The conference has struggled to meet expectations as it slumps to the finish, but the tournament is likely to feature a half-dozen or so teams that will go dancing on Selection Sunday.
Purdue won the regular-season title behind Caleb Swanigan. Equipped with a newly slim physique, the potential first-round pick is quicker than ever and has produced monstrous stat lines all season. He’s a Player of the Year candidate, averaging 19 points and 13 rebounds per game.
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Other players to watch include Michigan State’s potential lottery pick, Miles Bridges; Indiana’s first-round hopeful, Thomas Bryant; and dominant upperclassmen in Maryland’s Melo Trimble, Wisconsin’s Nigel Hayes and Illinois’ Malcolm Hill.
Each team should see crowd representation in the nation’s capital, but none more than the nearby Maryland.
Here is the complete schedule for the 2017 Big Ten Conference’s men’s basketball tournament (all times Eastern).
2017 Big Ten Tournament schedule
Wednesday, March 8: First round
Game 1: No. 13 Penn State 76, No. 12 Nebraska 67 Game 2: No. 14 Rutgers 66, No. 11 Ohio State 57
Thursday, March 9: Second round
Game 3: No. 8 Michigan 75 vs. No. 9 Illinois 55 Game 4: No. 5 Michigan State 78 vs. No. 13 Penn State 51 Game 5: No. 10 Indiana 95, No. 7 Iowa 73 Game 6: No. 6 Northwestern 83, No. 14 Rutgers 61
Friday, March 10: Quarterfinals
Game 7: No. 8 Michigan 74, No. 1 Purdue 70 Game 8: No. 4 Minnesota 63, No. 5 Michigan State 58 Game 9: No. 2 Wisconsin 70, No. 10 Indiana 60 Game 10: No. 6 Northwestern 72, No. 3 Maryland 64
Saturday, March 11: Semifinals
Game 11: No. 8 Michigan vs. No. 4 Minnesota, 1 p.m. on CBS Game 12: No. 2 Wisconsin vs. No. 6 Northwestern, 3:30 p.m. on CBS
Sunday, March 12: Championship game
Game 13: S1 winner vs. S2 winner, 3 p.m. on CBS
