The regular-season Big Ten crown is still up for grabs.
By downing the league’s top squads Tuesday night, perennial powers Illinois and Michigan State remained mathematically in the hunt for the conference title.
The Fighting Illini knocked off Indiana 70-62, while the Spartans beat Ohio State 81-76.
With just one week of Big Ten play remaining, six teams still have a shot at claiming the title.
Indiana, Ohio State, Illinois and Wisconsin – all currently tied for first place – can each clinch at least a share of the title by winning their final games.
A Michigan State victory against Iowa on Saturday, and losses by the four current leaders would secure the Spartans a piece of the title. Minnesota can accomplish the same feat as the Spartans but must win its final two contests – tonight against Northwestern and Saturday against Illinois.
“Going into the last week of the season, I don’t know if it could be any more crowded,” Self said. “Everyone’s last two games will play a big impact on seeding in the Big Ten tournament. Who knows what’ll happen?”
THe Power of cheese: While Big Ten notables like Indiana and Ohio State have been stealing the spotlight, the Badgers have quietly snuck up from behind.
At third place in the standings, the Badgers are one of the league’s hottest teams. They’ve also been catching opponents off-guard.
“To me, Wisconsin has been the biggest surprise,” Illinois head coach Bill Self said. “They didn’t have a great nonconference (season), but they were just getting used to each other and they were playing young guys. They’ve done a remarkable job.”
Wisconsin began the season in November losing four of its first five games and ended its nonconference schedule with a 7-6 mark. And after losing at Michigan on Feb. 2, the Badgers were just 5-5 in league play.
But since that loss, Wisconsin has reeled off five straight wins, moving into a tie for the conference lead.
The five-game streak included victories a win against the Buckeyes and wins on the road against Indiana and Minnesota.
Wisconsin has set a few milestones during its winning streak. The Badgers’ Feb. 19 victory over Iowa gave head coach Bo Ryan his 400th career win. It also gave Wisconsin a 10th conference win for just the second time since 1962.
Playing their first game in a week, the Badgers end the regular season tonight against Michigan. Following that matchup, Wisconsin will have another layoff of more than a week before the Big Ten tournament begins.
This is the longest break of any team in the conference.
“I think our guys are hitting on some positive notes together,” Ryan said. “They’ve been playing well off one another. To get this layoff, I hope we haven’t lost that chemistry.”
COACHES CALLED OUT: Self and Ohio State head coach Jim O’Brien have both been included among the 20 finalists for the Naismith Coach of the Year Award.
O’Brien, in his fifth year with the Buckeyes, is just three victories shy of earning his 100th win with Ohio State.
Self is in his second year with Illinois. In his inaugural season in Champaign, he led his team to 27 wins, the second-winningest season in school history, as well as an Elite Eight appearance and a share of the Big Ten title.
Established in 1987, the award goes to the top coach in Division I-A college basketball, as selected by the Atlanta Tipoff Club and the Naismith Board of Selectors. The winner of the award will be honored April 5 in Atlanta.
