After pulling off the tight win over Indiana in the Big Ten quarterfinals, the fourth-seeded Wisconsin Badgers were overwhelmed by the No. 1 seed, the Michigan St. Spartans, losing 65-52 in the Big Ten semifinals. Big Ten Player of the Year Draymond Green was dominant on the glass, overwhelming the Badgers' frontcourt, which was a major difference in the game.
Big Ten Tournament Semifinal, Wisconsin Vs. Michigan State: Spartans Advance To Final
Green had 16 rebounds on his own, compared to 20 for the entire Wisconsin team. Green wasn’t particularly effective shooting — he shot just 3-for-9 from the field with seven turnovers — but his performance defensively and on the interior was enough to make the difference. He also was his typically unselfish self, giving out five assists. He finished with a team-leading 14 points.
Jordan Taylor and Ryan Evans were the lone offensive bright spots for the Badgers, scoring 19 and 18 points, respectively. None of their teammates scored more than six points, and they shot 35.7 percent as a team. They're still solidly in the NCAA Tournament field and should be the home team in the first round. Michigan State advances to face the winner of Michigan and Ohio State in the Big Ten final Sunday.
For more on these two teams, visit Michigan State blog The Only Colors and Wisconsin blog Bucky’s Fifth Quarter. You can find full coverage of the tournament in our Big Ten Tournament StoryStream,
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