A History of the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament
The Big Ten men's basketball tournament is an annual event held at the conclusion of the men's college basketball regular season. Since its inception in 1998, the tournament has become a significant part of the Big Ten Conference, offering excitement, drama, and an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament for the winner.
Tournament Origins and Format
The Big Ten Men's Basketball 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.
Success in the NCAA Tournament
On seven occasions, the champion of the tournament has gone on to reach the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament. These teams include 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.
Seeding and Upsets
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.
Tournament Locations
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. On June 5, 2011, the Big Ten announced that the tournament would revert to alternating between Indianapolis and Chicago. 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.
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Sanctions and 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 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. 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. 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. Due to NCAA sanctions, Minnesota has vacated the records from the 1993-94, 1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98, and 1998-99 seasons.
Expansion and Media Coverage
Maryland and Rutgers joined the Big Ten Conference for the 2014-15 season, bringing the conference to 14 teams. Originally, Big Ten Network broadcast the first round, second round, quarterfinals, and semifinals of the tournament, with the championship game on the ESPN family of networks.
The Women's Tournament
The Big Ten Conference women's basketball tournament is held annually at the end of the women's college basketball regular season in the United States. The tournament has been played each year since 1995. The winner of the tournament is designated the Big Ten Tournament Champion and receives the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA women's basketball tournament. The Big Ten did not begin sponsoring women's basketball until the 1982-83 basketball season. In February 1982 during the 1981-82 season, the conference held a tournament at Michigan State in which Ohio State defeated Illinois 69-66 in the championship game.
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