Purdue's Seed, Schedule Solidified for Big Ten Basketball Tournament

Boilermakers earn No. 7 seed after falling to Wisconsin, will face winner of No. 10 vs. No. 15/18 matchup

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

Purdue's seed and schedule for the upcoming Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament have been set. The Boilermakers will enter the tournament as the No. 7 seed after finishing the regular season with a 13-7 conference record, the same as UCLA, but losing the head-to-head tiebreaker. Purdue will play its first tournament game on Thursday, March 12 at 6:30 p.m. ET against the winner of the No. 10 seed vs. the winner of the No. 15/18 seed matchup.

Why it matters

The Big Ten Tournament is a crucial event for Purdue, as the team looks to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament. As the No. 7 seed, the Boilermakers will face a challenging path to the championship, but a strong performance could boost their chances of making the Big Dance.

The details

Purdue finished the regular season with a 12-5 record at home, a significant drop-off from previous seasons. The Boilermakers were, however, 8-3 in true road games and 3-0 in neutral site contests, which could bode well for their performance in the Big Ten Tournament, which is played on a neutral court.

  • The Big Ten Tournament is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, March 10 at the United Center in Chicago.
  • Purdue is scheduled to play its first game of the tournament on Thursday, March 12 at 6:30 p.m. ET.
  • If Purdue advances, it will play the No. 2 seed of the Big Ten Tournament on Friday, March 13.

The players

Braden Smith

Purdue senior guard.

Fletcher Loyer

Purdue senior guard.

Trey Kaufman-Renn

Purdue senior forward.

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What’s next

If Purdue advances, it will play the No. 2 seed of the Big Ten Tournament on Friday, March 13.

The takeaway

Purdue's performance in the Big Ten Tournament will be crucial in determining their chances of making the NCAA Tournament. While the Boilermakers struggled at home this season, their strong road and neutral site records could give them an advantage as they compete in the conference tournament on a neutral court.