Published: March 16, 2008 09:18 pm            

Wisconsin wins Big Ten tournament

61-48 over Illinois

INDIANAPOLIS — Through solid shooting, Wisconsin defended its regular season conference title after taking the opportunity from Illinois 61-48, on Sunday at Conseco Fieldhouse in the Badgers’ fourth Big Ten Tournament final in the past five years.

"We’re very proud to be representing the Big Ten as the Big Ten Tournament champions and regular season champions," Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan said.

The Illini came out from the start with a spark, but it was nothing the Badgers couldn’t match. When Illinois led 8-4 at the start of the game, it was the Illini’s biggest lead and Wisconsin hit two back-to-back 3-pointers to take a 10-8 lead.

For the remainder of the game, the closest Illinois came to leading was on the next bucket, which tied it at 10-10.

Wisconsin had some breathing room at halftime with a 29-22 advantage over the Illini.

"We thought we could pressure a little bit," Illinois coach Bruce Weber said. "And we did that the middle of the first half. We got after them a little bit. They turned it over and we just didn’t take advantage of those opportunities."

Wisconsin went on a 9-2 run midway through the second half to give itself a 20-point, 55-35 advantage over Illinois.

Wisconsin’s Brian Butch got the Badgers started on a run, scoring seven of his 12 points, when he scored a lay-up to put Wisconsin up 48-33.

Calvin Brock scored the Illini’s only two points in the run before Butch went down and hit a trey.

Butch had a dunk and Jason Bohannon hit a jumper on the run that sealed the championship title for Wisconsin.

Overall, Wisconsin shot 49 percent from the field on 25-of-51 shooting. They were 9-of-18 (50 percent) from behind the arc.

"It you’re going to shoot like that, it’s going to be tough," Weber said. "I’m shocked, to be honest, it was only 49 percent. To me they never missed."

Wisconsin’s Marcus Landry was named the Big Ten Tournament MVP on Sunday and named to the All-Tournament team.

Along with Landry, Michael Flowers, from Wisconsin was named to the team. Demetri McCamey and Shaun Pruitt, from Illinois, and Michigan State’s Drew Neitzel made the All-Tournament team.

Wisconsin, who received a No.3 bid in the NCAA Tournament, takes a 10-game winning streak into its game with Cal State-Fullerton.

"I hope we keep bringing the same energy and same focus for the next one," Ryan said. "So let’s play. At least they’ll be off their feet, and they’re only on their feet when they’re with us in practices.”



Jim Johnson writes for The Lebanon Reporter in Lebanon, Ind.