Not very, it's one of the deepest conferences in the nation. Everyone has stepped up this year, its not the pushover it used to be. Last years' final four team would not have replicated their 14-2 record this year.
I feel your pain. WE ARE (last in the Big Ten) The sad part is, we have to put up with all this bull**** from our AD about how our program is "getting better" and "on the right track." That may have been true last year when we FINALLY had a decent season with an overall winning record including beating Illinois AT Assembly Hall. But this year was suppose to be sooooooo much better! Awesome how that turned out.