By Paul Schmidt
One never quite knows what to expect in a situation like the Big Ten Quarterfinals. There was much bubble drama, there was much intrigue. But would the games be competitive?
That may have been the most important question coming into the day, in all reality. Would the games be competitive enough to hold my (and anyone else in the press’s) attention for 12-plus hours?
Well, I needn’t have worried.
This was the closest Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals in the history of the tournament. In 1999, the games were decided by a total of 23 points. Today (yesterday now), the games were only decided by 18 points.
Four games, 18 points. Yes, that’s close.
Some great memories from the day include:
- Seeing Evan Turner’s buzzer-beating game-winner against Michigan in the day’s first game go up in the air and saying, “Oh, that’s in,” while a strangely quiet crowd waited.
- Hearing the Michigan State fans chanting and pointing, repeatedly, “Little Sister!” at the Michigan fans and players after the devastating loss.
- Hearing the few remaining Michigan fans returning the favor after Michigan State was upset in the day’s last game.
- Mike Tisdale for three! TWICE!
- Trying to figure out what exactly John Beliein was thinking when not guarding the inbounds pass. We didn’t come up with anything other than a joke answer.
- Discussing my distaste for Willy the Wildcat with Joe from Hailtotheorange.com and determining that I think he looks not like an angry, fear-striking cat, but a pederast mascot.
- Willy then backing up my assertion by being a freak on the court.
- Giant seven foot Big Ten Icon Joe Girardi…acting the fool. And dancing. And waving his arms. And slapping other Big Ten Icons. It was a little surreal.
- The Simon Sez dude performing (and that’s the only way to put it — it was a performance) Simon Says, men against the women at halftime of the Illinois-Wisconsin game. This guy needs to do this at halftime everywhere. Next to the Chief, it was the best halftime I’ve ever had.
- Joe then telling me that he thinks it’s possible that Purdue Pete eats babies.
- Hand signs with Paul Banks!
And…finally…the Illini win. Look, there’s not much else I can say other than what a huge, huge win. Unfortunately, unless Minnesota, Mississippi State and a few other schools just go away, they may need one more tomorrow. The Illini cannot rest on their laurels.
We’ll be back tomorrow (TODAY…oy) with more, the semis of the Big Ten Conference Tournament. It should be a fun day, I know I hope you join us. We start off with Illinois and Ohio State at 12:40 Central (or 1:40 Eastern…blasted time difference).
See you then!