AYO DOSUNMU

Half of the Sweet 16 spots have been handed out as of Sunday night, and none have been to Big Ten teams. Six of the league’s nine Big Ten teams have already fallen, including multiple in shocking fashion. Michigan, Iowa and Maryland can rectify that by winning on Monday to advance to the Sweet 16. Ohio State fell in the first round to as a No. 2 seed, becoming the first team to do so since Michigan State did in 2016 to Middle Tennessee State.

(AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)Gonzaga and Baylor spent almost the entire season holding down the top two spots in the Top 25. Makes sense they'd hold down a bunch of spots on The Associated Press All-America teams. The Bulldogs' Corey Kispert and the Bears' Jared Butler led the way with first-team nods Tuesday from the national panel of 63 media members that vote each week in the AP Top 25 poll. Just like the first- and second-team All-Americans, their teams also will be playing in the NCAA Tournament this week. ___AP Basketball Writer John Marshall and AP Sports Writers Michael Marot and Stephen Hawkins contributed to this report.

As the Fighting Illini celebrated their first Big Ten Tournament title since 2005 with a 91-88 overtime victory over No. 9 Ohio State on Sunday, they quickly turned the focus to their No. Instead of withering in their fourth game in four days and being without forward Kyle Young for the second consecutive game, Ohio State (21-9) continually fought back. BIG PICTUREOhio State: They didn't win the title but the fifth-seeded Buckeyes overperformed expectations. ALL-TOURNEY TEAMAdDosunmu and Cockburn were joined on the all-tournament team by Washington and Liddell from Ohio State and Iowa’s Luka Garza, the league’s player of the year.

(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)INDIANAPOLIS – Illinois center Kofi Cockburn learned some hard lessons dueling with Luka Garza as a freshman. The victory sends the Illini to the Big Ten Tournament championship game. They made themselves at home, cheering loudly each time Cockburn made a play, while booing the foul calls against Illinois. A 9-0 run midway through the first half gave Illinois a 22-14 lead that it never surrendered. BIG PICTUREIowa: The Hawkeyes won't go away quietly in the NCAA Tournament, as Illinois found out Saturday.

Illinois guard Adam Miller, bottom, passes against Ohio State forward Justice Sueing during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbus, Ohio, Saturday, March 6, 2021. 7 Ohio State 73-68. Andre Curbelo also had 19 points as Illinois got its second straight road win over a top 10 team after routing No. The teams traded punches in the second half, but again Ohio State had trouble making shots down the stretch, missing on its last 10 attempts. BIG PICTUREIllinois is peaking at the right time and brimming with confidence after beating top 10 teams in back-to-back games for the first time since the 2005 NCAA Tournament.

Michigan can still wrap that up with a win in either of its last two regular-season games — or if Illinois loses its last game this weekend. The Wolverines are scheduled to play three fewer games than Illinois, and the size of this blowout — without Dosunmu — will resonate. Illinois could certainly pass Michigan as well after this game, but the Illini still have four more losses than the Wolverines. Plus, both Michigan and Illinois have more tests to come before the next poll. Michigan: The Wolverines finish the regular season with a home-and-home series against rival Michigan State, starting Thursday night in Ann Arbor.

ANN ARBOR -- Michigan has looked scary good for much of the Big Ten season. Michigan was held to a season low in points, field goal percentage (35 percent), and assists (four). Entering Tuesday, the Wolverines’ season low in 3-point attempts was 13. “It became a two-on-two game,” Illinois coach Brad Underwood said. Similar adjustments following Tuesday’s game would go a long way in Michigan winning the Big Ten and going deep in the postseason.

Michigan can still wrap that up with a win in either of its last two regular-season games — or if Illinois loses its last game this weekend. The Wolverines are scheduled to play three fewer games than Illinois, and the size of this blowout — without Dosunmu — will resonate. Illinois could certainly pass Michigan as well after this game, but the Illini still have four more losses than the Wolverines. Plus, both Michigan and Illinois have more tests to come before the next poll. Michigan: The Wolverines finish the regular season with a home-and-home series against rival Michigan State, starting Thursday night in Ann Arbor.

Underwood spoke about the uneven Big Ten schedule after Illinois won at Wisconsin on Saturday. Illinois is 14-4 in league play and 18-6 overall. Michigan still has a chance to beat each of the other 13 Big Ten teams during the regular season. Underwood said Dosunmu is “day to day.” Dosunmu hit the game winner at Crisler last season as Illinois swept Michigan. For Michigan, it’s not a must-win game as far as the Big Ten title is concerned.

After Illinois’ Trent Frazier sank two free throws, Illinois fouled Trevor Anderson with 1.9 seconds left before Wisconsin could attempt a tying 3-pointer. Wisconsin took 17 more shots than Illinois in the first half but still trailed 37-26 at the break because the Illini were much more efficient. AdIllinois cooled off considerably in the second half, but Wisconsin also faltered up until Trice's surge in the final minutes. Illinois led by 14 in the second half before Trice got Wisconsin back into the game. The Illini nearly crumbled down the stretch but stayed in front by going 10 of 10 on foul shots in the final 44 seconds.

EAST LANSING – Tom Izzo likened Michigan State’s game against Illinois on Tuesday night to a street fight. Turns out that fight may have knocked one of the Big Ten’s best players. Ayo Dosunmu suffered a broken nose on a late foul from Spartans big man Mady Sissoko, according to a Thursday report from The Athletic. With four minutes left, Dosunmu went up for a layup and was met by Sissoko, who brought his right arm down on Dosunmu’s head. Dosunmu is a Big Ten Player of the Year candidate, averaging 21 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game.

AdIn the opening 20 minutes against Illinois, he matched a career high with 10 rebounds and scored seven points to help Michigan State lead 36-26. The Alabama was a highly touted recruit when he signed with Michigan State five years ago in a recruiting class that included Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges. Michigan State: Izzo, a Hall of Fame coach, hasn't missed the NCAA Tournament since 1997. POLL IMPLICATIONSThe Illini, who haven't won at Michigan State since 2015, will likely slip in the AP Top 25 after getting upset as a seven-point favorite. Michigan State welcomes the fourth-ranked Buckeyes on Thursday night.

GAME INFORMATIONWho: Michigan State (11-9, 5-9) vs. No. 372 (Internet 372)Line: Illinois -7Twitter: Follow Kyle AustinGAME NOTES• Illinois takes a seven-game win streak into Tuesday’s game, the second-longest winning streak among power conference teams behind only Baylor. • The last time the two teams played, the Spartans won on a last-second basket from Xavier Tillman at the State Farm Center on Feb. 11, 2020. Michigan State has won four of the last five games in the series. PRE-GAME LINKS5 things to watch: Michigan State looks to carry momentum into Illinois matchupSmall ball lineup provides long-awaited spark for Michigan State‘Fed up’ Michigan State breaks through with impressive second half vs. Indiana

“It’s going to be a hellacious couple of days,” Spartans coach Tom Izzo said on Monday. The stretch was created by postponements both from Michigan State and from Michigan. So even more so than usual, Michigan State is emphasizing a game-at-a-time philosophy for the next two weeks. At 11-9 overall, Michigan State is currently outside of the NCAA Tournament picture. That’s constantly had Michigan State choosing how often to double-team the low post versus potentially allow open 3-pointers, something he and his staff will do again on Tuesday.

Michigan put all athletic activities on pause after receiving several positive tests for a COVID-19 variant that transmits at a higher rate. Michigan leads the Big Ten standings and is chasing a No. Wisconsin has been sliding down the Top 25 the last few weeks and lost 77-54 at Michigan on Jan. 12. INSIDE THE NUMBERS: The Big Ten has three of the top six teams in the current AP Top 25: Michigan, No. The last time Ohio State won more than five true Big Ten road games in one season was in 2010-11.

13 Illinois past Minnesota 92-65 in the Big Ten opener for both teams Tuesday night. Freshman guard Adam Miller added 14 points, while Trent Frazier and Ayo Dosunmu each scored 10 for Illinois (5-2). Illinois went on several runs, including a 22-5 spurt fueled by back-to-back 3s from Frazier to end the half. Illinois has struggled with turnovers this season and committed 14 against Minnesota. The outcome was never in question in the second half and Illinois used its defense and quickness to put away the Gophers.

And after an uncharacteristic first half, Drew understood why his players might have been a little unnerved. “It was a frustrating night," Illinois coach Brad Underwood said. Baylor forward Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua started the decisive stretch by making two free throws with 12:51 left. After Illinois made a 3-pointer, Baylor scored five more points and then took control with another run, this time 9-0. ... MaCio Teague added 11 points and Tchamwa Tchatchoua had nine points and nine rebounds.

Seniors Luke Garza of Iowa and Baylor's Jared Butler headline The Associated Press 2020-21 preseason All-America team. Garza was the lone unanimous choice, receiving all 64 votes from a media panel on the team released Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020. They were joined by Oklahoma State freshman Cade Cunningham, Illinois junior Ayo Dosunmu, Gonzaga senior Corey Kispert and Arizona State senior Remy Martin. (AP Photo/FIleSeniors Luka Garza of Iowa and Baylor's Jared Butler headline The Associated Press 2020-21 preseason All-America team. Garza was the lone unanimous choice, receiving all 64 votes from a nationwide media panel that chose the team released Wednesday.

Henry was voted a member of the preseason All-Big Ten team, the conference announced on Monday. The 10-player team was voted on by a panel of media members. Henry is Michigan State’s leading returning scorer at 10 points per game and leading returning rebounder at 4.6 per game. He and Illinois guard Ayo Dosunmu were the only two of the 10 team members who were voted to it unanimously. 2020-21 Preseason All-Big Ten TeamKofi Cockburn, Sophomore Center, IllinoisAyo Dosunmu, Junior Guard, IllinoisTrayce Jackson-Davis, Sophomore Forward, IndianaLuka Garza, Senior Center, IowaJoe Wieskamp, Junior Guard/Forward, IowaAaron Henry, Junior Forward, Michigan StateMarcus Carr, Junior Guard, MinnesotaTrevion Williams, Junior Forward, PurdueGeo Baker, Senior Guard, RutgersNate Reuvers, Senior Forward, Wisconsin

What to watch this week in Big Ten basketball:GAME OF THE WEEKEND: Michigan State at Maryland, Saturday. The matchup pits two of the Big Tens best point guards seniors Anthony Cowan Jr. of Maryland and Cassius Winston of Michigan State and big men Marylands Jalen Smith and Michigan States Xavier Tillman against each other. 24 Michigan State (19-9, 11-6) with three games left in the regular season. They have yet to advance past the semifinals of the conference tournament. Iowa and Indiana have secured the other two double byes for the Big Ten tournament that begins Wednesday in Indianapolis.

We dont really know anything right now, and thats hard.Michigan State went on a 6-0 run midway through the final half. Dosunmu hit two layups and Illinois went on a 10-0 run with nine minutes left. Illinois went on another 10-0 run and took its first lead of the game, 61-60 with 5:27 left. But I would imagine it was a tough game to officiate.Playing mix and match lineups because of fouls had an effect on the players, too. BIG PICTUREMichigan State: The Spartans needed the win on the road, which ended a three-game losing streak.