Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament bracket set

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The 2026 TIAA Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament bracket has been locked in following the conclusion of the conference's regular season. The No. 1 seed in the bracket is Michigan, while Nebraska, Michigan State, and Illinois are the other teams that do not need to play until the quarterfinal round. Purdue and Indiana will both be in action in the third round of the tournament, with a potential matchup between the two rivals on Thursday.

Why it matters

The Big Ten Tournament is a highly anticipated event in the college basketball calendar, as it determines the conference champion and provides teams with an opportunity to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The seeding and matchups in the bracket can have a significant impact on the tournament's outcome and the teams' postseason aspirations.

The details

Michigan, the No. 1 seed, is looking to become the first back-to-back Big Ten Tournament champions since they won in 2017 and 2018. Purdue, the No. 7 seed, will play their first game in the third round on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. EDT, with a potential matchup against Indiana, the No. 10 seed, who will face either Northwestern or Penn State in the first round on Wednesday. Both Purdue and Indiana are coming off losses in their regular-season finales.

• The 2026 TIAA Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament takes place March 10-15 inside the United Center in Chicago, Ill.
• Purdue's first game in the third round will be on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. EDT.
• Indiana's first game will be against either Northwestern or Penn State on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. EDT.

What’s next

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