Postseason play kicks off tonight for the Michigan Wolverines in the Big Ten Tournament. Standing in their way are a familiar foe — the Purdue Boilermakers. Here are all the details about how you can watch the game:
It’s the most wonderful time of the year in the college basketball world, and the Michigan Wolverines begin postseason play later this evening. After finishing third in the Big Ten (22-9, 14-6), the Wolverines earned a double-bye, meaning the Wolverines only need to win three games to win the Big Ten Tournament .
The first opponent standing in Michigan’s way are the Purdue Boilermakers (21-10, 13-7).
No. 3 Michigan Wolverines vs No. 6 Purdue Boilermakers
- Day: Friday, March 14, 2025
- TV: Big Ten Network
- Time: Approximately 9 p.m. ET
- Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
- FanDuel Odds : Purdue -2.5
Michigan is 1-1 against Purdue this season, losing in blowout fashion at Mackey Arena before getting revenge last month. That win over Purdue was one of Michigan’s best of the season and is a huge resume booster.
To say the Wolverines are playing their best basketball heading into this tournament would be a flat-out lie. Michigan is in the midst of a three-game skid, ending the regular season with a blowout loss at Michigan State. Despite having eight more wins than losses against Big Ten teams, Michigan has a negative point differential in conference play. The Wolverines certainly exceeded expectations in Dusty May’s first year at the helm, but turnovers and a lack of reliable scoring from the backcourt has doomed Michigan as of late.
Of course, the Wolverines can earn an automatic bid, improve their resume and pick up some much needed confidence with a Big Ten Tournament title, but motivation for this conference tournament with the more important tournament being a week away is TBD.
Michigan is firmly in the NCAA Tournament field as an at-large bid, ranked as a 5-seed on the Bracket Matrix , which aggregates bracket projections from across the country. A 5- or 6-seed seems to be most likely depending on how tonight’s game goes. If Michigan can manage to pick up three wins — all of which would likely be of the Quad 1 variety — they could improve to a 4-seed.