The Big Ten Tournament determines the champions for men's basketball in the Big Ten Conference. Seeding for this single elimination tournament is based upon the regular season standings.

In 2010, the Big Ten Tournament was held from March 11 to March 14 for the men and March 4 to March 7 for women. Both tournaments were held at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Ohio State Buckeyes women's basketball team won the women's tournament while the Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team also won their tournament.

In 1906, Minnesota won the first Big Ten Conference followed by the University of Chicago taking next four titles.

Wisconsin dominated the Big Ten Conference from 1912 to 1914, winning five Conference titles during that decade.

In the 1930s, the Purdue Boilermakers and Northwestern Wildcats dominated the league. Northwestern hosted the first NCAA Championship in 1939, becming the first Big Ten team to do so.

The Iowa Hawkeyes made it to the 1956 championship game losing to San Francisco, who was led by Bill Russell. The Michigan State gave the Big Ten its sixth NCAA appearance in 1957.

In the 1970s, Ohio State, Minnesota and Indiana changed the style of play having great defense to their opponent. Then MSU, led by Magic Johnson, defeated Larry Bird and Indiana State, starting the rivalry of the two players that continued into their professional career in the NBA.