{"id":78176,"date":"2019-03-20T15:49:49","date_gmt":"2019-03-20T20:49:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/?p=78176"},"modified":"2019-03-20T15:49:49","modified_gmt":"2019-03-20T20:49:49","slug":"big-ten-tournament-notebook-michigan-state-defeats-michigan-65-60-to-capture-big-ten-tournament-title","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/big-ten-tournament-notebook-michigan-state-defeats-michigan-65-60-to-capture-big-ten-tournament-title\/","title":{"rendered":"Big Ten Tournament Notebook \u2013 Michigan State defeats Michigan 65-60 to capture Big Ten tournament title"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Neel Madhavan<\/strong>
\nMedill Reports<\/em><\/p>\n

The five-day Big Ten Tournament kicked off with thousands of people pouring into the United Center Wednesday evening, March 13 as the games culminated with the championship on March 17. Step back through the highlights for your favorite Big Ten teams.<\/p>\n

March 17
\n<\/em><\/strong>
\nWith about 2 minutes left in the Big Ten tournament title game, Michigan State trailed Michigan by five points, 60-55. From the top of the key, Spartans junior guard Cassius Winston drove towards the paint and dished a pass to senior guard Matt McQuaid on the wing.<\/p>\n

McQuaid promptly rose up and drained one of his Big Ten tournament championship game record-breaking seven three-pointers to cut the deficit to two.<\/p>\n

From that point on, Michigan State could do no wrong and Michigan collapsed, as the Spartans closed out the game on a 10-0 run to win their first Big Ten tournament championship since 2016, 65-60.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cI’ve never been prouder of a team in my life,\u201d said Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo. \u201cCassius was unbelievable and McQuaid was even better than him. And Xavier (Tillman) made some big plays, and we found a way to beat a very good team that, as I said, probably outplayed us more than we outplayed them.\u201d<\/p>\n

A few minutes into the second half, Michigan had built its largest lead of the game, 13 points, and looked on the verge of running away with the title.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just stuck with each other,\u201d said Winston, who was named the tournament\u2019s Most Outstanding Player after the game. \u201cWe trusted each other, and we did everything for our teammates. It wasn\u2019t selfish. We did everything for our teammates and our guys had our backs.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/a>
Michigan State junior guard Cassius Winston cuts down the net at the United Center in Chicago. Winston was named the Big Ten tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. (Neel Madhavan\/MEDILL)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

McQuaid and his 27 points proved key to Michigan State clawing its way back into the game.<\/p>\n

The Spartans were playing for more than just a championship. They were playing for a fallen teammate, too. Late in the first half, redshirt junior forward Kyle Ahrens jumped up for a loose ball and landed awkwardly on his leg. As he lay motionless on the United Center floor, the crowd fell silent as a stretcher wheeled out to take him to the locker room.<\/p>\n

Although X-rays would reveal that there was no fracture in his leg, Izzo said the injury was severe enough that he was done for the season and would not be able to play in the NCAA tournament.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery huddle today, we said Ahrens, this one\u2019s for Ahrens,\u201d Winston said. \u201cHe gave us his all so we\u2019re going to give him our all, all the way through.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Wolverines missed out on being the first team in Big Ten history to win three consecutive tournament championships, but still, like the Spartans, earned a No. 2 seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis one hurts, but we\u2019ve got to forget about it now,\u201d Michigan senior guard Charles Matthews said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to focus on the tournament. We\u2019ve got to keep moving forward. We\u2019ve got to play better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Michigan\u2019s offensive identity a product of point guard play<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a>
Michigan vs. Michigan State in the final minutes of the Big Ten championship game when the Spartans stole the lead at the United Center in Chicago. (Neel Madhavan\/MEDILL)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So much of Michigan\u2019s success under head coach John Beilein has been the result of steady, consistent guard play and a free-flowing offensive system.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you compare to other teams, going all the way back to Darius Morris, to Trey Burke, Derrick Walton, Zavier Simpson \u2013 great point guards make very good teams,\u201d Beilein said.<\/p>\n

Simpson had 11 assists in the Wolverines\u2019 quarterfinal win over Iowa, nine assists in the semifinal win over Minnesota and 10 assists in the championship game against Michigan State.<\/p>\n

As the point guard pulling the strings on the floor for the Wolverines, he\u2019s averaging 6.6 assists per game this season, 11th-best in the country. He is the engine that makes Michigan\u2019s offense go.<\/p>\n

<\/a>
Michigan guard Zavier Simpson warms up ahead of the Big Ten title game against Michigan State at the United Center in Chicago. (Neel Madhavan\/MEDILL)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just trying to make the right play,\u201d Simpson said. \u201cWe\u2019re really moving the ball which is important, especially in a tournament like this. It\u2019s important that we set our pride aside and be unselfish.\u201d<\/p>\n

As a team, the Wolverines are averaging just 13.9 assists per game this season, but had 24 assists against Iowa, 21 against Minnesota and 17 against Michigan State.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that it’s pretty consistent with the teams we’ve always had,\u201d Beilein said. \u201cGuys that will share the ball, a lot of shooters, a lot of skilled guys, a big center who can shoot a little bit, and that’s the identity of many of our players.\u201d<\/p>\n

Big Ten basketball fans journey far-and-wide to Chicago for conference tournament<\/strong><\/p>\n

March 16<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n