Big Ten men’s basketball is bigger and better than ever. In its first year of its latest expansion, the Big Ten is home to 18 programs including former Pac-12 teams like USC, UCLA, and Washington. While the league went most of the season without a true powerhouse team, the games were competitive night in and night out.
The Big Ten is so big these days every team doesn’t even make the conference tournament. Only the top-15 teams in the league qualified, which meant Nebraska, Washington, and Penn State won’t have the chance to compete for the auto-bid to the NCAA tournament. We’re left with a field where any team can make a run to the championship.
The Michigan State Spartans enter the Big Ten tournament as one of the hottest teams in the country, and haven’t lost in more than a month. Michigan State could be in line for a No. 1 seed if it can win the conference tournament. The Spartans are one of 10 teams from the Big Ten currently projected in the 2025 NCAA tournament field. Other programs aren’t as comfortable.
There’s so much on the line at the 2025 men’s Big Ten tournament. No team slated for an at-large bid should feel comfortable with their seeding entering the conference tournament. Indiana and Ohio State are still trying to play their way into the field.
Here’s the bracket, schedule, TV times, and stakes for the 2025 Big Ten tournament.
Big Ten tournament bracket 2025 and matchups
Big Ten tournament 2025 stakes for Indiana, Michigan State, Ohio State and more
Every team in the field is under pressure entering the Big Ten tournament. Teams like Northwestern, Minnesota, Iowa, USC, and Rutgers can only make the big dance by winning the auto-bid. Most of the other programs are playing for seeding in the NCAA tournament.
Indiana and Ohio State probably need to win at least one, maybe two, games in the Big Ten tournament to feel comfortable about receiving an at-large bid on Selection Sunday. The Buckeyes are currently slated for the first four in our latest projection, and would love to play their way out of Dayton in the conference tournament.
Illinois is safely in the tournament field already, but right now they’re projected as an 8- or 9-seed, which would mean a matchup with a No. 1 seed in the round of 32. The Illini can get off the 8/9 line with a deep run in the conference tournament, which would also give them confidence and momentum heading into the big dance.
The Big Ten tournament title game falling just hours before March Madness is also a tricky proposition. Can Michigan State get a No. 1 seed if it wins the conference tournament, or will the Selection Committee already have the bracket set? Either way, the Spartans are on fire right now, and should be a trendy Final Four pick.
Big Ten tournament 2025 schedule, TV times, games, and more
Wednesday, March 12
- Game 1: No. 13 Northwestern 72, No. 12 seed Minnesota 64
- Game 2: No. 15 Iowa 77, No. 10 Ohio State 70
- Game 3: No. 14 Southern Cal 97, No. 11 Rutgers 89
Thursday, March 13
- Game 4: No. 8 Oregon 72, No. 9 Indiana 59
- Game 5: No. 5 Wisconsin 70, No. 13 Northwestern 63
- Game 6: No. 7 Illinois 106, No. 15 Iowa 94
- Game 7: No. 6 Purdue 76, vs. No. 14 Southern Cal 71
Friday, March 14, Quarterfinals
- Game 8: No. 1 Michigan State 74, No. 8 Oregon 64
- Game 9: No. 5 Wisconsin 86, No. 4 UCLA 70
- Game 10: No. 2 Maryland 88, No. 7 Illinois 65
- Game 11: No. 3 Michigan 86, No. 6 Purdue 68
Saturday, March 15, Semifinals
- Game 12: No. 5 Wisconsin 77, No. 1 Michigan State 74
- Game 13: No. 2 Maryland vs. No. 3 Michigan | 25 minutes after Game 12 on CBS
Sunday, March 16, Championship
- Game 14: No. 5 Wisconsin vs. Game 13 winner | 3:30 p.m. on CBS
