Big Ten tournament at Madison Square Garden in 2018
Jim Delany, Commissioner of the Big Ten Conference speaks during a news conference to announce a partnership with Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2014. Credit: AP / Frank Franklin II
The Big Ten keeps moving eastward.
Commissioner Jim Delaney said Tuesday the men's basketball tournament will be played at Madison Square Garden in 2018.
Delaney says league play will start in December during the 2017-2018 season-- earlier than usual -- to accommodate the Garden. The arena has a long-term deal with the Big East for its men's basketball tournament. That means there will be a week between the Big Ten championship and the NCAA tournament's Selection Sunday.
The Big Ten tournament will be in Chicago in 2015, Indianapolis in 2016 and Washington in 2017.
Delaney also announced the Big Ten will begin an annual basketball-hockey doubleheader at the Garden starting in 2016.
Delaney was joined at the Garden news conference by two New York Rangers players -- Carl Hagelin, who attended Michigan, and Derek Stepan, who attended Wisconsin.
