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GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 26 • 15 ever reason, we just didn't knock them down. They will." MOVING ON The Big Ten started the NCAA Tournament with seven teams. There are two left after the first three rounds. As expected, top-seeded Wisconsin ad- vanced to the Sweet 16, but it was No. 7 Michi- gan State that delivered a shocker, beating No. 2 seed Virginia to move onto the next round. After dispatching No. 16 Coastal Carolina in the opening-round, the Badgers beat No. 8 Or- egon to earn their fourth Sweet 16 appearance in the last five seasons. "We're definitely excited and thrilled to be there, but we're not as in awe or shocked as we were last year," Wisconsin forward Nigel Hayes told reporters after the game. "Last year, we were jumping around up and down on the court, cele- brating. This time, it was 'Hoorah, good job guys. We have the next game to take care of.' " The Spartans beat No. 10 Georgia in their first game before winning 60-54 over the Cava- liers on Sunday. It was the second consecutive season that Michigan State knocked out higher- seeded Virginia in the tourney. "That's about as awesome as it gets," Coach Tom Izzo told reporters afterward. Wisconsin plays No. 4 North Carolina, and Michigan State plays No. 3 Oklahoma for trips to the Elite 8. RAY RELEASED FROM MSU Rick Ray, who was an assistant coach for Matt Painter from 2006-2010, was fired from Mis- sissippi State on Saturday after three years as head coach. Ray, 44, was 37-60 in his tenure after replac- ing Rick Stansbury. The Bulldogs were 13-19, in- cluding 6-12 in SEC play, this season. Athletic director Scott Stricklin said in a statement that it was a "difficult decision," but he made the move because the "on-court results have not been satisfactory." Ray posted a statement on his Twitter ac- count, saying he was "saddened" by the move but not for himself: "For the players who have sacrificed their bodies and mind for me and the program; for the signed and committed recruits who have to go through a coaching change af- ter taking so much time and effort to make an educated decision about what is best for them and their future and choosing me as their next coach, mentor and role model but now have to go through the gut wrenching process again; for my staff who worked tirelessly to hold our players accountable, to develop our players on and off the court, to recruit true student- athletes who hold up to my high standards as human beings and citizens, and for their undying loyalty to me and Mississippi State." *Subject to credit approval. No annual fee. Balance transfers and cash advances not eligible for rewards points. Federally insured by NCUA. At home and on the road, the official Purdue Alumni Association Visa ® Credit Card is the best way to pay. Shop at millions of places worldwide and online. Earn rewards points on all your purchases redeemable for unlimited cash back, gift cards and cash donations to the John Purdue Club. BLEED BLACK AND GOLD. Apply today. * PURDUEFED.COM/VISA For daily headlines on recruiting and other Purdue sports news, check out