2020–21 Big Ten Conference men's basketball season

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2020–21 Big Ten Conference men's basketball season
Big Ten Conference logo.svg
LeagueNCAA Division I
SportBasketball
Number of teams14
TV partner(s)Big Ten Network, ESPN, Fox, FS1, CBS
2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
Regular season championsMichigan
Season MVPLuka Garza
Tournament
ChampionsIllinois
  Runners-upOhio State
Finals MVPAyo Dosunmu
Basketball seasons
2020–21 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 4 Michigan 14 3   .824 23 5   .821
No. 2 Illinois 16 4   .800 24 7   .774
No. 8 Iowa 14 6   .700 22 9   .710
No. 20 Purdue 13 6   .684 18 10   .643
No. 7 Ohio State 12 8   .600 21 10   .677
Wisconsin 10 10   .500 18 13   .581
Rutgers 10 10   .500 16 12   .571
Maryland 9 11   .450 17 14   .548
Michigan State 9 11   .450 15 13   .536
Indiana 7 12   .368 12 15   .444
Penn State 7 12   .368 11 14   .440
Northwestern 6 13   .316 9 15   .375
Minnesota 6 14   .300 14 15   .483
Nebraska 3 16   .158 7 20   .259
2021 Big Ten Tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2020–21 Big Ten men's basketball season began with practices in October 2020, followed by the start of the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season in November 2020. The regular season ended in March 2021.

The Big Ten announced the season schedule on November 18, 2020 with games starting on December 13 and featuring games played on December 25 and 26. The schedule had built-in collapsible byes to attempt to make up for expected COVID-19 issues.[1] The conference played the highest percentage of scheduled conference games in the nation, having only four games that could not be played.

With a win over rival Michigan State on March 4, 2021, Michigan won the Big Ten regular season championship based on winning percentage as the Wolverines did not play a full 20-game schedule due to COVID-19 issues.

The Big Ten Tournament was originally to be held at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois from March 10–14, 2021. However, on February 9, the conference announced the tournament would be played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana to better deal with testing concerns raised by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.[2] Illinois defeated Ohio State in the championship game to win the Big Ten Tournament and receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Iowa big man Luka Garza was named Big Ten Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. Michigan coach Juwan Howard was named Big Ten Coach of the Year. Garza and Illinois point guard Ayo Dosunmu were consensus first-team All-Americans.

In addition to Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Purdue, Rutgers, and Wisconsin received bids to the NCAA Tournament. The nine bids to the tournament marked a conference record.

Head coaches[]

Coaching changes[]

Penn State[]

On October 21, 2020, Pat Chambers resigned after an internal investigation by the school into inappropriate conduct by Chambers.[3] It had been reported in July that former player Rasir Bolton had left the program due to comments to him by Chambers.[4] New allegations involving Chambers surfaced after the school's investigation.[3] Assistant coach Jim Ferry served as interim coach for the 2020–21 season.[5]

Coaches[]

Team Head coach Previous job Years at school Overall record Big Ten record Big Ten titles Big Ten Tournament titles NCAA Tournaments NCAA Final Fours NCAA Championships
Illinois Brad Underwood Oklahoma State 4 47–49 24–34 0 0 0 0 0
Indiana Archie Miller Dayton 4 55–43 28–32 0 0 0 0 0
Iowa Fran McCaffery Siena 11 196–143 89–95 0 0 4 0 0
Maryland Mark Turgeon Texas A&M 10 204–99 76–43* 1 0 4 0 0
Michigan Juwan Howard Miami Heat (Asst.) 2 19–12 10–10 0 0 0 0 0
Michigan State Tom Izzo Michigan State (Asst.) 26 628–241 299–132 10 6 22 8 1
Minnesota Richard Pitino FIU 8 127–108 48–82 0 0 2 0 0
Nebraska Fred Hoiberg Chicago Bulls 2 7–25 2–18 0 0 0 0 0
Northwestern Chris Collins Duke (Asst.) 8 109–119 43–85 0 0 1 0 0
Ohio State Chris Holtmann Butler 4 66–29 34–24 0 0 2 0 0
Penn State Jim Ferry (interim) Penn State (Asst.) 1 0–0 0–0 0 0 0 0 0
Purdue Matt Painter Purdue (Assoc.) 16 337–174 167–103 3 1 11 0 0
Rutgers Steve Pikiell Stony Brook 5 64–65 24–32 0 0 0 0 0
Wisconsin Greg Gard Wisconsin (Assoc.) 6 101–57 56–35 1 0 3 0 0

Notes:

  • All records, appearances, titles, etc. are from time with current school only.
  • Year at school includes 2020–21 season.
  • Overall and Big Ten records are from time at current school and are through the beginning of the season.
  • Turgeon's ACC conference record excluded since Maryland began Big Ten Conference play in 2014–15.

Preseason[]

Preseason All-Big Ten[]

On November 8, 2020, a panel of conference media selected a 10-member preseason All-Big Ten Team and Player of the Year.[6]

Honor Recipient
Preseason Player of the Year Luka Garza*, Iowa
Preseason All-Big Ten Team Kofi Cockburn, Illinois
Ayo Dosunmu*, Illinois
Luka Garza*, Iowa
Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana
Joe Wieskamp, Iowa
Aaron Henry, Michigan State
Marcus Carr, Minnesota
Trevion Williams, Purdue
Geo Baker, Rutgers
Nate Reuvers, Wisconsin
*Unanimous selections

Preseason national polls[]

AP[7] Athlon
Sports
[8]
Blue Ribbon
Yearbook
[9]
CBS Sports[10] Coaches ESPN[11] Lindy's
Sports
[12]
Sports
Illustrated
[13]
Illinois 8 9 11 4 10 8 12 4
Indiana 25
Iowa 4 7 8 9 6 6 10 6
Maryland
Michigan 25 17
Michigan State 13 13 19 13 12 13 20 14
Minnesota
Nebraska
Northwestern
Ohio State 23 21 23 24 24 22 21
Penn State
Purdue
Rutgers 24 19 24 23
Wisconsin 7 6 7 8 7 7 6 16

Regular season[]

Rankings[]

Legend
    Improvement in ranking
  Drop in ranking
  Not ranked previous week
RV Received votes but were not ranked in Top 25 of poll
(Italics) Number of first place votes
  Pre/
Wk 1
Wk
2
Wk
3
Wk
4
Wk
5
Wk
6
Wk
7
Wk
8
Wk
9
Wk
10
Wk
11
Wk
12
Wk
13
Wk
14
Wk
15
Wk
16
Wk
17
Final
Illinois AP 8 5 6 13 18 15 12 14 22 19 12 6 5 5 4 3 2
C 10 10 9 13 18 16 12 13 24 22 13 6 5 4 4 3 2 8
Indiana AP RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV
C RV RV RV RV
Iowa AP 4 3 3 3 (1) 4 10 5 5 4 7 8 15 11 9 5 5 8
C 6 6 3 (1) 3 (2) 5 11 7 8 4 7 8 16 14 12 8 6 8 13
Maryland AP RV RV RV
C RV RV RV RV RV
Michigan AP 25 RV RV 25 19 16 10 7 7 4 4 3 3 3 2 (4) 4 4
C RV RV RV 24 19 15 9 5 7 4 4 3 3 3 (1) 2 (1) 4 4 4
Michigan State AP 13 8 4 4 12 17 23 RV RV RV
C 12 12 4 4 11 18 RV RV RV RV RV RV
Minnesota AP RV RV 21 16 23 17 21 RV RV
C RV 24 17 19 17 20 RV RV
Nebraska AP
C
Northwestern AP 19 RV RV
C 22 RV
Ohio State AP 23 23 22 20 23 25 RV 21 15 13 7 4 4 4 7 9 7
C 24 24 20 19 20 21 RV RV 18 15 9 5 4 5 10 10 7 15
Penn State AP
C RV
Purdue AP RV RV RV 24 24 RV RV 23 20 20
C RV RV RV RV RV RV 25 RV RV 23 19 20 RV
Rutgers AP 24 24 21 19 11 14 15 RV RV 25 RV
C 23 23 22 17 12 13 14 RV RV RV RV RV RV RV
Wisconsin AP 7 4 13 12 9 6 8 9 10 14 19 21 21 23 25 RV RV
C 7 7 13 12 9 7 10 9 10 13 20 21 21 24 RV RV RV
  • AP does not release a post-tournament poll.

Player of the week[]

Throughout the conference regular season, the Big Ten offices named one or two players of the week and one or two freshmen of the week each Monday.

Week Player of the week Freshman of the week
November 30, 2020[14] Luka Garza, Iowa Zach Edey, Purdue
Adam Miller, Illinois
December 7, 2020[15] Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana Hunter Dickinson, Michigan
December 14, 2020[16] Ayo Dosunmu, Ilinois Hunter Dickinson (2), Michigan
Luka Garza (2), Iowa
December 21, 2020[17] Boo Buie, Northwestern Mason Gillis, Purdue
December 28, 2020[18] Marcus Carr, Minnesota Hunter Dickinson (3), Michigan
Ayo Dosunmu (2), Illinois
January 3, 2021[19] Liam Robbins, Minnesota Hunter Dickinson (4), Michigan
January 11, 2021[20] Trayce Jackson-Davis (2), Indiana Hunter Dickinson (5), Michigan
Jordan Bohannon, Iowa
January 18, 2021[21] Liam Robbins (2), Minnesota Brandon Newman, Purdue
Trevion Williams, Purdue
January 25, 2021[22] Isaiah Livers, Michigan Jaden Ivey, Purdue
February 1, 2021[23] Ayo Dosunmu (3), Illinois Brandon Newman (2), Purdue
February 8, 2021[24] Ayo Dosunmu (4), Illinois Jaden Ivey (2), Purdue
February 15, 2021[25] Joe Wieskamp, Iowa Hunter Dickinson (6), Michigan
February 22, 2021[26] Luka Garza (3), Iowa Hunter Dickinson (7), Michigan
Duane Washington Jr., Ohio State
March 1, 2021[27] Geo Baker, Rutgers André Curbelo, Illinois
March 8, 2021[28] Aaron Henry, Michigan State Zach Edey (2), Purdue

Conference matrix[]

This table summarizes the head-to-head results between teams in conference play. Each team was scheduled to play 20 conference games, and at least one game against each opponent. However, due to COVID-19 pandemic protocols some games were cancelled, officially declared as "no contest".

Illinois Indiana Iowa Maryland Michigan Michigan St Minnesota Nebraska Northwestern Ohio St Penn St Purdue Rutgers Wisconsin
vs. Illinois 0−2 0–1 1−0 0−1 1−0 0−2 0−2 0−2 1–1 0–2 0–1 1–0 0–2
vs. Indiana 2–0 0−2 0−1 1−0 2−0 0−1 0−1 1−1 1–0 0−1 2–0 2–0 1–0
vs. Iowa 1–0 2−0 0−1 1−0 0−2 1–1 0−1 0−2 1–1 0−1 0–1 0–2 0–2
vs. Maryland 0–1 1−0 1−0 2−0 0−1 0−2 0−2 1−0 1–0 2−0 1–1 1–1 1–1
vs. Michigan 1–0 0−1 0−1 0−2 1−1 1−1 0−1 0−1 0–1 0−1 0–1 0–1 0–2
vs. Michigan St 0–1 0−2 2–0 1−0 1−1 1−0 0−2 1−0 1–1 0−1 2–0 1–1 1–0
vs. Minnesota 2–0 1−0 1−1 2−0 1−1 0−1 1−1 1−0 0–1 1−0 1–1 2–0 1–0
vs. Nebraska 2–0 1−0 1−0 2−0 1−0 2−0 1−1 1−0 1–0 1−1 1–0 0–1 2–0
vs. Northwestern 2–0 1−1 2−0 0−1 1−0 0−1 0−1 0−1 1–1 1−0 1–0 2–0 2–0
vs. Ohio State 1–1 0−1 1−1 0−1 1−0 1−1 1−0 0−1 1−1 0−2 2–0 0–2 0–1
vs. Penn State 2–0 1−0 1−0 0−2 1−0 1−0 0−1 1−1 0−1 2–0 2–0 0–1 1–1
vs. Purdue 1–0 0−2 1−0 1−1 1−0 0−2 1−1 0−1 0−1 0–2 0−2 1–0 0–1
vs. Rutgers 0–1 0−2 2−0 1−1 1−0 1−1 0−2 1−0 0−2 2–0 1−0 0–1 1–0
vs. Wisconsin 2–0 0−1 2−0 1−1 2−0 0−1 0−1 0−2 0−2 1–0 1−1 1–0 0–1
Total 16–4 7–12 14–6 9–11 14–3 9–11 6–14 3–16 6–13 12–8 7–12 13–6 10–10 10–10

Honors and awards[]

All-Big Ten awards and teams[]

On March 9, 2021, the Big Ten announced most of its conference awards.[29]

Honor Coaches Media
Player of the Year Luka Garza, Iowa Luka Garza, Iowa
Coach of the Year Juwan Howard, Michigan Juwan Howard, Michigan
Freshman of the Year Hunter Dickinson, Michigan Hunter Dickinson, Michigan
Defensive Player of the Year Darryl Morsell, Maryland Not Selected
Sixth Man of the Year André Curbelo, Illinois Not Selected
All-Big Ten First Team Kofi Cockburn, Illinois Kofi Cockburn, Illinois
Ayo Dosunmu, Illinois Ayo Dosunmu, Illinois
Luka Garza, Iowa Luka Garza, Iowa
E. J. Liddell, Ohio State Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana
Trevion Williams, Purdue Hunter Dickinson, Michigan
All-Big Ten Second Team Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana E. J. Liddell, Ohio State
Joe Wieskamp, Iowa Joe Wieskamp, Iowa
Hunter Dickinson, Michigan Marcus Carr, Minnesota
Isaiah Livers, Michigan Isaiah Livers, Michigan
Franz Wagner, Michigan Trevion Williams, Purdue
All-Big Ten Third Team Marcus Carr, Minnesota Franz Wagner, Michigan
Aaron Henry, Michigan State Aaron Henry, Michigan State
Duane Washington Jr., Ohio State Duane Washington Jr., Ohio State
Ron Harper Jr., Rutgers Ron Harper Jr., Rutgers
D'Mitrik Trice, Wisconsin D'Mitrik Trice, Wisconsin
All-Big Ten Honorable Mention Trent Frazier, Illinois Trent Frazier, Illinois
Jordan Bohannon, Iowa Jordan Bohannon, Iowa
Eric Ayala, Maryland Eric Ayala, Maryland
Aaron Wiggins, Maryland Aaron Wiggins, Maryland
Geo Baker, Rutgers C. J. Fredrick, Iowa
Not Selected Darryl Morsell, Maryland
Teddy Allen, Nebraska
John Harrar, Penn State
Myreon Jones, Penn State
Myles Johnson, Rutgers
Jacob Young, Rutgers
All-Freshman Team Andre Curbelo, Illinois Not Selected
Keegan Murray, Iowa
Hunter Dickinson, Michigan
Zach Edey, Purdue
Jaden Ivey, Purdue
All-Defensive Team Trent Frazier, Illinois Not Selected
Darryl Morsell, Maryland
Aaron Henry, Michigan State
Jamari Wheeler, Penn State
Myles Johnson, Rutgers

Postseason[]

Big Ten Tournament[]

  First round
Wednesday, March 10
BTN[30]
Second round
Thursday, March 11
BTN
Quarterfinals
Friday, March 12
BTN
Semifinals
Saturday, March 13
CBS
Championship
Sunday, March 14
CBS
                                               
1 Michigan 79  
    8 Maryland 66  
8 Maryland 68
9 Michigan State 57  
  1 Michigan 67  
  5 Ohio State 68  
4 Purdue 78
    5 Ohio State 87*  
5 Ohio State 79
    13 Minnesota 75  
12 Northwestern 46
13 Minnesota 51  
5 Ohio State 88
2 Illinois 91*
2 Illinois 90  
    7 Rutgers 68  
7 Rutgers 61
10 Indiana 50  
  2 Illinois 82
  3 Iowa 71  
3 Iowa 62
    6 Wisconsin 57  
6 Wisconsin 75
    11 Penn State 74  
11 Penn State 72
14 Nebraska 66  

* denotes overtime period


NCAA Tournament[]

The winner of the Big Ten Tournament, Illinois, received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Nine Big Ten teams received bids to the NCAA Tournament, the most of any conference in the tournament and the most in the conference's history.

Seed Region School First Four First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four Championship
1 Midwest Illinois N/A defeated (16) Drexel 78–49 lost to (8) Loyola–Chicago 58–71
1 East Michigan N/A defeated (16) Texas Southern 82–66 defeated (8) LSU 86–78 defeated (4) Florida State 76–58 lost to (11) UCLA 49–51
2 South Ohio State N/A lost to (15) Oral Roberts 72–75OT
2 West Iowa N/A defeated (15) Grand Canyon 86–74 lost to (7) Oregon 80–95
4 South Purdue N/A lost to (13) North Texas 69–78OT
9 South Wisconsin N/A defeated (8) North Carolina 85–62 lost to (1) Baylor 63–76
10 Midwest Rutgers N/A defeated (7) Clemson 60–56 lost to (2) Houston 60–63
10 East Maryland N/A defeated (7) UConn 63–54 lost to (2) Alabama 77–96
11 East Michigan State lost to (11) UCLA 80–86OT
W–L (%): 0–1 (.000) 6–2 (.750) 1–5 (.167) 1–0 (1.000) 0–1 (.000) 0–0 (–) 0–0 (–) Total: 8–9 (.471)

References[]

  1. ^ "Big Ten Announces 2020-21 Men's Basketball Schedule". bigten.org. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  2. ^ "STATEMENT ON RELOCATION OF THE 2021 BIG TEN CONFERENCE'S MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT". bigten.org. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "PSU's Chambers resigns after probe into conduct". ESPN.com. October 21, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  4. ^ Washington, Jesse (July 6, 2020). "Noose comment by Penn State basketball coach points to larger NCAA problem". The Undefeated. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  5. ^ Leah Asmelash. "A remark about a noose around a player's neck led to Penn State basketball coach's resignation". CNN. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  6. ^ "Big Ten Men's Basketball 2020-21 Preseason Honors Announced". bigten.org. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  7. ^ "AP Top 25 Poll". collegebasketball.ap.org. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  8. ^ "Athlon Sports' College Basketball Top 25 for 2020-21".
  9. ^ Dortch, Chris. "Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook Preseason Top 25 for 2020-21". blueribbon.substack.com. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  10. ^ "College basketball 1-357 rankings: Here are the projected best 68 teams for the 2020-21 season". CBSSports.com. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  11. ^ "Kentucky climbs to No. 5, Baylor still No. 1 in Way-Too-Early Top 25 update for 2020-21". ESPN.com. October 26, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  12. ^ "Indiana Predicted 7th in Big Ten in Lindy's Sports 2020-2021 Preview Magazine". SI.com. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  13. ^ Forde, Pat. "SI's College Basketball Preseason Top 25". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  14. ^ "Illinois, Iowa and Purdue Earn Weekly Men's Basketball Honors". bigten.org. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  15. ^ "Indiana and Michigan Earn Weekly Men's Basketball Honors". bigten.org. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  16. ^ "Illinois, Iowa and Michigan Earn Weekly Men's Basketball Honors". bigten.org. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  17. ^ "Northwestern and Purdue Earn Weekly Men's Basketball Honors". bigten.org. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  18. ^ "Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota Earn Weekly Men's Basketball Honors". bigten.org. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  19. ^ "Michigan and Minnesota Earn Weekly Men's Basketball Honors". bigten.org. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  20. ^ "Indiana, Iowa and Michigan Earn Weekly Men's Basketball Honors". bigten.org. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  21. ^ "Minnesota and Purdue Earn Weekly Men's Basketball Honors". bigten.org. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  22. ^ "Michigan and Purdue Earn Weekly Men's Basketball Honors". bigten.org. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  23. ^ "Illinois and Purdue Earn Weekly Men's Basketball Honors". bigten.org. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  24. ^ "Illinois and Purdue Earn Weekly Men's Basketball Honors". bigten.org. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  25. ^ "Iowa and Michigan Earn Weekly Men's Basketball Honors". bigten.org. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  26. ^ "Iowa, Michigan and Ohio State Earn Weekly Men's Basketball Honors". bigten.org. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  27. ^ "Illinois and Rutgers Earn Weekly Men's Basketball Honors". bigten.org. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  28. ^ "Michigan State and Purdue Earn Weekly Men's Basketball Honors". bigten.org. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  29. ^ "2020-21 Big Ten Men's Basketball Postseason Honors Announced". BigTen.org. March 9, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  30. ^ "Big Ten Announces 2020-21 Men's Basketball Schedule". BigTen.org. Big Ten Conference. November 18, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
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