Big Ten Basketball: 2 teams in Elite 8, will 1 move on today?

After Michigan State’s dominating performance against LSU the Big Ten has two teams in the Elite Eight. Will one earn a berth in the Final Four today.

The Big Ten now has two teams in the Elite Eight as the Michigan State Spartans defeated the LSU Tigers 80-63 last nights. The Purdue Boilermakers will try to earn a bid to the Final Four later today when they face the Virginia Cavaliers.

First a look at how Spartans defeated the Tigers.

Michigan State got off to a fast start and led 8-0 with less than two minutes gone. The Spartans kept up the pace and took a 40-28 lead into halftime.

The Tigers didn’t go away though and closed the gap to 45-41 a little over three minutes gone in the second half. Michigan State righted the ship and began to pull away. After the Spartans took a 53-41 lead they held a double-digit lead the rest of the game.

Leading scores for LSU were Tremont Waters (23), Kavell Bigby-Williams (11) and Naz Reid (10).

Surprisingly Cassius Winston wasn’t the leading scorer for Michigan State but he still scored 17 points and had 8 assists. Freshman Aaron Henry led the Spartans with 20 points, Gabe Brown came off the bench to score 15 and Xavier Tillman added 12.

Stats provided by ESPN.com.

Now a look at Purdue’s challenge tonight.

Virginia is one of the best defensive teams in the country. And the Cavaliers have three guards who can score.

DeAndre Hunter is averaging 15.1 points, Kyle Guy is scoring at a 14.9 clip and Ty Jerome adds 13.0 ppg.

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I have to admit I wouldn’t have bet on the Boilermakers making the Elite Eight and having a chance to play in the Final Four but this team has made me a believer. I knew guard Carsen Edwards would be a force and Matt Haarms would be a beast in the paint as well. But the play of their teammates have been impressive.

I also knew guard Ryan Cline was a fine player but who would have guessed he would go lights out from behind the arc against Tennessee? I doubt that will happen against the strong Virginia defense, but you never know what will happen when a player is feeling it.

Next. Linebackers will play fast and loose. dark

I think Matt Painter’s squad gives the Cavaliers all they can handle for 39 minutes. And then Carsen Edwards will find a way to lead the Boilermakers to an upset win and a Final Four berth.

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