Big Ten basketball has dominated college basketball this year. This is clearly the best overall conference right now, which makes the Big Ten Tournament this season so much more exciting. Michigan may be the best team in the country, but there’s seven or eight schools who have a legitimate shot to win this tournament.
Let’s break down the conference tournament, previewing the conference and giving the standings, bracket and schedule.
Be sure to visit our College Basketball Conference Tournaments Hub for more Champ Week coverage!
Big Ten Basketball Standings
| Team | Conference Record | Overall Record | Tournament Outlook |
| Michigan | 14-3 | 19-3 | 1 Seed |
| Illinois | 16-4 | 20-6 | 2 Seed |
| Iowa | 14-6 | 20-7 | 3 Seed |
| Purdue | 13-6 | 18-8 | 4 Seed |
| Ohio State | 12-8 | 18-8 | 5 Seed |
| Wisconsin | 10-10 | 16-11 | 6 Seed |
| Rutgers | 10-10 | 14-10 | 7 Seed |
| Michigan State | 9-11 | 15-11 | 8 Seed |
| Maryland | 9-11 | 15-12 | 9 Seed |
| Indiana | 7-12 | 12-14 | 10 Seed |
| Penn State | 7-12 | 10-13 | 11 Seed |
| Northwestern | 6-13 | 9-14 | 12 Seed |
| Minnesota | 6-14 | 13-14 | 13 Seed |
| Nebraska | 3-16 | 7-19 | 14 Seed |
Big Ten Basketball Schedule
Dates: March 10-14
TV: Big Ten Network, CBS
Location: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
Byes: Top-four get double bye, seeds 5-10 get single bye
Most Recent Champion: Michigan State
Big Ten Tournament Bracket
*Note: All times provided are Eastern
First Round (Wed., March 10), Big Ten Network (BTN)
- (13) Minnesota 51, (12) Northwestern 46
- (11) Penn State 72, (14) Nebraska 66
Second Round (March 11), BTN
- (9) Maryland 68, (8) Michigan State 57
- (5) Ohio State 79, (13) Minnesota 75
- (7) Rutgers 61, (10) Indiana 50
- (6) Wisconsin 75, (11) Penn State 74
Quarterfinals (March 12), BTN
- (1) Michigan 79, (9) Maryland 66
- (5) Ohio State 87, (4) Purdue 78
- (2) Illinois 90, (7) Rutgers 68
- (3) Iowa, (6) Wisconsin 57
Semifinals (March 13), CBS
- (5) Ohio State vs. (1) Michigan, 1 p.m.
- (3) Iowa vs. (2) Illinois, 3:30 p.m.
Championship (March 14), CBS
- TBD, 3:30 p.m
Big Ten Basketball Breakdown
Michigan closed out their season winning the Big Ten, with a 14-2 conference record. They have been ranked at or near the top of the Pomeroy Rankings all year long, and it’s easy to make an argument that the Wolverines are the best team in the country. They rank sixth in the country in adjusted offense and fourth in adjusted defense, per Pomeroy. If they are on their game, nobody can beat them. Plain and simple.
Iowa was viewed as the best Big Ten basketball team for a good stretch this season. They have the best player in the conference and one of the best big men in the country, in Luka Garza. The Hawkeye post averages 23.8 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. Iowa is actually fourth in the Pomeroy Rankings, just below Michigan.
Illinois ranks fifth in the Pomeroy Rankings, showing just how strong Big Ten basketball is. They are led by Ayo Dosunmu, who may be the best player Illinois has ever had. He is averaging 20.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists. Dosunmu is capable of winning games by himself not only in the Big Ten Tournament, but the NCAA Tournament.
These are the top three teams in the conference, but the Big Ten is so deep with talent that we could continue on and on and on. This tournament is going to be incredible. Sit back and enjoy top-tier, competitive basketball…at least after the first round.
