Predicting All 13 Games Of The 2024 Big Ten Tournament
The 2024 Big Ten Tournament tips off today, as the bottom four seeds of the conference battle to keep their season's alive.
To celebrate the occasion, and have a little fun with March Madness officially beginning, we decided to take a look at all of the matchups that the Big Ten Tournament will provide and give predictions on the outcomes of all 13 games.
Here's a reminder of the 2024 Big Ten Tournament bracket:
First Round: Wednesday, March 13
Game 1: (12) Maryland vs. (13) Rutgers — 6:30 p.m. (Peacock)
The Terrapins enter this game having lost five of their last six, though their lone victory came on the road at Rutgers (63-46). Earlier in the year, Maryland fell at home to the Scarlet Knights, 56-53, so this game will serve as a tiebreaker in the season series. Neither of these teams are playing particularly well coming into the tournament, with Rutgers having lost six of its last seven. I'll take Maryland to advance.
Game 2: (11) Penn State vs. (14) Michigan — 25 min. after Game 1 (Peacock)
This is the worst Michigan men's basketball team I've ever seen (and I grew up in the 90s). The Wolverines have lost a single-season program record 23 games this year, including 18 of their last 20 games. Penn State isn't a particularly good team, but the Nittany Lions have won three of their last five, and it won't take much for them to get by Michigan.
Second Round: Thursday, March 14
Game 3: (8) Michigan State vs. (9) Minnesota — 12 p.m. (BTN)
The Spartans drew somewhat of a tough draw here, as the Golden Gophers could have a homecourt advantage with this year's tournament being played in Minneapolis. Both of these teams enter this contest having lost four of their last five games. Michigan State appears to still be safely in the field of 68 for the NCAA Tournament, and could go dancing even with a loss to Minnesota here. However, only a win would guarantee the Spartans' streak of 25 consecutive appearances alive. Michigan State and Minnesota split two meetings this season, with the Spartans winning in East Lansing (76-66) and the Gophers winning in Minneapolis (59-56). I'll take MSU to advance.
Game 4: (5) Wisconsin vs. (12) Maryland — 25 min. after Game 3 (BTN)
Wisconsin got off to a hot start in Big Ten play and led the conference through December and January. However, dropped from contenders for a regular season title all the way down to the league's No. 5 seed after going 3-8 in their final 11 games. With that, it's tempting to go with the Terrapins in an upset here, but Maryland has been almost as bad in February and March, having lost eight of their last 10 games. The Badgers won the only meeting between these two teams, 74-70, in Madison on Feb. 20. I'll stick with Wisconsin to win this game, but I don't feel overly confident in that pick.
Game 5: (7) Iowa vs. (10) Ohio State — 6:30 p.m. (BTN)
This game arguably has the biggest stakes of any in the Big Ten Tournament this year. The Hawkeyes likely need two victories to claw their way into the NCAA Tournament, and though the Buckeyes would likely have to win the whole darn thing to go dancing, they are arguably the hottest team in the Big Ten right now. Since firing head coach Chris Holtmann, Ohio State won five of its final six games under interim HC Jake Diebler. In their lone matchup this season, the Hawkeyes beat OSU at home, 79-77. I can see this one going either way, but I'm going to pick the Buckeyes to stay hot and advance.
Game 6: (6) Indiana vs. (11) Penn State — 25 min. after Game 5 (BTN)
The Hoosiers lost 10 of 14 games from Jan. 3 through Feb. 24, but have gotten hot at the right time with four consecutive victories coming into Big Ten Tournament play. Ironically, Indiana's last defeat came at the hands of Penn State, 83-74, in State College. The Hoosiers also fell to the Nittany Lions, 85-71, in Bloomington earlier in the year. Penn State might just be a bad matchup for Indiana. On the flip side, it's hard to beat a team three times in a single season. It's a tough pick, but I'm going to roll with Indiana in Round 3 of this matchup.
Quarterfinals: Friday, March 15
Game 7: (1) Purdue vs. (8) Michigan State — 12 p.m. (BTN)
The Spartans played the Boilermakers tough in West Lafayette earlier this month in a 80-74 defeat, which is a cause for optimism in this potential rematch. However, Michigan State hasn't played well enough down the stretch for me to have any confidence in them knocking off the Big Ten's top seed. Like he does against most opponents, Zach Edey has had his way with the Spartans in the last several meetings of these two programs, and MSU does not have an answer for him in the frontcourt. I'm going with Purdue to advance to the semifinals.
Game 8: (4) Northwestern vs. (5) Wisconsin — 25 min. after Game 7 (BTN)
The Wildcats clawed their way to a double bye despite enduring several injuries down the stretch of the regular season. Northwestern likely benefits the most of any Big Ten team with the extra time off, though teams can sometimes come out flat on six days rest. Wisconsin won the only matchup between these two teams, 71-63, in Madison back on Jan. 13, but the Badgers aren't the same team as they were a couple months ago. I like the Wildcats to advance.
Game 9: (2) Illinois vs. (10) Ohio State — 6: 30 p.m. (BTN)
This would be an intriguing matchup if it comes to pass. Outside of Purdue, Illinois has been the steadiest of all the Big Ten's teams this season and is clearly the second-best in the league. However, as mentioned above, Ohio State is playing with a renew confidence and is markedly different than the squad the Fighting Illini beat, 87-75, in Columbus on Jan. 30. While I've been impressed by the Buckeyes of late, it's still hard to go against Illinois in this one, and I'm taking the Illini to advance.
Game 10: (3) Nebraska vs. (6) Indiana — 25 min. after Game 9 (BTN)
Head coach Fred Hoiberg has done an excellent job in Lincoln, taking over one of the worst men's basketball programs in the Big Ten and steadily improving over the past five years. The Cornhuskers won each of the first two meeting with Indiana this season, 86-70 in Lincoln and 85-70 in Bloomington. Yet, for whatever reason, my gut is telling me upset in the third matchup between the Cornhuskers and Hoosiers. I'm going to take Indiana to advance.
Semifinals: Saturday, March 16
Game 11: (1) Purdue vs. (4) Northwestern — 1 p.m. (CBS)
No program has played Purdue tougher in recent years than Northwestern, and this season was no different. The Wildcats took the Boilermakers to overtime twice this season, winning in Evanston (92-88) and falling short in West Lafayette (105-96) after a controversial finish. It's never easy to pick against Purdue in this league, but Northwestern has their number and almost took down the Top 5 Boilermakers down twice this season. Give me the Wildcats to advance to the championship game.
Game 12: (2) Illinois vs. (6) Indiana — 25 min. after Game 11 (CBS)
The Fighting Illini won their only matchup with the Hoosiers this season, 70-62, on Jan. 27 in Champaign, and I think this is where Indiana's run comes to an end. The Hoosiers have one of the best frontcourts in the Big Ten, but Illinois has the bodies to match them in the post, and the Fighting Illini's guards are superior. I'm taking Illinois to move on.
Championship Game: Sunday, March 17
Game 13: (2) Illinois vs. (4) Northwestern — 3:30 p.m. (CBS)
How about a rivalry matchup in the championship game? The folks in an around Chicago would probably love to see it, not to mention the rest of the state. The Fighting Illini had their way with the Wildcats in Champaign on Jan. 2 in a 96-66 blowout victory. Northwestern needed overtime to beat Illinois in the rematch in Evanston, but prevailed in a 96-91 decision. I like the Fighting Illini in the rematch however, and Illinois wins the Big Ten Tournament for the second time in four years (2021).
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