All in 2015-2016
Sure, NCAA titles don't tell the whole story, but Big Tenteen titles paint the same picture: when it comes to championships, Purdue is nowhere near the class of the conference. (Also, let's give thanks for Title IX; without it, the Boilers would be just three ahead of a team that joined the conference in 2014-15.)
Postseason play goes into full swing this week as both Purdue teams begin their quest for a title. The fifth-seeded men open against Arkansas-Little Rock at 4:30 PM Thursday on TBS, while the 11th-seeded women open against Oklahoma at 1:30 PM Saturday on WatchESPN (and possibly ESPN2).
The first day of the men's Big 14 conference tournament in Indianapolis went as expected, with Illinois blowing out Minnesota 85-52 and Nebraska beating Rutgers 89-72. They will advance to meet Iowa and Wisconsin respectively as Day 2 action begins with the early session on BTN starting at noon; the late session will be shown on ESPN2 starting at 6:30.
The Boilers are one of a select few teams to be ranked all season long. A nice accomplishment, but now on to the postseason. (Which Aneesh doesn't care about.)
Shatori Walker-Kimbrough scored 19 points and was one of three Terrapins with 10 or more rebounds, earning Most Outstanding Player honors, as Maryland held Michigan State to a tournament-final record-low 44 points, winning their second straight Big 14 tournament 60-44 Sunday in Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
In the Big 14 semifinals on Saturday, Maryland and Michigan State advanced with ease, setting up a rematch almost exactly a month after their first meeting, won by Maryland 85-76 in College Park. Northwestern's Cinderella run ended after three wins; they and Ohio State are left to wait for the WNIT and NCAA tournament, respectively.
Day 3 of conference tournament play featured one surprise, as Northwestern won their third game in three days without leading scorer Maggie Lyon, and one close finish, as a potential game-tying three from April Wilson was off the mark and a Bree Horrocks putback left the Boilers one point short in a 65-64 loss to Michigan State.
