While the Big Ten tournament usually doesn’t have the desperation of a one-bid league or the depth of talent like the Big East tournament in New York or the Big 12 tournament in Kansas City, it is four days of must-watch basketball.

You never know what will happen in a tournament setting.

The Big Ten kicks off today with Michigan-Iowa at 2:30 p.m. starting a four-day, 10-game free-for-all for an NCAA tournament bid.

Here’s one way it could shake out.

First round: No. 8 Michigan vs. No. 9 Iowa: The Wolverines have knocked off the Hawkeyes twice this season - blowing them out in Ann Arbor and winning in overtime in Iowa City. Expect a middle-of-the-road result here as Michigan ends Iowa’s season for the third straight year and DeShawn Sims has yet another big game against a Todd Lickliter-coached team. Score: Michigan 71, Iowa 60

No. 7 Northwestern vs. No. 10 Indiana: A rematch of a game over the weekend that the Hoosiers won, they won’t be able to pull it off twice in a row. Northwestern coach Bill Carmody is good at tweaking his offense and defense just enough to throw a completely different look at an opponent and will do so here. Plus, the Wildcats are playing for a postseason bid. Indiana is playing for pride. Score: Northwestern 68, Indiana 61

No. 6 Minnesota vs. No. 11 Penn State: The Gophers, flirting with the NCAA tournament bubble, couldn’t have been happy to see this matchup. Despite being in last, Penn State is playing better now than any other team tipping off on the first day. Minnesota forces turnovers, but no point guard in the league is better than Penn State junior Talor Battle - Evan Turner is a point forward. Battle is finally getting some support around him and what is one of the youngest teams in the Big Ten - and last year’s NIT champions - seem to finally believe. Penn State sends Minnesota to the NIT. Score: Penn State 65, Minnesota 62

Quarterfinals: No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 8 Michigan: The two teams split the season series, but that should come with an asterisk because Evan Turner didn’t play in Ann Arbor, when the Buckeyes lost. With him in Columbus, Ohio State controlled the game. Considering a potential No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament is in sight for the Buckeyes, don’t expect them to be lethargic in their first game in Indianapolis. Score: Ohio State 75, Michigan 58

No. 4 Wisconsin vs. No. 5 Illinois: The other Big Ten bubble team starts its Big Ten run in the quarterfinals - and it’ll end in the quarterfinals. Wisconsin dominated the Illini on Sunday in Champaign and there’s no reason to think it’ll be different in Indianapolis. Wisconsin might be playing better than any team in the league and, with Jon Leuer back and healthy, have a good inside-outside game. That’ll be enough to move on and make Bruce Weber really sweat on Selection Sunday. Score: Wisconsin 68, Illinois 60

No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 7 Northwestern: The Boilermakers are adjusting to life without Robbie Hummel. Eventually - probably in the NCAA tournament - it’ll be the reason they lose. Against Northwestern, it won't matter. Purdue is deep enough and talented enough to take care of the Wildcats without the star junior. Expect them to lean heavily on JaJuan Johnson throughout the tournament. Score: Purdue 70, Northwestern 60

No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 11 Penn State: Michigan State is the most physical team in the Big Ten. Just ask Michigan coach John Beilein. But the Spartans’ biggest issue is turnovers, they commit a lot of them. And Penn State lost by just two points in East Lansing a week ago, 67-65. Without a suspended Chris Allen, Michigan State will take a while to adjust. Could Penn State become the story of the Big Ten tournament with another win? Yes, yes they can. Score: Penn State 68, Michigan State 66

Semifinals: No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 4 Wisconsin: This could be a rematch we see in the NCAA tournament at some point. The Buckeyes and Badgers are the two hottest teams in the Big Ten and among the best in the country. This will be the best game of the Big Ten tournament but preparing for Wisconsin and its slow-it-down game can be tough in a one-day turnaround. Look for Evan Turner to go off for 28 points but Wisconsin to hold on. Score: Wisconsin 59, Ohio State 56

No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 11 Penn State: Could the best story in the Big Ten tournament keep going? No. Not a chance. Unlike Michigan State, Purdue is careful with the ball, can adapt to any style of play and playing his third game in as many days, Battle finally shows weakening in the second half. Penn State leads at halftime but can’t score for seven minutes down the stretch. In that time, E’Twaun Moore picks up eight points and pushes Purdue in a runaway. Score: Purdue 71, Penn State 59

Final: No. 4 Wisconsin vs. No. 2 Purdue: Playing for a championship on Sunday, both teams have realistic visions of being back here in less than a month for the Final Four. If Hummel had been healthy, Purdue might have been a penciled-in team to make a run at it, much like Michigan State a year ago (silly me, I took Louisville to beat them). But in the Big Ten final, the Badgers will spread out Purdue and Trevon Hughes will cause Chris Kramer fits. Jason Bohannon will have another 15-plus point game and behind MVP Jon Leuer, Wisconsin will pull ahead with about 5 minutes left and hang on. Score: Wisconsin 61, Purdue 55

Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein.