Big Ten men’s basketball tournament if the season ended today

The college basketball regular season is beginning to wind down, which means seeding in the Big Ten men’s basketball conference tournament is beginning to fall into place. Purdue continues to be on pace to lock up the top seed in this year’s conference tournament but the jockeying for position to grab a coveted double-bye is still active, as is the battle for a first-round bye.

The bottom four teams in the Big Ten will be paired up in the first round of the Big Ten tournament. The no. 5 through no. 9 seeds will begin play in the second round of the Big Ten tournament. The top four seeds will get a double bye and begin competing in the Big Ten tournament in the quarterfinals.

This year’s Big Ten men’s basketball tournament will be held in the Target Center in Minneapolis, MN. Games will air on Peacock, Big Ten Network, or CBS and Paramount+.

We’ll be keeping track of the Big Ten tournament picture from now until the end of the regular season by updating this Big Ten tournament outlook on a daily basis.

This outlook was last updated on the morning of March 36

Purdue Boilermakers

Purdue wrapped up the outright regular season Big Ten championship with a big win on Tuesday night at Illinois. The win clinched the top seed in the Big Ten tournament and keeps the Boilermakers firmly on pace for a no. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament as well. All that is left is one home game against Wisconsin before heading to Minnesota to defend their Big Ten tournament championship reign.

Remaining Schedule

• 3/10 – vs. Wisconsin

Illinois Fighting Illini

Illinois led Purdue at halftime at home on Tuesday night but could not protect the lead in the second half. The loss to Purdue keeps Illinois from taking the top seed in the Big Ten tournament but the Illini will likely be the no. 2 seed next week in Minnesota.

Remaining Schedule

• 3/10 – at Iowa

Nebraska Cornhuskers

Nebraska benefitted from an idle night on Wednesday when Northwestern lost to Michigan State. The loss by the Wildcats dropped Northwestern one spot behind Nebraska, who now looks pretty comfortable with the no. 3 seed in their hands with just one game remaining against the struggling Michigan Wolverines.

Remaining Schedule

• 3/10 – at Michigan

Northwestern Wildcats

Northwestern has hit a few bumps in the Big Ten road at the worst possible time, but the loss to Michigan State on Wednesday night has not knocked them out of the top four spots. The pressure is on, however as the Wildcats will play one final game at home this regular season against Minnesota.

Remaining Schedule

• 3/9 – vs. Minnesota

Wisconsin Badgers

Wisconsin still has a chance to secure one of the top four seeds in the Big Ten, but that will require winning the final game of the regular season at Purdue, who will still be playing to secure a no. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament despite already having the top spot in the Big Ten tournament wrapped up with the outright regular season championship.

Remaining Schedule

• 3/10 – at Purdue

Iowa Hawkeyes

An upset of Northwestern has Iowa sitting comfortably in the Big Ten seeding even with one game remaining against Illinois. The Hawkeyes get Illinois at home and the Illini can no longer win the Big Ten’s regular-season title, but the Illini are no easy matchup.

Remaining Schedule

• 3/10 – vs. Illinois

Michigan State Spartans

Michigan State was a big mover on Wednesday night with its win over Northwestern. The Spartans moved up a couple of spots in the Big Ten standings with the win and a loss by Minnesota. Michigan State ends the regular season on the road against Indiana on Sunday. before heading to the Big Ten tournament next week.

Remaining Schedule

• 3/10 – at Indiana

Indiana Hoosiers

Indiana has put together some key wins coming down the final stretch of the regular season to dig its way out of the bottom four seeds, and Wednesday night’s win over Minnesota may have guaranteed the Hoosiers will avoid a first-round matchup in next week’s Big Ten tournament. The Hoosiers wrap up the regular season at home against Michigan State on Sunday in a game that carries a little more importance on the final seeding in the Big Ten.

Remaining Schedule

• 3/10 – vs. Michigan State

Minnesota Golden Gophers

Minnesota dropped a few spots in the Big Ten seedings on Wednesday night. The loss to Indiana dropped the Gophers behind the Hoosiers in the Big Ten standings, but Micigan State’s win over Northwestern also moved the Spartans ahead of the Gophers. Now Minnesota must come up with a win on the road at Northwestern, a team that will need a win to clinch a top-four seed and a coveted double-bye in the Big Ten tournament in the final game of the regular season.

Remaining Schedule

• 3/9 – at Northwestern

Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State has dug its way out of the bottom four seeds in the Big Ten tournament after a home win against Michigan, but the Buckeyes still have to win one more game to stay out of the first round when they close out the regular season at Rutgers.

Remaining Schedule

• 3/10 – at Rutgers

Penn State Nittany Lions

Penn State being idle this week has led the Nittany Lions to falling right back into the bottom four with just one game remaining. Penn State was jumped by Ohio State following the Buckeyes’ victory over Michigan.

Remaining Schedule

• 3/10 – vs. Maryland

Maryland Terrapins

Maryland looks locked into a bottom-four seed in the Big Ten tournament after losing to Indiana. With just one game remaining, at Penn State, Maryland may be playing just to determine its first round matchup.

Remaining Schedule

• 3/10 – at Penn State

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Rutgers dropped into the 13th seed of the Big Ten standings following a loss to Wisconsin on Thursday evening. The loss all but guarantees Rutgers will have to play in the first round of the Big Ten tournament with one last chance to wiggle out of it with a home game against Ohio State in the regular season finale. If Rutgers can top the Buckeyes, they would be 2-0 against Ohio State this season and own a head-to-head tiebreaker in their favor.

Remaining Schedule

• 3/10 – vs. Ohio State

Michigan Wolverines

This has been a season to forget in Ann Arbor, and football season probably cannot come soon enough for Michigan. The Wolverines have locked down the no. 14 seed in the Big Ten tournament as they have just three conference wins all season.

Remaining Schedule

• 3/10 – vs. Nebraska

Here is a look at what the Big Ten tournament matchups would look like at this moment.

First-round matchups

(12) Maryland vs. (13) Rutgers

(11) Penn State vs. (14) Michigan

Second round matchups

(8) Indiana vs. (9) Minnesota (winner plays (1) Purdue)

(5) Wisconsin vs. Maryland/Rutgers winner (winner plays (3) Nebraska)

(7) Michigan State vs. (10) Ohio State (winner plays (2) Illinois)

(6) Iowa vs. Penn State/Michigan winner (winner plays (4) Northwestern)

Story originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire