2024 Men's Basketball Big Ten Tournament Bracket Set
Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament bracket set, Purdue and Illinois top seeds. Only six conference teams expected in NCAA Tourney. Stay tuned!
The highly anticipated Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament is set to kick off in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Wednesday. Purdue, the dominant force in the regular season, clinched the conference title with a commanding three-game lead. They are set to face the winner of the Minnesota vs. Michigan State matchup on Friday at 11:00am CT. Purdue boasts an impressive 28-3 record for the season and is riding a five-game winning streak, culminating in a victory over the Wisconsin Badgers in their final regular season game. The Boilermakers are aiming to make history by becoming the first team to secure back-to-back outright regular season titles and conference tournament titles, solidifying their status as one of the most successful programs in recent conference history.
The Illinois Fighting Illini secured the second seed with a conference record of 14-6 (23-8 overall) and will await the winner of the Ohio State vs. Iowa matchup. Illinois has seen an offensive surge since the return of Terrance Shannon Jr., but their defensive struggles have been evident towards the end of the season. Despite boasting the 4th ranked offense, their defense ranks 73rd according to Kenpom's adjusted efficiency ratings.
The Nebraska Cornhuskers and Northwestern Wildcats complete the double byes for this year's tournament, both teams aiming to strengthen their seed lines in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
The Big Ten Conference may face challenges in securing the usual number of teams for the NCAA Tournament, as bracketologist Joe Lunardi predicts only six teams from the conference making it to the field. Purdue, Illinois, Nebraska, Northwestern, Michigan State, and Wisconsin are in a relatively comfortable position, while Iowa and Ohio State will need to capitalize on their matchups to potentially secure a spot in the tournament, possibly as play-in game participants.
Stay tuned throughout the week for updates, game previews, and reviews as we approach Selection Sunday!
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