Big Ten Tournament 2016: Schedule and Conference Bracket Predictions

The Big Ten tournament is always a war. While coaches in other conferences may grumble about conference tournaments weakening teams for the upcoming NCAA tournament, the Big Ten's annual brawl produces some of the best basketball of the year and prepares teams for March Madness. 

Last year, Wisconsin defeated Michigan State in overtime of the tourney's title game; both teams ended up in the Final Four, with Wisconsin reaching the national championship game before losing to Duke.

While Michigan State will likely be a No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA tourney, they are not the Big Ten regular-season champion.

That honor went to Tom Crean's Indiana Hoosiers, who clinched the title with an 81-78 win at Iowa on Tuesday night. While many expect the Spartans to come away with the tournament championship, the Hoosiers will be tough to beat in Indianapolis.

Date	Game No.	Matchup	Time (ET)	TV
March 9	1	No. 13 seed vs. No. 12 seed	4:30 p.m.	ESPN2
March 9	2	No. 14 seed vs. No. 11 seed	7 p.m.	BTN
March 10	3	No. 9 seed vs. No. 8 seed	Noon	BTN
March 10	4	13-12 winner vs. No. 5 seed	2:30 p.m.	BTN
March 10	5	No. 10 seed vs. No. 7 seed	6:30 p.m.	ESPN2
March 10	6	14-11 winner vs. No. 6 seed	9 p.m.	ESPN2
March 11	7	9-8 winner vs. No. 1 seed	Noon	ESPN
March 11	8	Game 4 winner vs. No. 4 seed	2:30 p.m.	ESPN
March 11	9	Game 5 winner vs. No. 2 seed	6:30 p.m.	BTN
March 11	10	Game 6 winner vs. No. 3 seed	9 p.m.	BTN
March 12	11	Semifinal (Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner)	1 p.m.	CBS
March 12	12	Semifinal (Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner)	3:30 p.m.	CBS
March 13	13	Championship Game	3 p.m.	CBS

Regular-season champions

Indiana (24-6, 14-3) is a team that can go on a long winning streak and show off its ability to string points together. Earlier this season, the Hoosiers ran off 12 wins in a row, and with one game to go in the regular season, they have a four-game winning streak.

Crean would love to see that streak continue all the way through the Big Ten tournament and into the NCAAs, and he has the lineup to do it. Yogi Ferrell has been a fine player throughout his run in Bloomington, but the 6'0" guard's senior season has been his best.

Ferrell is averaging 17.1 points per game while shooting 45.8 percent from the floor. He continues to be one of the best setup men in the conference as well, as he is averaging 5.5 assists per night.

Junior forward Troy Williams is another big-time player who can do a lot of damage with his scoring and rebounding. He is averaging 12.6 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.

Indiana has also gotten a big lift from 6'10" freshman Thomas Bryant, who has adapted quite well to the Big Ten as he is scoring 11.7 points per night while shooting an amazing 70.1 percent from the field. Bryant presents a tough matchup for any opponent because of his remarkable efficiency.

Prediction: Get to the championship game, lose to Michigan State

Al Goldis/Associated Press

Battle-tested Spartans

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo knows how to prepare his team for the month of March. Unlike many of the best big-time programs, Izzo is not afraid to test his team with a daunting schedule.

It doesn't always result in early-season victories, but it never rails to turn Michigan State (25-5, 12-5) into one of the most feared teams in the nation at the end of the year.

This year, the Spartans had their problems early in the Big Ten season, but they have gotten straightened out in a big way. In addition to their fine record, the Spartans have won nine of their last 10 games heading into Saturday's regular-season finale against Ohio State in East Lansing.

Player of the Year candidate Denzel Valentine is the team's leader and the player Izzo looks to when the game is on the line. He is a marvelous scorer who can get the job done from beyond the arc or when slashing to the rim. Valentine is averaging 19.3 points per game and is connecting on 46.3 percent of his shots.

Matt Costello is another battle-tested senior who can assert his will with his tough play inside. Costello is scoring 10.3 points per night and pulling down a team-high 8.5 rebounds each game.

Don't overlook guard Bryn Forbes and his 15.2-point average, while newcomer Eron Harris is making a solid contribution with 9.4 points per game.

Prediction: Beat Indiana in the championship game

R Brent Smith/Associated Press

Terps ready to make their mark

While Maryland is officially in its second full year as a Big Ten member, the Terrapins are still seen as something of an interloper in the conference after playing so many seasons in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

However, Maryland (24-6, 12-5) has a special team, and head coach Mark Turgeon knows that his team is capable of knocking off established Big Ten powers and coming away with the conference tournament title.

Melo Trimble and Diamond Stone form a formidable one-two punch, and they have allowed the Terps to assert themselves offensively. Trimble leads the team with an average of 14.3 points per night, while Stone is close behind at 12.7 points per game.

Maryland swept its season series against Ohio State, and that bodes well for them heading into the conference tournament.

Prediction: Lose in the semifinal round