Big Ten Network president Mark Silverman always can tell when the Big Ten basketball tournament is in Chicago.
“My phone rings off the hook from all the Big Ten alums in Chicago looking for tickets,” Silverman said.
The BTN plans to showcase its hometown of Chicago during its coverage of the tournament. At 5 p.m. Tuesday night, it will have a special two-hour edition of “BTN Live,” with Dave Revsine hosting the show from Joe’s on Weed Street.
Revsine will be joined by analysts Stephen Bardo, Shon Morris and Jim Jackson, special guests that include Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany and sports executive Jerry Colangelo and an audience with as many as 1,000 people.
“We’re always excited to be in Chicago for the tournament,” Silverman said. “We felt, ‘Let’s go live somewhere.’ It makes the setting a little more unique.”
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Regular-season champion Wisconsin (28-3, 16-2 Big Ten) is the top seed for the tournament, which begins Wednesday at the United Center with two games and concludes Sunday.
In addition to Tuesday’s show, the BTN will air five games of the tournament. Friday’s late game will feature Bill Raftery on the call with Eric Collins. The network also will have extensive studio coverage throughout the entire tournament.
“It’s a huge week for us,” Silverman said. “We want to celebrate Big Ten basketball.”