One of the longest droughts in the Big Ten will last another year.
With a 70-64 loss to No. 1 seed Auburn at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, No. 2 seed Michigan State became the last and final team from the Big Ten to be eliminated from the field of 68.
Tom Izzo's Spartans' elimination from March Madness means that the Big Ten will not crown a national champion in men's college basketball in 24 consecutive NCAA Tournaments, as there was not an NCAA Tournament in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It looked like the Big Ten could end its quarter-of-a-century drought this season with eight of its programs making the field on Selection Sunday and an 8-0 first round. But alas, it will have to wait until the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament.
The conference had four of its programs make the regional round of the NCAA Tournament, with Maryland, Michigan and Purdue all being eliminated in the Sweet 16 at the hands of No. 3 seed Texas Tech, Auburn and No. 1 seed Houston respectively.
Here's what you need to know about the last time the Big Ten has crowned a national champions in men's college basketball:
When was the last time the Big Ten won men's March Madness?
The last time the Big Ten won the men's NCAA Tournament came in 2000, when Michigan State and Izzo defeated Florida at
To make the national championship game that season, the Spartans defeated No. 16 seed Valparaiso in the first round, No. 8 seed Utah in the second round, No. 4 seed Syracuse in the Sweet 16, No. 2 seed Iowa State in the Elite Eight and Big Ten foe No. 8 seed Wisconsin in the Final Four.
It is the lone national championship on Izzo's illustrious March Madness resume. The Big Ten has come up short
Big Ten men's March Madness champions history
Here's a breakdown of past Big Ten programs that have won the men's NCAA Tournament, per NCAA.com:
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