The 2011 Big Ten Tournament continues today with the top four seeds all in action, including #1 seed Ohio State. Below we look at the start times and where you can find the games on TV if you are lucky enough to watch. If not, no worries, we'll have updates on all the games in progress as the day goes on.
GAME #4: NOON et: (1)Ohio St. Buckeyes (29-2(16-2)) Vs. (9)Northwestern Wildcats (18-12(7-11)) ESPN
Ohio State looks to solidify their stock as the #1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament when they face Northwestern in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament. The two teams played each other only once this season with the Wildcats giving the Buckeyes everything they could handle in a 58-57 win for Ohio State on the road.
GAME #5: 2:00PM et: (4)Michigan Wolverines (19-12(9-9)) Vs. (5)Illinois Fighting Illini(19-12(9-9)) ESPN
Perhaps as evenly matched a game you'll see in the tournament, Illinois and Michigan battle in the second game of the day. Michigan lost their only match-up with Illinois 54-52 on February 16. Both teams ended the season with identical records, though Michigan was playing better basketball as the season wound down.
GAME #6: 6:30PM et: (2)Purdue Boilermakers (25-6(14-4)) Vs. (7)Michigan State Spartans(18-13(9-9)) BIG TEN NETWORK
Michigan State likely saved their birth in the NCAA Tournament with a win over Iowa in the first round games on Thursday. Now they get to see if they can make the type of run Tom Izzo teams are known for. Up next is Purdue, the #2 seed in the tournament, fresh off an upset loss to Iowa that cost them a possible share of the Big Ten championship. The Boilermakers swept the Spartans this year, winning 86-76 on January 22 at home, then 67-47 on the road on February 27.
GAME #7: 8:30PM et: (3)Wisconsin Badgers (23-7(13-5)) Vs. (6)Penn St. Nittany Lions(17-13(9-9)) BIG TEN NETWORK
The final quarterfinal game of the day sees a pesky Penn State squad taking on Wisconsin. Like Purdue, the Badgers have the bad taste of an ugly loss to Ohio State in their mouths that should provide plenty of motivation to avoid the upset. Penn State, however, has the confidence that comes with beating Wisconsin 56-52 on January 29. Wisconsin got a bit of revenge on February 20, beating the Nittany Lions 76-66.