Michigan State coach Tom Izzo contemplated playing a scrimmage against another Big Ten foe. Purdue's Matt Painter thought about holding a nonconference game to help alleviate fears of rust from what could be a lengthy layoff. There has also been consideration from coaches in the league of bringing in a Division II cupcake just prior to the NCAA tournament.
Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany knows it was a risky decision, moving the conference tournament up a week in order to get it in New York, and specifically, Madison Square Garden. But after recently adding Rutgers and Maryland to the league, Delany wanted to make sure he expanded the league's footprint in the Northeast corridor.