Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/270685
GoldanDBlack express • volume 24, express 23 • 20 of the Big Ten regular-season ti- tle, their first since 2011. Michigan State has won five in a row, and nine of its last 10, the only loss being at Nebraska in early February. Not surpris- ingly, the Spartans are doing it on the defensive end, where they're allowing only 63.4 points per game, third-best in the Big Ten. A two-game losing streak in the middle of the league season, including one at home to bottom-feeder Illinois, were the only bleak spots. No. 3 seed: Nebraska The Cornhuskers had won nine straight games before looking flat at Purdue on Sun- day, where they lost by 16. It was the second consecu- tive season Nebraska entered the last day of the regular sea- son with a chance to earn a share of the title. And it was the second straight time that the Huskers were blown out, doing so against Penn State last year, too. But Nebraska could get hot. The Huskers, aside from the 82 points allowed to Purdue, were winning because their defense had improved significantly. Dur- ing the nine-game winning streak, they gave up 65 or fewer points in five of the wins. No. 4 seed: Purdue The Boilermakers have won a season-high six consecutive games, pushing themselves into the postseason. And they've done so without the services of leading scorer KK Houser. How? Purdue is taking much better care of the ball, av- eraging only 12.8 turnovers per game during the winning streak, bring- ing its season average down to 15.8. S t a t i s t i - cally, the Boil- ermakers' de- fense hasn't been the best this season, as it's giving up 67.6 points per game, the fourth-worst in the Big Ten. Yet it has found ways to slow down individual players, from Rachel Banham to Jordan Hooper in recent weeks. And Purdue has experience on its side as winners of the last two Big Ten Tournament titles. No. 5 seed: Iowa The Hawkeyes have won six of their last seven games, the only loss being at Purdue, where they gave up an 18-point first- half lead. But for Iowa to win the Big Ten Tournament title, it'll have to do so from Thursday; its loss to the Boilermakers gave Purdue the tiebreaker and a bye to Friday. Iowa's path is offense. The Hawkeyes, with five starters scor- 2013-14 womeN's baskeTbaLL sCHeduLe Date Opponent Time/Result Nov. 3 CLARK (exh.) (BTND) W, 102-33 Nov. 10 BALL STATE (BTND) W, 63-57 Nov. 13 at IUPUI W, 75-56 Nov. 17 at Toledo W, 81-79 Nov. 22 BELMONT W, 76-46 Puerto Vallarta Holiday Tournament Nov. 26 No. 6 Stanford L, 69-86 Nov. 28 TCU W, 75-68 ACC/Big Ten Challenge Dec. 5 at No. 2 Duke L, 78-99 Dec. 8 IPFW W, 91-70 Dec. 15 at Kansas W, 71-68 Dec. 18 at Green Bay W, 49-45 Dec. 22 BOWLING GREEN W, 57-48 Dec. 28 CENTRAL MICHIGAN W, 109-97 Jan. 2 at Ohio State L, 78-89 Jan. 9 at Northwestern L, 68-71 Jan. 12 at No. 14 Penn State (ESPN2) W, 84-74 Jan. 15 MICHIGAN (BTND) L, 49-65 Jan. 17 INDIANA (BTN) W, 86-53 Jan. 19 at No. 19 Nebraska (BTN) W, 77-75 Jan. 23 NORTHWESTERN (BTN) W, 90-65 Jan. 27 at Illinois (BTN) W, 80,68 Jan. 30 No. 12 PENN STATE (BTN) L, 72,75 Feb. 2 at Michigan State (BTN) L, 73,89 Feb. 6 OHIO STATE (BTND) W, 74-58 Feb. 9 at Michigan (BTN) W, 65-56 Feb. 16 IOWA (BTND) W, 74-73 Feb. 20 at Minnesota W, 63-42 Feb. 23 WISCONSIN (BTN) W, 72-54 March 2 No. 16 NEBRASKA (ESPN2) W, 82-66 Big Ten Tournament March 7 Iowa/Illinois* (BTN) 2:30 p.m. March 8 Semifinals* (BTN) 3:30 p.m. March 9 Finals*(ESPN) 1 p.m. NCAA Tournament March 22 First Round^ (ESPN)11 a.m./1:30 p.m. March 24 Second Round^ (ESPN) 6:30 p.m. * Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis ^ Mackey Arena, West Lafayette bIg TeN sTaNdINgs (Final regular season) Team Big Ten/Pct. Overall/Pct 1. Penn State 13-3/.813 22-6/.786 Michigan State 13-3/.813 21-8/.724 3. Nebraska 12-4/.750 22-6/.786 4. PURDUE 11-5/.688 21-7/.750 Iowa 11-5/.688 23-7/.767 6. Minnesota 8-8/.500 19-11/.633 Michigan 8-8/.500 17-12/.586 8. Indiana 5-11/.313 18-11/.621 Northwestern 5-11/.313 15-14/.517 Ohio State 5-11/.313 15-17/.469 11. Wisconsin 3-13/.188 10-18/.357 12. Illinois 2-14/.125 9-20/.310