Big Ten Hoops and Helmets: Bowl and (would’ve made the) NCAA Tournament … but just okay overall
8. Indiana
Football: 8-5 overall, 5-4 in conference, 4th in Big Ten East
Basketball: 20-12 overall, 9-11 in conference, T10th in Big Ten
How Were The Football/Basketball Seasons? Yeah, both the basketball and football teams managed to be good enough to go to the post-season, but it wasn’t always pretty.
The football team finally got over the hump under head coach Tom Allen to get to the Gator Bowl, but it lost to Tennessee in crushing fashion. The basketball team would’ve found a way into the NCAAs, but it was limping after losing three of its last four games before beating a miserable Nebraska team in the Big Ten Tournament.
7. Illinois
Football: 6-7 overall, 4-5 in conference, 4th in Big Ten West
Basketball: 21-10 overall, 13-7 in conference, 4th in Big Ten
How Were The Football/Basketball Seasons? Illinois had a good sense of timing in both sports.
The football team wasn’t very good, but it managed to hang on against Wisconsin and came through in the clutch to pull off the fantastic win. It also roared back against Michigan State to come up with a big victory. Going bowling under Lovie Smith was great, but the team lost its last three games including a total clunker against a horrible Northwestern squad.
The basketball team’s season was slipping away into the abyss, but it won five of its last six games. It would’ve been a decent mid-seed in the NCAAs.
6. Michigan
Football: 9-4 overall, 6-3 in conference, 3rd in Big Ten East
Basketball: 19-12 overall, 10-10 in conference, 9th in Big Ten
How Were The Football/Basketball Seasons? Both teams were good, but disappointing. The football team had several excellent moments, and it turned its season around at halftime of the loss to Penn State, but it got whacked by Ohio State (again) and was rocked by Alabama (predictable) in the Citrus Bowl.
The basketball team was fine, but it lost three of its last four games – the one win came against Nebraska – to limp into the Big Ten Tournament. It would’ve made the NCAAs, but this wasn’t quite the run it was supposed to be.
5. Iowa
Football: 10-3 overall, 6-3 in conference, 3rd in Big Ten West
Basketball: 20-11 overall, 11-9 in conference, T5th in Big Ten
How Were The Football/Basketball Seasons? At 15-5, Iowa looked like a possible Big Ten title contender in basketball at the end of January, but there were too many misfires the rest of the way. Losing three of the last four games going into the Big Ten Tournament was bad, but it still would’ve been a decent-seeded team in the NCAAs.
The football team had a better season than it got credit for. Its three losses were to Michigan, Penn State and Wisconsin by a total of 15 points. Blowing out USC in the Holiday Bowl closed out a ten-win campaign.