Big Ten Tournament 2024: Men's Bracket Seeds, Odds, Matchups and Predictions

Repeat Big Ten tournament champions are hard to find in the event's history.

The Purdue Boilermakers will attempt to become just the fourth team to win back-to-back Big Ten tournaments in Minneapolis this week.

Purdue holds a clear edge over most of the field. It finished three games ahead of its closest competition, the Illinois Fighting Illini, and five games in front of the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Northwestern Wildcats.

The Big Ten normally boasts a deep field of NCAA men's basketball tournament contenders, but the depth across the league is down this season.

That may eliminate the trend of lower-seeded teams reaching the championship game. A team seeded fifth or lower advanced to five of the last six Big Ten tournament title tilts.

---

Sign up to Play the NCAA March Madness Men's Bracket Challenge, Tournament Run, and Conference Tournament Pick Em.

Big Ten Tournament Bracket and Schedule

G Fiume/Getty Images

COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND - FEBRUARY 28: Boo Buie #0 of the Northwestern Wildcats shoots the ball against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center on February 28, 2024 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)

Full bracket can be found here.

Wednesday, March 13

No. 12 Maryland vs. No. 13 Rutgers (6:30 p.m. ET, Peacock)

No. 11 Penn State vs. No. 14 Michigan (9 p.m. ET, Peacock)

Thursday, March 14

No. 8 Michigan State vs. No. 9 Minnesota (Noon ET, BTN)

No. 5 Wisconsin vs. No. 12/13 winner (2:30 p.m. ET, BTN)

No. 7 Iowa vs. No. 10 Ohio State (6:30 p.m. ET, BTN)

No. 6 Indiana vs. No. 11/14 winner (9 p.m. ET. BTN)

Friday, March 15

No. 1 Purdue vs. No. 8/9 winner (Noon, BTN)

No. 4 Northwestern vs. No. 5 vs. 12/13 winner (2:30 p.m. ET. BTN)

No. 2 Illinois vs. No. 7/10 winner (6:30 p.m. ET, BTN)

No. 3 Nebraska vs. No. 6 vs. 11/14 winner (9 p.m. ET, BTN)

Saturday, March 16

Semifinal No. 1 (1 p.m. ET, CBS)

Semifinal No. 2 (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS)

Sunday, March 17

Championship Game (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS)

Big Ten Tournament Odds

David Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

CHAMPAIGN, IL - MARCH 05: Illinois Fighting Illini Guard Marcus Domask (3) pauses during a free throw as teammate against the Purdue Boilermakers as teammate Illini Guard Justin Harmon (4) watches, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in a Big 10 Conference contest at State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by David Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.

Purdue (+100; bet $100 to win $100)

Illinois (+300)

Nebraska (+700)

Michigan State (+1000)

Wisconsin (+1500)

Northwestern (+1600)

Ohio State (+3500)

Iowa (+3500)

Maryland (+6000)

Indiana (+8000)

Minnesota (+10000)

Penn State (+15000)

Rutgers (+20000)

Michigan (+35000)

Predictions

Michael Hickey/Getty Images

WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA - MARCH 2: Braden Smith #3 of the Purdue Boilermakers dribbles during the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Mackey Arena on March 2, 2024 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

The Big Ten tournament could be billed as Purdue against the field.

The Boilermakers lost just three times in the Big Ten regular season. Each defeat occurred in a different month away from West Lafayette..

Matt Painter's team is 14-1 in its last 15 games and it may have a more intense focus in March this season because of its first-round elimination in the NCAA tournament last season.

On paper, Purdue should cruise to the final. The Michigan State Spartans and Minnesota Golden Gophers each went 1-4 in their last five games. Whichever team emerges from their 8-9 matchup likely will not contend with Purdue.

Northwestern could give Purdue a challenge behind senior guard Boo Buie. The Wildcats took Purdue to overtime twice this season and won the first meeting.

The Wildcats also beat Illinois and Nebraska this season. They could be an intriguing long shot at +1600 if they challenge Purdue yet again.

Illinois is playing the best basketball of any team in the bottom half of the bracket. The Illini went 4-1 in their last five games with the only loss to Purdue.

Brad Underwood's team lost two close games to Purdue. It would love to get a third shot at the Boilermakers to boost its NCAA tournament seeding.

Illinois is the most dangerous threat to Purdue in Minneapolis, but it needs to be perfect in the potential championship game matchup to unseat the Boilermakers at the top of the Big Ten.

The conference is more top heavy than it has been in recent years and that could lead to the first No. 1-versus-No. 2 Big Ten tournament final since 2007.

Prediction: Purdue over Illinois

Gambling problem? Call (877-8-HOPENY) or text HOPENY (467369).

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/MI/NJ/PA/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/NH), 888-789-7777/visiting ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 1-877-770-STOP (7867) (LA), visiting OPGR.org (OR), or calling/texting TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).

Odds and lines subject to change. 21+ (18+ NH/WY). AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/LA/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for full terms and conditions.