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The Big Ten had two notable games on Sunday afternoon, with a ranked Iowa on the road against Minnesota and Michigan hosting Indiana. Only one of the games ended up being competitive, but both outcomes had significant consequences.
Let’s take a look at what happened.
Game of the Night:
-No. 21 Iowa Hawkeyes 58, Minnesota Golden Gophers 55
Whew. What a game. This one went back and forth throughout. Iowa took the lead early, Minnesota battled back after that, and things eventually came down to the final seconds with Iowa scoring a huge 58-55 road win. Iowa improved to 18-8 overall with the victory and scored its first road win in more than a month.
Iowa’s probably out of the Big Ten title race at this point, but Sunday’s win still means a lot for the team’s postseason hopes. Prior to tip, Iowa was sitting in that uncomfortable position of being a likely NCAA team, yet not having enough on its resume to feel secure. But Sunday’s win pushes Iowa up a few notches and should help fans feel comfortable. And with a home game against Ohio State on Thursday, Iowa could really boost its profile.
On the other side, this was a devastating loss for Minnesota. Not only because it came in such dramatic fashion, but also because it took a sledgehammer to the team’s at-large hopes. The Gophers are now 12-12 overall. And with just six regular season games remaining, Minnesota would need a nearly perfect finish to even get on the bubble. The team can still earn an at-large spot, but the odds look slim. We’ll see if the team can get things restarted on Wednesday at home against Indiana.
The Rest:
-Michigan Wolverines 89, Indiana Hoosiers 65
Although Michigan was favored heading into this one, few expected the Wolverines to walk away with a 24-point win. And for segments of the game, it wasn’t even that close. Indiana’s defense had no answers for a Michigan team with Isaiah Livers back in the lineup and fell apart in the second half. Both teams are now 16-9 after Sunday’s contest.
The Wolverines will look to keep things rolling on Wednesday on the road against Rutgers, while Indiana will have to try and bounce back at Minnesota on the same date.