The Michigan State Spartans avoided a late game rally by Maryland yesterday to advance to the quarterfinals where the No. 1 seed Wisconsin Badgers await. The game is the third matchup between the Big Ten rivals this season with the teams splitting the regular season games with the road team winning each time. The Spartans defeated Wisconsin 86-74 in Madison on Jan. 21, but the Badgers returned the favor in East Lansing with a 70-62 victory on Feb. 8.
Wisconsin enters the game with a 24-6 record, and tied with Illinois for the regular season crown thanks to a 15-5 Big Ten finish.