MI (8th) pulled off one of the biggest Tournament upsets thus far on Friday when they battled top-seeded IN down to the wire and escaped with a 72-69 win.
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MI is projected by some as one of the last four teams in the tournament where we stand today.
It was over when: After Michigan cut the deficit to 60-54 on Derrick Walton Jr.’s steal and old-fashioned three-point play with 7:35 left, A.J. Hammons scored the next five points to kill the Wolverines’ momentum and put the Boilermakers back in control en route to the 17-point win. The 7-foot center dominated both ends of the glass, scoring 15 points in the first half and finishing with a game-high 27 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks. MI stayed in the game by making 3 of its first 7 from 3-point range. Many mock brackets project the Boilers to earn at least a No. 4 seed as the NCAA tournament selection committee unveils the 68-team field tonight shortly after the Big Ten’s trophy presentation.
The 2016 Big Ten Tournament semifinals begin Saturday with the Purdue Boilermakers taking on the Michigan Wolverines on CBS Sports TV from Indianapolis.
Vince Edwards scored 13 points for Purdue, which shot 53 percent (29 for 55) from the field, compared to 38 percent (23 for 61) for MI.
Coming off victories over Northwestern and No. 1 seed IN, the eighth-seeded Wolverines (22-12) were playing their third game IN three days. Saturday, the Boilermakers built an emphatic 38-24 advantage and limited MI to six second-chance points. Edwards made a 3-pointer and Rapheal Davis and P.J. Thompson each made two foul shots to make it 76-57 with 50 seconds remaining.
Game 1: (3) Penn State vs. (6) Wisconsin, 5 p.m. The Wolverines were outrebounded 41-26. The guy played like former Purdue 7-0 All-American Joe Barry Carroll. The victor advances to Sunday’s conference championship game against the Michigan State vs. Maryland victor.
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“Our bigs are going to have to play better than they did (Sunday)”, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said.
