Big Ten Tournament Schedule
First Round – Thursday, 3/14
GAME 1
#8 Illinois (21-11, 8-10) vs. #9 Minnesota (20-11, 8-10) – 11am CT on BTN
GAME 2
#5 Michigan (25-6, 12-6) vs. #12 Penn State (10-20, 2-16) – 1:30 CT on BTN
GAME 3
#7 Purdue (15-16, 8-10) vs. #10 Nebraska (14-17, 5-13) – 5:30 CT on ESPN
GAME 4
#6 Iowa (20-11, 9-9) vs. #11 Northwestern (13-18, 4-14) – 8:00 CT on ESPN2
Quarterfinals – Friday, 3/15
GAME 5
Illinois/Minnesota vs. #1 Indiana (26-5, 14-4) Quarterfinals – 11:00 CT on ESPN
GAME 6
Michigan/Penn State vs. Wisconsin #4 (21-10, 12-6) – 1:30 CT on ESPN
GAME 7
Purdue/Nebraska vs. Ohio State #2 (23-7, 13-5) – 5:30 CT on BTN
GAME 8
Iowa/Northwestern vs. Michigan State #3 (24-7, 13-5) – 8:00 CT on BTN
Semifinals – Saturday, 3/16
GAME 9
Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6 – 12:45 on CBS
GAME 10
Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 8 – 3:15 on CBS
Finals – Sunday, 3/17
GAME 11
Winner of Game 9 vs. Winner of Game 10 – 2:30 on CBS
TIEBREAKERS
1) Total points in Big Ten Championship Game
2) Points for leading scorer in Big Ten Championship Game
With scheduling set, Iowa enters Thursday as the #6 seed in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament, set to face the #11 seed Northwestern at the United Center. The Wildcats, losers of their last nine and winless on the road since January 17th in Champagne. Northwestern limped to the finish line, finishing 4-14 in conference and a road-home sweep at the hand of the Hawkeyes, giving Iowa an ideal matchup in the first round.
The quarterfinals matchup against #3 seed Michigan State presents a significantly tough matchup, with Michigan State ending the season with two wins after three straight loses against #1 Indiana and on the road against #18 Ohio State and #4 Michigan. In their lone matchup of the season, Sparty was able to hold off Iowa on the road with a 2nd half rally, but that was without Devyn Marble in the lineup. The junior guard will be in action for this matchup, as well as Mike Gesell making a return for the Big Ten Tournament.
Iowa
Overall: 20-11
Home Record: 16-2
Away Record: 2-8
Neutral-Court Record: 2-1
Conference Record: 9-9
Signature Wins: Iowa State, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois
Northwestern
Overall: 13-18
Home Record: 8-11
Away Record: 2-8
Neutral-Court Record: 2-0
Conference Record: 4-14
Signature Wins – Baylor, at #23 Illinois, #12 Minnesota
Michigan State
Overall: 24-7
Home Record: 17-1
Away Record: 6-5
Neutral-Court Record: 1-1
Conference Record: 13-5
Signature Wins: #7 Kansas, #11 Ohio State, #4 Michigan, Illinois
Ohio State
Overall: 23-7
Home Record: 16-2
Away Record: 5-5
Neutral-Court Record: 2-0
Conference Record: 13-5
Signature Wins – #2 Michigan, #3 Michigan State, #2 Indiana
A win against Michigan State, a projected #2-#3 seed in the NCAA Tournament, would make a big statement and add another crucial signature win to an Iowa tournament resume that includes victories against Iowa State, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois – all home games.
Two wins in the Big Ten Tournament would vault Iowa to a winning conference record and at least 22 wins, the most wins since 2006 and only the 3rd time an Iowa team has reached the 22 win plateau since 2000. Failure to advance to the semifinals on Saturday will likely put Iowa on the outside looking in, stamping their ticket to a second straight NIT Tournament appearance.
