The 2025 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament is currently underway from March 12 to March 16, 2025, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. This tournament is notable as the first since the Big Ten’s expansion to 18 teams; however, only 15 teams are participating, with Nebraska, Washington, and Penn State not qualifying.
Tournament Structure:
- First Round (March 12): The 13th seed Northwestern Wildcats defeated the 12th seed Minnesota Golden Gophers 74-62. Coach Chris Collins expressed dissatisfaction with the Big Ten Conference after the game, criticizing the league for allegedly placing the team in a hotel with no functioning air conditioning, leading to uncomfortable sleeping conditions for his players.
- Second Round (March 13): The 15th seed Iowa Hawkeyes overcame a cold start to defeat the 10th seed Ohio State Buckeyes 77-70. Payton Sandfort led Iowa with 17 points. Iowa used a key 7-0 run late in the second half to secure the lead.
Current Standings and Upcoming Games:
As of March 13, 2025, the tournament is progressing with the following matchups:
- Quarterfinals (March 14):
- No. 1 Michigan State vs. No. 8 Oregon
- No. 4 UCLA vs. No. 5 Wisconsin
- No. 2 Maryland vs. No. 7 Illinois
- No. 3 Michigan vs. No. 6 Purdue
Fan Predictions:
A recent survey by SB Nation Reacts indicates that Michigan State is the favorite to win the tournament, with 50% of respondents picking them as winners. Maryland received 13% of the votes, reflecting their strong recent performance.
Broadcast Information:
The tournament games are being broadcast on Peacock (first round), Big Ten Network (second and quarterfinals), and CBS/Paramount+ (semifinals and championship).