo: Getty Images

It was like watching a T-Rex versus a kitten. Baylor pulverized Gonzaga from start to finish. The Bulldogs never led or even tied the game.

Advertisement
Previous Slide
Next Slide

23 / 24

Kansas 2022 — Big 12

Kansas 2022 — Big 12

Image for article titled B1G Disappointment: The teams that have won national titles since the Big Ten last cut down the nets
Photo: Getty Images

North Carolina went to the half up 15 points. Kansas flipped a switch during the break. The Jayhawks won by three.

Advertisement