The Big Ten tournament was originally to be held at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois from March 10–14, 2021.

However, on February 9, the conference announced the tournament would be played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana to better deal with testing concerns raised by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

[3] It had been reported in July that former player Rasir Bolton had left the program due to comments to him by Chambers.

[5] Notes: On November 8, 2020, a panel of conference media selected a 10-member preseason All-Big Ten Team and Player of the Year.

[7] Source:[19][20] Plans announced in May 2020 called for Butler, Creighton, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John's, Villanova, and Xavier to represent the Big East and Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan State, Purdue, Rutgers, and Wisconsin the Big Ten in the 2020 Gavitt Tipoff Games,[21] which were scheduled for November 16–20, 2020.

[22] After the NCAA delayed the start of the 2020–21 season from November 10 to November 25 due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[23] however, the Big East and Big Ten jointly announced on October 28, 2020, that the 2020 Gavitt Tipoff Games were cancelled and the series would be on hiatus for a year.