INSIDER
Donovan Clingan, UConn power back into Final Four behind 30-0 run in 77-52 rout of Illinois
Read full article: Donovan Clingan, UConn power back into Final Four behind 30-0 run in 77-52 rout of IllinoisDefending national champion UConn powered its way back into the Final Four behind a 30-0 run led by Donovan Clingan, who finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds as the Huskies crushed Illinois 77-52.
Edey helps rally No. 3 Purdue to 77-71 win at No. 12 Illinois to clinch outright Big Ten title
Read full article: Edey helps rally No. 3 Purdue to 77-71 win at No. 12 Illinois to clinch outright Big Ten titleZach Edey had 28 points and eight rebounds as No. 3 Purdue rallied in the second half to beat No. 12 Illinois 77-71, becoming the first team in 17 years to win consecutive outright Big Ten regular-season championships.
Trey Kaufman-Renn's breakout night helps No. 1 Purdue hold off No. 9 Illinois 83-78
Read full article: Trey Kaufman-Renn's breakout night helps No. 1 Purdue hold off No. 9 Illinois 83-78Trey Kaufman-Renn scored a season-high 23 points, Lance Jones added 17 and top-ranked Purdue held off a late comeback bid to beat No. 9 Illinois 83-78.
Jackson-Davis leads Indiana past No. 16 Illinois 65-63
Read full article: Jackson-Davis leads Indiana past No. 16 Illinois 65-63Trayce Jackson-Davis scored 21 points, including three free throws in the closing seconds, and Indiana beat top-seeded and 16th-ranked Illinois 65-63 in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals.
Nun-and-done: Loyola Chicago stuns top-seeded Illinois 71-58
Read full article: Nun-and-done: Loyola Chicago stuns top-seeded Illinois 71-58And if Sister Jean didn’t have any plans for next weekend, well, she does now. Loyola Chicago carried out its 101-year-old superfan's plans to a T on Sunday, moving to the Sweet 16 with a 71-58 win over Illinois, the first No. To anyone outside of Champaign — or now holding a freshly obliterated bracket — it’s hard to argue this Loyola team isn’t the breath of fresh air this tournament-in-a-bubble sorely needed. But there’s nobody quite like Sister Jean to put the whole thing in perspective. The point guard sparked Loyola’s national-championship run in 1963 — a win, of course, that Sister Jean watched on an 11-inch TV loaned to her by a friend.
No. 3 Illinois beats No. 9 Ohio State to take Big Ten title
Read full article: No. 3 Illinois beats No. 9 Ohio State to take Big Ten titleAs the Fighting Illini celebrated their first Big Ten Tournament title since 2005 with a 91-88 overtime victory over No. 9 Ohio State on Sunday, they quickly turned the focus to their No. Instead of withering in their fourth game in four days and being without forward Kyle Young for the second consecutive game, Ohio State (21-9) continually fought back. BIG PICTUREOhio State: They didn't win the title but the fifth-seeded Buckeyes overperformed expectations. ALL-TOURNEY TEAMAdDosunmu and Cockburn were joined on the all-tournament team by Washington and Liddell from Ohio State and Iowa’s Luka Garza, the league’s player of the year.
Michigan State beats No. 2 Michigan 70-64, boosts NCAA hopes
Read full article: Michigan State beats No. 2 Michigan 70-64, boosts NCAA hopesRocket Watts scored 21 points and Aaron Henry had 18 to lead the Spartans in a 70-64 victory over No. The Wolverines (19-3, 14-3) closed the regular season getting routed at home by the Fighting Illini, beating Michigan State handily to clinch the Big Ten title and losing the rematch three days later. They were ready to play today and we weren’t.”AdJoey Hauser scored nine of his 11 points off the bench in the first half as Michigan State led 30-26. SENIOR MOMENTFifth-year senior Joshua Langford, who missed much of the previous two seasons with injury, made a 3-point shot with 49 seconds left to give Michigan State a 64-59 lead. UP NEXTThe Big Ten Tournament begins Wednesday in Indianapolis, where first-seeded Michigan may meet Michigan State for a third time.
Michigan St tops No. 5 Illinois 81-72, bolsters NCAA chances
Read full article: Michigan St tops No. 5 Illinois 81-72, bolsters NCAA chancesAdIn the opening 20 minutes against Illinois, he matched a career high with 10 rebounds and scored seven points to help Michigan State lead 36-26. The Alabama was a highly touted recruit when he signed with Michigan State five years ago in a recruiting class that included Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges. Michigan State: Izzo, a Hall of Fame coach, hasn't missed the NCAA Tournament since 1997. POLL IMPLICATIONSThe Illini, who haven't won at Michigan State since 2015, will likely slip in the AP Top 25 after getting upset as a seven-point favorite. Michigan State welcomes the fourth-ranked Buckeyes on Thursday night.
Illinois hires Bielema as coach to lift struggling program
Read full article: Illinois hires Bielema as coach to lift struggling programBielema is returning to the Big Ten and his home state to coach Illinois. Illinois hired the former Wisconsin and Arkansas coach, hoping he can turn around a program with nine straight losing seasons. Illinois said Bielema will receive a six-year contract with an annual salary starting at $4.2 million, and begin work immediately. He became the third coach in NCAA history to win 12 games in his rookie season when Wisconsin went 12-1 in 2006. In January, the New York Giants and new head coach Joe Judge hired Bielema as outside linebackers coach and senior assistant.
No. 2 Baylor uses stout defense to get past No. 5 Illinois
Read full article: No. 2 Baylor uses stout defense to get past No. 5 IllinoisAnd after an uncharacteristic first half, Drew understood why his players might have been a little unnerved. “It was a frustrating night," Illinois coach Brad Underwood said. Baylor forward Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua started the decisive stretch by making two free throws with 12:51 left. After Illinois made a 3-pointer, Baylor scored five more points and then took control with another run, this time 9-0. ... MaCio Teague added 11 points and Tchamwa Tchatchoua had nine points and nine rebounds.