If a team is going to have a magical March run, it is going to need some luck. And Michigan got just that on this night, as freshman Jordan Poole hit a bomb 3-pointer as the clock expired to ease past No. 6 Houston, 64-63.
Ohio State’s magic ride is over, ending with a 90-84 loss to No. 4 Gonzaga in the second round.
Four Big Ten women's basketball teams - Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota and Ohio State - won their opening round NCAA tournament matchups Friday and Saturday to advance to the Round of 32.
So far in the Big Dance, the Spartans are living up to that hype, taking their first step toward Izzo’s eighth Final Four as Michigan State (30-4) dumped scrappy No. 14 Bucknell (25-10) of the Patriot League in the first round of the NCAA tourney, 82-78.
Purdue is a pick by some to reach the Final Four. And the No. 2 Boilermakers certainly looked the part in destroying No. 15 Cal State Fullerton in their opening NCAA game, 74-48.
It wasn't pretty at times, as witnessed by the fact Michigan fell behind 10-0. Nonetheless, it’s a win for Michigan, which took a 61-47 decision vs. No. 14 Montana (26-8) from the Big Sky Conference in its opening NCAA tourney game.
Aric Holman had 16 points and 10 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the season, Lamar Peters was four assists shy of a NIT record with a career-high 14 and Mississippi State won its first post-season game since 2010 with a 66-59 victory over Nebraska on Wednesday night in the first round.
Josh Reaves had his second career double-double, Shep Garner hit two 3-pointers in the final three minutes and Penn State overcame an 11-point second-half deficit to beat Temple 63-57 on Wednesday night in the first round of the NIT.
BTN's Tom Dienhart talked to an NBA scout who has seen myriad Big Ten games this season to get his opinion on each Big Ten team in the Big Dance. Here's what the scout told me the strengths and weaknesses of each Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State and Purdue heading into the tourney.
With a No. 2 seed (Purdue), a pair of No. 3 seeds (Michigan & Michigan State) and a No. 5 seed (Ohio State), the Big Ten is expected to advance all of its teams to this weekend's Round of 32. Here are the stats for why each Big Ten team should win, and could lose.
