# 2021 Big Ten men's basketball tournament

The 2021 Big Ten men's basketball tournament was a postseason men's basketball tournament for the Big Ten Conference of the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season which took place March 10–14, 2021. The tournament was originally to be held at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. However, on February 9, the tournament was moved to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana to better deal with testing concerns raised by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Illinois defeated Ohio State 91–88 in overtime in the championship game to win the tournament. As a result, they received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

## Seeds

All 14 Big Ten schools participated in the tournament. Teams were seeded by conference record, with a tiebreaker system used to seed teams with identical conference records. The top 10 teams received a first round bye and the top four teams received a double bye. Tiebreaking procedures remained unchanged from the 2020 tournament.
| Seed | School | Conference | Tiebreak 1 |
| 1 | Michigan | 14–3 | |
| 2 | Illinois | 16–4 | |
| 3 | Iowa | 14–6 | |
| 4 | Purdue | 13–6 | |
| 5 | Ohio State | 12–8 | |
| 6 | Wisconsin | 10–10 | 1–0 vs. Rutgers |
| 7 | Rutgers | 10–10 | 0–1 vs. Wisconsin |
| 8 | Maryland | 9–11 | 1–0 vs. Michigan State |
| 9 | Michigan State | 9–11 | 0–1 vs. Maryland |
| 10 | Indiana | 7–12 | 1–0 vs. Penn State |
| 11 | Penn State | 7–12 | 0–1 vs. Indiana |
| 12 | Northwestern | 6–13 | |
| 13 | Minnesota | 6–14 | |
| 14 | Nebraska | 3–16 | |

## Schedule

| Session | Game | Time* | Matchup$^#$ | Television | Attendance | Score |
| First round – Wednesday, March 10 |||||||
| 1 | 1 | 6:30 pm | No. 13 Minnesota vs. No. 12 Northwestern | BTN | 5,909 | 51–46 |
| 1 | 2 | 9:00 pm | No. 14 Nebraska vs. No. 11 Penn State | BTN | 5,909 | 66–72 |
| Second round – Thursday, March 11 |||||||
| 2 | 3 | 11:30 am | No. 9 Michigan State vs. No. 8 Maryland | BTN | 6,206 | 57–68 |
| 2 | 4 | 2:00 pm | No. 13 Minnesota vs. No. 5 Ohio State | BTN | 6,206 | 75–79 |
| 3 | 5 | 6:30 pm | No. 10 Indiana vs. No. 7 Rutgers | BTN | 6,769 | 50–61 |
| 3 | 6 | 9:00 pm | No. 11 Penn State vs. No. 6 Wisconsin | BTN | 6,769 | 74–75 |
| Quarterfinals – Friday, March 12 |||||||
| 4 | 7 | 11:30 am | No. 8 Maryland vs. No. 1 Michigan | BTN | 7,634 | 66–79 |
| 4 | 8 | 2:00 pm | No. 5 Ohio State vs. No. 4 Purdue | BTN | 7,634 | 87–78$^{OT}$ |
| 5 | 9 | 6:30 pm | No. 7 Rutgers vs. No. 2 Illinois | BTN | 7,735 | 68–90 |
| 5 | 10 | 9:00 pm | No. 6 Wisconsin vs. No. 3 Iowa | BTN | 7,735 | 57–62 |
| Semifinals – Saturday, March 13 |||||||
| 6 | 11 | 1:00 pm | No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 5 Ohio State | CBS | 8,000 | 67–68 |
| 6 | 12 | 3:50 pm | No. 2 Illinois vs. No. 3 Iowa | CBS | 8,000 | 82–71 |
| Championship – Sunday, March 14 |||||||
| 7 | 13 | 3:30 pm | No. 5 Ohio State vs. No. 2 Illinois | CBS | 8,000 | 88–91$^{OT}$ |
*Game times in Eastern Time. #Rankings denote tournament seeding.

## Bracket

| First round Wednesday, March 10 BTN | First round Wednesday, March 10 BTN | First round Wednesday, March 10 BTN | Second round Thursday, March 11 BTN | Second round Thursday, March 11 BTN | Second round Thursday, March 11 BTN | Quarterfinals Friday, March 12 BTN | Quarterfinals Friday, March 12 BTN | Quarterfinals Friday, March 12 BTN | | | Semifinals Saturday, March 13 CBS | Semifinals Saturday, March 13 CBS | Semifinals Saturday, March 13 CBS | Championship Sunday, March 14 CBS | Championship Sunday, March 14 CBS | Championship Sunday, March 14 CBS |
| | | | | | | 1 | Michigan | 79 | | | | | | |
| | | | 8 | Maryland | 68 | 8 | Maryland | 66 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 9 | Michigan State | 57 | | | | | | 1 | Michigan | 67 | |
| | | | | | | | | | 5 | Ohio State | 68 | | | |
| | | | | | | 4 | Purdue | 78 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 5 | Ohio State | 79 | 5 | Ohio State | 87* | | | | | | | |
| 12 | Northwestern | 46 | 13 | Minnesota | 75 | | | | | | | | 5 | Ohio State | 88 |
| 13 | Minnesota | 51 | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | 2 | Illinois | 91* |
| | | | | | | 2 | Illinois | 90 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 7 | Rutgers | 61 | 7 | Rutgers | 68 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 10 | Indiana | 50 | | | | | | 2 | Illinois | 82 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 3 | Iowa | 71 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 3 | Iowa | 62 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 6 | Wisconsin | 75 | 6 | Wisconsin | 57 | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Penn State | 72 | 11 | Penn State | 74 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Nebraska | 66 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
* denotes overtime period

## Game summaries
### First round

* BTN
* March 10 6:30 pm
* Recap
No. 13 Minnesota 51, No. 12 Northwestern 46 :
| Scoring by half: 27−20, 24−26 |||
| Pts: Tre' Williams, 14 Rebs: Eric Curry, 12 Asts: Marcus Carr, 6 | Pts: Miller Kopp, 9 Rebs: Pete Nance, 11 Asts: Boo Buie, 3 |
* Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis, IN Attendance: 5,909 Referees: Larry Scirotto, Bo Boroski, Rob Riley
* BTN
* March 10 9:00 pm
* Recap
No. 14 Nebraska 66, No. 11 Penn State 72 :
| Scoring by half: 37−23, 29−49 |||
| Pts: Trey McGowens, 13 Rebs: Derrick Walker, 7 Asts: Derrick Walker, 6 | Pts: Jamari Wheeler, 19 Rebs: John Harrar, 14 Asts: John Harrar, 4 |
* Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis, IN Attendance: 5,909 Referees: Kelly Pfeifer, D.J. Carstensen, Paul Szelc

### Second round

* BTN
* March 11 11:30 am
* Recap
No. 9 Michigan State 57, No. 8 Maryland 68 :
| Scoring by half: 30−34, 27−34 |||
| Pts: Malik Hall, 19 Rebs: Aaron Henry, 9 Asts: Rocket Watts, 4 | Pts: Eric Ayala, 21 Rebs: Eric Ayala, 9 Asts: Eric Ayala, 4 |
* Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis, IN Attendance: 6,206 Referees: Steve McJunkins, Rob Riley, Bo Boroski
* BTN
* March 11 2:00 pm
* Recap
No. 13 Minnesota 75, No. 5 Ohio State 79 :
| Scoring by half: 27−39, 48−40 |||
| Pts: Marcus Carr, 24 Rebs: Tre' Williams, Brandon Johnson 8 Asts: Marcus Carr, Isaiah Ihnen 4 | Pts: Duane Washington Jr., Justice Sueing, 16 Rebs: Justice Sueing, 7 Asts: CJ Walker, 6 |
* Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis, IN Attendance: 6,206 Referees: Kelly Pfeifer, D.J. Carstensen, Paul Szelc
* BTN
* March 11 6:30 pm
* Recap
No. 10 Indiana 50, No. 7 Rutgers 61 :
| Scoring by half: 32−33, 18−28 |||
| Pts: Trayce Jackson-Davis, 19 Rebs: Trayce Jackson-Davis, 9 Asts: Rob Phinisee, 7 | Pts: Ron Harper Jr., Jacob Young 13 Rebs: Myles Johnson, 13 Asts: Geo Baker, 7 |
* Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis, IN Attendance: 6,769 Referees: Lewis Garrison, Courtney Green, Paul Szelc
* BTN
* March 11 9:00 pm
* Recap
No. 11 Penn State 74, No. 6 Wisconsin 75 :
| Scoring by half: 31−41, 43−34 |||
| Pts: Sam Sessoms, 18 Rebs: John Harrar, 10 Asts: Myreon Jones, 4 | Pts: Aleem Ford, 17 Rebs: Tyler Wahl, 5 Asts: D'Mitrik Trice, 9 |
* Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis, IN Attendance: 6,769 Referees: Donnie Eppley, Rob Kueneman, Larry Scirotto

### Quarterfinals

* BTN
* March 12 11:30 am
* Recap
No. 8 Maryland 66, No. 1 Michigan 79 :
| Scoring by half: 38−40, 28−39 |||
| Pts: Eric Ayala, 19 Rebs: Aaron Wiggins, 7 Asts: Aaron Wiggins, 5 | Pts: Mike Smith, 18 Rebs: Austin Davis, 8 Asts: Mike Smith, 15 |
* Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis, IN Attendance: 7,634 Referees: Edwin Young, Donnie Eppley, Larry Scirotto
* BTN
* March 12 2:00 pm
* Recap
No. 5 Ohio State vs. No. 4 Purdue  (OT) :
| Scoring by half: 49−31, 23−41 Overtime: 15−6 |||
| Pts: Duane Washington Jr., 20 Rebs: Justice Sueing, 10 Asts: CJ Walker, 7 | Pts: Trevion Williams, 26 Rebs: Trevion Williams, 14 Asts: Trevion Williams, 5 |
* Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis, IN Attendance: 7,634 Referees: Rob Kueneman, Courtney Green, Bo Boroski
* BTN
* March 12 6:30 pm
* Recap
No. 7 Rutgers 68, No. 2 Illinois 90 :
| Scoring by half: 28−47, 40−43 |||
| Pts: Ron Harper Jr., 21 Rebs: Myles Johnson, 5 Asts: Jaden Jones, 2 | Pts: Ayo Dosunmu, 23 Rebs: Kofi Cockburn, 12 Asts: Ayo Dosunmu, 6 |
* Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis, IN Attendance: 7,735 Referees: Steve McJunkins, Kelly Pfeifer, Paul Szelc
* BTN
* March 12 9:00 pm
* Recap
No. 6 Wisconsin 57, No. 3 Iowa 62 :
| Scoring by half: 32−26, 25−36 |||
| Pts: D'Mitrik Trice, 19 Rebs: Aleem Ford, Micah Potter, 8 Asts: Jonathan Davis, Brad Davison, 3 | Pts: Luka Garza, 24 Rebs: Luka Garza, 9 Asts: Connor McCaffery, 6 |
* Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis, IN Attendance: 7,735 Referees: Lewis Garrison, Rob Riley, D.J. Carstensen

### Semifinals

* CBS
* March 13 1:00 pm
* Recap
No. 1 Michigan 67, No. 5 Ohio State 68 :
| Scoring by half: 27−26, 40−42 |||
| Pts: Hunter Dickinson, 21 Rebs: Hunter Dickinson, Brandon Johns Jr., 8 Asts: Mike Smith, Franz Wagner, 4 | Pts: Duane Washington Jr., 24 Rebs: Duane Washington Jr., 6 Asts: Duane Washington Jr., CJ Walker, 4 |
* Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis, IN Attendance: 8,000 Referees: Donnie Eppley, Courtney Green, Paul Szelc
* CBS
* March 13 3:30 pm
* Recap
No. 2 Illinois 82, No. 3 Iowa 71 :
| Scoring by half: 45−37, 37−34 |||
| Pts: Kofi Cockburn, 26 Rebs: Da'Monte Williams, 9 Asts: Ayo Dosunmu, 9 | Pts: Luka Garza, 21 Rebs: Luka Garza, 12 Asts: Jordan Bohannon, 6 |
* Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis, IN Attendance: 8,000 Referees: Lewis Garrison, Rob Riley, Bo Boroski

### Championship

* CBS
* March 14 3:30 pm
* Recap
No. 5 Ohio State 88, No. 2 Illinois 91 (OT) :
| Scoring by half: 35−40, 42−37 Overtime: 11−14 |||
| Pts: Duane Washington Jr., 32 Rebs: Duane Washington Jr., 8 Asts: CJ Walker, 6 | Pts: 3 tied, 16 Rebs: Ayo Dosunmu, Kofi Cockburn, 9 Asts: André Curbelo, 5 |
* Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis, IN Attendance: 8,000 Referees: Kelly Pfeifer, D.J. Carstensen, Larry Scirotto

## All-Tournament Team

* Ayo Dosunmu, Illinois – Big Ten tournament Most Outstanding Player
* Kofi Cockburn, Illinois
* Luka Garza, Iowa
* EJ Liddell, Ohio State
* Duane Washington Jr., Ohio State