2021 Big Ten Men's CBB Tournament Relocated to Indianapolis from Chicago

The 2021 Big Ten men's college basketball tournament has been relocated to Indianapolis after originally being scheduled for Chicago, the conference announced Tuesday. 

"The decision to relocate the tournament to Indianapolis was based on multiple factors. First and foremost was the health and safety of student-athletes, coaches, officials and conference constituents," the Big Ten said in a statement. "Hosting both the men's and women's basketball tournaments in the same city allows for cohesive testing and medical protocols for both events, as well as centralized accommodations surrounding the competition venues."

The Big Ten women's basketball tournament was already slated to be held in Indianapolis, which will become a central hub for college basketball in March. The city and its surrounding areas are set to host the 2021 men's NCAA tournament.

Indianapolis also serves as the home of Big Ten headquarters. The conference says it plans to hold the 2023 men's conference championship in Chicago. 

For players on contending Big Ten teams, this could mean spending nearly a month in a bubble-like environment in the Indianapolis area. The Big Ten tournament is set to take place March 10-14, and the NCAA championship game will not take place until April 5.