The Big Ten men's basketball tournament is held annually at the end of the men's college basketball regular season. The tournament has been played each year since 1998. The winner of the tournament is designated the Big Ten Tournament Champion, and receives the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. The Big Ten was one of the last NCAA Division I college basketball conferences to start a tournament.
The finals of the tournament are typically held immediately before the field for the NCAA Tournament is announced, although in 2018 it was held the week before Selection Sunday.
On seven occasions, the champion of the tournament has gone on to reach the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament (Michigan State in 1999, 2000, and 2019, Illinois in 2005, Ohio State in 2007, Wisconsin in 2015, and Michigan in 2018). In 2000, champion Michigan State won the NCAA tournament. The No. 1 seed has won the tournament ten times, the most of any seed. The lowest seed to win the tournament was Michigan as a No. 8 seed in 2017. Three schools have won two consecutive championships: Michigan State (1999, 2000), Ohio State (2010, 2011), and Michigan (2017, 2018).
Format Since its creation, the tournament has included every team in the conference, except for the 2025 edition, when only 15 of the 18 eligible teams were included. Starting with the 2026 tournament, all 18 teams will be playing, which means the tournament will be completed over 6 days.
Host The Big Ten Men's Basketball tournaments have been held at neutral sites every year. The first four tournaments were held at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Beginning in 2002, the tournament alternated between the United Center and Conseco Fieldhouse (later known as Bankers Life Fieldhouse, and now as Gainbridge Fieldhouse) in Indianapolis, Indiana. In 2008, the tournament began a five-year stay in Indianapolis.
On June 5, 2011, the Big Ten announced that the tournament would revert to alternating between Indianapolis and Chicago. The 2013 and 2015 tournaments were played at the United Center in Chicago and the 2014 and 2016 tournaments were played at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
The 2017 tournament was held at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. The 2018 tournament was held at Madison Square Garden in New York and held a week earlier than usual due to the Big East tournament, ending on March 4, 2018, one week before Selection Sunday.
The 2019 through 2022 Tournaments returned to alternating between the United Center in Chicago and Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. On February 9, 2021, it was announced that the 2021 edition would be moved from its planned location of the United Center in Chicago to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis due to health and safety protocols relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tournament was held at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in 2022 as planned before returning to Chicago in 2023.
On April 20, 2022, the Big Ten announced that Minneapolis will host the 2024 edition at the Target Center for the first time. On July 31, 2024, the Big Ten announced the Tournament locations from 2025 through 2028, with the 2025 and 2027 editions being held at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the 2026 edition being held at the United Center, and for the first time, the 2028 edition being held at the T-Mobile Arena.
Vacated results Due to various rulings against participating programs, some of the results of the Big Ten tournament have been vacated or voided. Here is a compiled list of sanctions imposed that have affected the results and records of the tournament since its inception. The information in this article does not include results of the teams in which records were vacated. Because of the Minnesota academic scandal, the NCAA has vacated the postseason tournament records for the Minnesota basketball team from the 1993–94 season through the 1998–99 season. Minnesota had a record of 2–1 in the 1998 tournament and went 0–1 in 1999. Because of the Ed Martin scandal, the NCAA vacated the records for the Michigan basketball team from the 1995–96 season through the 1998–99 season, including the 1998 and 1999 Big Ten tournaments. Michigan had won the Tournament championship in 1998 with a 3–0 record, and had a record of 1–1 in 1999. The NCAA has vacated most NCAA records for the Ohio State basketball team from the 1998–99 season through the 2001–02 season, including the 1999, 2001, and 2002 Big Ten tournaments. Ohio State had a record of 1–1 in the 1999 Tournament, went 0–1 in 2001, and had won the championship in 2002.
Results Year Champion Seed Score Runner-up Seed Most Outstanding Player Location1998Michigan476–67Purdue3Robert Traylor, MichiganUnited Center, Chicago1999Michigan State167–50Illinois11Mateen Cleaves, Michigan State2000Michigan State276–61Illinois4Morris Peterson, Michigan State2001Iowa663–61Indiana4Reggie Evans, Iowa2002Ohio State281–64Iowa9Boban Savovic, Ohio StateConseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis2003Illinois272–59Ohio State8Brian Cook, IllinoisUnited Center, Chicago2004Wisconsin270–53Illinois1Devin Harris, WisconsinConseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis2005Illinois154–43Wisconsin3James Augustine, IllinoisUnited Center, Chicago2006Iowa267–60Ohio State1Jeff Horner, IowaConseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis2007Ohio State166–49Wisconsin2Greg Oden, Ohio StateUnited Center, Chicago2008Wisconsin161–48Illinois10Marcus Landry, WisconsinConseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis2009Purdue365–61Ohio State5Robbie Hummel, Purdue2010Ohio State190–61Minnesota6Evan Turner, Ohio State2011Ohio State171–60Penn State6Jared Sullinger, Ohio State2012Michigan State168–64Ohio State3Draymond Green, Michigan State2013Ohio State250–43Wisconsin4Aaron Craft, Ohio StateUnited Center, Chicago2014Michigan State 369–55Michigan1Branden Dawson, Michigan StateBankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis2015Wisconsin180–69OTMichigan State3Frank Kaminsky, WisconsinUnited Center, Chicago2016Michigan State266–62Purdue4Denzel Valentine, Michigan StateBankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis2017Michigan871–56Wisconsin2Derrick Walton, MichiganVerizon Center, Washington, D.C.2018Michigan575–66Purdue3Moritz Wagner, MichiganMadison Square Garden, New York City2019Michigan State165–60Michigan3Cassius Winston, Michigan StateUnited Center, Chicago2020Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic2021Illinois291–88OTOhio State5Ayo Dosunmu, IllinoisLucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis2022Iowa 575–66Purdue 3Keegan Murray, IowaGainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis2023Purdue 167–65Penn State 10Zach Edey, PurdueUnited Center, Chicago2024Illinois 293–87Wisconsin 5Terrence Shannon Jr., IllinoisTarget Center, Minneapolis2025Michigan359–53Wisconsin5Vladislav Goldin, MichiganGainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis2026Purdue780–72 Michigan1Braden Smith, PurdueUnited Center, Chicago2027 Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis2028 T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
Common matchups Championship game matchups that have occurred more than once: 4Illinois vs. WisconsinTied, 2–22004, 2005, 2008, 20243Michigan vs. PurdueMichigan, 2–11998, 2018, 20262Illinois vs. Michigan StateMichigan State, 2–01999, 20002Illinois vs. Ohio StateIllinois, 2–02003, 20212Iowa vs. Ohio StateTied, 1–12002, 20062Michigan vs. Michigan StateMichigan State, 2–02014, 20192Michigan vs. WisconsinMichigan, 2–02017, 20252Ohio State vs. WisconsinOhio State, 2–02007, 2013
School records Through 2026 tournament School Record Winning Pct. Championship game appearances Championships Runner-up Championship years Runner-up yearsMichigan State36–227611999, 2000, 2012, 2014, 2016, 20192015Ohio State35–21Due to NCAA sanctions, Ohio State has vacated the records of 34 games in 1998–99, 16 games in 1999–00 and the entire 2000–01 and 2001–02 seasons. See above section Vacated results104Due to NCAA sanctions, Ohio State has vacated the records of 34 games in 1998–99, 16 games in 1999–00 and the entire 2000–01 and 2001–02 seasons. See above section Vacated results52002,Due to NCAA sanctions, Ohio State has vacated the records of 34 games in 1998–99, 16 games in 1999–00 and the entire 2000–01 and 2001–02 seasons. See above section Vacated results 2007, 2010, 2011, 20132003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2021Illinois35–248442003, 2005, 2021, 20241999, 2000, 2004, 2008Wisconsin34–259362004, 2008, 20152005, 2007, 2013, 2017, 2024, 2025Purdue25–257342009, 2023, 20261998, 2016, 2018, 2022Michigan30–23Due to NCAA sanctions, Michigan has vacated the records from the 1992 Final Four, the 1992–93, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, and 1998–99 seasons. See above section Vacated results73Due to NCAA sanctions, Michigan has vacated the records from the 1992 Final Four, the 1992–93, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, and 1998–99 seasons. See above section Vacated results31998,Due to NCAA sanctions, Michigan has vacated the records from the 1992 Final Four, the 1992–93, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, and 1998–99 seasons. See above section Vacated results 2017, 2018, 20252014, 2019, 2026Iowa24–254312001, 2006, 20222002Penn State21–272022011, 2023Minnesota19–26Due to NCAA sanctions, Minnesota has vacated the records from the 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, and 1998–99 seasons. See above section Vacated results1012010Indiana17–281012001Washington1–1000UCLA2–2000Maryland7–11000Rutgers6–11000Oregon1–2000USC1–2000Northwestern13–29000Nebraska6–14000
Performance by team Through 2026 tournament Teams (# of titles)19981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020•2021202220232024B1G (26)(11)(11)(11)(11)(11)(11)(11)(11)(11)(11)(11)(11)(11)(11)(12)(12)(12)(14)(14)(14)(14)(14)(14)(14)(14)(14)(14) 1 Michigan State (6)QFCCQFQFSFSFQFSFQFSFSFQFSFCSFCFCQFSFCQF2RSFQFQF 2 Ohio State (5*)1RSFQFQFCF1RQFFCQFFCCFCSFQFQF1RQFQF2RF2RSFQF 3 Illinois (4)SFFFSFSFCFCQFSFFSFSFQF1RQFQF2RQF2R1R2RQFCQF2RC 4 Michigan (4*)CQF1R1RQFQFSF1R1RQFQFQFQFSFSFQFFQFSFCCF2RSF2R2R1R 4 Wisconsin (3)QFSFSFQFQFQFCFQFFCQFQFQFSFFSFC2RFQFSFQFQFQF1RF 4 Iowa (3)QFQFQFCF1RQFSFCQF1R1R1R1RQFQF1R2R2R2R2RQF2RSFC2R2R 4 Purdue (3)F1RQFQF1RQF1R1R1RSFQFCSFQFQF1R1RSFFQFFQF2RQFFCSF 8 Indiana (0)QFQFQFFSFSFQFQFSFQFQF1R1R1RQFSF1RQFQFQF2R2R2R2RSFSFQF 8 Minnesota (0)SF1R1R1RQF1RQFSFQF1RSFQFF1RQF1RQF2R1RSF1RSF2R2R1R2R2R 8 Penn State (0)1R1RSFSF1R1R1R1RQF1R1RQF1RF1R1R1RQF2R2RSF2R2R2RQFF2R 11 Northwestern (0)1RQF1R1R1RQFQFQF1R1R1R1RQFQF1R1RQF2R2RSF2R1R1R1R2RQFQF 11 Nebraska (0)••••••••••••••1RQFQF1RQF1RQFQF1R1R1R1RSF 11 Maryland (0)•••••••••••••••••SFSFQF2R2RQFQF2RQF2R 11 Rutgers (0)•••••••••••••••••1R1R2RQF1R2RQFQFQF1R
Teams (# of titles)20252026B1G (26)(15)(18) 1 Michigan State (6)SFQF 2 Ohio State (5*)1RQF 3 Illinois (4)QFQF 4 Michigan (4*)CF 4 Wisconsin (3)FSF 4 Iowa (3)2R3R 4 Purdue (3)QFC 8 Indiana (0)2R2R 8 Minnesota (0)1R2R 8 Penn State (0)•1R 11 Northwestern (0)2R3R 11 Nebraska (0)•QF 11 Maryland (0)SF2R 11 Rutgers (0)1R3R 11 Washington (0)•3R 11 Oregon (0)QF1R 11 UCLA (0)QFSF 11 USC (0)2R2R Key CChampionFRunner-upSFSemifinalsQFQuarterfinalsRRRound Number•Did not participate The 2020 tournament was canceled after the first-round games due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Records all-time by seed through 2026 tournament
SeedRecordWinning pctChampionshipsRunners-up145–18104235–188*2330–2437416–270*4532–2624637–2612725–2710825–2611913–28011015–27021113–2801127–14001310–1200146–1200153–200160–100171–100180–100
* Does not include vacated wins by Michigan (1998) and Ohio State (2002)
Records by coaches through 2026 tournament