The last laugh

CHICAGO -- Excuse the Big Ten if it gloats a bit these days.

Dissed and dismissed all year as being weaker than the other power conferences, the Big Ten is showing its mettle when it counts. After putting three teams in the regional finals of the NCAA tournament, the Big Ten is sending Illinois and Michigan State to the Final Four this weekend.

For those keeping score, that's one more Final Four team than the vaunted ACC. And two more than either the Big East or the Big 12.

"We're proud of our teams and our players," Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany said Monday. "You don't take it too seriously. You'd like people to say nice things instead of not-so-nice things. But I think the criticism, to the extent there was some, I don't think it was justified."

But knocking the Big Ten has become the thing to do in recent years. Critics say it isn't as strong as it once was, with an RPI this year that was sixth-best among the elite conferences and only three teams in the final Top 25. Others say it can't compare with the ACC.

After Illinois lost for the first time this season, for example, it kept its No. 1 ranking but 22 voters went for North Carolina, a team with three losses.

Delany disputes all that, and can rattle off the numbers to back it up. The Big Ten had seven teams in the top 50, and beat 32 of the top 50-ranked teams. The Big Ten also won 70 percent of its 110 nonconference games.

Those who claim the Big Ten is too plodding? Delany said the ACC averaged 71 points a game, a mere 3-pointer ahead of the Big Ten.

And when it comes time for the NCAA tournament, few conferences match the Big Ten. It has the most appearances of any conference, and trails only the ACC in victories (309-278). This is the third time since 1999 it's had two teams in the Final Four, and seventh time since 1976.

Since 1997, more than half of the conference -- six teams -- has made at least one Final Four appearance. Michigan State, which will play North Carolina on Friday night, is playing in its fourth Final Four since 1997.

"When they put it on the TV screen, the conferences and the records, we're on top right now, so it's a good feeling," Illinois coach Bruce Weber said. "I know our coaches in the league have been upset about it really since last spring. ... Our image is being hurt, because it mainly affects recruiting.

"So it's got to be a positive to have two teams, to have them win in overtime, us win in an unbelievable fashion," Weber added. "Hopefully it will give us some good publicity nationwide."

And the Big Ten is watching to make sure it does. Delany said his office has monitored the national broadcasts on CBS and ESPN. When he's seen something unfair, he's called the networks to point it out.

Delany said he's only done it a "handful" of times. But even a handful is too many, especially with all the attention paid to the Dukes, North Carolinas and Connecticuts.

"I have a lot of respect for basketball in the East Coast," said Delany, an East Coast native. "I just don't think there's two levels: A level in the East and a level everywhere else."