Behind 35 points from Michael Thompson (his career high and a Big Ten tournament record), shockingly competent bench play from Nick Fruendt, and a Minnesota effort that could generously be described as "disinterested", Northwestern pulled away in the second half and advanced to the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals.

With the win, Northwestern should now be safely in the NIT, and tomorrow at high noon, they get another shot at the #1 team in the land, the terrifyingly good Ohio State Buckeyes. Hey, stranger things have happened.