Hoge: Big Ten Tournament Day 2 - What Happened And What It Means
By Adam Hoge-
INDIANAPOLIS (CBS) – It figures that in a tournament that was completely up for grabs, the top four seeds advanced to the semifinals for the first time in Big Ten Tournament history.
On what is always the best day of the Big Ten basketball season, No. 1 Michigan State, No. 2 Michigan, No. 3 Ohio State and No. 4 Wisconsin all took care of business in the quarterfinals, setting up a great day of Saturday matchups.
You can never complain about Ohio State and Michigan no matter what sport is being played and Michigan State and Wisconsin have the most underrated rivalry going in the conference right now.
Here's a look at what happened Friday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse and what it means for all eight teams that played:
No. 1 Michigan State 92, No. 8 Iowa 75
What happened: Reeling from two-straight losses that cost them an outright Big Ten title, the Spartans put together one of their most complete efforts of the season. Draymond Green scored 21 points and Adreian Payne hit 7-of-8 shots to finish with 16 points. Playing without Branden Dawson, Derrick Nix and freshman Russell Byrd both played efficient games, combining for 17 points and 24 minutes.
What it means for Michigan State: Fears about the Spartans falling apart were greatly exaggerated. If they continue to play like they did Friday, Michigan State could still be a Final Four team. A No. 1 seed is still a possibility.
What it means for Iowa: The Hawkeyes have a chance to play in the NIT. A team that greatly improved throughout the season has a chance to build momentum towards next season when they could be dangerous.
Quotable: "I said, 'Is that Adreian or an imposter?' And Adreian did a great job." – Michigan State head coach on Adreian Payne's performance.
More: Tom Izzo Goes Off On Illinois For Firing Bruce Weber
No. 4 Wisconsin 79, No. 5 Indiana 71
What happened: To put it simply, Rob Wilson freaked out. The talented senior guard has struggled to find playing time in his career, but he's blossoming into a more than reliable weapon for the Badgers, scoring a career-high 30 points for the Badgers Friday.
What it means for Wisconsin: The Badgers might be a scarier team than we thought. Wisconsin quietly won 13 Big Ten games this season without much help for Jordan Taylor. Wilson gives UW a legitimate second option in the backcourt. He's been doing this for nearly a month now. A team that didn't have a single player on its roster with a Big Ten Tournament win suddenly looks like it could win the whole thing.
What it means for Indiana: The Hoosiers were a popular pick to win the Big Ten Tournament. Instead, they go back to Bloomington preparing for their first NCAA Tournament since 2008. Indiana looks like a No. 4 or 5 seed.
Quotable: "High school maybe. I don't recall having -- I mean the weight of the ball felt like it was going in today. I don't remember that feeling in a long time. I don't know the last time I've been in the interview room." – Rob Wilson on the last time he had a game like that and the last time he was in the interview room.
Video: Wisconsin's Rob Wilson After Dropping 30 On Indiana
No. 2 Michigan 73, No. 10 Minnesota 69 (OT)
What happened: The Gophers went scoreless in the last 90 seconds of the game and relinquished a 56-50 lead. Michigan carried a 12-1 run into overtime to put the game away. Trey Burke set a Big Ten Tournament record with 30 points – the most by a freshman in tournament history.
What it means for Michigan: It means the Wolverines survived. Zach Novak and Stu Douglass went nearly the whole game without scoring before turning it on at the end. Michigan still has a chance at a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, but will need a win Saturday to have a chance.
What it means for Minnesota: With their win over Northwestern Thursday, the Gophers could make the NIT. Point guard Andre Hollins looks like a future star and Minnesota could use the opportunity as a springboard to a promising 2012-13 season.
Quotable: "The story just keeps going on because I feel like sometimes I'm talking to a senior. He is talking to me in the game about things that he thinks we can use in our offense. And it's a pleasure. It's a wonder to have a guy who understands basketball at 19 years old as a freshman like he does. So he's easy to coach." - Michigan head coach John Beilein on freshman point guard Trey Burke.
No. 3 Ohio State 88, No. 6 Purdue 71
What happened: Ohio State carried its momentum right into the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals, took control of the game early with a 9-0 lead and never really looked back. Purdue kept it close for a while, but Jared Sullinger became the third player in three games to score 30 points Friday and Deshaun Thomas added 22.
What it means for Ohio State: The Buckeyes still have a chance for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and are looking for their third straight Big Ten Tournament championship.
What it means for Purdue: The Boilermakers just don't have enough firepower this season to compete with the big boys in the Big Ten. They'll head to the NCAA Tournament as a likely No. 8 or No. 9 seed, but it would be tough to envision them beating a No. 1 seed and getting to the Sweet 16.
Quotable: "There was a point in his career where I just called him Shaun because there was no D in his game. I've gone back to calling him Deshaun now." - Ohio State head coach Thad Matta on DeShaun Thomas.
Adam is the Sports Content Producer for CBSChicago.com and specializes in coverage of the White Sox, Blackhawks and college sports. He was born and raised in Lincoln Park and attended St. Ignatius College Prep before going off to the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he earned a Journalism degree. Follow him on Twitter @AdamHogeCBS and read more of his columns here.
