The Big Ten Tournament’s debut in New York City has produced a thrilling tournament filled with comebacks, upsets and high-level play from the conference’s top stars. As the tournament reaches the finals, we have two teams that should produce an exciting finish.
Big Ten Tournament 2018: Bracket, schedule, scores, teams, and more
Michigan defeated Purdue in the final to punch its ticket to the NCAA Tournament.
Nicole Sweet-USA TODAY Sports
The fifth-seeded Michigan Wolverines reached the final after outlasting favored Michigan State in the first semifinal. Half of the Spartans’ four losses this season have now come to the Wolverines. Four Michigan starters finished in double-figures. Michigan made nine three-pointers in the win.
In the second semifinal, Purdue finally put an end to Penn State’s Cinderella run. The Boilermakers got 27 points from point guard Carsen Edwards, and drained 11 three-pointers as a team. Penn State shot just 34 percent in the loss.
The Big Ten Tournament concludes on Sunday under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden. Purdue and Michigan are a pair of top-15 teams who are already locks for the NCAA tournament. This is for pride.
The stakes
Michigan State and Purdue will be looking to make a deep run in the Big Ten tourney to lock up potential high seeds in the NCAA Tournament and also stake their claim that they are best in the Midwest. Meanwhile, Penn State and Nebraska need to impress in New York City to possibly snag an at-large spot in the field of 68.
The format
The Big 10 tournament is single elimination, featuring all 14 conference teams. The top four seeds receive a double-bye and face the winners of the No. 5/No. 12 or No. 13, No 6./No. 11 or No. 14, No. 7/No. 10, and No. 8/No. 9 matchups. From there, it just takes three victories to win the title.
The bracket and schedule
Here is the full tournament bracket and day-by-day schedule. Game times subject to change. We’ll be updating it with results along the way.
Source: B1G
Wednesday, Feb. 28 — First Round
Game 1: No. 12 Iowa, 96, No. 13 Illinois, 87
Game 2: No. 14 Rutgers 65, No. 11 Minnesota 54
Thursday, March 1 — Second Round
Game 3: Wisconsin 59, vs. No. 8 Maryland 54
Game 4: No. 5 Michigan 77, No. 12 Iowa 71 (OT)
Game 5: No. 7 Penn State 65, No. 10 Northwestern 57
Game 6: No. 14 Rutgers 76, No. 6 Indiana 69
Friday, March 2 — Quarterfinals
Game 7: No. 1 Michigan State 63, No. 9 Wisconsin 60
Game 8: No. 5 Michigan 77, No. 4 Nebraska 58
Game 9: No. 7 Penn State 69, No. 2 Ohio State 68
Game 10: No. 3 Purdue 82, No. 14 Rutgers 75
Saturday, March 3 — Semifinals
Game 11: No. 5 Michigan 75, No. 1 Michigan State 64
Game 12: No. 3 Purdue 78, No. 7 Penn State 70
Sunday, March 4 — Championship Game
No. 5 Michigan 75 vs. No. 3 Purdue 66
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