ROSEMONT, Ill. — The 2018 Big Ten Basketball Media Day kicked off early Thursday morning with Commissioner Jim Delany announcing one big change to the conference schedule. After increasing the number of conference games played from 16 to 18, the Big Ten will now play a 20-game conference schedule.
In the new scheduling, there will be three protected rivalries: Illinois vs. Northwestern, Indiana vs. Purdue, and Michigan vs. Michigan State.
Delany continued to say that 80 percent of conference tournaments will be held in the Midwest region. Chicago and Indianapolis will continue to be tournament sites, but added that there is a possibility that other cities will be able to make their bid.