Half facetious, half "well it's gonna be a bit different now" but...
In the 13 years we've been in the Big Ten, we've qualified for the Big Ten tournament.
I believe we come out ahead of Northwestern, but not Wisconsin.
So a 3-way tie: Wisconsin, Nebraska, Northwestern
2-way tie: Nebraska, Wisconsin (or Nebraska, Northwestern)
100% agree with this and 1 more might put us in Dayton— though I’d be sweating Selection Sunday.
22-10 (13-5) = 5 seed in the NIT. So we probably only need about 5-6 more wins under our belt to make it to Dayton.
If you're looking for some similar type of inspiration, just look at Sunderland AFC.
Relegated from Premier League to Championship. Then further relegated to League One where they had been trying to claw themselves back into prominence.
Failing at their previous six playoff appearances. Finally able to win and move back up to Championship. A story all too familiar to us. Seven appearances and no wins. Well...here we are. Let us dance and advance!
https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/20110413.sunderlands-six-previous-appearances-play-offs/
I think for it to hold water is seeing this happen for others teams as well (nonconference vs. conference disparity). There's many more factors that could be at play than just "the Big Ten is out to get us."
Notice how quickly people stopped talking about us losing everything on the road once we got that first conference road win.
Now imagine someone doing that for decades with NCAA tournament wins. And the pressure that puts on every single team who has to try to end that.
I'd take that NCAA win every time. Not just for this team, but so every team that follows can play more relaxed in the tournament.
Ding ding ding. We have a winner.
Just need to make sure we're not up for question of being that bubble team. And we can do that with these remaining games.
That last game is in the past. It's March. Time to lock down the bank and focus.
Every. Game. Matters.
Sunday: We play for our seniors
The following Sunday: We play for a second round bye in the Big Ten tournament
March 15: We play to lock in a better seed in the NCAA tournament
March 16: House money
March 21/22: History made
March 23/24: Keep the good times rollin'