Going in to the 1998 season, Purdue was an overwhelming favorite to capture the league championship. This marked the third consecutive year that one team had been anointed champion before the season started. In 1996 Iowa was given the championship and everyone knew Illinois would win in 1997. Neither team finished first.
But in 1998 year, Purdue allowed all the prognosticators to feel special as the Boilers became only the second Big 10 to go through the league undefeated .
The rest of the league went about as predicted. Iowa won a few more games than expected and Indiana lost a whole more than anyone thought they would.
Northwestern's veteran coach Don Perelli, who brought class to the league announce he would retire after the season. Carolyn Peck left Purdue to become the coach and general manager of the WNBA's Orlando franchise.
1998 was the year of the freshman
in the Big 10. Over a dozen frosh made significant contributions
to their teams, while two of the league's top first year players missed
the year with acl's.
Final Standings
My Pre-season Picks
| 1 | Purdue | 16-0 | 28-1 | 1 | Purdue | |
| 2 | Penn State | 12-4 | 21-7 | 2 | Penn State | |
| 3 | Illinois | 11-6 | 18-11 | 3 | Ohio State | |
| 4t | Wisconsin | 9-7 | 14-13 | 4 | Illinois | |
| 4t | Ohio State | 9-7 | 17-11 | 5 | Wisconsin | |
| 6t | Michigan | 8-8 | 18-11 | 6 | Indiana | |
| 6t | Michigan State | 8-8 | 16-13 | 7 | Michigan | |
| 8 | Iowa | 7-9 | 12-15 | 8 | Michigan State | |
| 9 | Northwestern | 5-11 | 12-16 | 9 | Iowa | |
| 10t | Indiana | 2-14 | 13-18 | 10 | Minnesota | |
| 10t | Minnesota | 2-14 | 7-20 | 11 | Northwestern |
Click on each school to see a more detailed analysis of their season
To see the post-season awards,
including a few special ones I presented dribble the ball