In the grand scheme of things
Yes, no doubt about it I'd love for the Big 10 to win this thing once, if for no other reason we can stop hearing about the Big 10's doughnut vs. the ACC. And for the obvious ramifications on the Gophers. ... the better the Big 10 does, the better their strength of schedule, the better their RPI, etc., those things do matter. That's why I'll cheer for every Big 10 team, even the Badgers and Hawkeyes. It's the same reason I'll cheer for Virginia, Louisville, NDSU, Bowling Green, Cornell, etc., to do well this season, because the Gophers have them on their schedule; every little thing they do can help (or hurt) the Gophers.
However, I've come to the conclusion, does the final result of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge really matter all that much? Did it stop MSU from winning the national title in 2000? Or Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State or Wisconsin from reaching the Final 4? All this talk about what conferences are the best, what conferences are the weakest, in the end, who cares? It's all talk, and does it really matter come March?
Think about it. As a Gopher fan, what's the most important thing to you every season? Yes, we all crave Big 10 championships, but it's probably the same thing for you as it is for me. ... getting to the NCAA Tournament. When it gets right down to it, does it really matter if the Big 10 is (perceived as) the best conference, the second-best-conference, third-best conference or the worst BCS conference? All that matters is that the Gophers are 1 of the 65. If the Gophers are one of those 65 that has a chance to compete for the national title, that's the most important thing; that's where the money is; that's where the glory is, and that's where the One Shining Moments are.
As much as I want the Big 10 to do well every year in the NCAA Tournament, bottom line is if the Gophers are one of only 2-3 Big 10 teams in the tourney or even if they were the only Big 10 team to make the tournament (that will never happen in my lifetime), I'm a happy man.
I'll conclude with what I say every year in March, when I'm selecting my final Field of 65, and I'll say it again when people are whining about this conference or that conference not getting enough bids, or too many bids. ... TEAMS GET (AT-LARGE) BIDS, NOT CONFERENCES. People don't want to hear it, but it's the truth. No matter what conference they are in, the Gophers need to build THEIR resume, and that means having success against the best teams on their schedule.
That's my ramble for today.