Big Ten Basketball

Indiana University athletic director Fred Glass reached out Purdue University AD Mike Bobinski to apologize after Boilermakers star Matt Haarms was subjected to chants of "f--k you" during Purdue's 48-46 win on Tuesday.

According to the Indianapolis Star's Matthew Glenesk, Glass called Bobinski and "apologized for the profane chants."

Glenesk also shared Glass' comments from an email he wrote to Indiana student season-ticket holders:

"The profane chants directed at a specific Purdue player were not part of your positive contributions. They were embarrassing and unacceptable and reflected poorly on you and Indiana University. Knock off the profane chants, and please help those around you do the same. You and Indiana University are better than that."

At various points in Tuesday's game, the Indiana student section singled out Haarms, and their chant of "f--k you, Haarms" was audible during the ESPN2 broadcast.

"They were all over me. It was bad," the sophomore center said of the game, per Glenesk. "It’s always bad. It’s bad at Michigan, at Michigan State, at Maryland, at Iowa, but not like this."

Haarms got the last laugh, as his tip-in with 3.1 seconds remaining in regulation was the difference in the outcome.

Matt Haarms. CLUTCH. pic.twitter.com/Eisy3Rh72K

— Bleacher Report CBB (@br_CBB) February 20, 2019

With the win, Purdue improved to 19-7 and sits in a three-way tie for the Big Ten's best record (12-3). Indiana, on the other hand, sits third from the bottom in the conference (4-11) and has dropped 11 of its last 12 games.

Purdue student Aaron Lai walked nearly 100 miles and raised over $20,000 in honor of late Purdue student and superfan Tyler Trent.

According to ESPN.com, Lai walked from West Lafayette, Indiana, to Bloomington, Indiana, to attend Purdue's men's basketball game against the rival Indiana Hoosiers on Tuesday.

Trent died in January from a rare form of bone cancer shortly after being featured on ESPN's College GameDay. The money raised will go toward the Tyler Trent Cancer Research Endowment, and the Walter Foundation will match it.

Nick McGill of Fox59 tweeted the following video of Lai's arrival at Indiana University on Tuesday night, nearly three days and 99.6 miles after departing:

What a moment! Aaron Lai’s 100 mile journey comes to an end..with an open-armed welcome from @TonyTrent10 and @Kat9798. Aaron’s journey has raised more than $18,000 for the #TylerTrent Cancer Research Endowment. All I can say is: Awesome! #TylerStrong pic.twitter.com/tV4Hr60t25

— Nick McGill (@NickMcGillTV) February 20, 2019

Trent's mother, Kelly Crull Trent, tweeted her gratitude:

What an honor to meet you @alai2016 ! What an amazing young man you are and what an accomplishment. Just WOW! Words are inadequate for our gratefulness for your sacrifice! Praying you get some seriously good rest tonight and recovery! So glad our Boilers won!!!💛🖤 https://t.co/shcs3vff2n

— Kelly Crull Trent (@Kat9798) February 20, 2019

Lai's original goal was to raise $10,000, but by the time he arrived at Indiana University, he had already surpassed $21,000.

The game started shortly after Lai's arrival, and he was able to witness a huge win for the No. 15 Boilermakers, as they outlasted the Hoosiers 48-46 and won it with a last-second tip-in from Matt Haarms.

Michigan State Spartans forward Nick Ward suffered a hairline fracture in his left hand during Sunday's 62-44 win over the Ohio State Buckeyes, the team announced.

The Spartans confirmed Ward's possible return date is unclear but that he'll undergo an evaluation on a weekly basis.

Ward played 19 minutes in Sunday's victory, scoring nine points and collecting six rebounds. The junior is now averaging 15.1 points and 6.7 rebounds while shooting 60.4 percent from the floor.

Michigan State already lost Joshua Langford to a season-ending foot injury in January. Now, the Spartans are facing an extended stretch without their second-leading scorer and third-leading rebounder. The team stopped short of saying Ward is out for the year, but his lack of a firm recovery timetable is concerning.

The Spartans still have two games against the Michigan Wolverines ahead and a tricky matchup with the Indiana Hoosiers, who pushed them to overtime on Feb. 2.

In his most recent edition of Bracketology, ESPN.com's Joe Lunardi projected Michigan State to be a No. 2 seed, and beating Ohio State will help the team's NCAA tournament resume. A short-handed Spartans squad will struggle to win out in the regular season, so slipping into a lower seed is on the table.

And that's to say nothing of what Ward's absence would mean in the Big Dance if his injury lingers into March.

Iowa handed No. 5 Michigan its second loss of the 2018-19 season with a 74-59 upset Friday night.

The Hawkeyes entered the game coming off back-to-back losses but dominated one of the best teams in the country at home behind 19 points and eight rebounds from Luka Garza.

Freshman Joe Wieskamp also helped on both ends of the court with 16 points, seven rebounds and five steals, while Ryan Kriener added 15 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.

After using a 21-2 run in the first half to take control of the game, Iowa never gave up the lead and stayed up by double digits nearly the entire second half. The squad eventually closed out the win, leading to a big celebration at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City:

Party on, @IowaHoops 🎉 pic.twitter.com/YOlXo37ST6

— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) February 2, 2019

This win could also have a lasting impact for Iowa:

Incredible defensive effort tonight by Iowa. This one will travel for the Hawkeyes all the way to Selection Sunday. Michigan suffers its second loss of the season in Iowa City.

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 2, 2019

Iowa is now 17-5 on the season but just 6-5 in the loaded Big Ten. This win will now help move up the standings in the conference as well as adding a huge win to the resume heading toward March Madness.

Meanwhile, Michigan now has two losses in its last three road games after going 5-0 away from home to start the season. The Wolverines are still as talented as any team in the country, but they couldn't hit the net Friday while shooting 32.3 percent overall and 24.2 percent from three-point range.

Leading scorer Ignas Brazdeikis had 16 points but finished 6-of-15 from the field. Charles Matthews was just 2-of-12 as he managed just six points in the loss.

Michigan will try to bounce back on the road against Rutgers on Tuesday. Iowa will get nearly a week off before taking on ice-cold Indiana on Thursday.

Michigan State men's basketball head coach Tom Izzo announced Wednesday that junior guard Joshua Langford, who has averaged 15.0 points per game this season, is out for the rest of the year with a stress injury in his left foot.   

"It's with great sadness that I have to announce that after numerous studies, rehabilitation and an attempt at return, it has been determined that Josh will miss the remainder of the season," Izzo said.

"Josh has a stress injury that we caught fairly early and we had hoped that, with treatment and rest, he would recover. He has not, and will likely need surgery to prevent problems in the future."

Langford has been out with the injury since an 88-60 win over Northern Illinois on December 29. He played only 12 minutes in that contest before leaving early.

The Spartans have gone 7-1 in his absence and are 18-3 overall (9-1 in the Big Ten). They are the nation's third-best team heading into Wednesday, per Ken Pomeroy, and they stand with Virginia and Duke as the lone teams to earn top-seven marks in both adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency.

However, the Spartans' 73-63 loss to unranked Purdue on Sunday showed why they miss Langford.

The Boilermakers jumped out to a 37-19 halftime lead as the Spartans offense could not get anything going. Langford, who has connected on 40.3 percent of his three-pointers and 44.3 percent of his shots overall, could have helped to stymie the first-half rout.

As Izzo noted, Langford is one of MSU's best backcourt defenders and brings a lot to the team in terms of his intangibles:

"Throughout the process, Josh has done everything asked of him, while maintaining an amazing attitude and doing whatever he could to help his teammates. His selfless attitude is the reason there were tears throughout the meeting room when we shared the news with his team. I've never felt worse for a player than I do for Josh, but he's a very religious kid who believes everything happens for a reason. He's constantly telling me to not worry about him, but focus on the team. It's the reason I have so much respect and admiration for the way he's handled the injury."

With Langford sidelined, MSU has turned to junior forward Kyle Ahrens and freshman forward Aaron Henry in the starting lineup. Ahrens got the first crack at replacing Langford, but he is currently nursing a back injury, per Stephen Brooks of 247Sports.

Henry has started the last five games and has averaged 7.6 points on 63.0 percent shooting over that span. His efficiency is impressive, although he isn't a three-point threat like Langford (only one made three in his last five games).

Crowley Sullivan of Spartans Wire recently praised the first-year forward's "terrific athleticism" and ability to take care of the ball.

Michigan State does not play a Top 20 opponent until a road game at No. 5 Michigan on Sunday, Feb. 24. A home matchup with the Indiana Hoosiers awaits Saturday.

Michigan owns five wins in a row in the rivalry with Indiana, the past four by double digits, going 5-0 against the spread at betting sites in the process. The Wolverines shoot to make it six straight over the struggling Hoosiers on Friday night at Assembly Hall in Bloomington.

                

College basketball point spread: The Wolverines opened as 3.5-point favorites; the total is at 133, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark. Line updates and matchup report.

Check out the OddsShark podcast on iTunes or Spotify or at OddsShark.libsyn.com for more odds information, betting picks and a breakdown of this week's top sports betting news.

                  

Why Michigan Can Cover the Spread

Michigan bounced back from that loss at Wisconsin on Saturday to beat Minnesota on a bucket at the buzzer Tuesday night 59-57. The Wolverines trailed the Golden Gophers by three points at halftime and by seven early in the second half but went on a 23-3 run to take a 52-39 lead.

Michigan then allowed Minnesota to tie the score at 57-57 with 30 seconds left before guard Charles Matthews dropped in a baseline 10-footer as the clock expired. On the night, Michigan only shot 34 percent from the field but held Minnesota to 40 percent field-goal shooting and won the turnover battle 16-6.

The Wolverines have now held each of their past nine opponents to under 50 percent shooting and out-rebounded seven of their past 10 foes. On the season, Michigan is 5-2 ATS when favored by single digits.

                 

Why Indiana Can Cover the Spread

Indiana is a tough case to make, with five straight losses, including a 73-66 decision at Northwestern on Tuesday night. The Hoosiers trailed the Wildcats by four points at the half and by 15 with about 12 minutes to go, went on a 13-1 run to pull the game to 56-53 with seven minutes left but faded from there.

On the night, IU only shot 38 percent from the floor but held Northwestern to 40 percent shooting. The Hoosiers also out-rebounded the Wildcats 44-29 but committed 12 turnovers, forcing only five.

Indiana has held four of five opponents to under 50 percent FG shooting during its losing skid. The Hoosiers are just having a tough time throwing the ball in the hole themselves.

Indiana started 12-2 this season, with victories over Marquette, Louisville and Butler. Now, at 12-7 overall and 3-5 in Big Ten play, the Hoosiers need a win to keep their NCAA tournament hopes alive.

              

Michigan vs. Indiana College Basketball Betting Pick

Michigan won this matchup in Ann Arbor 74-63 on Jan. 6, covering as a nine-point favorite. The Wolverines led that game by double digits five minutes in and basically cruised from there. What's changed since then? Not much. Plus, playing on the road means the spread is a tad more manageable. The smart money here likes Michigan.

OddsShark computer pick:75.6-61.0, Wolverines. Get college basketball picks on every game via the OddsShark computer.

                    

College Basketball Betting Trends

Michigan is 4-2 ATS in its past six games.

The total has gone under in 15 of Michigan's past 22 games.

Indiana is 1-5 ATS in its past six games.

                   

All college basketball odds and betting trends according to Bleacher Report's official odds partner, OddsShark. Check out OddsShark on Twitter and Instagram or head to YouTube for more betting picks and analysis on this week's top games. You can also download the free odds tracker app.

The No. 6 Michigan State Spartans maintained their spot atop the Big Ten and moved to 9-0 in conference play Thursday with an 82-67 victory over the No. 19 Iowa Hawkeyes at Carver Hawkeye Arena.

Michigan State is now 18-2 overall and hasn't lost a game since November, while Iowa fell to 16-4 overall and 5-4 in the conference. The Hawkeyes saw their five-game winning streak come to an end after climbing into the Top 20 in the Associated Press Poll.

Cassius Winston (23 points and seven assists) and Nick Ward (21 points and 10 rebounds) led the way for the visitors, while Luka Garza countered with 20 points for Iowa.

           

Michigan State Nation's Best Under-the-Radar Championship Contender

There are a number of teams making national headlines this college basketball season, including Duke with its trio of top-flight NBA prospects in Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett and Cam Reddish.

Tennessee has also captured attention as it rose to the top of the Associated Press Poll and is occupying the role of SEC powerhouse usually reserved for Kentucky, while Virginia's battle to put its shocking NCAA tournament loss to No. 16 seed UMBC in the rearview mirror and establish itself as a contender has also drawn headlines.

Meanwhile, Michigan State is quietly playing some of the best basketball in the country and is once again a Final Four threat under head coach Tom Izzo.

Ken Pomeroy's pace-adjusted numbers tell a story of just how balanced the Spartans are with the No. 4 offense and No. 6 defense in the country. Duke and Virginia are the only other teams in the top 10 of each ranking.

While Big Ten rival Michigan received plenty of love as the team in the conference that remained undefeated the longest, its offense is just 32nd and scored fewer than 60 points in its last two games. It is vulnerable if its defense struggles, while Michigan State can rely on either end of the floor to win games.

Winston and Ward carried the offense against the Hawkeyes, while the defense swarmed Iowa's shooters and held the home team to 38.6 percent shooting from field and 20.8 percent shooting from deep.

Michigan State can beat teams inside with Ward, who is a double-double threat every time he steps on the floor and is the ideal physical presence on the blocks for the grind of the Big Ten schedule. It can also turn outside with Winston, who can shoot from deep, attack the basket and facilitate for teammates when the defense collapses.

Perhaps the most dangerous thing about the Spartans is the fact that they are winning without Joshua Langford, who hasn't played since a Dec. 29 win over Northern Illinois.

His team is 7-0 without him, but he will eventually provide a veteran presence as a junior who is shooting 40.3 percent from three-point range. He can take advantage of openings when defenders double Ward on the blocks or cut off Winston's driving lanes and is the third-leading scorer on the team at 15 points a night.

Izzo did not provide a timetable for his return from his left foot injury but did note "we're starting to see a little progress here," per Chris Solari of the Detroit Free Press.

Come tournament time, Michigan State figures to have its trio in place and be battle-tested from a long season in the Big Ten. Joe Lunardi of ESPN.com had 10 teams from the conference in his latest Bracketology, which is the most of any league.

The Spartans also have a coach with championship pedigree leading the way, as Izzo has seven Final Fours, a national title, eight Big Ten regular-season crowns and five Big Ten tournament crowns on his resume.

Don't be surprised if he adds to those totals in March.

           

What's Next? 

Both teams continue their Big Ten slates with road games on Sunday. Michigan State plays Purdue, while Iowa faces Minnesota.

No. 6 Michigan State stayed red hot Monday night with a 69-55 win over No. 13 Maryland.

Cassius Winston scored 14 points and added seven assists at home in the Breslin Center as the Spartans earned their 12th win in a row. They scored the final 11 points of the first half to gain some breathing room before pulling away in the second, leading by as many as 22 points before closing out the win.

Michigan State is now 17-2 on the season and alone in first place in the Big Ten with an 8-0 conference record.

Are we sure this year's Michigan State team isn't better than last year's? Sparty doesn't have the same NBA upside, but it's running through the Big Ten, which will have at least double the amount of NCAA bids as 2018.

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 22, 2019

The result also snaps a seven-game winning streak for Maryland (16-4), which couldn't rally despite a double-double from Bruno Fernando.

      

Matt McQuaid and Kenny Goins Must Become Consistent Weapons to Replace Joshua Langford

Michigan State began the year with what was effectively a three-headed attack between Winston, Nick Ward and Joshua Langford, each of whom averaged at least 15 points per game.

Unfortunately, Langford has been out since the start of January with a foot injury, and there doesn't appear to be a timetable for him to return. Head coach Tom Izzo even discussed the possibility that the guard would miss the rest of the season.

This means other players on the team need to fill the void, and the only two seniors should be at the top of the list.

Matt McQuaid showed his ability in the first half against Maryland, finishing with 10 points after leading all scorers with eight points in the first half. He also added three assists and three steals.

Kenny Goins did most of his work after halftime to end with 14 points and 12 rebounds.

This all came after McQuaid had just two points on 0-of-6 shooting from the field against Nebraska. Goins had seven points and went 2-of-7. A big game from Winston helped the Spartans escape with a six-point win last game, but he and Ward were the only players on the team who hit double figures.

If Michigan State is going to contend for a Big Ten title and possibly the national championship, it will need a consistent third scorer who can take the pressure off the top two players.

Both McQuaid and Goins have been known as ideal role players throughout their careers to this point. McQuaid plays good defense while knocking down shots from distance, while Goins is a rebounder who usually only shoots when he is wide-open.

However, they have to be more aggressive each game to keep the offense running smoothly.

With an elite defense and plenty of talent elsewhere on the roster, more production from the seniors could be the last piece needed to make this team unstoppable.

        

Bruno Fernando Will Keep Maryland Among Big Ten's Best

Michigan State was on another level Monday, with the stifling defense holding Maryland to just 34.4 percent shooting from the field and 9-of-26 from three-point range. Anthony Cowan Jr. had scored at least 20 points in four straight games but was held to just seven points on 3-of-12 in this one.

After going almost two months without a loss, it's clear this is one of the best teams in college basketball.

However, Maryland showed a lot of resolve in the defeat, as well as a lot of talent in Fernando.

Going against one of the most physical teams in the country, the sophomore still outmuscled his way in the frontcourt while finishing with 12 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks.

For a large chunk of the game, he was the only offense for the Terps:

MSU threatening to run away with it. Maryland getting nothing from anyone other than Fernando.

— Jeff Ermann (@Jeff_Ermann) January 22, 2019

He was also a major reason Michigan State star Ward was held to zero points.

Fernando now has 11 double-doubles on the season, including seven of his last nine against some quality opponents. Even when he doesn't score, he puts a lot of pressure on the opposing team and opens things up for the rest of his team.

This is big for a young rotation composed of mostly freshmen who continue to improve as the year progresses.

Jalen Smith was outmatched in this one, but he has as much upside as anyone on the roster. Aaron Wiggins showed his skill with five made three-pointers for 15 points off the bench, his second double-digit game in a row. Eric Ayala and Ricky Lindo Jr. have also made impressive contributions this year that go well beyond the box score.

After entering the conference season with modest expectations, Maryland has been incredible against Big Ten competition. The Terps won seven of their first eight league games with victories over Indiana, Nebraska and Wisconsin, plus road wins over Minnesota and Ohio State.

Winning this game was a long shot considering Michigan State's recent play and dominance at home, going more than a year since its last loss at the Breslin Center.

Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post noted the positive takeaways even in defeat:

Maryland is going to lose this game to Michigan St. But there’s a lot to admire about the Terps. Threatened to be blown out a few times and keep fighting back.

— Barry Svrluga (@barrysvrluga) January 22, 2019

The key for this team is to bounce back and not let the loss lead to more negative performances.

With Fernando and Cowan leading the way, there should be a lot more wins going forward.

     

What's Next?

Michigan State will have a tough road battle in its next game when it takes on No. 19 Iowa on Thursday. Maryland will have a rare neutral-court conference game Saturday when it faces Illinois at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Since becoming conference rivals a few seasons ago Michigan State owns a 5-3 edge on Maryland straight up, but the Terrapins are 4-3-1 against the spread, with most games playing close. Who's the smart wager at sports betting sites for Monday night's Big Ten bash in East Lansing?

          

College basketball point spread: The Spartans opened as 9.5-point favorites; the total is at 148.5, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark. (Line updates and matchup report)

Check out the OddsShark podcast on iTunes or Spotify or at OddsShark.libsyn.com for more odds information, betting picks and a breakdown of this week’s top sports betting news.

       

Why Maryland can cover the spread

Maryland rides a seven-game winning streak into Monday night's affair, following a 75-61 victory at Ohio State last Friday. The Terrapins led 45-38 at the half, let the Buckeyes get within 45-44 early in the second half, then used a 13-2 run to take control on their way to the outright win as three-point underdogs.

On the night, Maryland shot a hot 58 percent from the field, hit 11 of 17 from three-point range, made 14 of 16 free throws, held Ohio State to 39 percent FG shooting and won the battle on the glass 33-26.

On the season, the Terrapins have held each of their 19 opponents under 50 percent FG shooting and out-rebounded 18 of their 19 foes.

Maryland is also 4-1 SU and 5-0 ATS in true road games this season and 3-1 ATS as an underdog on the college basketball betting lines.

     

Why Michigan State can cover the spread

The Spartans ride an 11-game winning streak into Monday, following a 70-64 victory at Nebraska last Thursday. Michigan State led 33-28 at the half, fell down by a point with 15 minutes to go but used a 23-10 run to regain control on its way to the win and the cover as a two-point favorite.

On the night, the Spartans only shot 44 percent from the floor but held the Cornhuskers to just 33 percent FG shooting. Michigan State also hit 16 of 18 from the charity stripe and owned a 42-38 edge on the boards.

Not only have the Spartans shot at least 50 percent from the floor seven of their last 10 times out, they've also held each of their 18 opponents this season under 50 percent FG shooting and out-rebounded each of their last 17 foes.

Michigan State is 7-0 ATS over its last seven games, 10-1 ATS over its last 11, 7-2 ATS at the Breslin Center this season and 8-1 ATS when favored by single digits.

       

Maryland vs. Michigan State college basketball betting pick

The Spartans own several statistical advantages in this matchup and should win this game outright. But playing at home means the spread is probably inflated by at least a bucket or so. The smart money here takes the Terps and the points.

        

OddsShark computer pick: 76.2-65.0, Spartans (Get college basketball picks on every game via the OddsShark computer)

         

College basketball betting trends

Maryland is 4-1 ATS in its last five games.

The total has gone over in seven of Maryland's last nine games.

Michigan State is 5-1 SU in its last six games when playing Maryland.

           

All college basketball odds and betting trends according to Bleacher Report’s official odds partner, OddsShark. Check out OddsShark on Twitter and Instagram or head to YouTube for more betting picks and analysis on this week's top games. You can also download the free odds tracker app.

The Wisconsin Badgers upset the No. 2 Michigan Wolverines 64-54 on Saturday, handing them their first loss of the season at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.

Senior forward Ethan Happ led the way with 26 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists for a Wisconsin team that improved to 12-6 overall and 4-3 in Big Ten play.

The Wolverines fell to 17-1, but they are still among the top teams in the Big Ten with a 6-1 conference record.

The No. 4 Virginia Cavaliers are the only undefeated team remaining in Division I men's college basketball. They visit the No. 1 Duke Blue Devils on Saturday night.

Michigan got little out of its top two scorers Saturday, as leading scorer Ignas Brazdeikis was held scoreless on 0-of-5 shooting and Charles Matthews was limited to just five points.

The Wolverines led 27-25 at halftime and by as many as five in the second half, but after taking a 45-44 lead with 7:34 left, the Badgers never looked back.

Happ took over down the stretch with a number of huge plays, including a thunderous dunk with just over four minutes left to stretch the lead to six:

Stadium's Jeff Goodman was among those who were blown away by Happ's performance:

Ethan Happ was sensational today. Scores, makes his teammates better and defends.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) January 19, 2019

He had a tough challenge on his hands against the frontcourt of Brazdeikis and center Jon Teske, but Happ was up to the task.

Teske did manage a nice showing with a team-high 15 points, but Sam Vecenie of The Athletic was impressed with how Happ answered—and exceeded—what Teske did:

https://twitter.com/Sam_Vecenie/status/1086699350019854336

Michigan struggled in essentially all aspects offensively, as it shot just 40.7 percent from the field, 27.8 percent from deep and 45.5 percent from the free-throw line.

ESPN.com's John Gasaway noted it was the Wolverines' worst offensive performance in more than two years:

Wisconsin holds Michigan to 0.82 points per possession, Wolverines’ worst game on offense since November 23, 2016.

— John Gasaway (@JohnGasaway) January 19, 2019

Michigan also matched its season high with 16 turnovers, and Brendan F. Quinn of The Athletic pointed out it had no business keeping things as close as it did:

Michigan matched its season-high with 16 turnovers and shot 22-for-54 from the field.

0 points for Brazdeikis
5 points for Matthews
3 second-half points by Poole

It's amazing it was that close.

— Brendan Quinn (@BFQuinn) January 19, 2019

Though the loss knocked the Wolverines from the unbeaten ranks, they are still in great shape in terms of earning a high seed in the NCAA tournament.

On the other hand, Wisconsin needed a big win after losing four of its previous five, including a bad defeat at Western Kentucky.

The Badgers have a feather in their cap after beating one of the top teams in the nation, and it was clear their fans understood the importance of the victory:

Wisconsin has a favorable schedule on tap that could help it get back inside the Top 25, provided it can beat unranked Illinois, Northwestern and Nebraska in succession.

Meanwhile, Michigan will look to get back on track Tuesday when it hosts Minnesota before taking on No. 25 Indiana in a road clash Friday.