Wisconsin tops Indiana in Big Ten quarterfinals

Associated Press

indianapolis

Rob Wilson spent his first four seasons at Wisconsin trying to fit in. In Friday’s Big Ten quarterfinals, he emerged as the Badgers’ shooting star.

The senior guard with only two career starts made seven 3-pointers and scored a career-high 30 points to lead No. 14 Wisconsin past No. 15 Indiana 79-71, giving coach Bo Ryan a record-breaking win, as well.

It’s a performance the Badgers won’t soon forget.

“I think all the players, I think all the teams that we’ve had have worked so hard and I just happened to be the guy roaming the sidelines,” said Ryan, who became the school’s career leader in victories with No. 266.

Wilson, the most unlikely of heroes, made sure the Badgers coach was along for the ride again Friday.

He came into the game with season averages of 10.7 points, 3.1 points, a season-high of 11 points, a career-high of 13 and a career 3-point shooting percentage of 27.8.

But he was a completely different player Friday. As he fought through defenders, sprinted to open spots and beat a bevy of Indiana defenders, Wilson knocked down 7 of 10 from 3-point range and 11 of 16 shots overall. And, of course, he made all the big ones.

Because of Wilson, the Badgers (24-8) will get another shot against No. 8 Michigan State. The Spartans won both regular season meetings and were one of three conference teams tied atop the regular-season standings. Michigan State advanced to the tourney semifinals with a 92-75 victory over Iowa.

“The weight of the ball felt like it was going in today. I don’t remember that feeling in a long time,” Wilson said. “I don’t know when the last time was I’ve been in the interview room.”

No. 8 Michigan State 92, Iowa 75

INDIANAPOLIS

Michigan State could do little wrong against Iowa in the first half, and that’s all it took for the eighth-ranked Spartans to move into the semifinals of the Big Ten tournament.

Shooting 70 per cent from the field over the first 20 minutes, Michigan State cruised, with Draymond Green leading the way with 21 points and 10 rebounds.

“In the halfcourt, they were pounding it inside,” Iowa coach Fran McCaffery said. “We went from man to zone, back to man and back to zone. There’s not much more you can do. We pressed a little bit, but we give up a lot of size to them.”

Michigan State (25-7) led 55-39 at the break after scoring on all but nine of their possessions. Adreian Payne chipped in with a career-high 16 points, Keith Appling had 12 points and six assists and Brandon Wood added 10 points.

When it was over, top-seeded Michigan State shot 58 per cent from the field, and looks ready to go on one of its usual March runs in the NCAA tournament.

“What did impress me today was our passing and or unselfishness for three-fourths of that game,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said.

No. 10 Michigan 73, Minnesota 69

INDIANAPOLIS

Trey Burke scored a career-high 30 points to help Michigan rally.

The Wolverines (24-8) will face either surging Purdue or archrival Ohio State in Saturday’s semifinal round. The Wolverines and Buckeyes were part of a three-way tie atop the league’s regular-season standings.

Minnesota (19-14) was led by Andre Hollins with 21 points and Rodney Williams with 20, but twice blew opportunities to close it out in regulation.