The Big Ten has had its fair share of superb teams over the last 25 years, but would it surprise you to learn that the conference has not won the NCAA Tournament since Michigan State cut down the nets in the year 2000? Purdue was the runner-up in 2024, and the Big Ten had two Final Four participants apiece in the years 2005 and 2015, but still could not come away with the hardware.
This season could be the best chance to break the streak, though. The conference currently boasts a staggering 18 members, with six schools in the top-25 and three in the top seven (Purdue, Michigan, Michigan State). Indiana is included in that group; the Hoosiers have not been to the Sweet 16 since 2016, and the Final Four since 2002.
Certainly, the Big East, ACC, SEC and Big 12 will have something to say about this when all is said and done. After all, those conferences have all cut down the nets, multiple times in fact, since the last championship for the Big Ten. Nevertheless, this campaign brings plenty of promise for potentially ending such a historic drought.
College Basketball Midseason Stock Report
Let's take a look at some players making headlines in this edition of the College Hoops Barometer.
UPGRADE
Chad Baker-Mazara, F, USC – The transfer from Auburn was a key contributor for the Tigers, but he has taken his game to new heights since joining the Trojans. In eight games at USC, Baker-Mazara
The Big Ten has had its fair share of superb teams over the last 25 years, but would it surprise you to learn that the conference has not won the NCAA Tournament since Michigan State cut down the nets in the year 2000? Purdue was the runner-up in 2024, and the Big Ten had two Final Four participants apiece in the years 2005 and 2015, but still could not come away with the hardware.
This season could be the best chance to break the streak, though. The conference currently boasts a staggering 18 members, with six schools in the top-25 and three in the top seven (Purdue, Michigan, Michigan State). Indiana is included in that group; the Hoosiers have not been to the Sweet 16 since 2016, and the Final Four since 2002.
Certainly, the Big East, ACC, SEC and Big 12 will have something to say about this when all is said and done. After all, those conferences have all cut down the nets, multiple times in fact, since the last championship for the Big Ten. Nevertheless, this campaign brings plenty of promise for potentially ending such a historic drought.
College Basketball Midseason Stock Report
Let's take a look at some players making headlines in this edition of the College Hoops Barometer.
UPGRADE
Chad Baker-Mazara, F, USC – The transfer from Auburn was a key contributor for the Tigers, but he has taken his game to new heights since joining the Trojans. In eight games at USC, Baker-Mazara is averaging 20.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.3 blocks per contest. The points, rebounds and blocks are career bests. He paced the Trojans with 23 points to capture the Southwest Maui Invitational Championship against Arizona State, then poured in 25 points in the 82-77 triumph at Oregon on Tuesday. This outing was especially notable considering it came without another 20-point scorer, Rodney Rice, who has missed two-straight games with a shoulder issue. The conference slate heats up starting in January with back-to-back clashes with Michigan and Michigan State, which will be a better barometer as to just how far Baker Mazara can take this squad. For now, though, USC is sitting pretty at 8-0 and ranked in the Top 25.
PJ Haggerty, G, Kansas State – Haggerty is on his fourth school in four years, but continues to pile up the points. Now with the Wildcats, Haggerty us managing a career-high 25.1 points per tilt. In fact, he is the leading scorer in the entire country. Haggerty is far from a one-trick pony, though, as he is also managing 4.9 boards and 5.3 assists per outing. Though he has gone a tad cold of late following back-to-back 30-plus point games, the sheer volume of shots given to Haggerty will continue to make him a superior offensive option.
Cameron Carr, G, Baylor – Carr barely played over the last two seasons at Tennessee, but has become the focal point of the offense since transferring to Baylor. Carr is averaging 23 points to go along with five rebounds per game. Carr has already hit at least 25 points in four of seven outings for the Bears, including Tuesday's 25 point barrage in a 110-88 thrashing of Sacramento State. Carr has been efficient shooting the ball as well, hitting 57.6-percent of his shots from the floor, including a robust 50-percent from downtown. It has been a full-on breakout for Carr thus far this season, as he has excelled in his new starring role at Baylor.
Michael Ajayi, F, Butler – Teammate Finley Bizjack has gone viral for his approach of "playing like his hair is on fire", but Ajayi has been just as vital to the early-season success of the Bulldogs. Ajayi was a centerpiece for Pepperdine two years ago, but played more of a complementary role with Gonzaga last season. Now at Butler, Ajayi has returned to larger responsibility, and the production speaks for itself. The senior has seven double-doubles in eight games, only missing the marker with 20 points and eight rebounds in a win over the weekend versus Wright State. Overall, Ajayi is averaging 16.3 points and 12.0 rebounds. He has also proven a more than capable passer with 3.4 dimes per tilt as well. With only a narrow loss on its resume to SMU, the Bulldogs appear to be set up for a stellar season in the Big East behind Ajayi and company.
See how these players stack up among other power conference talent in RotoWire's fantasy college basketball rankings.
CHECK STATUS
Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Michigan – The UAB transfer began the season with a hand injury, and the step up in competition as well as getting used to a new squad and surroundings appeared to have an impact on him. However, Lendeborg seems to be hitting his stride of late. He has three double-doubles in his last five contests, including 21 points and 11 rebounds in the 101-61 dismantling of Gonzaga. Lendeborg also chipped in three assists, four steals and two blocks in that contest, flashing his versatility. He is no longer the big fish in a small pond, so he could have a subpar night by his standards on occasion. However, Michigan looks like a potential juggernaut overall this season, and Lendeborg is rounding into form.
Arrinten Page, F, Northwestern – The frontcourt of Page and Nick Martinelli has been one of the most imposing tandems in the country thus far this season. While Martinelli was well-known coming into the year, Page has been a pleasant surprise following stops as a reserve at both USC and Cincinnati. He has started all seven games for the Wildcats, averaging 15 points and seven rebounds per contest, crushing his previous career-highs. Foul trouble could become a bugaboo for Page as the competition level rises, though. He fouled out of a loss to Virginia, and nearly was disqualified from a narrow win at DePaul. Seeing the first big minutes of his collegiate career, Page will have to manage his aggressiveness at the defensive end or risk spending more time on the bench than he (or his coach) would like.
Tyler Tanner, G, Vanderbilt – Tanner played all 33 games off the bench a season ago for the Commodores, but was thrust into the starting lineup to begin the 2025-2026 campaign, at least partly due to the injury of transfer Frankie Collins. Tanner has done a more than admirable job in place of Collins, averaging 15.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.4 thefts per tilt. However, Collins has recently returned from injury, which has limited Tanner's playing time a bit. Tanner has also been in foul trouble in at least half of the first eight games of the season for Vandy, which could be a red flag as conference play has not even begun. Tanner has been productive thus far, but some regression could be coming.
DOWNGRADE
Tobi Lawal, F, Virginia Tech – Lawal has been sidelined for the past three games due to an ankle injury, and is without a timetable for his return. He had recorded double-doubles in three of the first five games for the Hokies this season prior to the injury. Amani Hansberry has been dominant with extra room to operate without Lawal in the paint. Hansberry has posted double-doubles in two of the three games that Lawal has missed, though the Hokies have also dropped two of those three contests without the services of one of their better players.
Check out how injuries are affecting the status of other players & teams on RotoWire's college basketball injury report.
Nate Bittle, C, Oregon – Bittle has missed the last two games due to an ankle injury, and perhaps unsurprisingly, the Ducks have struggled without their best player. The seven-footer leads the squad in both scoring (16.3 points) and rebounding (7.8 boards). He was also swatting 2.3 shots per contest prior to the injury. Though the injury is not considered serious, Bittle could remain out in the short-term and attempt to heal up for what is bound to be a rough conference slate in the Big Ten for the Ducks. Kwame Evans and Sean Stewart will pick up some additional minutes as long as Bittle is unable to suit up.
Dante Allen, G, Miami – The revamped 'Canes have looked strong of late with recent wins over Georgetown and Ole Miss, but will be without a key player in Allen for a few weeks. An unspecified upper-body injury sidelined Allen for the win over the Rebels, and Allen could be out through the holidays due to the ailment. Allen has played a hybrid role for Miami, averaging 7.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.4 steals per tilt. Without the services of the talented freshman, the Hurricanes are rather thin in the backcourt behind Tre Donaldson and Tru Washington. Fellow freshman and phenom Shelton Henderson could be asked to pick up some more playmaking slack with Allen shelved. Henderson had a career-high five dimes in the aforementioned victory at Ole Miss.
