It's easy to count the number of Big Ten teams playing today: None. Nada. Zero.
Nine Big Ten teams were invited to postseason basketball parties. None made it past the second round of either the NCAA or the NIT.Gone are Penn State, Indiana, Michigan, Purdue and Iowa - all bounced from the 64-team NCAA field.
And when Fresno State finished its 80-70 throttling of Michigan State Tuesday night, the last of four Big Ten teams in the NIT had completed their season.
"I thought our team could carry the banner for the Big 10," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. "It would have been a real big win here because I don't think too many people gave us a chance.
"It's disappointing. I don't think we played our best game, and that kind of leaves a sour taste in your mouth, but give Fresno State credit."
Dominick Young scored 21 points and Kendric Brooks had 20 as the Bulldogs (22-10) advanced to a quarterfinal meeting at Fresno State on Thursday against Nebraska.
Nebraska 82, Washington St. 73
Tom Wald scored six points in the final 49 seconds as Nebraska outlasted visiting Washington State (17-12).
The Cougars, trailing 47-37 at the half, battled back to narrow Nebraska's lead to 74-73 with 2:52 left. But Washington State didn't score again and Nebraska (18-14) sealed the victory at the free throw line.
Rh. Island 62, Charleston 58, OT
Rhode Island's dream game nearly turned into a nightmare.
The Rams (20-13) failed to score a field goal in the final 14 minutes of regulation and went from a 48-33 lead to a 53-51 deficit before Tyson Wheeler's two free throws with 26 seconds left in regulation sent the game into overtime.
St. Joseph's 82, Providence 62
Mark Bass led five St. Joseph's players in double figures,and the Hawks built an 18-point first-half lead en route to a crushing victory over Providence.
Bass scored 17 of his 21 points in the first half for St. Joseph's (17-12), which has not advanced this far in the NIT since a 1956 semifinal appearance.