BIG 10 SQUAD: The Big 10 is CRUSHING March Madness | Will Michigan & Illinois MEET in the Final?

The Big Ten has officially cemented itself as the dominant force in college sports, with a near-total stranglehold across football, basketball, baseball, and even women’s sports. In this week’s Locked On Big Ten squad, hosts Spencer McLaughlin, Zach Anderson-Yaksheimer, Mark Colkin, Roman Tomashoff, and Isaiah Hull dissect the conference’s unprecedented run, attributing its success to a perfect storm of financial power, elite coaching hires, and the strategic use of NIL. The conversation pivots to the Final Four, where Michigan and Illinois are both vying for a historic national championship berth—potentially setting up an all-Big Ten title game. Michigan’s depth, defensive prowess, and killer instinct are praised, especially after key transfers like Yaxville reshaped their roster. Meanwhile, Illinois’s offensive firepower and length on the glass are seen as their main weapons against UConn, though experience and mental toughness are questioned. The hosts debate whether the Big Ten’s dominance is sustainable, with some joking that Dan Hurley’s intensity might be the only thing keeping UConn competitive. Ultimately, the episode captures a conference at the peak of its power—where tradition, money, and talent converge to redefine college athletics. The Big Ten’s 24-year national title drought in basketball is now on the brink of ending, and with Michigan and Illinois both in the Final Four, the league could finally break through.