When is the Big Ten Basketball Tournament in 2025?

By Emma Wilson · December 2, 2028

When is the Big Ten Basketball Tournament?

The Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament is typically held in mid-March each year, concluding just before the NCAA March Madness tournament. For 2025, the event is scheduled from March 12 to March 16, 2025, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Overview of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament

The Big Ten Tournament is an annual postseason event that determines which team earns the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. While all 14 Big Ten teams participate, only the top finishers have a realistic shot at securing the coveted automatic qualification if they win the tournament.

Key Facts About the Tournament

Timing: Held annually in March, usually during the week leading up to Selection Sunday.
Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis has been the recurring host venue.
Format: Single-elimination with all 14 teams competing across six days.
Teams: All current Big Ten members are eligible, including recent additions like USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington in 2024.
Broadcast: Games are televised nationally on networks such as CBS, FOX, ESPN, and BTN (Big Ten Network).

Tournament Schedule and Structure

The tournament follows a seeded bracket format based on regular-season conference standings. The top four teams receive byes into the quarterfinals, while seeds 5 through 12 play in the first two rounds.

Daily Breakdown (Projected for 2025)

March 12: First Round – Seeds 13 vs 14
March 13: Second Round – Seeds 10 vs 7, 11 vs 6, 12 vs 5
March 14: Quarterfinals – Winners advance to face top 4 seeds
March 15: Semifinals – Two winners from quarterfinals compete
March 16: Championship Game – Winner earns NCAA Tournament auto-bid

Year	Dates	Champion	Runner-Up	Location	Attendance (Final)
2024	March 13–17	Michigan State	Wisconsin	Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis	17,900
2023	March 8–12	Purdue	Iowa	Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis	17,600
2022	March 9–13	Illinois	Iowa	Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis	17,500
2021	March 10–14	Illinois	Ohio State	Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis	1,500*
2019	March 13–17	Maryland	Michigan	Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis	17,900

Table data source:1, 2

The attendance figures show strong fan engagement, particularly in recent years, with near-capacity crowds at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Despite pandemic restrictions in 2021 limiting attendance, the tournament rebounded quickly, demonstrating its popularity. Michigan State’s 2024 victory marked their third title in the past decade, highlighting competitive balance within the conference.

How Teams Qualify and Are Seeded

Seeding is determined by regular-season conference records. Tiebreakers include head-to-head results and record against common opponents. The top four seeds receive double byes into the quarterfinals, giving them a significant advantage.

Impact on NCAA Tournament Chances

Winning the Big Ten Tournament guarantees an automatic bid to March Madness.
Strong performances can boost bubble teams' resumes for at-large bids.
Higher seeds often aim to protect their NCAA seeding by avoiding early losses.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Big Ten Basketball Tournament

When is the 2025 Big Ten Basketball Tournament?

The 2025 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament will be held from March 12 to March 16, 2025, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Where is the Big Ten Tournament held?

The tournament is primarily hosted at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. This venue has been the consistent location since 2016, except for 2021 when it was moved to Lucas Oil Stadium due to pandemic logistics.

Which teams are playing in the 2025 Big Ten Tournament?

All 18 Big Ten teams will participate in the 2025 tournament, including new members USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington. The field includes traditional powers like Purdue, Michigan State, Illinois, and Ohio State.

How does the Big Ten Tournament bracket work?

The bracket is seeded 1 through 18 based on regular-season conference records. Seeds 1–4 receive byes to the quarterfinals. Seeds 13–18 play in the opening round, with winners advancing to face higher seeds in subsequent rounds in a single-elimination format.

Does the Big Ten Tournament winner get an automatic NCAA bid?

Yes, the winner of the Big Ten Tournament receives the conference’s automatic qualification to the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, regardless of their regular-season performance.