Big Ten Tournament 2015: Quarterfinal Schedule, Live Stream, Bracket Predictions

Round 2 of the 2015 Big Ten tournament was chock-full of unexpected outcomes, as Michigan trounced Illinois, Penn State put on a surprising drubbing of Iowa and Minnesota didn't give Ohio State an easy victory. Perhaps the only anticipated conclusion was Indiana's big win over Northwestern.

If those contests serve as a prelude for what's to come, we're in for a treat, as the conference's double-bye teams are finally in action for Friday's quarterfinal clashes.

We'll see the Wisconsin Badgers return to action to kick off the day, as they will look to put on a show in an effort to propel themselves into a No. 1 seed for the NCAA tournament. Purdue, Maryland and Michigan State round out the other March Madness-bound teams to join in on the conference showdown.

So, before these squads take the hardwood for another compelling day of postseason action, let's take a look at all of the essential viewing information and predict the winner of each contest.

Quarterfinals Schedule

Game	Time (ET)	Matchup	TV
7	12 p.m.	No. 1 Wisconsin vs. No. 9 Michigan	ESPN
8	2:30 p.m.	No. 4 Purdue vs. No. 13 Penn State	ESPN
9	6:30 p.m.	No. 2 Maryland vs. No. 7 Indiana	BTN
10	9 p.m.	No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 6 Ohio State	BTN

Live Stream: WatchESPN and BTN2Go.com

Bracket Predictions

No. 1 Wisconsin vs. No. 9 Michigan

The Wolverines have been putting together some offensive outbursts in recent games, scoring 78 against Northwestern and 79 against Rutgers to finish off the regular season and putting up another 73 in the conference tournament against Illinois. Not too shabby for a team that boasts the nation's 239th-ranked scoring offense.

Interestingly enough, there hasn't been just one player to step up for Michigan. In the team's win over the Illini, four different starters finished with double-digit point totals and the team combined to shoot 49.2 percent from the floor. However, the Wolverines now run into the seventh-ranked defense of Wisconsin.

Just how good is Wisconsin's defense? Well, the Badgers haven't allowed an opponent to put up more than 63 points in each of their last nine games. Wisconsin's great defense was on display during its regular-season finale against Ohio State, holding the Buckeyes to just 34 percent shooting from the floor and collecting 41 rebounds to Ohio State's 27.

The Badgers aren't just prolific on defense, as they boast a well-rounded offense featuring the dangerous Frank Kaminsky. The big man is a force down low, and he's complemented nicely by the versatile Sam Dekker and sharpshooting Bronson Koenig. Don't expect the Wolverines to outscore that trio.

Predicted Winner: Wisconsin

No. 4 Purdue vs. No. 13 Penn State

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How are we still talking about the Nittany Lions right now? This team looked dead in the water, going 2-8 to close out its regular season. However, something seemed to click in the conference tournament, as Penn State followed up a nice Round 1 win over Nebraska with a drubbing of Iowa on Thursday.

It was a tale of two halves for Penn State, as the team scored just 19 points in the first half but returned to score 48 after the break. Guard D.J. Newbill and forward Ross Travis led the charge, combining for 35 points. They were helped along by a flat Iowa team that looked confused on defense and shot just 26.3 percent from the floor.

Well, we shouldn't expect Penn State to be handed another gift in the quarterfinals. Purdue played very well down the final stretch of the regular season, utilizing talented big man A.J. Hammons down low while guard Rapheal Davis remains a threat from downtown. If the Boilermakers can limit their turnovers, they should make quick work of Penn State.

Predicted Winner: Purdue

No. 2 Maryland vs. No. 7 Indiana

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Indiana finished the regular season on a three-game slide; however, it was able to right the ship in a big way against Northwestern, opening up its conference tournament with a 71-56 victory. James Blackmon Jr. kept Indiana's tournament hopes alive with a 25-point performance while Yogi Ferrell put up 17 of his own.

Aside from those two big performances, the most impressive attribute of the Hoosiers' win was their work in the boards, collecting 42 rebounds to Northwestern's 25. That kind of impressive ratio is exactly what wins postseason contests; however, Indiana will be put to the test against the surging Terrapins.

Maryland is currently riding a seven-game winning streak—including a win over Wisconsin—that started with a Feb. 11 victory over the Hoosiers. In that game, Maryland won inside, gathering more rebounds than Indiana and shooting 49 percent from the floor as three starters hit double-digit point totals. With momentum on their side, expect a similar result for the Terps on Friday.

Predicted Winner: Maryland

No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 6 Ohio State

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Ohio State fell completely flat in its regular-season finale against Wisconsin; however, it did get its act together enough to defeat Minnesota in Round 2 of the Big Ten tournament. D'Angelo Russell stole the show, putting up 23 points, and Shannon Scott proved to be an accurate complement, hitting 7-of-12 attempts from the floor for 21 points of his own.

The Buckeyes shot an impressive 50 percent as a team against Minnesota; however, errors continue to haunt them, as the Golden Gophers were able to stay in the game due to 15 Ohio State turnovers and a lack of consistent shooting from downtown. That won't fly against the Spartans.

Michigan State finished the regular season on a high note, taking down Purdue and Indiana in back-to-back games. This is a very well-coached team that is disciplined on both ends of the court. The Spartans are an unselfish team that facilitates nicely, plays solid defense and limits turnovers. Those attributes will lead to a tournament win against Ohio State.

Predicted Winner: Michigan State