Illinois men’s basketball was eliminated from the Big Ten Conference tournament by Michigan on Thursday 75-55. Tracy Abrams led all scorers with 23 points but was the only Illini in double figures. The Illini wait to see their post-season fate with a record of 18-14.
All of the other action in the B1G tourney was also one-sided, as Michigan State beat Penn State 78-51, Indiana clubbed Iowa 95-73 and Northwestern handled Rutgers 83-61.
Illinois State advanced in the Missouri Valley Conference women’s basketball tournament in Moline with a 51-44 victory over Indiana State. The Redbirds face top-seed and Number 19 Drake in the first quarterfinal today at noon. In the other first round game at iWireless Center, Bradley eliminated Loyola 57-42. The other quarterfinals today include Southern Illinois-Wichita State, Northern Iowa-Bradley and Evansville-Missouri State.
In boys high school basketball, Bloomington faces Washington for a Class 3A Sectional title at Bradley University’s Renaissance Coliseum in Peoria. The state boys finals in Classes 1A and 2A are this weekend at Carver Arena in Peoria.
The Bloomington Thunder lost 2-1 at Muskegon. The rematch is tonight at Muskegon before the Thunder return home Sunday for a 4 p.m. face-off against Team USA.
The Bears have cut quarterback Jay Cutler, the franchise’s all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns. Cutler was 51-51 in his eight seasons in Chicago. Former Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery has signed a one-year, $14 million dollar contract with the Eagles. Jeffery became a free agent after five seasons with the Bears.
