Hoosier State of Mind
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Indiana Hoosiers: Building a perfect Big Ten conference

By Adam Childs

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 11: Trainers wear rubber gloves as they work in the bench area during the first round of the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament game between the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Indiana Hoosiers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 11, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Big Ten Conference announced that fans would not be allowed to attend the remainder of the tournament due to concerns over the COVID-19 virus. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 11: Trainers wear rubber gloves as they work in the bench area during the first round of the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament game between the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Indiana Hoosiers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 11, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Big Ten Conference announced that fans would not be allowed to attend the remainder of the tournament due to concerns over the COVID-19 virus. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Indiana Hoosiers: Making the perfect Big Ten

We think 10 or 12 teams is the best scenario for the perfect Big Ten, but wouldn’t be surprised if they actually did this that they went to 14 or 16 teams. You can get too big and 16 would probably be too big unless every other conference did the same thing.

It was tough to cut out some current Big Ten teams, while others were easy to get rid of. Maryland and Rutgers were easy cuts as yes they bring in another market but for what we wanted that didn’t matter to us.

Minnesota was the toughest cut, but we wanted to add Kentucky, Louisville, Notre Dame, and West Virginia and it didn’t leave for them. Penn State was also a tougher cut, but they have less history with the Big Ten and we wanted to keep some longer-standing members.

Northwestern has been a Big Ten member for a long time, but they just didn’t bring as much to the table athletically as the teams we replaced them with. We don’t mind the Wildcats but we ant a perfect conference and they get the boot.

We never considered keeping Nebraska. We don’t mind them but they should just go back to the Big 12.

The new schools that just missed the cut were the Pitt Panthers, Missouri Tigers, and Cincinnati Bearcats. All would bring some things to the table, but we just liked West Virginia more. Cincinnati would bring another team from Ohio, but we just don’t think they were ready to be in the Big Ten.

Pitt was very similar to West Virginia, but the Moutnaineers get the edge based on their basketball team. It has been better than Pitt lately so like it or not that gets the nod.

This 10 or 12 team set up for the new Big Ten would be awesome. Geographically it makes so much more sense than what they have right now and would absolutely improve the basketball in the Big Ten. There would also be little to no slip in football and overall would just be a great athletic conference.

Next. 5 teams the Big Ten absolutely needs to consider adding. dark

The rivalries that would form or make even better would be amazing. This alignment would arguably be the best in the country, especially in basketball. This would be a perfect BIg Ten conference, and fans could only wish we could make this happen.

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