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CHICAGO - Plenty of hype preceded this year's Big Ten tournament.
It's been all chalk so far according to seeding — and all good as far living up to its billing.
Last year marked the first time the four highest seeds advanced to the Big Ten tournament semifinals, but it's happened again. Friday's quarterfinals brought two wild games and two blowouts, and the top four seeds have advanced.
On Saturday, Indiana gets a chance to avenge a regular-season home loss to Wisconsin, while Ohio State and Michigan State play a rubber match.
Let's take a look at what's ahead, starting with Indiana-Wisconsin at 1:40 p.m. ET Saturday.
Indiana
HOW THEY GOT HERE: The Big Ten regular-season champions steadily put away Illinois in Friday's first quarterfinal, 80-64. The Hoosiers won the conference for the first time in 20 years and have never won a Big Ten tournament title.
WHAT THEY'RE PLAYING FOR: Potentially, the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. More importantly, Indiana wants to avoid slipping here and opening the door for another school to be No. 1 in the Midwest regional, which will play its deciding games in Indianapolis. A win Saturday should solidify Indiana as a No. 1 seed somewhere. The Hoosiers are almost certain to play in either Dayton or Lexington next weekend.
BIGGEST STRENGTH: Offensive firepower. The Hoosiers run things through athletic 7-footer Cody Zeller, get a little bit of inside and out from swingman Victor Oladipo and have the Big Ten's top two 3-point shooters in Jordan Hulls and Christian Watford. They thrive in an up-tempo, 94-foot game — which makes Saturday's matchup with methodical, defensive-minded Wisconsin so intriguing.
HIDDEN TALENT: The Hoosiers can play a little defense, too. Oladipo was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year probably as much because he didn't win Player of the Year than for his actual defensive work, but it's been very good. He can guard multiple positions, and the Hoosiers are athletic and unselfish enough to turn defensive plays into quick points the other way.
POTENTIAL KRYPTONITE: The kind of game Wisconsin is capable of playing, one that's slow-paced and one that forces Indiana into shooting too many 3-pointers. Ohio State beat Indiana on March 5 when the Buckeyes guards controlled the pace of the game and played outstanding defense throughout. Slowing the Hoosiers is easier said than done, but jump shooting can be the great equalizer.
LAST WORD: Indiana is the fastest, most talented horse in the race but still has work to do to win it.
Wisconsin
HOW THEY GOT HERE: The stubborn, smart Badgers overcame a slow start to dismiss Michigan on Friday, 68-59, behind a positively un-Wisconsin like 51-point second half. Wisconsin barely held on to the Big Ten's No. 4 seed after a late-season slide, but Bo Ryan's defensive-minded team played Friday like it usually does at this time of the year — just a little faster in the second half.
WHAT THEY'RE PLAYING FOR: Another win over Indiana would be the best of an improbable run. Wisconsin lost point guard Josh Gasser in the preseason to a knee injury and had lots of youth and players in new roles, but through much of the Big Ten season the Badgers continued to win like they always do, including beating Indiana on the road, 64-59, back on January 15. A win Saturday and Wisconsin likely becomes a top-four seed in the NCAA tournament.
BIGGEST STRENGTH: Defense. Ryan finds different combinations and has multiple players who can knock down shots, but Wisconsin's success always starts with getting stops, setting tempo and frustrating opponents.
HIDDEN TALENT: These guys can shoot. They sometimes lull opponents — and viewers — to sleep with their patience and defense, and they'll never win any trophies for being the most physically imposing team. But Wisconsin wins when it shoots better than its opponent — Friday's win over Michigan was only the fourth Wisconsin win all season when it didn't — and when Ben Brust gets going, he can get as hot as any shooter in the conference.
POTENTIAL KRYPTONITE: Indiana makes shots early, forces tempo and forces Wisconsin to chase. The Badgers didn't finish the regular season playing their best basketball and were totally out of sync offensively early in the Michigan game before finding a flow. There's no doubt that Indiana has better players, but Wisconsin has overcome that before with smart and team-oriented basketball at both ends of the floor.
LAST WORD: Pick against this team — especially in a tournament setting — at your own risk.
Ohio State
HOW THEY GOT HERE: The Buckeyes won their final five regular-season games to finish tied for second in the standings, then rolled past Nebraska on Friday night, 71-50, after a sluggish start.
WHAT THEY'RE PLAYING FOR: Ohio State could be a couple wins — or maybe even just one — away from a No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament, something that would complete a remarkable turnaround. Regardless of what happens the rest of this weekend, a second-place finish in this year's Big Ten should be good enough for Ohio State to be a top-four seed and play next weekend 75 miles from home in Dayton.
BIGGEST STRENGTH: Defense and leadership. Aaron Craft delivers both, and he's been driving everything during this recent hot streak. A two point-guard lineup of Craft and Shannon Scott has given opposing backcourts all sorts of fits, and the Buckeyes are at their best when they turn steals and hurried shots into scoring chances. Craft and Deshaun Thomas, the Big Ten's leading scorer, have been here before.
HIDDEN TALENT: These Buckeyes won't be accused of being great shooters, but they get good shots. Ever since crash-landing at Wisconsin in a 22-point loss four weeks ago, Ohio State has been more patient, made the extra/better pass and has maximized its possessions. Sam Thompson's 19 points against Nebraska and Ohio State's 20 assists on 26 baskets aren't the norm, but the Buckeyes won't beat themselves.
POTENTIAL KRYPTONITE: The defensive pressure struggles to create turnovers, the Buckeyes get beat up and/or get little production in the paint and they're forced to become jump shooters. Taking the ball out of Craft's hands and keeping him from taking charge of games is easier said than done, and every opponent will pay extra defensive attention to Thomas.
LAST WORD: The Buckeyes are on a pretty good roll. Just how high their ceiling is, both this weekend and over the next few, remains to be seen.
Michigan State
HOW THEY GOT HERE: By rallying from 12 points down in the second half to beat Iowa in dramatic fashion, 59-56, in Friday night's last quarterfinal. The Spartans went on a 22-2 run to take control of the game but didn't seal it until the final seconds when Iowa missed a 3-pointer to tie.
WHAT THEY'RE PLAYING FOR: Given second life after a lackluster first half on Friday, maybe the Spartans can go ahead and win this tournament. They could use a win Saturday over Ohio State to help ensure their best standing with the NCAA tournament selection committee and play next weekend in Detroit as a home favorite and probably a No. 2 or No. 3 seed.
BIGGEST STRENGTH: Big man Adreian Payne is playing the best basketball of his career; he had 18 points and 10 rebounds vs. Iowa. Having Tom Izzo on the sideline certainly helps, too, and though the Spartans kind of limped to the finish in the regular season, this has the makings of a tournament-successful Izzo team. The Spartans are gritty, tough and experienced.
HIDDEN TALENT: Gary Harris is one of the country's best freshmen, and he gets the luxury of not having to play a spotlight role thanks to Payne and Keith Appling. The Spartans aren't a great shooting team, but Harris is on a pretty good shooting streak — 46 percent over his last five games — and knows his teammates are good on the glass when he misses.
POTENTIAL KRYPTONITE: When they haven't played well, Appling hasn't played well. Izzo needs Appling, Payne needs Appling, Harris needs Appling and Appling needs to be on his game Saturday vs. Ohio State's intense defensive pressure and in all games going forward.
LAST WORD: The pieces are in place. There isn't a ton of margin for error, but a deep run through March sure seems possible.
