Tag: Big Ten Tournament

Locked On Spartans Podcast: Big Ten Awards, Big Ten Tournament

Recapping the Big Ten awards and looking ahead to the Big Ten Tournament

Wil and Matt talk about the Big Ten Awards and if there were any major gripes for MSU players. Then they talk about how fun the Big Ten Tournament is going to be this year.

You can find the episode on iTunes, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

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Previewing the Big Ten Tournament from a Badger Perspective

The Wisconsin Badgers have claimed the number one seed in the Big Ten Tournament this coming weekend. Wait, yes, you read that correctly. The same team that was 6-6 in the conference just eight games ago, started the year 5-5 with losses to two …

The Wisconsin Badgers have claimed the number one seed in the Big Ten Tournament this coming weekend. Wait, yes, you read that correctly. The same team that was 6-6 in the conference just eight games ago, started the year 5-5 with losses to two mid-majors, and had their second-leading scorer abruptly leave the program in the middle of the year. Yes, that Badgers team used an eight-game conference winning streak to claim the number one seed in the Big Ten Tournament.

Wisconsin claimed one of the four precious double-byes thanks to results yesterday and their win at Indiana. After Illinois claimed the final double-bye in the last game of the Big Ten regular season, the bracket was set.

The 2020 Big Ten Tournament bracket

The Badgers get the luxury of waiting until Friday to play in the quarterfinals, which in a tournament this unpredictable feels like an extremely significant advantage. UW gets the winner of Michigan and Rutgers, two teams firmly in the NCAA tournament picture. Wisconsin split the season series with Rutgers, with each team winning on their home floor, and beat Michigan on the road in their only meeting. Outside of Nebraska and Northwestern (but you never know), you get the feeling that literally anybody and everybody has a chance to win multiple games. The most unpredictable aspect of the format in Indianapolis is the location. Basically the only factor we could use all season to predict Big Ten results was whether or not a team was playing at home. Take Wisconsin’s two potential quarterfinal opponents as a test case. Michigan and Rutgers were a combined 29-6 this season at home, with Rutgers notably going 18-1 at the RAC. The two programs combined to go 6-15 in true road games. On a neutral floor, there is a ton we could learn about this conference in just a few short days.

Another major positive about claiming the 1-seed is that Wisconsin would get to avoid the co-hottest team in the conference, Michigan State, until a potential championship matchup. Nobody wants to see Tom Izzo and Cassius Winston in March, and Sparty has cruised to five wins in a row, including a road win at Maryland.

In terms of NCAA tournament seeding, the Badgers seem to be firmly on the 4-line as they enter Indy. Well there is obviously no way to completely predict how the bracket will shape up behind closed doors, you would have to think that if the Badgers win their Friday game, the 4-seed would be their most likely line. If Wisconsin were to go on and win the tournament? A team that three weeks ago was being discussed as at best a 7-seed could end up as a 3. This Big Ten Tournament is going to be unpredictably wild. At least 10 NCAA Tournament teams battling it out on a neutral floor makes for serious madness. This is what March is all about.

Locked On Badgers Podcast: The Badgers are Big Ten champions

The Locked On Badgers Podcast is a daily Wisconsin basketball and football podcast bringing you short-form, daily coverage of Badgers sports Monday through Friday. On today’s episode, Asher recaps the Indiana win, brings you stories from the …

The Locked On Badgers Podcast is a daily Wisconsin basketball and football podcast bringing you short-form, daily coverage of Badgers sports Monday through Friday. On today’s episode, Asher recaps the Indiana win, brings you stories from the championship celebration at the Kohl Center, and looks back at the magical month of February for Wisconsin basketball.

You can listen to Locked On Badgers on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and wherever else you find your podcasts, Monday through Friday.

 

 

Notre Dame Hockey: Season Over After Loss to Gophers

Notre Dame’s season came to an end with a 3-2 loss to Minnesota in the third and decisive game of the Big Ten quarterfinals Sunday.

Notre Dame’s season came to an end with a 3-2 loss to Minnesota in the third and decisive game of the Big Ten quarterfinals Sunday. The Irish finished the season with a 15-15-7 record.

After battling Minnesota to a scoreless first period, the Irish got on the scoreboard first in the second frame on a wrister from Alex Steeves. But the Gophers rallied to score three unanswered goals to round out the scoring from that period. Ben Meyers scored twice on the power play, and a tally from Sampo Ranta was sandwiched between Meyers’ goals. Cam Morrison got the Irish closer with his second power-play goal in as many nights in the third period, but that’s where the game’s scoring stopped.

Cale Morris finished his collegiate career with 18 saves. His senior season ended better than the sophomore campaign of Cam Burke, who received a major penalty and game misconduct for checking from behind in the second period. That resulted in what proved to be the game-winning goal for Minnesota.

MSU Basketball: Check out the now final Big Ten Tournament bracket

After Michigan State beat Ohio State and Illinois beat Iowa, the Big Ten Tournament field is now set in stone. Check it out here.

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With Michigan State’s win over Ohio State, followed by Illinois’ win against Iowa, the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament field is now officially set. The Spartans secured a 2-seed in the conference tournament after their win today. Wisconsin is the 1-seed and Maryland is right behind MSU at No. 3.

The Big Ten Tournament will start this Wednesday with No. 13 Northwestern facing No. 12 Minnesota followed by No. 14 Nebraska against No. 11 Indiana. Michigan State will not be playing until the quarterfinals on Friday where they either await either Purdue or Ohio State. MSU lost their only match-up this year against Purdue in a blowout loss so you can be sure the team will want the opportunity to set the record straight against the Boilermakers.

You can see how the rest of the bracket turned out below:

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MSU Basketball secures share of Big Ten Regular Season Title, No. 2 seed in Big Ten Tournament

Michigan State has won a piece of the Big Ten Regular Season Title and also earned the 2 seed in the Big Ten Tournament.

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With their 80-69 win against Ohio State, Michigan State Men’s Basketball earned a share of the Big Ten Regular Season Title which they share with Wisconsin and Maryland. They also secured the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten Tournament where they will await the winner between No. 10 Purdue or the still to be determined No. 7 seed team.

This is the third straight Big Ten Regular Season Championship for the Spartans, who, after a rocky start to the season, really found their groove in these last two weeks.

Cassius Winston led the way to the title with 27 points and 6 assists against Ohio State. Xavier Tillman added 15 points and held Ohio State standout Kaleb Wesson to just 8 points.

The Big Ten Tournament will start on Wednesday, March 11 and run through Sunday, March 15. Wisconsin is the top seed and Maryland is No. 3.

One interesting thing to keep in mind heading into the tournament is the possibility of a rematch against Purdue for the Spartans. MSU lost its only game of the season against the Boilermakers 71-42.

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Wisconsin gets the No. 1 seed at 2020 Big Ten Tournament

Incredible

Imagine thinking this was remotely possible one month ago. Imagine thinking this was something you could discuss with friends or neighbors. Imagine thinking this was anywhere near the realm of sanity when Wisconsin was preparing to play Michigan State on February 1 without Kobe King or Brad Davison.

Yet, it’s real: With the Maryland Terrapins beating the Michigan Wolverines on Sunday afternoon, it is now official: The Wisconsin Badgers will be the No. 1 seed at the 2020 Big Ten Tournament this week.

Wisconsin will not be the outright Big Ten champion — Maryland will match Wisconsin’s 14-6 league record, with 13-6 Michigan State having a chance to share the title in its game against Ohio State on Sunday afternoon. However, because of the Big Ten tiebreaker rules we laid out last week, Wisconsin (which would win a two-team tie with Maryland due to a head-to-head win) would prevail in a three-way tie with Maryland and Michigan State.

Wisconsin beat Maryland and split with Michigan State, giving the Badgers a 2-1 record in the three-team group collection of results. Maryland lost to Wisconsin and split with Michigan State, for a 1-2 record in group competition. Michigan State split with both Wisconsin and Maryland, gaining a 2-2 record in group competition. Wisconsin comes out ahead in that three-team tie, so the Badgers have both the two-team and three-team ties in this scenario after Maryland’s win early on Sunday.

Wisconsin’s rise to the No. 1 seed at the Big Ten Tournament is part of a larger story in which college basketball teams which were struggling in late January found a tonic in February and early March.

Virginia was heading for the NIT and was buried in the middle of the ACC standings in early February, much like Wisconsin. The Cavaliers then won eight straight games — just as Wisconsin did — to finish 15-5 in the ACC and earn a No. 2 seed at the ACC Tournament.

UCLA was not even an NIT team earlier this season. The Bruins would have had a hard time qualifying for the CBI, and they were 1-2 in the Pac-12 after three games. However, they won seven straight games and were so consistently good in the month of February that they earned a No. 2 seed in the Pac-12 Tournament, which they have a very good chance of winning.

Wisconsin wasn’t alone in making a huge turnaround late in a season, but unlike both Virginia in the ACC and UCLA in the Pac-12, a long winning streak delivered the Badgers a No. 1 seed, not just a 2 seed. The Badgers have a trophy, something the Cavaliers and Bruins lack.

Notre Dame Hockey: Irish Fall to Gophers; Series Tied

Notre Dame’s season will come down to the third and final game of its Big Ten quarterfinal series with Minnesota after losing Game 2, 2-1.

Notre Dame’s season will come down to the third and final game of its Big Ten quarterfinal series with Minnesota after losing Game 2, 2-1, on Saturday. The winner of Sunday’s contest will play top-seeded Penn State in next weekend’s semifinals.

It took only 84 seconds for the Gophers to get on the board when Ryan Zuhlsdorf scored off a high-slot pass from Sammy Walker. The 1-0 score held firm until early in the third period, when Cullen Munson scored his second goal of the season for a 2-0 lead. Halfway through the frame, Cam Morrison tallied a power-play goal for the Irish, the ninth playoff goal of his career, and that was the last time a puck found the back of either net. Cale Morris, who had 18 saves, was pulled with a minute and a half remaining, but nothing came of it.

The Irish outshot the Gophers, 31-20, but were frustrated by stellar play in net from Jack LaFontaine.

How Michigan State Basketball can still get a No. 1 seed in the Big Ten Tournament

Michigan State Basketball still has a shot at earning the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten Tournament. Here is how.

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On Tuesday, Wisconsin earned a share of the Big Ten Regular Season Championship after they beat Indiana on the road 60-56. With that news, Michigan State Basketball can only, at best, earn a partial share of Regular Season Title. However, they still have a path to the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament. It will take a little luck along with a big win against Ohio State, but this is how they can still earn the top seed in the Conference Tournament.

First, obviously, will be the aforementioned win against Ohio State. The Buckeyes have rediscovered their swagger of late and this will definitely not be a cakewalk for the Spartans, although they will be favored at home.

Second, they will need Michigan to knock off Maryland. That’s right MSU fans. If you want Michigan State to get that No. 1 seed, you will want to root for Michigan tomorrow, as painful as that may be.

Finally, Illinois will need to win a home game against the tough Iowa Hawkeyes. As we all know, Iowa has one of the best players in the country in Luka Garza so this will be a hard-fought game for the Fighting Illini.

Well, there you have it. The Spartans will need some good breaks in the other games being played and will, of course, need to beat Ohio State but a No. 1 seed is still in play for Michigan State Men’s Basketball.

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Notre Dame Opens Big Ten Tournament with Win

The Fighting Irish failed to convert on a five minute power play in the second period but did find a net via a Trevor Janicke put-back late in the period.

Quarterfinals for the 2020 Big Ten Hockey Tournament got underway Friday and can I start by just throwing a little praise to the Big Ten?

I know that’s not generally a popular view in these parts and I tend to lead that charge but in hockey the regular season conference champion gets a first round bye in the conference tournament while the other six qualifying schools play a best-of-three against their quarterfinal opponent to advance.

It’s not perfect as I wish it was a best-of-three in the next two rounds but hey, it’s at least a start.

Now to Friday’s game:

No. 5 Notre Dame dominated the first period Friday at No. 4 Minnesota outshooting the Gophers 12-2. However, no pucks found the net as the opening frame ended scoreless.

The Fighting Irish failed to convert on a five minute power play in the second period but did find a net via a Trevor Janicke put-back late in the period.

Taking a 1-0 lead to the final frame, the Notre Dame defense continued to dominate the evening as they allowed just 12 shots against all night long which resulted in Cale Morris’s 11th career shutout, the third such showing in a Big Ten Tournament game.

Notre Dame and Minnesota again battle Saturday night in Minneapolis with puck drop set for 7 p.m. ET. A win would send Notre Dame to the semi-finals while a loss would force a deciding game three which would be played Sunday night again at Minnesota.