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Big Ten vs SEC? How players view conference supremacy debates in NCAA Tournament

SDF StaffBy

CHICAGO — The Big Ten is the best conference in college basketball. No, the SEC deserves that honor. And what about the Big East?

College basketball fans and media have harped over conference supremacy for much of the 2025-26 men’s college basketball season: The SEC got the most teams into the Men’s NCAA Tournament, with 10 teams that largely performed to their seedings — excepting, of course, defending national champion and No. 1 seed Florida.

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The Big Ten had the most teams left standing entering the Elite Eight play on Saturday, March 28, and could potentially field half the Final Four field should No. 1 seed beat No. 6 seed Tennessee on Sunday, March 29. The Volunteers are the last remaining hope for the SEC.

The four Big Ten teams in the Elite Eight beat the old record of three, which occurred in 2000, 2005 and 2019. However, no Big Ten team has won the national championship since 2000, when Michigan State cut down the nets in, ironically, Indianapolis. Could the quarter century-long curse end there on April 6?

But while talk shows and fans continue to banter on about conference supremacy, how much do the players — the ones actually playing in the games — care about that chatter?

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It depends on who you ask.

“Not really,” Tennessee freshman Nate Ament said when asked how much he caried about being the last SEC team standing. “We’re grateful to the SEC for getting us prepared for this tournament. There are so many tough teams in the SEC. But again, it’s just how the cookie crumbles. We’re the only SEC team left, so we want to represent the SEC, but that’s not our motivation or fuel.”

The Vols knocked off No. 2 seed Iowa State in the Midwest Region semifinal at United Center in Chicago on Friday, March 27. Tennessee will take on the Wolverines with a chance to advance to the Final Four for the first time in program history. The Wolverines, of course, are one of the handful of Big Ten teams remaining.

“Obviously, we’re all on social media, so we definitely see it,” Michigan guard Trey McKinney said. “But I think it just really shows the strength of the Big Ten Conference, and I think the Big Ten Conference is definitely the best conference in America.”

McKinney added that he does root for other Big Ten Conference teams when he tunes into games, but with a caveat: “We tend to root for certain Big Ten teams,” McKinney said with a laugh.

Michigan senior guard Roddy Gayle Jr. agreed with McKinney’s assessment.

“I feel like the Big Ten is just one big group,” Gayle said. “I root for the Big Ten teams, especially because I feel like it boosts the conference, it boosts the teams and brings more eyes on the conference.”

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Last season, four SEC teams played in the Elite Eight — including Tennessee — with two advancing to the Final Four. Florida defeated Auburn to advance to the national championship, and took home the title after beating Houston.

This year, Tennessee is the last chance for the SEC to win its third national title since 2012.

Tennessee forward Felix Okpara said the team does not feel any added pressure to win for the SEC this season. However, Maryland transfer Ja’Kobi Gillespie said the team does want to represent the SEC well.

The nine Big Ten teams in the 2026 NCAA Tournament have gone a combined 17-5. That includes a perfect 4-0 against the SEC in March Madness entering play on March 29.

“We definitely want to put on for the SEC,” Gillespie said. “But I think we just go out there and play. I mean, it’s whoever is the better team tomorrow. None of the regular season matters anymore.”

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Michigan, should it beat Tennessee on March 29, would play Arizona in the Final Four next weekend in Indianapolis. If the Wolverines advance to the national title game, they could play Illinois, assuming the Fighting Illini also advance.

Gayle has the same belief that many SEC, ACC and Big East teams have come out of the NCAA Tournament feeling.

“I hope we don’t have to play any of them,” Gayle said with a laugh. “They have all our scouts.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How Big Ten, SEC players view conference supremacy debates in March Madness

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