Here’s the updated 2016 Big Ten Tournament bracket after four days of play, heading into the title game.
Day four is in the books and two teams remain in the Big Ten Tournament bracket after the semifinals concluded Saturday. Four teams went in and only two have come out with a chance to play for the conference tournament crown on Sunday afternoon in Indianapolis.
No. 4 Purdue and No. 8 Michigan began the day with a blowout as the Boilermakers had little trouble with the Wolverines, disposing of them rather easily, 76-59.
A.J. Hammons took advantage of Michigan’s porous post play, putting up 27 points and 11 rebounds while Isaac Haas had 11 points and two boards off the bench. Just one day after setting the Big Ten Tournament single game record for assists (12), Derrick Walton Jr. finished with 14 points, six rebounds and five assists. Purdue will be the underdog on Sunday, but not by much.
Michigan State, the No. 2 seed, needed a close game in order to stay grounded heading into the NCAA Tournament and the Spartans got just that against the No. 3 Maryland Terrapins. Melo Trimble and company put up a great fight, battling back from an early double-digit deficit to take a one-point lead late.
The Spartans were playing sloppy down the stretch, but did just enough to secure a three-point win, 64-61. Denzel Valentine had nine assists in the first half, but finished with just one more. The national player of the year candidate’s final line was 18 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds.
Purdue happens to be the last team to beat Michigan State and this feels like a revenge matchup for Tom Izzo’s Spartans.
Here’s the updated bracket heading into Sunday’s title game matchup:
Sunday’s title game matchup will be between No. 2 Michigan State and No. 4 Purdue at 3:00 p.m. ET in Indianapolis.
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology/_/iteration/256
Who do you think will win the matchup on Sunday afternoon?