INDIANAPOLIS - What else can you say about Drew Neitzel?
Michigan State's senior guard came up big at the right time for the Spartans, who put away Ohio State 67-60 in Friday's quarterfinal action of the Big Ten Conference tournament at Conseco Fieldhouse.
Neitzel's 3-pointer with 1:21 remaining pushed MSU's lead to 61-55. It was the last of his game-high 28 points and advanced the Spartans into Saturday's semifinal matchup against top-seeded Wisconsin.
INDIANAPOLIS - Top-seeded Wisconsin prevailed over Michigan 51-34 in the first quarterfinal game at the Big Ten tournament.
It wasn't pretty but that's how the Badgers play. Their defense shutdown the Wolverines from the start. Michigan made 10 of 50 field goals, including 6 of 24 from 3-point range. The Wolverines only scored 16 points in the second half.
Joe Krabbenhoft led Wisconsin with 12 points. Anthony Wright had 11 for Michigan.
Up next is Michigan State and Ohio State.
INDIANAPOLIS - With about 10 minutes left, Michigan has yet to reach 30 points.
The good news is Wisconsin only has 38, and the Wolverines trail by nine points.
INDIANAPOLIS - Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan picked up a technical in the first half.
Michigan coach John Beilein was warned by the officials early in the second half. Beilein was on the verge of picking one up but received a warning instead.
We're at our first media timeout with the Badgers leading 31-23.
INDIANAPOLIS - No wonder the Big Ten doesn't receive a lot of respect from the national media.
This first quarterfinal game is ugly. Lots of missed layups, lots of physical play and very little action.
That's why top-seeded Wisconsin is leading ninth-seeded Michigan 26-18 at halftime.
The Wolverines were down 25-13 but Zach Gibson's 3-pointer brought them within nine points. Gibson leads Michigan with eight points.
Wisconsin's leading scorer is guard Jason Bohannon, who has seven. Can't wait for the second half.
Actually, the halftime show of muscial chairs has been more entertaining than the first 20 minutes.
INDIANAPOLIS - After Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan was whistled for a technical, the Badgers have played better.
Although Michigan pulled within 15-13, Wisconsin has scored seven straight points to go ahead 22-13 at the last media timeout before halftime.
INDIANAPOLIS - Now, we have some fireworks.
Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan just received a technical. After the timeout, Michigan will be shooting free throws. The Badgers are leading 15-9.
INDIANAPOLIS - Both Wisconsin and Michigan have gone long periods without making a field goal.
That's why the score is 13-7 with 10 minutes left in the first half.
On Thursday, Michigan and Iowa combined to miss 26 straight field goals. Could we see more of that today?
INDIANAPOLIS - If Michigan had trouble scoring against Iowa, how will the Wolverines handle Wisconsin's defense?
Based on the first five minutes not very well.
Wisconsin scored the first 10 points before Manny Harris drained a 3-pointer to put Michigan on the scoreboard.
It's still early but the Wolverines had better get going.
INDIANAPOLIS - It's Day 2 of the Big Ten tournament in Conseco Fieldhouse.
Michigan, which knocked off Iowa on Thursday, will face top-seeded Wisconsin in about 15 minutes.
The Badgers lost two conference games during the regular season, both times to Purdue. The Wolverines are coming off a less-than-thriling 55-47 victory over the Hawkeyes in the first round. Michigan did play the Badgers tough in Madison, losing by three points.
Our second game will feature the 4/5 matchup between Michigan State and Ohio State.
INDIANAPOLIS - It was almost a great day for the lower seeds at the Big Ten Conference
tournament.
Instead, the underdogs will have to settle for two out of three wins.
Ninth-seeded Michigan and No. 10 seed Illinois pulled off upsets but sixth-seeded Minnesota
rallied from a 16-point first-half deficit to put away No. 11 seed Northwestern in the nightcap at
Conseco Fieldhouse.
INDIANAPOLIS - One team went 10 minutes without a field goal. The other 16 minutes.
The first game of the Big Ten Conference tournament wasn't a work of art. Thanks to freshman Manny Harris, eighth-seeded Michigan generated enough offense to get past No. 9 seed Iowa 55-47 at Conseco Fieldhouse.
Harris scored 12 of his 19 points in the first half as the Wolverines built a 34-25 halftime lead. After Michigan scored two quick baskets to open the second half, to go ahead by 14 points, this game was basically over.
The Wolverines' defense limited the Hawkeyes to 31.9 percent shooting (15 of 47) and held them without a field goal for 16 minutes. Iowa also made just 2 of 17 from 3-point range.
Michigan also forced 15 turnovers, resulting in 17 points.
"We came in with the mindset that we had play to defense in order to get a victory," Harris said. "We did a good job of defending the 3."
The Wolverines shot just 37.3 percent from the field but relied on their defense to win this game. Michigan will face top-seeded Wisconsin in Friday's first quarterfinal.
"We went out and played tenacious defense," said sophomore DeShawn Sims, who finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds. "We held ourselves accountable for our man."
Cyrus Tate led the Hawkeyes, who finished 13-19, with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
INDIANAPOLIS - Michigan advances to the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament with a 55-47 victory over Iowa at Conseco Fieldhouse.
Next up for the Wolverines is top-seeded Wisconsin on Friday.
Freshman Manny Harris led Michigan with 19 points and sophomore DeShawn Sims added 14 points and 10 rebounds. Cyrus Tate had 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Hawkeyes, who end their season at 13-19.
INDIANAPOLIS - With about five minutes to go, Michigan is still leading 46-36. The Wolverines, though, are not in control.
Although Iowa hasn't made a strong run, Michigan can't seem to pull away. Both teams are spinning their wheels, one reason why the Big Ten hasn't received a lot of respect nationally.
INDIANAPOLIS - Not much has changed at the Big Ten tournament. Michigan is still ahead, leading 44-30 at the 12-minute media timeout.
Sophomore DeShawn Sims has come on strong for the Wolverines with seven points and five rebounds in the second half. That gives Sims a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
The Hawkeyes can't seem to get anything going.
INDIANAPOLIS - Not even a minute has expired in the second half and Iowa was forced to call a timeout after Michigan scored two quick baskets.
The Wolverines now lead 39-25. It doesn't look good for Iowa at this point.
INDIANAPOLIS - It's halftime of our first game in the Big Ten Conference tournament and Michigan is leading 34-25.
The Hawkeyes, who trailed 25-11, pulled within 32-25 on Justin Johnson's 3-pointer with 19 seconds on the clock. However, Zach Gibson's rebound basket at the buzzer pushed Michigan's lead to nine points.
Super freshman Manny Harris leads the Wolverines with 12 points, including 10 during the first eight minutes.
The winner advances to face top-seeded Wisconsin on Friday in the quarterfinals.
