Iowa hadn’t reached the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament in six years. That may not seem long but failures year after year add up. Entering the second half with only a six-point lead didn’t look great. Though the Hawkeyes were favored by four points, they hadn’t covered at all in their last eight games.

Then, the second half kicked off. While no. 11 seed Illinois, kept pace with the no. 6 seed for the first 20 minutes, they all but imploded in the next. Iowa stormed the court, with an unbelievable shooting performance and ball movement that got everyone involved. Four different Iowa players shot at least three three-pointers and as a team, they went 12 for 23.

Iowa outscored Illinois 46-31 in the second half. They also had no problem capitalizing on mistakes, creating 24 points off of 15 turnovers. Hawkeyes senior Nicholas Baer erupted in the second half. The forward drained a career-high five three-pointers. In just 17 minutes, he was good for 17 points and four rebounds to lead his team to an 83-62 victory. Then, after the best game of his life, he was the first player out to greet reporters in a shirt and tie. 

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“My mom never waited around for me,” Baer said with a smile. “I’ve just always been a quick dresser.”

“I’m just thrilled for him. Nicholas is such a special young man, and it’s so important for him that our team do well,” Iowa coach Fran McCaffery said. “He wants to perform at a level that he’s appreciated by his coach and his teammates.”

Iowa will play no. 3 Michigan in the last quarterfinal on Friday. The Hawkeyes beat the Wolverines in their last showing 74-59 on February 1 in Iowa City but Friday’s game will have an added intensity to this. Michigan is hoping to repeat as conference champs.