Buckeye Blogger Network
#3 Michigan State versus #6 Iowa
Iowa used a quick start and some of Sparty’s own medicine to jump out to a 30-20 lead at halftime. The Hawkeye’s quick start opened a double digit lead but Michigan State settled down and was able to get the lead trimmed in the middle of the half. Iowa then used a couple of three points down the stretch to open it back up a bit and take their 10 point lead into the half.
The Hawkeyes have taken a page out of the Spartan’s playbook when it comes to hustle and heart. Every loose ball seems to going to Iowa and as of right now it just looks like they want it more then Michigan State. Iowa is copying their first half performance from last night as they have 8 different players scoring again tonight (none have over 6 points) and Michigan State’s Adrian Payne leads all scorers with 7.
The second half of the game left me speechless. Unfortuntalely, it was for many reasons. Iowa fought extremely hard, out working the Spartans for much of the game. They continued to run a balanced, team offense in which no player had double figures when all was said and done. Michigan State refused to go quietly as Payne (18 points), Harris (13 points), and Appling (13 points) slowly chipped away at the Hawkeye lead and eventually took the lead with about 4 minutes to go. Iowa still didn’t give up as they missed a game tying shot at the end of game, allowing the Spartans to escape with the victory 59-56.
Michigan State will now face Ohio State in the second semi-final game tomorrow. They will tip-off approximately 25 minutes after the Indiana-Wisconsin matchup. Be sure to check back with us tomorrow for complete updates all day long!
#2 OSU versus #10 Nebraska
Check out Eric’s recap of the OSU win over Nebraska here.
#4 TTUN versus #5 Wisconsin
In what was arguably the most boring half of basketball ever, I took a nap and the score was 16 to 9 TTUN, when I woke up it was 16 to 10. Both teams had their fair share of TO’s (TTUN 8-Whisky 6) and little if any shooting efficiency as the Badgers set a new standard for bad with 17% for the half.
The two teams almost scored more points in the final minute than they had for almost a seven minute stretch of the entire half. Wisconsin honestly has the Wolverines exactly where they want them and Bo Ryan is showing te wisdom of the conference selecting him the COTY(NOT). TTUN needs to pick up the pace and stop falling into the slow down trap if they want to move into the semi’s for only the fifth time in tourney history and take on #1 seed Indiana. If they make a final it will be for only the second time since the beginning of the B1G Tourney and they won it all in ’98.
Shades of JJ but in a different uniform. Traevon Jackson came out and took care of business for the #5 seeded Badgers as they upend TTUN by a final of 68 to 59. The Wolverines made a couple runs at the Badgers who shot a much better 59% in the second half 17 for 28 and took care fo the basketball.
Jackson had 16 points and was 7 of 8 from the charity stripe. The Badgers move on to take on the top seeded Hoosiers tomorrow and Wisconsin has the upper hand beating them on the road 64 to 59.
The B1G POTY Burke finished his pre NCAAs season with 19 points and 7 assists to go along with Hardaway’s 14 points and 9 rebounds. They will now sit back and wait for their fate on Sunday as this loss is sure to effect their over-all seeding for the NCAAs, theyre projected to be a three seed along with Sparty at Auburn Hills.
#8 Illinois versus #1 Indiana
The first half of day two began much like the first half of day one (7-7 at halfway point), although Hoosiers were up at 10-5. Hoosiers needed to pick up the pace to put the Illini away. On a side note, you should never put Mike Kitts and Mike Sanzere together on a game, poor Scirotto.
Indiana took control early going to Zeller who finished the half with 14 points, the Defensive POTY was held to 2 points for the Hoosiers. Brandon Paul finished the half with 9 points for the Illini and John Groce’s blood pressure is probably as high as its ever been.
The Illini have got to get to the rim and create more turnovers if they want to have the tournaments biggest upset.
The Hoosiers proved to be way too much for the Illini as the #1 seed in the B1G Tourney goes on a roll in the second half to defeat them by a final of 80 to 64.
The Hoosiers finished with three players in double figures with Zeller(leading all scorers) with 24, Olidipo with a double double 12 points and 11 rebounds. Watford finished with 15 points. Illinois was led by Brandon Pauls 19 and Tracy Abrams 16 points. Indiana moves on to the semis and will face the winner of the upcoming game between #4 Wisconsin and #5 TTUN. Stay tned for more updates.
March 15th, 2013 at 2:08 pm
G-Russ, yeah this game started out like Iowa-NU last night. As we speak, Indiana just laid the wood to Illinois, 80-64.
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March 15th, 2013 at 3:24 pm
Woof, this Wisconsin-Michigan game is setting basketball back by several decades.
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Gary Russell II
March 15th, 2013 at 3:32 pm
second that, whiskey shot 17% and are down 3 points, double woof!
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March 15th, 2013 at 11:16 pm
Fraking Iowa. Way to piss that game away in the final minutes.
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Gary Russell II
March 16th, 2013 at 9:31 am
That and some interesting stuff that was out of their control…..
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Eric
March 16th, 2013 at 10:48 am
That’s what I hear. I was “watching” the game on mute while on an important phonecall, so I missed the fun stuff.
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Gary Russell II
March 16th, 2013 at 11:56 am
Yes you did!
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Ken
March 16th, 2013 at 1:22 pm
I was following the game on Gametrac<er, or whatever CBS calls it. When I saw that "TV Ted" was part of the crew, I didn't think it would go well for Fran.
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March 16th, 2013 at 12:44 pm
Gary, thanks for confirmation from an un-biased source. 5 minutes of disgusting officiating cost Iowa the NCAA’s. Will be rooting for OSU in this proxy war.
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