By: Doug Lesmerises (Cleveland Plain Dealer) -

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State star Evan Turner said Saturday’s double-overtime win over Illinois was even better than his 37-foot game-winning shot against Michigan on Friday because this victory was a team struggle. After the 88-81 Big Ten Tournament semifinal win over the Illini, Turner was still seething over the way the teams treated each other.

Turner was visibly angered 30 minutes after the game in the locker room when discussing the talking the Illini did during the game.

“It was just disrespectful,” Turner said. “When you go from a team not talking to talking now that they’re hitting shots, it’s totally disrespectful. I didn’t like that at all.

“They didn’t do that at all the first two games. Then they tried to treat us like little girls and we’re not girls, we’re a tough group of kids. I didn’t like that at all. Then when we talked to them, they go tell the refs. That’s not cool at all.”

Illinois star Demetri McCamey, Turner’s high school teammate, said he thought the talk got in Turner’s head and forced him into some of his 10 turnovers. Turner said it only made him play better.

“When they did that, I knew we weren’t losing,” Turner said. “I knew for sure. That’s the last thing we were going to do was lose. It made me mad. It definitely picks me up, because I want to win a lot more. I’ll do anything not to lose.”

Turner finished with 31 points, one short of his career high, and 10 rebounds, six assists and two steals. McCamey had 22 points, five assists and six turnovers for the Illini.

Ohio State will play the winner of Purdue-Minnesota in the Big Ten Tournament title game at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday.