The 2015 Big Ten Tournament officially began on Wednesday. One of the deepest conferences with massive bubble implications across the board started with two inconsequential games between the bottom feeders. Yeah, conference expansion means that you might have to wait a day or two for the good teams to start playing.
2015 Big Ten Tournament schedule and bracket: Minnesota, Penn State advance to 2nd round
Only two games took place on the first day of the Big Ten Tournament.
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Still, postseason basketball is postseason basketball, and there’s something to be said for the students -- particularly seniors -- fighting to extend their playing careers just one more day. With that in mind, here’s a brief recap of Wednesday’s first-round action and a look ahead at the Thursday schedule.
No. 13 Penn State 68, No. 12 Nebraska 65
The game wasn't nearly as close as the final score might indicate. Nebraska never held a single lead the whole game and was down by as many as 16 points at one point. The Cornhuskers were ice cold from the floor, making just 30.2 percent of their field goals. D.J. Newbill paced the Nittany Lions with 26 points and Shep Garner added 19. Penn State will move on to face Iowa Thursday.
No. 11 Minnesota 80, No. 14 Rutgers 68
A no-nonsense win for Minnesota over the worst team in the Big Ten. Four Golden Gophers players scored in double digits and Joey King led the way with 20 points. Minnesota shot 51.7 percent from the floor, made 7-of-19 three-pointers and generally had little trouble putting away the Scarlet Knights. The Gophers get a tougher test against Ohio State Thursday.
Thursday’s schedule (times Eastern)
No. 8 Illinois vs. No. 9 Michigan, Noon
No. 5 Iowa vs. No. 13 Penn State, 2:25 p.m.
No. 7 Indiana vs. No. 10 Northwestern, 6:30 p.m.
No. 6 Ohio State vs. No. 11 Minnesota
And here is the updated bracket, via CBS Sports:
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