Rutgers' Jacob Young, left, and Ron Harper Jr. (24) celebrate with teammates after Rutgers beat Minnesota 77-70 in overtime of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, March 6, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Looking to hitch your wagon to a gutsy Cinderella squad? In that case, let's ride on the Jersey Turnpike and root for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.
Rutgers' Tourney History
Rutgers has gone three full decades without a men's NCAA tournament appearance. When the Scarlet Knights last made the Big Dance in 1991, TheSilence of the Lambs topped the box office. Nobody on the current team went to the theaters, seeing as they weren't born yet.
One would have to go back even further to 1983 to pinpoint the Scarlet Knights' last tourney win. This also marked the first time since 1978-79 that they opened the season ranked in the Associated Press Top 25.
At 20-11, Steve Pikiell's squad looked poised to end that drought in 2020. After missing that opportunity, most key players returned. Although it's been a tumultuous season, a key win over Big Ten powerhouse Illinois highlighted a 6-0 start that showed what the Scarlet Knights can achieve at their finest.
This Year's Best Players
The ancient lore of March Madness bracketology places a premium on experience, depth and a strong backcourt. Rutgers checks all three boxes.
The upperclassmen backcourt of Ron Harper Jr., Jacob Young and Geo Baker lead a methodical offense in scoring. Juniors Montez Mathis and Myles Johnson don't trail far behind.
There's not much star power, and Rutgers' perimeter shooting certainly lag behind most modern offenses. But this gritty squad gets its hands dirty by attacking the basket and playing hard-nosed defense.
Why They're Going to Win
Look, we don't have any fancy numbers to convince you Rutgers will win it all. The best we can do is live on a prayer like Bon Jovi and hope the Scarlet Knights, like Bruce Springsteen, were born to run the bracket.
Having plenty of experience punching up in a major conference, Rutgers is a scrappy underdog capable of persevering.
Why You Were Meant to Root for Illinois
Mar 14, 2021
Illinois' Kofi Cockburn, right, celebrates one of his shots with Illinois' Da'Monte Williams (20) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Take a seat on the Illinois Fighting Illini hype train if you want to see a hungry squad led by a masked man bring prestige to a long-overlooked program.
Illinois' Tourney History
Illinois hasn't made the NCAA tournament since 2013. Despite making five trips to the Final Four, most recently the 2005 national final, the school has never hoisted a championship trophy. 2005 was also the last time the Fighting Illini captured a Big Ten title.
That squad, featuring future NBA All-Star Deron Williams, marked Illinois' last legitimate shot of winning it all. Sixteen years later, a freshmen-filled roster has a new pair of stars capable of carving a path to glory.
This Year's Best Players
Meet your new favorite player. Ayo Dosunmu is one of the nation's most lethal scorers, and he leads the team in assists. Soon enough, he'll become a national sensation, not only for his on-court prowess but also because of a mask that makes it look like he spent the hours before tipoff fighting crime.
After missing time with a broken nose, the junior returned with a black mask that he said made him "feel like a superhero," per WCIA3's Bret Beherns. Perhaps the protective gear will give him additional playmaking powers.
And don't forget about Kofi Cockburn. The 7-foot sophomore center from Kingston, Jamaica, is a double-double machine. He and Dosunmu are ushering in a new day at Illinois.
Why They're Going to Win
The masked crusader always emerges victorious, right?
In all seriousness, a championship for the Fighting Illini is hardly a fantasy. They have already made a major statement in March, earning a 23-point win over Michigan without Dosunmu, after his broken nose, before defeating fellow Big Ten powerhouse Ohio State in the star's triumphant return.
The high-powered, battled-tested offense can shoot and score with the best. Having spent years in the shadow of conference foes, Illinois is ready to shine on the grand stage.
Why You Were Meant to Root for Michigan
Mar 14, 2021
The Michigan bench congratulates head coach Juwan Howard, front right, after winning the Big Ten title against Michigan State in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, March 4, 2021, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Welcome to Ann Arbor, where the Michigan Wolverines are sharpening their claws for another deep NCAA tournament run.
Michigan's Tourney History
The Wolverines are no strangers to March Madness. Although Glen Rice led them to their last national championship in 1989, they have since made four trips to the Final Four.
Villanova dashed Michigan's dreams of glory in the 2018 national title game, and the school reached the Sweet 16 in both 2017 and 2019. However, this marks the first NCAA tournament foray for head coach Juwan Howard. During his playing days, he took the Wolverines to the championship clash twice as part of the famed Fab Five.
This Year's Best Players
Michigan's rotation relies heavily on seniors, most notably forward Isaiah Livers. Yet freshman center Hunter Dickinson anchors this squad on both ends. The Big Ten Freshman of the Year gives the Wolverines both a bright future and a real shot at running the table this March.
There's plenty of size alongside the 7'1" Dickinson. Franz Wagner has blossomed into a lockdown defender and prolific scorer in his second year. The 6'9" guard and Berlin native could fortify his status as a lottery pick in the upcoming NBA draft with a strong tournament showing.
Both Dickinson and Wagner will need to rise to the moment, as Livers suffered a foot injury during the Big Ten tournament.
Why They're Going to Win
Michigan began the season a blistering 18-1 before losing to Illinois and Michigan State. Before those setbacks, it returned from a three-week COVID-related hiatus to handle business against Big Ten foes Ohio State and Iowa.
They're not always the most aesthetically pleasing team, but the Wolverines are ruthlessly effective on offense and defense. They also have the perfect blend of experience and star power to reverse the program's past Final Four misfortunes.
Illinois Edges Ohio State in OT to Win 1st Big Ten Tournament Title Since 2005
Mar 14, 2021
Illinois' Andre Curbelo, left, Ayo Dosunmu, center and Kofi Cockburn (21) hug as they leave the court following a 82-71 win over Iowa in an NCAA college basketball game at the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
In its first Big Ten championship game since 2008, Illinois took home its third conference championship with a 91-88 overtime victory over fifth-seeded Ohio State.
The win was the fourth defeat of a Top 10 opponent in Illinois' last five games.
Kofi Cockburn, who ended the day with 16 points, hit two free throws in the final minute of overtime to give the Illini a one-point lead, then Andre Curbelo hit a jumper to give Illinois a three-point lead that would propel them to the finish.
For Ohio State, who upset No. 1 Michigan on Saturday to earn a spot in the title game and battled back from a 17-point deficit to force overtime, Duane Washington Jr. led with 32 points on 12-of-21 shooting from the field, including 5-of-10 from three.
The Fighting Illini had a strong showing against Iowa on Saturday, upending No. 3 Iowa 82-71. That was made possible because of the squad's major stars—big man Kofi Cockburn scored 26 points and tacked on eight boards, while Ayo Dosunmu flirted with a double-double, grabbing 18 points, nine assists and seven rebounds.
As expected, Cockburn and Dosunmu led the squad through the first half, with 11 points from Cockburn coupled with seven from Dosunmu, who also grabbed seven boards and five rebounds to give the Fighting Illini a 40-35 lead at the break.
But the Buckeyes shut both players down in the second half, as Cockburn tallied just two points and Dosunmu was good for just sixpoints after the break.
In the extra period, it was all Curbelo, who posted six of his 16 points in the final five minutes.
Fouls proved to be the difference-maker at the end, as the Illini staved off a mounting Buckeyes comeback with 10-of-11 shooting from the line in the second half as the Buckeyes were whistled for 10 personal fouls.
The Illini have certainly been tested over the past few games in a tough conference, but the opponents will hardly get any easier heading into March.
Ohio State's Late Collapses Catch Up
The Buckeyes overcame a series of tough opponents to reach the championship game, capped by top-seeded Michigan on Saturday. That game came after defeats of Purdue and Minnesota.
And while OSU was the winner in the end, a closer look at the final minutes of each of those three games reveals that wasn't a sure-fire victory. Against Michigan, the Buckeyes held a 13-point lead with 4:19 to play, then held their breath as Mike Smith went up for a jumper that would have won it, eventually coming away with a one-point win.
Similarly, with 5:26 to go against Purdue in the quarterfinals, a nine-point lead evaporated, and OSU had to break out of a tie for an overtime win. Against Minnesota in the second round, the Buckeyes were up by 14 with 3:25 remaining before Minnesota brought it within one point before an OSU victory.
On Sunday, it was a different story—in the first half, at least.
The Buckeyes were down 27-10 at the 9:46 mark of the first half, but they built a comeback in the impending minutes and used a 15-6 run in the final 4:23 of the half to get within five at the break. The scoring was all Duane Washington Jr., who posted 15 points in the first half as the game's leading scorer.
Justice Sueing posted nine points behind him.
The comeback reached its head as the clock wound down, with the Buckeyes grabbing their first lead of the game with 5:36 to play, when Ohio State went up 67-65. It was a strong outing after a tumultuous first half, as the Buckeyes improved their 39.3 shooting percentage from the first half to a 53.6 percent mark in the second frame.
Washington ended the night with 32 points, hitting five of 10 shots from deep, while Sueing grabbed 22 points.
Andre Curbelo is having his March moments this week in Indy and it will likely continue @marchmadness. He has been the unsung MVP of @IlliniMBB. Remember, he came to Illinois probably thinking originally Ayo Dosunmu would be gone to the NBA. Adapted. Found his role. Thrived.
After forcing overtime, they managed to hold the Illini scoreless for most of it. Illinois was held scoreless from the field for 3:37 of overtime.
With turnovers on back-to-back possessions, Ohio State made room for the Illini to seal the overtime win.
The Buckeyes able to break the second-half spell that overcame them for their last few outings, and they'll have to carry that into March if they want to compete late into the tournament.
What's Next?
Both teams await their fate for the NCAA tournament, with Selection Sunday beginning at 6 p.m. ET.
OSU's Chris Holtmann Shares Photo of Text Message from Mom Giving Team Advice
Mar 13, 2021
Ohio State head coach Chris Holtmann gestures in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Michigan at the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Always take your mom's advice—even if it's about how to coach up your players.
Ohio State men's basketball coach Chris Holtmann posted a screenshot of his own mother's suggestions after the team's loss to Illinois last week.
My Mom’s text after our loss last Saturday. Even Moms have tips when you drop a couple.
Can’t wait to Coach this group in tomorrow’s Big 10 Championship game! Special group of guys!!! pic.twitter.com/LXAvtERJZK
Her recommendation is more than solid; any good basketball coach will tell you the legs are just as important as the arms in finding consistency with your shot. Holtmann's Buckeyes made just nine of their 29 three-pointers in the contest, arguably making the difference in Ohio State's 73-68 loss.
The loss was Ohio State's fourth straight, taking the team from a potential No. 1 seed and dropping them down to the 2-3 line.
Holtmann's mom was apparently on to something, as the Buckeyes have reeled off three straight wins while picking up the shooting slack. They knocked down 12 of their 22 threes in Saturday's win over No. 4 Michigan.
Hunter Dickinson: Michigan Believes It Will Win NCAA Tournament Despite OSU Loss
Mar 13, 2021
Michigan center Hunter Dickinson plays against Illinois in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Tuesday, March 2, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Despite a disappointing end to their 2021 Big Ten tournament, the Michigan Wolverines are supremely confident in their ability to win a national championship.
After falling to Ohio State by a 68-67 score in the semifinals of the Big Ten tournament Saturday, Michigan center Hunter Dickinson said the following, per Daniel Dash of the Michigan Daily: "I'd be lying if not every single player in that locker room fully believes that we are the best team in the country and that we will win the national championship. The confidence starts with Coach [Juwan] Howard."
Michigan entered Saturday's game as the No. 4 team in the country with a 20-3 record, and it will now look to regroup ahead of the NCAA tournament bracket reveal on Selection Sunday.
Michigan staged a furious comeback Saturday, as it trailed by eight with 1:55 to go. The Wolverines scored seven unanswered points, but Mike Smith missed what would have been a game-winning shot with two seconds remaining.
The Wolverines clearly aren't playing their best basketball currently, as they have lost three of their past five games after starting the year 18-1, but the talent level on Howard's team is undeniable.
Dickinson is the team leader in points per game (13.9), rebounds per game (7.6) and blocks per game (1.4) this season, but it is far from a one-man show.
Guard Franz Wagner is averaging 13.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per contest, Smith is putting up 9.1 points, 5.5 assists and 2.7 boards per game, and Eli Brooks is averaging 9.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.8 dimes.
Perhaps the biggest concern for the Wolverines entering March Madness—even more so than their recent form—is the status of forward Isaiah Livers.
MichiganannouncedSaturday that Livers will miss an indefinite amount of time because of a stress injury in his right foot.
Livers ranks second on the team in scoring (13.1 points per game) and third in rebounding (6.0 per game), meaning his absence will be significant if it stretches into the NCAA tournament.
Even without Livers, Michigan still has one of the better starting lineups in college basketball with Dickinson, Wagner, Smith, Brooks and Chaundee Brown, but only two other players on the roster—Brandon Johns Jr. and Austin Davis—average at least 10 minutes per game.
Unless and until Livers returns to the lineup, the Wolverines will be playing short-handed the rest of the way.
Big Ten Tournament 2021: Semifinals Scores, Championship Bracket and Schedule
Mar 13, 2021
Ohio State's Duane Washington Jr. (4), E.J. Liddell (32) and Musa Jallow (2) celebrate after a 68-67 win over Michigan in an NCAA college basketball game at the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Saturday marks the penultimate day of action at the 2021 Big Ten men's basketball tournament, with four Top 10 teams in action vying for the opportunity to play for an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament.
Ohio State and Michigan played the first semifinal game of the day. The Wolverines won the lone regular-season meeting between the two teams, 92-87, on Feb. 21.
The main event of the day features a Top Five clash between No. 3 Illinois and No. 5 Iowa. The Illini got 49 combined points from Ayo Dosunmu and Trent Frazier in an 80-75 victory on Jan. 29 when Iowa was in the midst of four losses in five games.
Illinois continues to roll through the Big Ten tournament after an 82-71 win over Iowa in the second semifinal game Saturday.
The Hawkeyes did come out of the gate strong with a 14-13 lead after five minutes. Illinois went on a 9-0 run in the span of two minutes to go up by eight points. The Illini didn't look back from that point on to reach the Big Ten title game for the first time since 2008.
In a matchup between two of the best centers in the country, Illinois' Kofi Cockburn got the best of Iowa's Luka Garza. The Illini star scored 18 of his 26 points in the first half and grabbed eight rebounds.
Garza did finish with 21 points, but he shot just 8-of-21 from the field and missed each of his three three-point attempts. The Hawkeyes big man did lead all players with 12 rebounds.
Illinois punking Iowa. Tougher in post, taking the ball on the perimeter. Refs letting em play, Hawkeyes might want to wake up.
Like, you're probably not NPOY when the coach hides you in the corner on defense because Kofi Cockburn is just eating your lunch in the paint. https://t.co/6vup40nOzF
— Banners on the Parkway (@BannersParkway) March 13, 2021
Dosunmu had a huge game in the win with 18 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. He also had this highlight-reel dunk early in the second half to put Illinois up by 13.
Iowa did get within three points a couple of times late in the first half, but it was never able to catch all the way up against Illinois' defense. The Illini held their Big Ten rivals to just 40.6 percent shooting overall and 8-of-24 from three-point range.
Fast-paced offense and swarming defense has been Illinois' formula for success during its current six-game winning streak. The team has averaged 80.2 points per game and is outscoring opponents by 13.7 points during this stretch.
One more win on Sunday will likely wrap up a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament for Illinois. It will have to beat Ohio State to do so. The teams split two regular-season games, with the Illini beating the Buckeyes 73-68 on March 6.
No. 9 Ohio State 68, No. 4 Michigan 67
Ohio State held off a late rally by Michigan to earn a 68-67 win on Saturday, despite not scoring in the last 1:55 of the second half.
Justice Sueing put the Buckeyes up 68-60 with a free throw with less than two minutes remaining. They proceeded to commit three turnovers on their last three possessions to give Michigan an opportunity to win at the end.
The Wolverines had possession with 29 seconds remaining and trailing by one after a CJ Walker turnover. Rather than go for a quick shot, Mike Smith held the ball for 15 seconds after crossing the halfcourt line before setting up the final play.
Smith's step-back three-point attempt hit off the back of the rim and the ball bounced around as time expired.
Michigan had a bad day on offense overall, making just 35.1 percent of its field-goal attempts. The Wolverines were able to keep the game close in large part because of their ability to draw fouls. They had a 23-14 advantage over Ohio State in attempts from the charity stripe and made 21 of them.
After getting 23 points from the bench Friday against Maryland, Michigan's reserves had just nine points Saturday.
Duane Washington Jr. had his best game of the tournament at the right time. The Buckeyes junior finished with 24 points on 5-of-10 shooting from three-point range, six rebounds and four assists. His layup with 3:19 remaining put Ohio State up 67-56 and was the team's last field goal of the day.
Three-point shooting was crucial for Ohio State in the win. It made 12 of its 22 attempts from behind the arc. By contrast, the Buckeyes made just 12 of 35 attempts from two-point range.
Michigan is still comfortably in the NCAA tournament field as an at-large selection despite the loss. ESPN's Joe Lunardi has the Big Ten regular-season champs as a No. 1 seed in his most recent bracketology update.
This marks Ohio State's first trip to the Big Ten Championship game since 2013, when Aaron Craft led the team to a 50-43 win over Wisconsin.
Michigan's Isaiah Livers Out Indefinitely After Undergoing MRI on Foot Injury
Mar 13, 2021
Michigan forward Isaiah Livers plays during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, March 7, 2021, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Michigan head coach Juwan Howard announced Saturday that senior forward Isaiah Livers will be out indefinitely because of a stress injury to his right foot.
Livers appeared to get hurt during the first half of Friday's Big Ten tournament quarterfinal against Maryland and played a season-low 15 minutes in the Wolverines' 79-66 win.
UM is scheduled to face Ohio State in the semifinals at 1 p.m. ET Saturday.
James Hawkins of the Detroit News noted Livers began to limp after a defensive possession about seven minutes into the matchup with the Terrapins, and he sat out extended stretches from that point forward.
"Isaiah, with the 15 minutes that he was out there, he was giving his best to the game and trying to affect the game in any kind of way possible," Howard said after the win. "Now we're going to do our best to look at film and see what is best to move forward to help Isaiah be ready for the next game."
It's a significant loss for the Wolverines. The Michigan native leads the team with 31.6 minutes per game and ranks second with 13.1 points per game along with averages of 6.0 rebounds, 2.2 threes and 2.0 assists across 23 appearances. He's shooting 43.1 percent from beyond the arc.
Though the team didn't rule him out for the remainder of the season, UM's title chances will take a hit if he's not able to return during the NCAA tournament.
Not only is Livers a key offensive contributor, but he's also a versatile defender with the ability to play in the post or on the wing depending on the matchup.
Michigan is still on track to receive a No. 1 seed in March Madness, and it could remove all doubt about its placement in the bracket by winning the Big Ten title.
A lot of pressure will fall on the shoulders of Brandon Johns Jr. and Austin Davis to fill the void. They combined for 13 points, and Davis pulled in eight rebounds in 12 minutes, in the win over the Terps. Their playing time is set to rise beginning against Ohio State.
The Wolverines would face either Illinois or Iowa in Sunday's final if they advance.
Four teams ranked in the top nine spots in the AP Top 25 poll. Two semifinal games. Two advance to the championship game...
Report: Maryland Alleges Juwan Howard Told Mark Turgeon 'I'll F--king Kill You'
Mar 12, 2021
Maryland head coach Mark Turgeon reacts during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Penn State, Sunday, March 7, 2021, in College Park, Md. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Maryland has alleged that Michigan men's basketball head coach Juwan Howard threatened to kill Terrapins head coach Mark Turgeon during their verbal altercation in Friday's Big Ten tournament clash.
The Terrapins told the Big Ten that Howard yelled, "I'll f--king kill you," when the two coaches were screaming at each other, per Jeff Ermann of 247Sports. Howard was ejected from Michigan's 79-66 victory for the incident.
"This has been going on for three games," Turgeon said. "I've been doing this for 34 years and I've called the conference office. I called the commissioner about what transpired in the first two games. And I said I wasn't gonna take it the third game. And so I stood up for my team, I stood up for me."
Ermann noted that Maryland complained Howard made disrespectful comments toward the team's bench during their regular-season meetings. The Terps also said that freshman Hunter Dickinson taunted their bench.
Howard explained toreporterswhat happened from his point of view:
"(Mark) Turgeon saw that I was out of the box, he tells the referee to look at my feet, I’m out of the box, I’m like, come on man, this is what we’re doing today? You’re worried about my feet being out of the box? So he said to me, ‘Juwan, I’m not gonna let you talk to me. You don’t talk to me ever again.’ And he charged at me.
"I don’t know how you guys were raised but how I was raised by my grandmother and also by Chicago. I was raised by Chicago, I grew up on the South Side, when guys charge you, it’s time to defend yourself."
Assistant Phil Martelli, formerly the head coach for Saint Joseph's, took over for the Wolverines after Howard was ejected.
Michigan will face rival Ohio State in the Big Ten tournament's first semifinal game Saturday. It will likely land a No. 1 seed in the Big Dance regardless of how it fares against the Buckeyes, which it beat in their sole regular-season matchup.
