Big Ten Tournament 2015: Schedule, Start Times, Live Stream and TV Info

Jam-packed with 14 teams, the 2015 Big Ten tournament figures to be as tough, gritty and entertaining a prelude to the NCAA tournament as one can find this March.

Top-seeded Wisconsin has been the team to beat in the Big Ten this season and will be gunning for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament over five days—the length and format are new this year—of mayhem in Chicago's United Center.

However, Wisconsin hasn't won this esteemed competition since the 2007-08 season, so don't be shocked if the likes of Maryland, Ohio State, Purdue or even Michigan State elbows its way to the conference title.

Don't think Bo Ryan's squad is capable of slipping? Tell that to last-placed Rutgers.

For those who couldn't even dream of missing the late-stage Big Ten action, here's a look at the complete schedule, viewing info, start times and more, followed by a quick primer on some of the top players to watch in this gauntlet.

2015 Big Ten Tournament Schedule, Start Times, Viewing Info

Date	Time (ET)	Game	TV
March 11	4:30 p.m.	Game 1: No. 13 Penn State vs. No. 12 Nebraska	ESPN2
March 11	7 p.m.	Game 2: No. 14 Rutgers vs. No. 11 Minnesota	BTN
March 12	12 p.m.	Game 3: No. 9 Michigan vs. No. 8 Illinois	BTN
March 12	2:30 p.m.	Game 4: No. 5 Iowa vs. Game 1 winner	BTN
March 12	6:30 p.m.	Game 5: No. 10 Northwestern vs. No. 7 Indiana	ESPN2
March 12	9 p.m.	Game 6: No. 6 Ohio State vs. Game 2 winner	ESPN2
March 13	12 p.m.	Game 7: No. 1 Wisconsin vs. Game 3 winner	ESPN
March 13	2:30 p.m.	Game 8: No. 4 Purdue vs. Game 4 winner	ESPN
March 13	6:30 p.m.	Game 9: No. 2 Maryland vs. Game 5 winner	BTN
March 13	9 p.m.	Game 10: No. 3 Michigan State vs. Game 6 winner	BTN
March 14	1 p.m.	Game 11: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner	CBS
March 14	3:30 p.m.	Game 12: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner	CBS
March 15	3:30 p.m.	Game 13: Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner	CBS

Note: Live streams of games can be found at WatchESPN, BTN2Go.com and CBSSports.com.

Bracket

Here's a look at the bracket, courtesy of the Big Ten Network:

Players to Watch

Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin

Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

If the Badgers are to make good on their promise and win the Big Ten tourney for the first time in seven years, big Frank Kaminsky is likely going to play a major role in the outcome.

Also, he's just really, really fun to watch.

Kaminsky was instrumental to the team's Final Four run a season ago, dominating inside with an array of post moves and using his excellent length and size to maintain position down low and snag key boards.

The senior forward is having yet another fantastic campaign this year, averaging 18.1 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. The 2015 Big Ten Player of the Year has been especially potent in the run-up to this tournament, putting up totals of 31, 25 and 20 points in three games this month.

He's even making good on his occasional sojourns beyond the arc. Kaminsky has knocked down 41 percent of his three-point attempts this season.

If anyone is going to ensure that Wisconsin snatches a conference title and is playing deep into March—or perhaps into early April—this season, it's going to be Kaminsky.


D'Angelo Russell, Ohio State

Mel Evans/Associated Press

While Kaminsky has been around the block several times in his illustrious Wisconsin career, the same cannot be said for Ohio State guard D'Angelo Russell.

Fans of elite guard play will have to tune in to the Big Ten tournament in order to catch a glimpse of this fleeting star who may be headed to the professional ranks very soon.

Russell could very well be a one-and-done player at the collegiate level. ESPN Insider Chad Ford has him as the No. 4 prospect in the 2015 NBA draft at this point. At 6'5", he can bully smaller backcourt defenders, but he still has the speed and ball-handling ability to blow by players on his way to the rack.

The lefty from Louisville is averaging 19.2 points, 5.6 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game. With stats like those, it's of little surprise that Russell posted a rare collegiate triple-double this season against Rutgers (23 points, 11 boards, 11 dimes).

While the likes of Kentucky's Karl Anthony-Towns and Duke's Jahlil Okafor and Justise Winslow have soaked up much of the attention dedicated to elite frosh—both heading into and during the season—Russell might be the best of the bunch.

He certainly feels that he's the top freshman.

"Oh, yes, no doubt. No doubt. By far," he said earlier in March, per BTN.com's Tom Dienhart.

Don't miss out on watching Russell play what could be his last games as a college athlete in the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments.


Dez Wells and Melo Trimble, Maryland 

Nati Harnik/Associated Press

This is Maryland's debut season in the Big Ten, so it will be interesting to see how this storied college program stacks up against the likes of Ohio State, Wisconsin, Iowa, Purdue and company this year.

Leading the Terrapins into the fray will be the dynamic duo of senior swingman Dez Wells and freshman guard Melo Trimble.

Maryland ended the season on a seven-game winning streak, with much of the credit going to this excellent duo—and don't forget Jake Layman, who's averaging 13.1 points per game this year.

Trimble saved some of his best performances of the season for these late-stage games and seemed especially intent on torturing Nebraska. He put up 26 points against the Cornhuskers in a 69-65 win on Feb. 19 and then racked up 21 points, seven boards and four assists in the Terps' season-ending 64-61 win over the same team.

In the meantime, Wells has been contributing highlight plays such as this bone-rattling dunk, per SportsCenter's Twitter account:

Don't forget the time he got a player to forget he was playing basketball and pick up a traveling violation with his best Peter Parker impression, per SB Nation:

"

Dez Wells forced a turnover by just jumping over a dude’s head: http://t.co/YRk9I3l2ir http://t.co/R8qnhYZV9w via @BarstoolBanks

— SB Nation (@SBNation) March 4, 2015"

Maryland finished second in the conference in its inaugural Big Ten season, largely owing to the excellent play of Wells and Trimble.

Wells will unfortunately graduate at the end of this season, and while Trimble could come back to lead the team on his own next year, it just won't be the same. Check out these two on the same court while you can.

Yogi Ferrell, Indiana

Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

Indiana's stay in the Big Ten tournament may not be long, but before it exits—or while it goes on a Cinderella run—check out Yogi Ferrell. The home-state hero has put up 16.1 points and 5.0 assists per game for the 19-12 Hoosiers.

He's been carrying this team all season long, but late-stage disappointment could fuel him to burn like a supernova in the Big Ten tournament.

A missed free throw from Ferrell condemned the Hoosiers to a regular season-ending 74-72 home loss to Michigan State.

It was a highly uncharacteristic moment for the junior guard, per ESPN Stats & Info:

If Indiana is to have a chance at making some noise in this tournament, it will depend on Ferrell to keep the offense flowing and carry the team to surprise wins.