Michigan State Basketball: ‘What if’ Big Ten Tournament Day 3 simulation
By Nate Rhoades
Day 3 of the Big Ten Tournament is upon us. Will Michigan State basketball be able to overcome the deepest league in the country and make it to the semis?
Day 3 of the simulated version of the ‘what if’ tournament is upon us. With the Big Ten being the deepest league in the country what will today’s games bring us?
Here are the slate of games happening today:
- No. 9 Michigan vs. No. 1 Wisconsin
- No. 5 Iowa vs. No. 4 Illinois
- No. 7 Ohio State vs. No. 2 Michigan State
- No. 11 Indiana vs. No. 3 Penn State
Which teams will advance to the semifinals? Which teams will see the Big Ten Tournament hopes dashed. Let’s take a look and see who the winners of Day 3 are.
No. 9 Michigan vs. No. 1 Wisconsin
Michigan starters:
- PG: Zavier Simpson
- SG: Eli Brooks
- SF: Isaiah Livers
- PF: Franz Wagner
- C: Jon Teske
Wisconsin starters:
- PG: D’Mitrik Trice
- SG: Brad Davidson
- SF: Kobe King
- PF: Aleem Ford
- C: Nate Reuvers
Final Score: Michigan 78, Wisconsin 69
Check out the full box score here.
Michigan was able to keep its championship run alive. They are searching to get back to the championship for the second year in a row.
No. 5 Iowa vs. No. 4 Illinois
Iowa starters:
- PG: Joe Toussaint
- SG: CJ Fredrick
- SF: Connor McCaffery
- PF: Joe Wieskamp
- C: Luka Garza
Illinois starters:
- PG: Ayo Dosunmu
- SG: Trent Frazier
- SF: Da’Monte WIlliams
- PF: Giorgi Bezhanishvili
- C: Kofi Cockburn
Final Score: Iowa 90, Illinois 80
Check out the full box score here.
Luka Garza was able to have yet another monster game. He is one of the best big man in the entire country this year and he continues to dominate.
No. 7 Ohio State vs. No. 2 Michigan State
Ohio State starters:
- PG: CJ Walker
- SG: Luther Muhammad
- SF: Andre Wesson
- PF: Kyle Young
- C: Kaleb Wesson
Michigan State starters:
- PG: Cassius WInston
- SG: Rocket Watts
- SF: Aaron Henry
- PF: Malik Hall
- C: Xavier Tillman
Final Score: Ohio State 73, Michigan State 66
Check out the full box score here.
Even though Xavier Tillman was able to handle Kaleb Wesson and get him to foul out, the Spartans could not over come Cassius Winston being in foul trouble himself. They will use this time to rest up before a big March Madness run.
No. 11 Indiana vs. No. 3 Maryland
Indiana starters:
- PG: Rob Phinisee
- SG: Al Durham
- SF: Justin Smith
- PF: Trayce Jackson-Davis
- C: Joey Brunk
Maryland starters:
- PG: Anthony Cowan
- SG: Eric Ayala
- SF: Darryl Morsell
- PF: Donta Scott
- C: Jalen Smith
Final Score: Indiana 77, Maryland 73
Check out the full box score here.
Anthony Cowan was doing it all out on the court but it was not enough to get the job done. He was not getting enough support from the players around him to beat Trayce Jackson-Davis and Co. Indiana did just the right amount to advance to semifinals.
Summary
There you have. Day 3 of the Big Ten Tournament is done and over with. There were lots of great games with great endings. Indiana is keeping their hopes of getting an auto bid to the Big Dance while Michigan looks to get back to the championship game for the second straight year.
Here is an updated bracket with the winners of Day 3.
Check back to see the results of the semifinals matchups.
Next. 3 things to watch with March Madness cancelled. dark
The matchups are:
No. 9 Michigan vs. No. 5 Iowa and No. 7 Ohio State vs. No. 11 Indiana