Big Ten men's basketball teams currently play 18 conference games per regular season. According to conference commissioner Jim Delany, however, that number could soon increase.
According to Delany, the Big Ten is discussing moving to a 20-game schedule. There are mitigating factors, though.
From Jeff Goodman of espn.com:
Delany said the coaches haven't voted on whether to go from an 18- to a 20-game conference slate yet. He said the logistics will have to be figured out, especially with recovery time for the players.
"If we do it, we need to present it in a healthy way," Delany said.
Perhaps a bellwether of conference coaches, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo says he thinks it will happen.
"I personally see us going to a 20-game schedule," Izzo told ESPN on Monday. "I don't think there's any question it's going to happen -- and I'm not overly against it."
While it would mean tougher schedules for teams across the board, it'd also help prepare the Big Ten for NCAA Tournament play. The conference hasn't won a championship since Maryland in 2002. (Or Michigan State in 2000, if only counting teams that belonged to the Big Ten during their run.)
