Big Ten Tournament 2016: Seeds, Bracket, and Schedule Set
By Matt Snyder
The Big Ten Tournament is set with seeding, bracket, and schedule now that the 2016 regular season is behind us. Here’s who each team will play.
The focus of the Big Ten shifts to Indianapolis, Indiana’s Bankers Life Fieldhouse, location of the 2016 Big Ten Tournament. The tournament will feature 13 games in five days culminating with next Sunday’s championship game and the awarding of the Big Ten’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
First, here’s the format for the Big Ten basketball tournament:
The bottom four seeds will play in first round games on Wednesday, March 9. The two winners of those games will join seeds five through ten in second round action on Thursday, March 10. Winners of the four second round games will join the top four seeds who all receive double byes into the quarterfinals to be played on Friday, March 11.
No. 14 seed: Rutgers, 7-24 (1-17)
Rutgers finished on the bottom of the Big Ten with just a single conference win. They’ll have to play a first round game on Wednesday, March 9 against No. 11 seed at 7:00 p.m. (ET) on Big Ten Network.
No. 13 seed: Minnesota, 8-22 (2-16)
The Minnesota Golden Gophers will play a first round game as the 13th seeded team in the tournament. They’ll square off with No. 12 Illinois on Wednesday, March 9 at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
No. 12 seed: Illinois, 13-18 (5-13)
As one of the bottom four teams in the tournament, Illinois will have to play a first round game on Wednesday, March 9. They’ll take on No. 13 Minnesota at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
No. 11 seed: Nebraska, 14-17 (6-12)
The Nebraska Cornhuskers lost nine of their final eleven games to stumble to the No. 11 seed in the Big Ten Tournament. They’ll have to play a first round game against No. 14 Rutgers on Wednesday, March 9 in order to advance. The game will air at 7:00 p.m. on Big Ten Network.
No. 10 seed: Penn State, 16-15 (7-11)
Penn State is the last team to grab a bye past the first round as the tenth seeded team in the tournament. They’ll battle Ohio State on Thursday, March 10 at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
No. 9 seed: Northwestern, 20-11 (8-10)
The Northwestern Wildcats have never made an NCAA Tournament in the history of their program. They’ll need a deep Big Ten Tournament run this year to get into consideration. They’ll start that chance against No. 8 Michigan on Thursday, March 10 at noon (ET) on Big Ten Network. A win against Michigan would give the team win number 21 which would be a program record.
No. 8 seed: Michigan, 20-11 (10-8)
Michigan needs at least one win in the Big Ten Tournament to get back into the thick of at-large consideration for the NCAA Tournament. They’ll get a bye past the first round and take on No. 9 Northwestern on Thursday, March 10 at noon (ET) on Big Ten Network.
No. 7 seed: Ohio State, 19-12 (11-7)
The Ohio State Buckeyes have work to do if they hope to get into the NCAA Tournament as an at-large team. They’ll start their Big Ten Tournament run against No. 10 Penn State on Thursday, March 10 at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
No. 6 seed: Wisconsin, 20-11 (12-6)
The Wisconsin Badgers draw the short straw when it comes to the logjam of teams with a 12-6 record. They’ll get a bye into second round and square of against the winner of No. 11 Nebraska and No. 14 Rutgers on Thursday, March 10 at approximately 8:45 p.m. (officially 25 minutes after the conclusion of the No. 7. Ohio State vs. No. 10 Penn State game).
No. 5 seed: Iowa, 21-9 (12-6)
The Iowa Hawkeyes came up a tiebreaker short of receiving one of the top four seeds and a double bye into the quarterfinals. Instead they’ll have to play a second round game. They’ll get the winner of the No. 12 Illinois vs. No. 13 Minnesota game on Thursday, March 10 at approximately 2:15 p.m. (officially 25 minutes after the conclusion of the No. 8 Michigan vs. No. 9 Northwestern game) on Big Ten Network.
No. 4 seed: Purdue, 24-7 (12-6)
Purdue benefits from tiebreakers and receives a double by into the quarterfinals thanks to their position as a top-four seed in the tournament. They’ll take on the winner of the No. 5 Iowa vs. No.12/No.13 on Friday, March 11 at approximately 2:15 p.m. on ESPN.
No. 3 seed: Maryland, 24-7 (12-6)
The Maryland Terrapins have landed the No. 3 seed in this year’s tournament. They’ll get the winner of the No. 6 Wisconsin vs. No. 11/ No. 14 game on Friday, March 11 at approximately 8:45 p.m. on Big Ten Network.
No. 2 seed: Michigan State, 26-5 (13-5)
The Michigan State Spartans will receive a double bye into the quarter finals as one of the top four finishers in the regular season. They’ll face the winner of the No. 7 Ohio State vs. No. 10 Penn State game on Friday, March 11 at 6:30 p.m. The game will air on Big Ten Network.
No. 1 seed: Indiana 25-6 (15-3)
The Indiana Hoosiers claimed the 2015-16 regular season crown and will be the top seed for the Big Ten Tournament. They’ll get a double bye into the quarterfinals and take on the winner of the No. 8 Michigan vs. No. 9 game on Friday, March 11 at noon. The game will air on ESPN.
Semifinals and Championship
The semifinals will take place on Satruday, March 12 at 1:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on CBS.
The championship game between the final two teams will air at 3:30 p.m. Sunday on CBS.
Next: Michigan Out of Projected NCAA Tournament Field
Here’s a link to the full bracket with matchups, game times, and TV schedule for all five rounds of the Big Ten Tournament.