The NCAA tournament selection committee looks pretty smart, so far, putting eight at-large Big Ten teams and its first-place team, automatic qualifier Minnesota, in its 64-team field.

Of course, that could change Saturday.

But on Friday, the only conference loser was Purdue. And the Boilersmakers, who upset the Gophers a few weeks ago, gave No. 3 overall seed Texas a tussle in Austin, Texas.

The Longhorns won the second-round match, but the scores were 25-14, 14-25, 25-19, 27-15. A kill here, an attack error there and Purdue could have won the fourth set and forced a fifth.

Annie Drews had a match-high 18 kills for the Boilermakers (23-10) plus seven digs, three blocks.

Elsewhere, the big news was in Madison where No. 6 Wisconsin beat Iowa State 25-18, 25-15. 25-21 to advance to the Sweet 16 in the Austin Regional -- as did Texas with its win.

The Badgers (26-6) have won 14 matches in a row and drew 5,578 to the UW Fieldhouse for their sendoff to a regional. They hit a zissling .336 against the Cyclones. Next up, on Friday of next week, is No. 11 Florida which advanced with a 3-1 win over Florida State in its second-round match.

"I thought our players were patient, worked hard in transition and tried to go with what was given and that's a hard thing to do against a team like that," Badgers coach Kelly Sheffield said. "We're happy to still be playing and to give Taylor (Morey) her last home match a victory."

Here's a look at other matches around the country:

Des Moines Regional

No. 2 Gophers eliminated Jackson (Miss.) State in quick fashion, 25-9, 25-13, 25-17. U is now 14-0 at home at The Pav, 19-1 in first-round matches in program history.

No. 7 Penn State, the two-time defending NCAA champion, rolled over Howard 25-16, 25-8, 25-17 on its home court.

Unseeded Illinois beat Southern Illinois in Louisville, 25-19, 25-15, 26-24.

Saturday: Gophers vs. Marquette, 6:30. Marquette one of only two winners of 3-2 matches over first two days (38 matches held). Warriors beat Northern Iowa. (Other 3-2 winner was Hawaii over TCU.

Dayton vs. Penn State in College Station, 6:30

Illinois at No. 15 Louisville, 6

Austin Regional

No. 3 Texas and No. 6 Wisconsin for spots in the Sweet 16.

Michigan defeated Santa Clara 20-25, 25-17, 25-17, 25-20 in a first round match in L.A.

Saturday: Michigan vs. No. 14 UCLA at Bruins' lair

Lexington Regional

Unseeded Michigan St. beat Arkansas St. 25-23, 25-17, 25-12 in Seattle

No. 12 Ohio State beat Robert Morris 25-13, 25-16, 25-11

No. 4 Nebraska defeated Harvard, 22-25, 25-15, 25-17, 25-19

Saturday: Michigan State vs. No. 5 Washington, 9 pm

Ohio State vs. American, 4:30

Nebraska vs. Wichita St. in Lincoln

San Diego regional

Biggest upset of tournament happened Friday night. Loyola Marymount beat Stanford 28-26, 25-16, 25-23 at Maples Pavilion, the Cardinals home court. Sophomore Sarah Sponcil led the Lons (24-8) with 15 kills and hit .444.

Loyola Marymount will play No. 9 Kansas next week in regional. Stanford (23-7) finished third in the tough Pac-12, beat Gophers 3-0 in late August.

BOTTOM LINE

Big Ten is now 10-1 after two days of play in the NCAA tournament. Seven teams play again today (Saturday).