Big Time: The History of Big Ten Basketball, 1972–1992

In Big Time: The History of Big Ten Basketball, 1972–1992, Murry R. Nelson presents an engaging narrative. The book details the decades chronologically from preseason to postseason, recalling the tournaments and rivalries in the Big Ten. Nelson writes about the Big Ten's strengths, struggles, and successes while brilliantly bringing to life characters such as Bobby Knight, Johnny Orr, and future National Basketball Association stars Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Kevin McHale, and Isiah Thomas to create a vivid story.Chapters 1 through 5 are dedicated to the 1970s and focus on Bobby Knight and Indiana University's dominance. Along with that came coaching changes and the evolution of recruitment. Gene Bartow was a coaching change of note. He left the University of Illinois to replace John Wooden at UCLA. Another coach, Gus Ganaks, was reassigned, and Bill Cofield replaced John Powless. Investigations plagued the University of Minnesota, while Bobby Knight's behavior was under question due to the loss and suspension of key players on his team. Recruitment changed; it included summer camps, “bird dogs,” and word of mouth from former players about specific players. During this decade, the Big Ten witnessed the matchup of the decade in the NCAA championship: Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.Chapters 6 to 10 cover the 1980s, detailing Big Ten basketball highlights and developments. Indiana continued its dominance. At the same time, other teams like Ohio State, Purdue, Minnesota, Illinois, and Michigan had successes during this decade, including trips to the NCAA tournament and the NIT. Rule changes included the three-point shot and forty-five-second shot clock. These rules changed the game into what it is today. Unfortunately, Minnesota was in the spotlight for different reasons. Minnesota suspended players who had sexual assault charges brought against them.Chapters 11 and 12 are about the decade to end and the decade to come. The ’80s were ending, and the ’90s were beginning at the start of chapter 11. No coaching changes occurred. With schools outside the conference in violation, the Big Ten was putting standards in place. Indiana would clinch the conference title. The NCAA invited five teams, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Iowa, and Minnesota, with Michigan winning the tournament. Ohio State, Michigan State, and Wisconsin would play in the NIT, with Ohio State losing in the semifinals. In the 1989–90 season, Michigan won the conference title after winning the NCAA tournament. Seven teams were invited to the NCAA tournament, excluding Wisconsin, Iowa, and Northwestern. Minnesota advanced but would lose in the Southeast regionals.As addressed in chapter 12, the 1990s would be the last time the Big Ten would have ten teams, with Penn State entering the conference and Illinois being placed on probation for rule infractions. Indiana clinched the conference title in the 1990–91 season. The NIT invited Wisconsin and Michigan, and both exited quickly. The NCAA tournament included Indiana, Purdue, Iowa, Michigan State, and Ohio State; no team would make it to the Elite Eight. The 1991–92 season officially welcomed Penn State to the conference, and Ohio State won the Big Ten Conference. Purdue and Minnesota played in the NIT, but neither made it deep into the tournament. The NCAA tournament included Iowa, Michigan, Ohio State, Indiana, and Michigan State. Indiana and Michigan made it to the Final Four, Michigan to the championship game, but lost to Duke.Two chapters stand out as essential but seem out of place. The information in chapter 3 and chapter 8 could have been included in other chapters. Overall, Nelson's book vividly depicts the decades and takes one back to that era. He presents the information in a format that follows the Big Ten from preseason to season and postseason play. The book is detailed and uses meticulously researched news articles (national and local), coach and player interviews, and basketball annuals to richly detail one of the most dominating conferences in college basketball.