A wild day that included an upset, an injury and a comeback led to the Illini catching Wisconsin at the top of the Big Ten standings
The final day of regular season action in the Big Ten was dramatic from noon to dusk as Nebraska stunned No. 10 Wisconsin, the day before No. 20 Illinois stunned No. 24 Iowa and later co-created the Badgers and Illini. . -Champions on a day expected to be Wisconsin's coronation in Home Court.
Class of the conference for most of the season, the Badgers were backed by 12.5 points over Nebraska, the worst team in the Big Ten. And it looked like Vegas had it right: Wisconsin took a 10-point lead in the middle of the second half. But the game changed color when Badgers star Johnny Davis was fouled on a key call attacking the basket. He suffered a lower body injury during the play, which occurred in the second half with 17:32 remaining, and did not return. Down the stretch, Huskers forward Alonzo Verge Jr. scored 11 points in the final 10 minutes to close off an unexpected road win for Nebraska.
Badgers officials saying it's lower body injury to Johnny Davis. Flagrant foul contact came up high, but he was tripped up on his way to the rim and appeared to land awkwardly. pic.twitter.com/4iJpvHN6Ua
— Stephen Watson (@WISN_Watson) March 6, 2022
With a 74–73 loss, Wisconsin failed to clinch the outright regular season Big Ten crown, opening a door for Illinois to share the title with a win against Iowa on Sunday night, which it took advantage of. The Illini trailed most of the game at home against the Hawkeyes - and more than 15 - before taking the lead with five minutes remaining in the second half and never giving it up in a 74–72 victory. It is Illini's first conference championship since 2005 – the year it finished as national runner-up.
"It was a strange day, a strange, strange day," said Illinois coach Brad Underwood. "Lying in my recliner, 15-20 minutes, eyes closed, flip over my phone and the Nebraska one [on Wisconsin] is up."
It was a strange day indeed. Underwood said he did not mention Nebraska's displeasure over Wisconsin for his team, but it seemed his team knew that going down the Badgers changed the stakes and opportunities significantly.
Sunday in the Big Ten was significant in many ways, with Illinois earning the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten tournament. Elsewhere in the conference, an impressive 75–69 road victory over rival Ohio State for Michigan saw the Wolverines as one of CBS Sports bracketology specialist Jerry Palm's "Last Four In" in the NCAA Tournament photo the day after the game. put in the field.