Big Ten Tournament: Howard's Return, Davis' Health

Michigan coach Juwan Howard's return and Wisconsin guard Johnny Davis' injury are the major plotlines heading into the Big Ten Tournament that starts Wednesday in Indianapolis.

WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 05: Head coach Juwan Howard of the Michigan Wolverines directs his team during the first half in the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena on February 05, 2022 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

Howard is returning from a five-game suspension as the Wolverines attempt to play their way off the bubble and into the 68-team NCAA Tournament field. Michigan announced Monday that it had reinstated Howard, who served a five-game suspension after hitting Wisconsin assistant coach Joe Krabbenhoft in the side of the head while they were in a postgame handshake line.

"He's going to come in, he's going to bring that juice and we're going to match that intensity," Michigan guard DeVante' Jones said Sunday after the Wolverines' 75-69 victory over Ohio State.

Wisconsin fans hope this tournament also represents Davis' return to action.

Davis, the Big Ten player of the year, got hit in the face by Nebraska's Trey McGowens while driving to the basket and landed awkwardly early in the second half of the 12th-ranked Badgers' 74-73 loss to the Cornhuskers. He missed the rest of the game.

EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 08: Johnny Davis #1 of the Wisconsin Badgers looks on in the second half of the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center on February 8, 2022 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)

"I'm optimistic that he's going to be fine," Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said after the Nebraska game. Davis told the Big Ten Network on Tuesday that he's "feeling fine" and "should be ready to go."

The tournament starts Wednesday with No. 12 seed Northwestern (14-15, 7-13) facing No. 13 seed Nebraska (10-21, 4-16) and No. 11 seed Penn State (12-16, 7-13) meeting No. 14 seed Minnesota (13-16, 4-16).

Defending tournament champion Illinois (22-8, 15-5) is the top seed after winning a share of the conference title for the first time since 2005 when the Illini went on to reach the NCAA Tournament championship game. The 16th-ranked Illini tied Wisconsin (24-6, 15-5) for first place but got the No. 1 seed because of their victory over the Badgers.

Even though his team already has essentially locked up a bid based on the way it performed the last few months, Illinois guard Trent Frazier wants to make sure the Illini approach this week with the mentality they'll need to have once they begin NCAA Tournament play.

CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS - FEBRUARY 24: Trent Frazier #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini reacts after a three-point basket during the second half against the Ohio State Buckeyes at State Farm Center on February 24, 2022 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

"Our mindset's got to be we can't lose no more games," Frazier said.

Illinois, Wisconsin, No. 9 Purdue (25-6, 14-6), and Rutgers (18-12, 12-8) received byes into Friday's quarterfinals. Thursday's action has Michigan (17-13, 11-9) facing Indiana (18-12, 9-11), No. 24 Iowa (22-9, 12-8) meeting the Nebraska-Northwestern winner, Michigan State (20-11, 11-9) taking on Maryland (15-16, 7-13) and Ohio State (19-10, 12-8) facing the Minnesota-Penn State winner.

"You look at the Thursday games, my God, there's a lot of big games, big matchups on Thursday," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. "I think it's going to be a hell of a weekend of basketball. We'll see who survives."

BUBBLE WATCH

Heading into Tuesday's action, the mock draft consensus according to Bracket Matrix had Michigan as a No. 11 seed, Rutgers as a No. 12 seed, and Indiana among the top teams getting left out of the NCAA Tournament field.

COLUMBUS, OHIO - MARCH 06: Moussa Diabate #14 of the Michigan Wolverines reacts as he dunks the ball during the second half against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Value City Arena on March 06, 2022 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

That makes Thursday's Michigan-Indiana matchup particularly compelling. Indiana likely needs to win that game and may have to do even more damage this week to earn a bid.

"I think everyone in the locker room knows how much we need this game," all-conference forward Trayce Jackson-Davis said. "We know where we stand and we know we have to go get this one."

Michigan and Rutgers both could have reason to worry if they go one-and-out this week.

STAR-STUDDED AFFAIR

This tournament features a number of All-America candidates in Davis, Illinois center Kofi Cockburn, Iowa's Keegan Murray, and Purdue's Jaden Ivey. Davis and Ivey are regarded as potential top-five picks in the upcoming NBA draft if the two sophomores choose to turn pro. Murray and Ohio State's E.J. Liddell are potential first-round picks.

ANN ARBOR, MI - MARCH 03: Keegan Murray #15 of the Iowa Hawkeyes drives past Devante Jones #12 and Moussa Diabaté #14 of the Michigan Wolverines during the 1st half at Crisler Arena on March 3, 2022 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Jaime Crawford/Getty Images)

COMPETING FOR SEEDING

While it's unlikely any Big Ten team will earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, Purdue, Illinois, and Wisconsin could play their way into consideration for a No. 2 seed. Bracket Matrix currently projects Purdue and Wisconsin as No. 3 seeds, Illinois as a No. 4 seed, Iowa and Ohio State as No. 6 seeds, and Michigan State as a No. 8.

POTENTIAL SLEEPER

Nebraska struggled so much that athletic director Trev Alberts put out a statement announcing Fred Hoiberg would return next season only after the beleaguered coach agreed to a pay cut.

The Huskers have played much better since that announcement. Nebraska is on a three-game winning streak and closed the regular season by beating Ohio State and Wisconsin on the road. The victory over Wisconsin prevented the Badgers from winning the regular-season title outright.

Nebraska was missing leading scorer Bryce McGowens for the Wisconsin game due to a wrist injury. Hoiberg said McGowens wasn't a full participant in Tuesday's practice but expressed optimism the freshman guard would play Wednesday.

 

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