Big Ten Tournament 2017: Round 2 Schedule, Live Stream Info, Bracket Predictions

In a few weeks' time, everyone's attention will be on the teams competing for the chance to win a title in the NCAA tournament. 

But before we get to the big game, there are lots of little games to be played in the form of the conference championships taking place. For the Big Ten, that tourney began on Wednesday. 

Big Ten Network shared the full bracket on Sunday:

In the Big Ten, play has been unpredictable all season long, with Purdue eventually clinching the conference. This ending wasn't always in sight for the Boilermakers, with the Indiana Hoosiers and the Wisconsin Badgers being early favorites to clinch the conference.

But those teams underperforming combined with a late-season surge for Purdue sealed the deal.

Round 2 begins on Thursday as No. 8 Michigan takes on No. 9 Illinois at 12:00 p.m. ET. A full schedule for the day's action is below. Round 2 games will be broadcast on either BTN or ESPN2, and you can also follow along on the CBS Sports App.

Full Schedule

Game	Matchup	Time	Channel
Game 3	No. 8 Michigan vs. No. 9 Illinois	12:00 p.m.	BTN
Game 4	No. 5 Michigan State vs. Penn State	25 mins after Game 3	BTN
Game 5	No. 7 Iowa vs. No. 10 Indiana	6:30 p.m.	ESPN2
Game 6	No. 6 Northwestern vs. Rutgers	25 mins after Game 3	ESPN2

Bracket Predictions

No. 8 Michigan Surges Past No. 9 Illinois

Sean Rayford/Associated Press

If the Wolverines beat No. 9 Illinois on Thursday, they'll have to take on No. 1 Purdue en route to the semifinals.

That's not an enviable matchup, but don't underestimate Michigan. This team is much more dangerous than its seeding might suggest.

The Wolverines, who went 10-8 in conference play, went 6-2 in their last eight games, losing only to Minnesota and Northwestern.

Senior point guard Derrick Walton Jr. averaged 14.5 points and 4.5 assists per game this season and was instrumental in Michigan's 82-70 takedown of Purdue on Feb. 25, with 17 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists in that outing. 

If the Wolverines are going to have a chance of running the table in the Big Ten, it all starts with Walton Jr.

No. 5 Michigan State Gets Upset

Rey Del Rio/Getty Images

The Spartans may be the highest-seeded Big Ten team taking the court on Thursday, but this could be where the road ends for the beleaguered squad.  

Michigan State lost three of its last five games, closing out a 18-13 season that saw the team go just 2-7 away from home.  

In mid-February, the Spartans lost senior guard Eron Harris for the rest of the season following a knee injury he suffered in their loss to the Boilermakers. 

Prior to his injury, Harris had been averaging 23.3 minutes per game, so needless to say his loss was difficult for the squad to bear and no doubt a factor in the Spartans going 2-2 after that point. 

In addition to injuries, the Spartans have also dealt with inconsistency, going on a four-game win streak once in the season but otherwise being unable to get hot. It's very possible they could get knocked out on Thursday when they take on the Penn State Nittany Lions, who defeated Nebraska on Wednesday 76-67 in overtime. 

No. 7 Iowa Keeps the NCAA Tourney Dream Going

Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press

Entering the Big Ten tournament, the 18-13 Iowa Hawkeyes are on the bubble of earning a berth to the NCAA tournament.

According to ESPN Bracketology, they're currently projected as of March 8 to be one of the first four out.

But for now, Iowa has just set its sights on winning a game in the conference tourney in Washington, which will set them on the right course when it comes to the 

Iowa ended the season on a high note to state its case, winning four straight games, including two against Top 25 teams Maryland and Wisconsin.

And the Hawkeyes have a favorable matchup to kick things off against No. 10 Indiana. The Hoosiers are just 3-8 in the Big Ten tournament under Tom Crean and have not been able to pull off a win against a higher-seeded team. 

If Iowa can defeat Indiana, it will be able to secure an NCAA berth with a victory over Wisconsin on Friday.