Big Ten Tournament 2024: Schedule, Men's Bracket Predictions for Conference Tourney

In less than two weeks time, the Big Ten will descend upon the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn. to crown its next tournament champion.

This is one of the better conferences you'll find in men's college basketball, even if it runs incredibly top-heavy.

The Purdue Boilermakers are the team to beat, but the Illinois Fighting Illini are a legitimate championship threat. While that might be it for great teams, there are a bunch of other average-to-good ones capable of catching fire and riding that heat wave to a tournament title.

To set the stage for the upcoming tournament, we'll lay out the scheduling information, predict how the final bracket will take shape and finally spotlight a few players to watch.

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Big Ten Tournament Schedule

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BLOOMINGTON, IN - FEBRUARY 27: Indiana Hoosiers center Kel'el Ware (1) guards Wisconsin Badgers forward Steven Crowl (22) on February 27, 2024, at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Wednesday, March 13

Game 1: No. 12 seed vs. No. 13 seed, 5:30 p.m. CT

Game 2: No. 11 seed vs. No. 14 seed, 25 minutes after Game 1

Thursday, March 14

Game 3: No. 8 seed vs. No. 9 seed, 11 a.m. CT

Game 4: No. 5 seed vs. Game 1 winner, 25 minutes after Game 3

Game 5: No. 7 seed vs. No. 10 seed, 5:30 p.m. CT

Game 6: No. 6 seed vs. Game 2 winner, 25 minutes after Game 5

Friday, March 15

Game 7: No. 1 seed vs. Game 3 winner, 11 a.m. CT

Game 8: No. 4 seed vs. Game 4 winner, 25 minutes after Game 7

Game 9: No. 2 seed vs. Game 5 winner, 5:30 p.m. CT

Game 10: No. 3 seed vs. Game 6 winner, 25 minutes after Game 9

Saturday, March 16

Game 11: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, Noon CT

Game 12: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 25 minutes after Game 11

Sunday, March 17

Championship, 2:30 p.m. CT

Predicted Final Standings

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CHAMPAIGN, IL - FEBRUARY 28: Illinois Fighting Illini Guard Marcus Domask (3) works the ball inside against Minnesota Golden Gophers Guard Elijah Hawkins (0) during the college basketball game between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 28, 2024, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

1. Purdue

2. Illinois

3. Nebraska

4. Northwestern

5. Wisconsin

6. Michigan State

7. Iowa

8. Ohio State

9. Minnesota

10. Maryland

11. Penn State

12. Indiana

13. Rutgers

14. Michigan

Players to Watch

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BLOOMINGTON, IN - JANUARY 16: Purdue Boilermakers center Zach Edey (15) battles for rebounding position against Indiana Hoosiers center Kel'el Ware (1) on January 16, 2024, at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Boo Buie, Northwestern

If a guard takes over this tournament with his scoring, Buie has as good a chance as anyone. The senior guard can run a little hot and cold, but when he's hot, he's scalding.

He has already had 14 different 20-plus-point outbursts this season, including a season-high 31 (plus nine assists) in an early December takedown of then-top-ranked Purdue. He is one of two players (along with Illinois' Terrence Shannon Jr.) to hold top-five conference rankings in both points (18.6 per game, fourth) and made three-pointers (2.4, tied for third).

Zach Edey, Purdue

Edey has a chance to become the first repeat Naismith Award winner in men's college basketball since Ralph Sampson in the early 1980s. Teams have yet to figure out how to contain—let alone stop—Edey, who literally towers over the opposition at 7'4" and 300 pounds.

He's not only averaging a career-high 23.7 points, he's doing it while shooting a ridiculous 62.7 percent from the field. He's also leading the conference in rebounds (11.8) and ranks third in blocks (2.2).

Kel'el Ware, Indiana

An Oregon transfer, Ware has piled up the production during his first (and maybe last) season with the Hoosiers. The sophomore 7-footer nearly averages a double-double (15.6 points and 9.5 rebounds) while shooting 58.7 percent from the field.

He could also be heading into the tournament on a high note if he can keep up his recent hot streak. Over his last four outings, he's averaging 20.5 points, 11.8 rebounds and 3.5 blocks.