2009 Big Ten Conference Tournament Schedule

Men's Basketball Championship Week Begins Wednesday

Mar 10, 2009 Max Sherry

Michigan St. heads into the tournament as the number one seed followed by Illinois and Purdue. The Big Ten allows all eleven teams to participate.

Some conference tournaments do not have a clear favorite; the Big Ten is not one of them. Michigan St. is poised to take the conference tournament crown after finishing four games ahead of its next closest foes, Illinois and Purdue.

Michigan St., Illinois, Purdue, Wisconsin, and Ohio St. will each receive a first-round bye which may loom large when they potentially play against tired teams on Saturday and Sunday.

2009 Big Ten Conference Tournament

The Big Ten is hoping to earn eight bids to the NCAA tournament and it seems feasible considering eighth-place Michigan is 19-12 and with nine wins in the conference is one shy of double digits in that category. They project to get more teams in the NCAA tournament than any other conference including the Big East and ACC. Even ninth-place Northwestern could put a run together and win this tournament and receive a bid.

The Iowa Hawkeyes just defeated Penn St. and that win portrayed that the second-to-last team in the conference can play with the big boys. Clearly, Indiana is the only team without much of a chance of winning any games. However, they kept it close at home against Michigan St. only losing by five points late in the game.

2009 Big Ten Tournament Games to Watch

Keep an eye on these potential second round matchups:

  • Wisconsin vs. Ohio St.

This game is all about seeding in the NCAA tournament. The winner will receive a better seed and an easier path in the NCAA tournament.

  • Purdue vs. Penn St.

After defeating Illinois near the buzzer last week, the Nittany Lions dropped a heartbreaker at Iowa. While they project to make the tournament, they may need to win one or two games in the conference tournament to ensure a bid. A win against Indiana may do it, but if they can beat the Boilermakers, they will certainly receive a bid. Purdue is coming off a tough loss at Michigan St. to conclude the season.

2009 Big Ten Conference Tournament Schedule

At Conseco Fieldhouse

Indianapolis

2009 Big Ten First Round Games

Thursday, March 12

Game 1: No. 8 Minnesota vs. No. 9 Northwestern, noon

Game 2: No. 7 Michigan vs. No. 10 Iowa, ESPN2, 2:30 p.m.

Game 3: No. 6 Penn State vs. No. 11 Indiana, ESPN2, 5 p.m.

2009 Big Ten Quarterfinal Games

Friday, March 13

Game 4: No. 1 Michigan State vs. Game 1 winner, ESPN, noon

Game 5: No. 4 Wisconsin vs. No. 5 Ohio State, ESPN, 2:30 p.m.

Game 6: No. 2 Illinois vs. Game 2 winner, 6:30 p.m.

Game 7: No. 3 Purdue vs. Game 3 winner, 9 p.m.

2009 Big Ten Semifinal Games

Saturday, March 14

Game 8: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 1:40 p.m.

Game 9: Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 winner, 4:05 p.m.

2009 Big Ten Championship Game

Sunday, March 15

Game 10: Game 8 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 3:30 p.m.

NCAA Conference Tournament Schedule

2009 NCAA Bracket Tips and Tactics

The copyright of the article 2009 Big Ten Conference Tournament Schedule in Basketball is owned by Max Sherry. Permission to republish 2009 Big Ten Conference Tournament Schedule in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
2009 Big Ten Conference Tournament, Max Sherry 2009 Big Ten Conference Tournament