Wisconsin just kept missing. The Badgers were icy cold from long range, simple layups a risky proposition. And they only trailed by three at the break.When Ben Brust and Co. finally found their stroke, it was all over for Michigan.Brust scored 11 of his 14 points in the second half and No. 22 Wisconsin knocked off the sixth-ranked Wolverines 68-59 in the second round of the Big Ten tournament on Friday.Traevon Jackson had 16 points for the Badgers (22-10), who will play top-seeded Indiana in the semifinals on Saturday. Ryan Evans added 12 points, six rebounds and six assists.Trey Burke had 19 points and seven assists for Michigan (26-7), but the Big Ten player of the year was 8 for 22 from the field. Tim Hardaway Jr. shook off an ankle injury in the first half and finished with 14 points and nine boards.
Sam Thompson grew up in Chicago and went to high school near the United Center. Like all kids in the area, he was a big fan of Michael Jordan.So this was one special homecoming for the silky smooth sophomore.Thompson had a career-high 19 points to help No. 10 Ohio State rout Nebraska 71-50 in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals on Friday night.
“It felt great to be home, playing front of my family and all that,” he said. “It’s always fun to play back in Chicago.”
Thompson was 6 for 6 from the field in the second half, when the Buckeyes were 17 for 22 overall. The 6-foot-7 forward also had a steal and blocked a shot while playing 28 minutes in his first game in the current home of the NBA’s Chicago Bulls.
“It was cool. We got here about 30 minutes before we were able to touch the basketball and stuff,” said Thompson, a former prep star at Whitney Young High School. “Just coming out here, seeing all the banners, seeing the Madhouse on Madison United Center, it was a great feeling.”
The Buckeyes turned a close game into a runaway with an impressive 30-5 spree spanning halftime that included a little bit of everything. LaQuinton Ross connected on three consecutive 3-pointers, Aaron Craft made a couple of nifty passes and Thompson had two jams to go along with a 3-pointer.
Adreian Payne had 18 points and 10 rebounds, leading No. 8 Michigan State to a rugged 59-56 victory over Iowa in the Big Ten quarterfinals on Friday night.Keith Appling and Gary Harris had 13 points apiece for the Spartans (25-7), who trailed by 12 midway through the second half. They advance to play Ohio State in the next round in a rematch of last season’s tournament championship, won by Michigan State.Iowa (21-12) was oh so close to an upset victory that could have cemented a spot in the field for next week’s NCAA tournament. Instead, the Hawkeyes will have to sweat out a nervous Selection Sunday.The Hawkeyes got at least one basket from 11 players, but none of them scored in double figures. Mike Gesell led the way with nine points, and Devyn Marble and Melsahn Basabe each had eight.