In the process the Wolverines separated themselves from the likes of Michigan State and other mid-pack B1G teams.
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Forward Nick Ward scored 19 points to lead Michigan State. Throughout the season, Miles averaged 8.6 more minutes than the second minutes-leader on the team. No. 12 Middle Tennessee: Fresh off the greatest upset in modern NCAA tournament history, Middle Tennessee is again dancing, returning the majority of the Blue Raiders that knocked off Michigan State past year.
This time, the Spartans flipped the script. They’d have to win four games in four days – a tall order, which is why no team seeded that low has ever done it. Michigan’s wins not only kept the Lions from moving ahead of the Badgers for second place in the conference and one of those coveted first-round byes but also allowed Ohio State to move past the Lions for third place and an easier first-round opponent in Michigan State.
Izzo pointed to the Spartans’ rigorous schedule this season benefiting them now. Izzo’s team also will have to play tough on defense and own the boards to keep this one from getting out of hand.
“Then again, we played three teams during the year that were ranked No. 1 at one time”.
Kansas is now 11-2 SU and 7-6 ATS against teams that made the NCAA tournament this season. Previously, Larranaga guided the Hurricanes to the Sweet 16 in 2013 and 2016.
“But we kept playing defense, quit turning it over and I thought executed pretty well on offense”.
“I’d never seen anything like that before, a foul that early”, said freshman point guard Cassius Winston, who scored seven points and finished with five assists against zero turnovers. In 2013, Beilein’s MI team had a 35-23 first-half lead, but lost 82-76 in the national championship game.
Kansas State vs. Cincinnati at 6:27 p.m. I think in Kansas they thought it was – there was no malfunction and everything was handled perfectly in Kansas, and I’m sure in the state of MI they thought totally otherwise.
Comparing what the second half turned into, the sluggish start to the first half proved to be an anomaly.
“My husband is from MI so I am a Spartan fan”, says Spartan fan Angela Bell.
As impressive as Michigan State’s comeback and eventual Miami beat down was, the Hurricanes really had no excuse to lose their lead or massive momentum.
On a weekly basis, the confidence in Penn State’s NCAA Tournament chances seems to alter dramatically. The Spartans entered the tournament with a 46-18 record during that streak.
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Four different Penn State Nittany Lions found the back of the net in a 4-1 win over Michigan Thursday night in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals at Joe Louis Arena. Michigan State outscored Miami 30-8 to end the half, made nine of their last 11 shots of the half, and those early-game Hurricane heroics mattered no more.
