2024 Big Ten Conference Basketball Tournament
The Big Ten Conference Tournament commences for the first time in Minneapolis on Wednesday, March 12th, with two First Round games. Purdue won the regular season championship by three games, just like last year, and became the first team to win consecutive outright Big Ten titles since Ohio State did so in 2006 and 2007. The Boilermakers also won the Big Ten Tournament last season en route to being a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. That did not go well for Purdue as they became just the second-ever No. 1 seed to lose in the first round. In fact, the winner of the Big Ten Tournament has not made it out of the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament since 2019, when Michigan State made the Final Four.
Illinois finished outright second in the league but was swept by Purdue. The other two automatic byes to Friday’s Quarterfinals are two surprises in No. 3 seed Nebraska and No. 4 seed Northwestern.
No. 5 seed Wisconsin started conference play with an 8-1 record and looked like a potential challenger to Purdue at the top before a fruitless February/early March when the Badgers went 3-8 to finish the conference season.
No. 6 seed Indiana won four in a row to end the conference slate at .500, along with No.7 seed Iowa and No. 8 seed Michigan State.
No. 10 seed Ohio State has won five of its last six since Jake Diebler took over as interim coach for Chris Holtmann, who was fired after the February 13 loss at Wisconsin.
As of now, the Big Ten likely earns at least six bids (Purdue, Illinois, Nebraska, Northwestern, and Michigan State) in the field of 68. Iowa and Ohio State in the 7-10 matchup on Thursday night is a ‘loser leaves town’ scenario in terms of any chance of an NCAA Tournament bid.
How to Watch the Big Ten Conference Tournament
When: Wednesday, March 13 – Sunday, March 17
Where: Target Center; Minneapolis, MN
Format: Seeds 11-14 play in Wednesday’s First Round. Those winners along with Seeds 5-10 play in Thursday’s Second Round. Quarterfinals are on Friday, followed by the Semifinals on Saturday before Sunday’s Championship Game.
Watch: Wednesday’s First-Round games will be on Peacock. On Thursday and Friday, BTN will cover the Second Round and Quarterfinals. CBS will broadcast both Semifinals on Saturday and Sunday’s Championship Game.
College Basketball Odds | College Basketball Betting Splits | Greg Peterson’s Daily Lines | Steve Makinen’s Power Ratings
Big Ten Conference Tournament Seeds, Teams and Odds
- Purdue +100
- Illinois +300
- Nebraska +700
- Northwestern +1600
- Wisconsin +1500
- Indiana +6000
- Iowa +3500
- Michigan State +1000
- Minnesota +10000
- Ohio State +3500
- Penn State +1500
- Maryland +6000
- Rutgers +30000
- Michigan +35000
Big Ten Tournament Bracket
Favorite To Win the Big Ten Conference Tournament
Purdue heads into the Big Ten Tournament as the favorite (+100) and are likely locked into perhaps the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament (currently third choice at +750 to win the NCAA Championship). The Boilermakers lead the nation in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency per Kenpom. Unlike last year, when the Boilers shot just 32.2% from the three (276th nationally), Purdue is at 41.1% this year, which is second nationally. The poor three-point shooting reared its ugly head when the Boilers went 5-for-26 in its first-round loss to Fairleigh Dickinson. If Purdue suffers another disappointing early March exit, outside shooting is likely not to be the reason.
Big Ten Conference Tournament Darkhorse
Illinois (+300) has one of the best offenses in the Big Ten and are certainly in the easier part of the draw with a potential matchup against Iowa or Ohio State, where they won all three meetings against those teams by double digits, and then a Nebraska team that has just four of its 22 overall victories away from Lincoln.
However, keep an eye on Wisconsin (+1500). They could get a banged-up Northwestern team that is down two starters and then a third game with Purdue, whom they played twice to single-digit defeats. The defense is the worst it has been under Greg Gard, but the offense has more shotmakers than ever before.
Players to Watch in the Big Ten Conference Tournament
Purdue’s Zach Edey ranks 2nd nationally in points (24.2 ppg) and 3rd nationally in rebounds (11.7 rpg) and is on his way to becoming the first player to win National Player of the Year in consecutive seasons since Ralph Sampson in 1982 and 1983. However, the Boilermakers are more than just Edey, as point guard Braden Smith steers the nation’s most efficient offense.
Terrence Shannon missed six games due to legal issues but is second in the conference for scoring. He does not have to carry the scoring alone, as Southern Illinois transfer Marcus Domask is also a clutch shotmaker.
Northwestern and Nebraska were both surprises this season and are led by big-time scoring guards. Boo Buie became Northwestern’s all-time leading scorer a couple of weeks ago and the “Japanese Stephen Curry” Keisei Tominaga.
If Michigan State is to make its March run, it will likely have to come from senior point guard Tyson Walker.
Betting Pick to Win the Big Ten Conference Tournament
Purdue and Illinois are the proper top choices, but early eliminations might not be the worst thing for these two teams based on recent Big Ten history.
Wisconsin (+1500) certainly is not exactly coming in hot this week, but St. John’s transfer AJ Storr has provided the Badgers scoring punch that they have lacked in recent years. A seed outside the top four has made the Big Ten Tournament final in five of the last six years and could easily happen again in a league that is down this season.
Makinen Power Ratings for the Big Ten
Check out the other previews in our 2024 College Basketball Conference Tournament Betting Guide.
