March Madness is nearly upon us and the NCAA Men’s basketball conference tournaments are now in progress. The winners will help determine which teams qualify as one of the 68 teams announced at Sunday’s NCAA men’s basketball tournament:
NCAA Men’s Basketball: Big Ten Conference Tournament Results
March 11-15 United Center, Chicago IL
Championship Game:
#1 Wisconsin v. # 3 Michigan State: 80-69
Wisconsin Badgers won the Big Ten Championship by defeating Michigan State Spartans 80-69 in overtime. Wisconsin overcame an 11-point second-half deficit. The first half was very tight with five lead changes and four ties. It was a 14-2 run by the Badgers in the second half that changed the tone of the game. Badgers were led by 25 points from Nigel Hayes, 19 points from Frank Kaminsky and 18 points from Bronson Koenig. The Spartans fought very hard to win; however, Wisconsin was simply too powerful as they shut out Michigan State in overtime 11-0.
Semifinals:
#1 Wisconsin v. # 4 Purdue: 71-51:
Top-seeded Wisconsin Badgers easily defeated the fourth-seed Purdue Boilermakers 71-51. Purdue did their best to try to hang with the Badgers in the first half, but Purdue could only manage to score 16 points in the second half. Purdue may have done enough, however, to earn a bid to the NCAA tournament.
#3 Michigan State v. #2 Maryland: 62-58
Michigan State Spartans defeated the Maryland Terrapins 62-58. The Spartans came back from a 16-point deficit to win and a right to face Wisconsin Badgers in Big Ten championship game. Wisconsin beat the Spartans at home in their only match up this season.
Round 2:
#1 Wisconsin v. # 9 Michigan: 71-60:
Top-seeded Wisconsin Badgers held serve with 71-60 victory over
the ninth-seed Michigan Wolverines. Michigan played hard as a team that had to win to qualify for NCAA tournament berth. Badgers head coach Greg Gard said that his team did not “play exceptionally well,” but were able to “get it done down the stretch.” Six players scored at least seven points including four in double figures.
#4 Purdue v. #13 Penn State: 64-59
Purdue Boilermakers may have locked up an NCAA berth with a 64-59 win over the Penn State Nittany Lions. Seven-foot center A.J. Hammons was, as teammate Rapheal Davis said, “a game-changer.” Hammons scored 23 points and had nine rebounds and four blocks that shut down Boilermaker and conference leading scorer D.J. Newbill in the second half.
#2 Maryland v. #7 Indiana: 75-69
Dez Wells scored 22 points and had six rebounds to enable second-seeded Maryland Terrapins to defeat the Indiana Hoosiers 75-69. Maryland was able to hold on after the Hoosiers pulled within 2 points with 39 seconds left in the game. Melo Tribal scored 17 points with Jake Layman and Jared Nickens adding ten points each.
#3 Michigan State v. #6 Ohio State: 76-67
Michigan State Spartans demonstrated how strong their defense was in defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes 76-67. Denzel Valentine scored 23 points and Travis Trice scored 15 of his 18 points in the second half.
Round 1:
#9 Michigan v. #8 Illinois: 73-55
With a potential NCAA tournament bid on the line, the University of Illinois Fighting Illini failed to perform in a terrible loss to the Michigan Wolverines 73-55. The Illini lost five of their last seven games. After quickly falling behind 14-2, the Illini rallied to take a a 15-14 lead. However, a Michigan 23-4 run to end the first half ended Illini’s tournament hopes.
#13 Penn State v. #5 Iowa: 67-58
Penn State Nittany Lions shut down the Iowa Hawkeyes in the second half and won 67-58. D. J Newbill scored 18 points in the win.
#7 Indiana v. #10 Northwestern: 71-56
The Indiana Hoosiers boosted their NCAA tournament hopes by defeating the Northwestern Wildcats 71-56. James Blackmon Jr. scored 25 points.
#6 Ohio State v. #11 Minnesota: 79-73
Ohio State Buckeyes rallied in the second half to defeat the Minnesota Golden Gophers 79-73. D’Angelo Russell scored 23 points and Shannon Scott scored a career-high 21 points.
Play in to Round 1:
#13 Penn State v. #12 Nebraska: 68-55
Penn State Nittany Lions held on in what was a generally close game to defeat the Nebraska Cornhuskers 68-55. D. J. Newbill scored 26 points and Shep Garner scored 19 points.
#11 Minnesota v. #14 Rutgers: 80-68
Minnesota Golden Gophers defeated Rutgers Scarlet Knights 80-68 powered by Joey King’s six 3-pointers and 20 points.
