2023 Big Ten Basketball Tournament: Updated projected seeds, schedule, magic numbers

The 2023 regular season is coming to a rapid end. That means that the Big Ten Tournament is just around the corner. During the home stretch of the season-long marathon, here is a look at current standings, magic numbers, the schedule, and more via playoffstatus.com.

Big Ten Standings

Here is a look at the current Big Ten standings:

1. Purdue, 24-4 (13-4)
2. Northwestern, 20-7 (11-5)
3. Indiana, 19-9 (10-7)
4. Maryland, 18-9 (9-7)
5. Illinois, 19-9 (10-7)
6. Rutgers, 17-10 (9-7)
7. Michigan State, 17-10 (9-7)
8. Michigan, 15-12 (9-7)
9. Iowa, 17-11 (9-8)
10. Wisconsin, 16-11 (8-9)
11. Penn State, 16-11 (7-9)
12. Nebraska, 14-14 (7-10)
13. Ohio State, 11-16 (3-13)
14. Minnesota, 7-19 (1-15)

Purdue is sitting nicely at the top of the Big Ten and is currently the only team that truly controls its own destiny. Still, there are six other schools, Northwestern, Maryland, Indiana, Rutgers, Michigan, and Illinois, who could still take the top seed with some help. The Wildcats have by far the best shot of doing that out of the group, though.

Right now, Purdue’s magic number to win the Big Ten is three. For second place, the Boilermakers have a magic number of one. Northwestern has the best shot at the two seed, with a magic number of three for that slot.

The middle of the Big Ten is incredibly deep this season, with 12 teams capable of earning as high as the fifth seed. That leaves Ohio State and Minnesota at the bottom of the conference by themselves. Neither one of them can finish better than 12th, and even then the Buckeyes would need some help to do that.

Thursday’s Schedule

Here is a look at the Big Ten games scheduled for Thursday:

• Penn State at Ohio State, 6:30 p.m. EST
• Michigan at Rutgers, 8:30 p.m. EST
• No. 21 Northwestern at Illinois, 9:00 p.m. EST

Conference Tournament Schedule

First Round: Wed., March 8

Game 1: No. 12 seed vs. No. 13 seed | 6:30 p.m. EST [Big Ten Network (BTN)/FOX Sports App]

Game 2: No. 11 seed vs. No. 14 seed | 25 minutes after Game 1(BTN/FOX Sports App)

Second Round: Thurs., March 9

Game 3: No. 8 seed vs. No. 9 seed | 12:00 p.m. EST (BTN/FOX Sports App)

Game 4: No. 5 seed vs. Game 1 winner | 25 minutes after Game 1 (BTN/FOX Sports App)

Game 5: No. 7 seed vs. 10 seed | 6:30 p.m. EST (BTN/FOX Sports App)

Game 6: No. 6 seed vs. Game 2 winner | 25 minutes after Game 5 (BTN/FOX Sports App)

Quarterfinals: Fri., March 10

Game 7: No. 1 seed vs. Game 3 winner | 12:00 p.m. EST (BTN/FOX Sports App)

Game 8: No. 4 seed vs. Game 4 winner | 25 minutes after Game 7 (BTN/FOX Sports App)

Game 9: No. 2 seed vs. Game 5 winner | 6:30 p.m. EST (BTN/FOX Sports App)

Game 10: No. 3 seed vs. Game 6 winner | 25 minutes after Game 9 (BTN/FOX Sports App)

Semifinals: Sat., March 11

Game 11: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner | 1:00 p.m. EST (CBS/Paramount+)

Game 12: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner | 25 minutes after Game 11 (CBS/Paramount+)

Big Ten Championship Game: Sun., March 12 

Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner | 3:30 p.m. EST (CBS/Paramount+)