This one took your breath away in what was the best game yet in the Big Ten tourney. Plucky Penn State, a No. 7 seed, took down No. 2 Ohio State, 69-68, to advance to the semifinals. It was the third time this season that the Nittany Lions toppled the Buckeyes.
This is familiar territory for Michigan. It won the Big Ten tourney as a No. 8 seed last year. And, it’s looking to make a similar run this March as a No. 5 seed as it rides a seven-game winning streak. Michigan took a step closer to another title with a 77-58 win vs. No. 4 Nebraska.
Michigan State arrived in New York as the No. 1 seed. And the Spartans delivered on their promise by beating No. 9 Wisconsin in their opening game of the Big Ten tourney Friday afternoon.
Seeded 14th, Rutgers turned some heads by beating No. 11 Minnesota in the first round. It was the second year in a row the Scarlet Knights had opened with a win in the Big Ten tourney. But Rutgers wasn’t satisfied, taking down No. 6 Indiana, 76-69, to advance to the quarterfinals.
No. 7 Penn State lives to fight another day following a 65-57 win vs. No. 10 Northwestern. And the Nittany Lions did it even though it shot 36 percent and was without key big man Mike Watkins, who is out for the entire tournament with injury.
Michigan was the pick of some to win the Big Ten tourney for a second year in a row. Last year, the Wolverines did it as a No. 8 seed. This year, Michigan is a No. 5 seed, arriving in New York riding a five-game winning streak.