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2020 Big Ten Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament Basics

Dates

Wednesday, March 11th (first round); Thursday, March 12th (second round); Friday, March 13th (quarterfinals); Saturday, March 14th (semifinals); Sunday, March 15th (championship)

Format

Traditional bracket

Site

After spending 2017 and 2018 on the East Coast, the Big Ten Tournament moved back to the Midwest last year. Indianapolis’ Bankers Life Fieldhouse is the venue this year, as it’s alternating with last year’s host, Chicago’s United Center, for a four-season cycle.

TV/Streaming Info

While CBS has Saturday’s semifinals and Selection Sunday’s championship game, BTN has the first three rounds in their entirety for the third season in a row.

Participants

All 14 teams will play in this season’s event.

Downloadable Bracket

Schedule

First Round (Wed., March 11)

BTN will air both games.

Game 1: No. 13 Northwestern Wildcats (8-23, 3-17) 57, No. 12 Minnesota 74
The Golden Gophers swept the season series.

Game 2: No. 14 Nebraska Cornhuskers (7-25, 2-18) 64, No. 11 Indiana 89
The Hoosiers swept the season series.

Second Round (Thu., March 12)

BTN will air all four games.

Game 3: No. 9 Michigan Wolverines (19-12, 10-10) vs. No. 8 Rutgers Scarlet Knights (20-11, 11-9), 12 p.m.
The Wolverines swept the season series.

Game 4: No. 12 Minnesota Golden Gophers (15-16, 8-12) vs. No. 5 Iowa Hawkeyes (20-11, 11-9), approx. 2:30 p.m.
The Hawkeyes swept the season series.

Game 5: No. 10 Purdue Boilermakers (16-15, 9-11) vs. No. 7 Ohio State Buckeyes (21-10, 11-9), 6:30 p.m.
The Buckeyes won the pair’s lone regular-season meeting at home.

Game 6: No. 11 Indiana Hoosiers (20-12, 9-11)vs. No. 6 Penn State Nittany Lions (21-10, 11-9), approx. 9 p.m.
The season series was a home split.

Quarterfinals (Fri., March 13)

BTN will air all four games.

Game 7: Game 3 Winner vs. No. 1 Wisconsin Badgers (21-10, 14-6), 12 p.m.
Game 8: Game 4 Winner vs. No. 4 Illinois Fighting Illini (21-10, 13-7), approx. 2:30 p.m.
Game 9: Game 5 Winner vs. No. 2 Michigan State Spartans (22-9, 14-6), 6:30 p.m.
Game 10: Game 6 Winner vs. No. 3 Maryland Terrapins (24-7, 14-6), approx. 9 p.m.

Semifinals (Sat., March 14)

CBS will air both games.

Game 11: Game 7 Winner vs. Game 8 Winner, 1 p.m.
Game 12: Game 9 Winner vs. Game 10 Winner, approx. 3:30 p.m.

Championship (Sun., March 15)

Game 13: Semifinal winners, 3:30 p.m. (CBS)

10-Year Mayhem Potential

Data from Bob Vetrone Jr. on Twitter.

Over the past 10 seasons, the No. 1 seed has won half of the Big Ten Tournament titles available, with the two seed picking up a pair.

• 1 seed (5): 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019
• 2 seed (2): 2013, 2016
• 3 seed (1); 2014
• 5 seed (1): 2018
• 8 seed (1): 2017

10-Year NCAA Bid Totals

• 8 bids (1): 2019 (13-8 record, 14 teams)
• 7 bids (5): 2011 (7-7 record, 11 teams), 2013 (14-7 record, 12 teams), 2015 (12-7, 14 teams), 2016 (8-7 record, 14 teams), 2017 (8-7 record, 14 teams)
• 6 bids (2): 2012 (11-6 record, 12 teams), 2014 (10-6 record, 12 teams)
• 5 bids (1): 2010 (9-5 record, 11 teams)
• 4 bids (1): 2018 (3-9 record, 14 teams)

After earning eight bids a season ago, the Big Ten is is position to smash that mark by placing 10 teams in the 2020’s field.

Last Conference Tournament Championships

Michigan State: 2019 (1 seed)
Michigan: 2018 (5 seed)
Wisconsin: 2015 (1 seed)
Ohio State: 2013 (2 seed)
Purdue: 2009 (3 seed)
Iowa: 2006 (2 seed)
Illinois: 2005 (1 seed)
Maryland: 2004 (6 seed, ACC)
Nebraska: 1994 (4 seed, Big Eight)
Penn State: 1991 (3 seed, Atlantic 10)
Rutgers: 1989 (3 seed, Atlantic 10)

Remember the Big Ten Tournament only started in 1998, so it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise that long-term members Indiana, Minnesota, and Northwestern don’t have conference tournament titles period (though it is a mild shock in the Hoosiers’ case). Maryland, Nebraska, Penn State, and Rutgers all won titles in their previous conferences, however.

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