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Big Ten Basketball Tournament: Michigan, Purdue and Michigan State fight for the crown

By Eddie Herz

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 04: Head coach John Beilein of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates after defeating the Purdue Boilermakers 75-66 during the championship game of the Big 10 Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 4, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 04: Head coach John Beilein of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates after defeating the Purdue Boilermakers 75-66 during the championship game of the Big 10 Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 4, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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MADISON, WISCONSIN – DECEMBER 22: Ethan Happ #22 of the Wisconsin Badgers handles the ball during a game against the Grambling State Tigers at Kohl Center on December 22, 2018 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MADISON, WISCONSIN – DECEMBER 22: Ethan Happ #22 of the Wisconsin Badgers handles the ball during a game against the Grambling State Tigers at Kohl Center on December 22, 2018 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

Quarterfinals

1. Michigan State vs. 9. Indiana

If Indiana indeed defeats Ohio State, we will have an interesting matchup on our hands. MSU deserves all the credit in the world for what it has achieved thus far. The Hoosiers have been more of a heel in Sparty’s side than any team in the country though. Maybe Indiana caught Michigan State a little off guard when it traveled to East Lansing and picked up a shocking 79-75 upset. MSU was definitely poised the second time around, but the Hoosiers came out on top again. I’ll still be surprised if Indiana records the hat trick in such a crucial scenario. I can’t pick against Tom Izzo and company in the postseason.

4. Wisconsin vs. 5. Maryland

This possible Maryland-Wisconsin matchup could be an instant classic. The programs produced two highly entertaining games during the regular season, and the conference tournament should amplify the intensity. The Terps held on for a four-point victory at home against Wisconsin, barely avoiding an utter collapse. Maryland led by 22 with less than eight minutes remaining before the Davison, Nate Reuvers-led barrage stormed back and took the lead with two minutes left. Maryland escaped, but the Badgers redeemed themselves when the Terps came to the Kohl Center.

The teams match up well with each other, meaning anything can happen in this game. The one glaring difference here is how much better the Terps rebound than Wisconsin. Maryland controlled the glass both times it squared up with the Badgers. I see the Terps doing so again, in turn creating second-chance opportunities which will guide Turgeon and company to a victory.

2. Purdue vs. 10. Penn State

The Nittany Lions will gather support from all neutral fans at the United Center if they defeat Minnesota in the opening round. Enhanced fan-reinforcement won’t be enough to carry Penn State over Purdue. Carsen Edwards’ combined 59 points in two meetings with PSU indicate Pat Chambers hasn’t found a solution for containing the guard. I expect nothing less from Edwards during the Big Ten Tournament.

3. Michigan vs. 6. Iowa

Iowa’s 74-59 upset win against Michigan at home represents the Hawkeyes’ most significant victory over the season. It wasn’t as if the Wolverines succumbed to the pressure associated with an undefeated record in that game. Michigan already got the hump off its back when it lost in Madison three games prior. The hostile environment in Iowa City dispenses flukes from time to time.

The Hawkeyes deserve all the credit in the world for pulling it off, but I see the contest as an outlier resulting from home-court advantage more than anything. Iowa’s typically poor defense held the Wolverines to their second-lowest point total of the season. I don’t see that happening again, nor do I see the Hawkeyes beating Michigan again.

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