Big Ten Daily (Feb. 26): Ohio State Men's, Women's Basketball Won the Weekend

The Ohio State women's basketball team locked up a share of the Big Ten title and the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament with a win over Maryland. Dale Bonner hit a game-winning 3-pointer to lift the men's team over Michigan State, capping a big weekend for the Buckeyes.

It was a huge weekend in Columbus on the hardwood. Both Ohio State's men's and women's basketball teams had something major to celebrate Sunday.

The "Big Buckeye Weekend" started first with the Ohio State women's team, who clinched at least a share of the Big Ten regular season championship, thanks to a 79-66 win over Maryland.

All five starters scored in double figures for the Buckeyes, led by Celeste Taylor, who dropped a team-high 20 points in the victory. Jacy Sheldon added 17 points, Cotie McMahon added 15, Rebeka Mikulasikova chipped in 11 and Taylor Thierry scored 10.

Ohio State has locked up the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament and it will win at least a share of the regular season title.

"Really, for me, it was more about playing Maryland today. They're really good, they're playing their best basketball of the year right now. I think they're gonna be a tough out in March," Buckeyes coach Kevin McGuff said.

"We got more games to play, and so, it's really now about focusing on Michigan, who beat us in Ann Arbor. They'll come in prepared. So, we gotta have two great days of practice and on to the next one."

Even after accomplishing an impressive feat, McGuff is solely focused the next game. And if the Buckeyes take care of business on Wednesday, they'll be outright Big Ten champs.

Dale Bonner wins it at the buzzer

On the men's side, Ohio State's Dale Bonner sent Buckeye Nation into a frenzy on Sunday afternoon. With the game tied at 57-57 in the closing seconds, the senior hit a contested 3-pointer as time expired, lifting OSU to a 60-57 road victory over Michigan State.

It was one of the most ridiculous shots in the Big Ten this season. Bonner finished the game with six points, making two-of-five shots from behind the arc.

DALE BONNER GAME-WINNER. pic.twitter.com/0JG4vLSWHd

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) February 25, 2024

Jake Diebler has now been the interim head coach at Ohio State for three games. The Buckeyes are 2-1 in that stretch, with a home win over No. 2 Purdue and a road victory against Michigan State.

It seems unlikely that Diebler will get the permanent job, but he could make a strong case for himself down the stretch. Ohio State has games against Nebraska and Michigan at home before closing out the year on the road against Rutgers.

Any chance the Buckeyes close the season on a roll and carry some momentum into the Big Ten Tournament?

Purdue fans infiltrate Crisler Center

Technically, Purdue's game against Michigan on Saturday was a road contest, but Boilermaker fans turned Crisler Center into Mackey Arena North on Sunday in Ann Arbor.

During CBS's broadcast on Sunday, the Purdue faithful were heard in force as Purdue posted an 84-76 victory over the Wolverines, inching closer to a second straight Big Ten regular season championship. Their presence was felt by players and coaches, too.

"I told our guys at halftime, this might never happen ever again," Purdue coach Matt Painter said of the overtake. "I said, 'So, give them something to cheer about.' 

"Because I came out said, hey, this is a pretty good crowd, because I know they're on spring break. ... Somebody said quick to me, 'Now, you understand 1,500 people over there to your left are all Purdue people. So, I didn't even know."

“THIS SOUNDS LIKE A PURDUE HOME GAME” 🔥🔥👀 pic.twitter.com/6SNxvONurF

— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) February 25, 2024

Painter and the Purdue players might have been excited by the black-and-gold crowd in Ann Arbor, but Michigan's players certainly weren't. Terrence Williams II voiced his frustration.

"There's a level of disgust," he said in the postgame. "It felt like 75% Purdue fans, 25% Michigan fans. It felt like Mackey Arena tonight, straight up."

The Boilermakers got 35 points and 15 rebounds from Zach Edey, who also made 14-of-18 shots from the floor. Braden Smith also recorded a double-double with 11 points and 11 assists. 

Purdue now owns a 2.5-game lead on Illinois in the Big Ten standings with three games to play.

BTN highly praises Nebrasketball

Everyone in Lincoln is starting to feel it. After a 73-55 victory over Minnesota on Sunday, Nebraska has now won four straight games, sits at 20-8 on the year and is 10-7 in Big Ten play.

With three games left on the schedule, all signs point to the Huskers making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2014. And, dare we say, they have a real chance to get their first-ever win in March Madness.

Following Nebraska's win over the Golden Gophers on Sunday, Big Ten Network analyst and bracketologist Mike DeCourcy shared plenty of praise for the Huskers.

"This team is going to make it, they're going to have that moment on Selection Sunday where they all stand up and clap when their name goes on the board," DeCourcy said. "And I think they're a team that's going to be difficult to play once they're there."

Nebraska got a giant monkey off its back last week, defeating Indiana at Assembly Hall to get their first Big Ten road win of the season. The Huskers also have home wins over then-No. 1 Purdue and then-No. 6 Wisconsin.

Fred Hoiberg's team is in perfect position to hear its name called on Selection Sunday.

Related Big Ten stories

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• BIG TEN WOMEN'S TOURNEY SELLS OUT: For the first time in its history, the Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament has been sold out. This year's event is scheduled for Wednesday, March 6 through Sunday, March 10 and will be played at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn. CLICK HERE
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