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Michigan State Basketball: Predicting each round of 2018 Big Ten Tournament

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 13: Jaren Jackson Jr. #2 of the Michigan State Spartans drives to the basket while defended by Isaiah Livers #4 of the Michigan Wolverines at Breslin Center on January 13, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 13: Jaren Jackson Jr. #2 of the Michigan State Spartans drives to the basket while defended by Isaiah Livers #4 of the Michigan Wolverines at Breslin Center on January 13, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 20: Gavin Schilling #34 of the Michigan State Spartans during introductions before a game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Breslin Center on February 20, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 20: Gavin Schilling #34 of the Michigan State Spartans during introductions before a game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Breslin Center on February 20, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

Quarterfinal (March 2)

No. 9 Wisconsin vs. No. 1 Michigan State (Noon ET)

No Michigan State player wants to see Wisconsin again, but the rematch will take place on March 2 at Madison Square Garden. Brad Davison won’t quite have the game he did against the Spartans in Madison, but he’ll finish with 15 points while Ethan Happ bounces back to score 20. Miles Bridges will also bounce back from his poor showing in the first matchup with his mind cleared a bit, scoring 25 and grabbing 10 boards. Nick Ward will record a double-double and Josh Langford will get back on track.

Final Score: Wisconsin 65, Michigan State 74

No. 5 Michigan vs. No. 4 Nebraska (approx. 2:25 p.m. ET)

Remember when Nebraska thumped Michigan in Lincoln earlier in the season? Yeah, so do the Wolverines. John Beilein’s team isn’t going to let the Cornhuskers have the last word. You can bet the Wolverines have wanted this rematch ever since that 20-point blowout earlier in the season and they’ll get a chance to potentially ruin the Cornhuskers’ NCAA Tournament hopes. Michigan wins this one easy on the backs of MAAR and Mo Wagner.

Final Score: Michigan 81, Nebraska 67

No. 7 Penn State vs. No. 2 Ohio State (6:30 p.m. ET)

Penn State has the upper hand in this matchup on the year and the Buckeyes seem to have only had major problems with the Nittany Lions. Two matchups and two Penn State wins in the regular season, including a blowout in Happy Valley. The Big Ten Tournament’s theme this year will be revenge and the Buckeyes will get that, putting the Nittany Lions away comfortably. Will this end the Nittany Lions’ NCAA Tournament hopes? It’s possible, but they’ll be a strong bubble team.

Final Score: Penn State 66, Ohio State 77

No. 6 Indiana vs. No. 3 Purdue (approx. 8:55 p.m. ET)

Purdue took Indiana down in the first matchup and the Hoosiers would love nothing more than to ruin the Boilermakers’ conference tourney hopes. However, Purdue is just too talented and the scoring attack will be too much for the Hoosiers to handle. Carsen and Vince Edwards will each drop 15 points while Isaac Haas will present a matchup nightmare for Juwan Morgan and Co.

Final Score: Indiana 68, Purdue 82

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