Big Ten Basketball Tournament: Session 2 Preview

what is big ten basketball tournament session 2

The Big Ten Basketball Tournament is an annual event featuring men's basketball teams from colleges across the US. The 2025 tournament took place in March at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. The tournament features a number of games, with the top four seeds earning double byes and opening the tournament in the quarterfinal round. Michigan State has historically been the most successful team, having won the tournament six times, including in 2019.

Characteristics Values
Date March 12-16, 2025
Location Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Teams Michigan State, Maryland, Michigan, Northwestern, Minnesota, Iowa, Ohio State, USC, Rutgers, Oregon, Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, Purdue, UCLA
Champion TBD
Defending Champion Illinois
Most Titles Michigan State (6)
TV CBS, Paramount+ app

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Game 1: Northwestern vs Minnesota

The Northwestern Wildcats and Minnesota Golden Gophers kicked off the 2025 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament with their game on Wednesday, March 12, at 3:30 p.m. ET (2:30 p.m. CT). The game was streamed live on Peacock and broadcast on radio. The Wildcats entered the game with a record of 16-15 (7-13 in the Big Ten) and the Golden Gophers with a record of 15-16 (7-13 in the Big Ten). Minnesota looked to play through forward Dawson Garcia, who had 26 points and nine rebounds in the first matchup against Northwestern. However, the Golden Gophers had lost four of their last five outings, their only win during that stretch coming against Nebraska.

Northwestern, meanwhile, had made it to March Madness in each of the last two seasons. Despite an injury-riddled year, the Wildcats still had a chance to make their third consecutive NCAA Tournament by winning the Big Ten title. In the end, that's exactly what they did, defeating Minnesota 72-64 to advance to the next round.

With the win, Northwestern moved on to face the No. 5 seed Wisconsin in the second round. That game took place on Thursday, March 13, and Wisconsin won 70-63 to advance to the quarterfinals. The Big Ten Tournament continued through Sunday, March 16, with all games taking place at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. The winner of the tournament earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

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Game 2: Iowa defeats Ohio State

Iowa defeated Ohio State 77-70 in Game 2 of the 2025 Big Ten Tournament. The Hawkeyes took an early lead, but the Buckeyes fought back, and the game was close throughout. Iowa managed to pull ahead in the final quarter, but Ohio State forced overtime with a 25-18 quarter. The Hawkeyes scored the first five points of the extra period and didn't relinquish the lead, outscoring the Buckeyes 17-9 in overtime to secure the victory.

This game was a hard-fought battle between two talented teams. Iowa, led by the superb Caitlin Clark, who scored 35 points and broke the NCAA's all-time scoring record, dominated the first half and took a nine-point lead into halftime. However, Ohio State, led by Jacy Sheldon's 24 points, fought back in the second half, chipping away at Iowa's lead and keeping the game close. The Buckeyes showed great resilience, especially when facing a large deficit early on.

The fourth quarter was a back-and-forth affair, with several lead changes. Ohio State took a 12-point lead with just under two minutes left, but Iowa stormed back with four three-pointers and a three-point play to force overtime. The Hawkeyes' ability to knock down shots from beyond the arc proved crucial in their comeback.

In the extra period, Iowa jumped out to an early lead, and this time, Ohio State couldn't respond. The Hawkeyes' defence stepped up, preventing the Buckeyes from scoring back-to-back baskets. Iowa showed great composure in overtime, with Clark and her teammates executing down the stretch to seal the win.

This game was a thrilling contest that showcased the talent and competitiveness of both teams. Iowa's victory set the tone for their tournament run, as they demonstrated their resilience, offensive firepower, and ability to make clutch plays when it mattered most.

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Game 5: Wisconsin wins against Northwestern

The Wisconsin Badgers beat the Northwestern Wildcats 23-3 on 19 October 2024, winning their third straight Big Ten game. The game took place at Martin Stadium in Evanston, Illinois, and was the Wildcats' final game of the year at their temporary lakefront stadium.

The Badgers improved their record to 5-2 and 3-1 in the Big Ten, while the Wildcats fell to 3-4 and 1-3. This was Wisconsin's first three-game winning streak in conference play since 2021.

Wisconsin's senior running back Tawee Walker ran for 126 yards in a stellar performance, carrying the ball 23 times for a solid 5.5 yards per carry average. Braedyn Locke threw for a touchdown and ran for another score, completing 14 of 24 passes for 160 yards with one interception.

Northwestern missed some big opportunities and struggled to sustain drives. Their quarterback, Jack Lausch, was just 9 for 24 with 82 yards. The Wildcats' Luke Akers also missed a 51-yard field goal attempt in the second quarter, which would have given them an early lead.

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Game 8: Michigan State beats Oregon

The Big Ten Basketball Tournament is an annual event featuring men's college basketball teams from the Big Ten Conference. Michigan State has won the most titles, with six, and the Spartans last won the tournament in 2019.

In Game 8 of the 2025 tournament, No. 1 Michigan State beat No. 8 Oregon 74-64. Michigan State guard Jase Richardson scored 29 points and played a pivotal role in the game, drawing a foul from Oregon guard TJ Bamba in the second half and shooting a 3-pointer against Oregon. Richardson's three-pointer celebration with forward Jaxon Kohler during the first half of the game was also a highlight. Oregon forward Kwame Evans Jr. and Michigan State center Carson Cooper were also key players in the game.

The game was close, with the lead changing five times and the scores tied three times. Michigan State pulled ahead in the second half, outscoring Oregon 40-32 after trailing by two points at halftime. The win for Michigan State was a rally, with the team coming back from a deficit to ultimately beat Oregon.

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Game 12: Wisconsin wins again

Game 12 of the 2025 Big Ten Tournament saw No. 5 Wisconsin take on No. 1 Michigan State. Wisconsin came out on top, winning 77-74 and advancing to the next round. This win marked the second time in as many games that Wisconsin had overcome a higher-ranked opponent, having beaten No. 4 UCLA in the previous round.

The game was a closely fought contest, with Wisconsin's shooting accuracy proving to be the difference. They shot 22.1% from the field, making 17.9% of their 3-pointers, compared to Michigan State's 21.7% field goal percentage. Wisconsin's John Blackwell led all scorers with 11 points, while Vlad Goldin of Michigan State contributed 11 points for his team.

This victory set up a final showdown between Wisconsin and Michigan, with both teams safely projected as top-5 seeds for the March Madness tournament. Wisconsin had previously overcome a pair of Max Klesmit free throws to take the lead, with Goldin responding to put Michigan back in front. Tre Donaldson then came up big for Michigan, hitting a crucial 3-pointer to give them a two-point lead late in the game. However, Wisconsin showed their resilience, ending the run with a John Tonje free throw and dunk.

The game was a defensive battle, with both teams struggling to find their rhythm on offense. Wisconsin, in particular, had a slow start, shooting only 2-of-9 in the early going, including four straight misses. Michigan also had their fair share of misses, going 3-of-8 with four straight misses. In the end, Michigan's late free throws and strong defense sealed the deal, as they held off Wisconsin to claim the Big Ten tournament championship.

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Frequently asked questions

The Big Ten Basketball Tournament is an annual tournament featuring men's and women's basketball teams from colleges in the Big Ten Conference.

The tournament typically takes place in March. For example, the 2025 tournament took place from March 12 to March 16.

The venue can vary, but the 2025 tournament was held at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The tournament games are usually televised or streamed online. The 2025 semifinal and championship games were broadcast live on CBS and the Paramount+ app.

The participating teams in 2025 included Michigan State, Maryland, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, and more.

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