Michigan, Nebraska, Michigan State and Illinois received the top four seeds in the Big Ten men’s basketball tournament and will receive triple byes into the quarterfinals this week at the United Center.

Top-seeded Michigan, the defending tournament champion, won the regular season title outright when it beat Illinois on Feb. 27. The Wolverines’ only loss in conference play was to Wisconsin on Jan. 10. They beat Michigan State 90-80 on Sunday to enter the tournament 29-2, 19-1 in the Big Ten.

Nebraska topped Iowa 84-75 in overtime Sunday to secure the No. 2 seed, while the Spartans will be the No. 3.

Illinois fended off Maryland on Sunday behind 22 points and 11 rebounds from David Mirković to secure the triple bye and the No. 4 seed. The Illini will play in a quarterfinal Friday at approximately 1:30 p.m. The Illini would face either No. 13 seed USC, No. 12 Washington or No. 5 Wisconsin.

Northwestern dropped to the No. 15 seed in the 18-tournament — and lost out on a first-round bye — after losing to Minnesota on Saturday. The Wildcats will play 18th-seeded Penn State in the first round on Tuesday at about 6:30 p.m.

Big Ten Tournament schedule

United Center

Tuesday’s first round

(16) Oregon vs. (17) Maryland, 4 p.m., Peacock
(15) Northwestern vs. (18) Penn State, 6:30 p.m. (approx.), Peacock

Wednesday’s second round

(9) Iowa vs. 16-17 winner, 11 a.m., Peacock
(12) Washington vs. (13) USC, 1:30 p.m. (approx.), Peacock
(10) Indiana vs. 15-18 winner, 5:30 p.m., Big Ten Network
(11) Minnesota vs. (14) Rutgers, 8 p.m. (approx.), BTN

Thursday’s third round

(8) Ohio State vs. 9-16/17 winner, 11 a.m., BTN
(5) Wisconsin vs. 12-13 winner, 1:30 p.m. (approx.), BTN
(7) Purdue vs. 10-15/18 winner, 5:30 p.m., BTN
(6) UCLA vs. 11-14 winner, 8 p.m. (approx.), BTN

Friday’s quarterfinals

(1) Michigan vs. 8-9/16/17 winner, 11 a.m., BTN
(4) Illinois vs. 5-12/13 winner, 1:30 p.m. (approx.), BTN
(2) Nebraska vs. 7-10/15/18 winner, 5:30 p.m., BTN
(3) Michigan State vs. 6-11/14 winner, 8 p.m. (approx.), BTN

Saturday’s semifinals

First two quarterfinal winners, noon, CBS-2
Last two quarterfinal winners, 2:30 p.m. (approx.), CBS-2

Sunday’s final

Semifinal winners, 2:30 p.m., CBS-2

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/08/big-ten-mens-basketball-tournament-seeding-pairings/