The 2026 Big Ten men's basketball tournament began on March 10 at the United Center in Chicago, with Michigan positioned as the top favorite after a dominant 29-2 regular season. Early games saw Maryland defeat Oregon 70-60 and Northwestern beat Penn State 76-66 in the first round. Michigan State emerges as a potential challenger despite two losses to the Wolverines this year.
The tournament runs from March 10 to 15, broadcast on CBS, BTN, and Peacock. Michigan, the No. 1 seed, has likely secured a No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament. The Wolverines went 29-2 during the regular season, with their only significant setback a loss to Wisconsin in January that ended a 14-game winning streak. They nearly upset Duke in a non-conference game less than a month ago, falling 5 points short in Washington, D.C. Within the Big Ten, Michigan escaped narrowly at Penn State in January but dominated rivals, beating Michigan State twice by double digits, including a regular-season finale on Sunday. They also led most of a win over Purdue and defeated Nebraska.
Michigan State, seeded No. 3, could pose the biggest threat. Coached by Tom Izzo, the Spartans lost both meetings to Michigan but won five of their last six games, including a victory at Purdue. They received a double bye and face an easier path, potentially meeting No. 2 Nebraska before a possible championship matchup. The top four seeds—Michigan, Illinois, Nebraska, and Michigan State—all earned double byes until Friday, benefiting from the league's top-heavy strength.
First-round results on March 10 included Maryland's 70-60 win over Oregon and Northwestern's 76-66 victory against Penn State. On March 11, second-round action featured Iowa's 75-64 defeat of Maryland, Washington's 83-79 upset of USC, and Northwestern's 74-61 win over Indiana. Rutgers faced Minnesota later that day on BTN. Quarterfinals begin Friday, with Michigan playing the winner of Iowa-Ohio State at noon on BTN.