Trailing by as much as 13 in 2nd half, the Badgers once again fought their way back into a tough conference match-up, but couldn’t get over the hump as they fell to No. 11 Purdue 70-62.
As much as the 10-4 start seemed to point toward a continuation of Saturday’s offensive surge, the reality was that Wisconsin couldn’t get that big shot or big rebound like they had the entire 2nd half against Ohio State.
“{I am} disappointed,” UW head coach Bo Ryan said after the game. “But I learned something about our guys during that comeback.”
That comeback Ryan was referring to saw the Badgers once again whittle into a double-digit lead, this time going on an 18-7 run over a seven-minute run to close within two point with just under 4 minutes left in the game.
We could smell blood in the water when we cut it to 2,” senior forward Jon Leuer said. “But credit them, they made some big shots. We let it slip away."
Even though Leuer put up 23 points and 4 rebounds, he was in foul trouble much of the first half and was forced to hit the bench for the final 7:42 leading into halftime as Purdue built a 6-point lead at the intermission.
With Leuer forced to sit and junior guard Jordan Taylor unable to get much going on the offensive end, finding production was an issue for a Badger team that had relied heavily on its top duo throughout the season.
Though redshirt sophomore Ryan Evans contributed 11 points and 6 rebounds in 28 minutes off the bench, the supporting cast behind Taylor and Leuer shot a combined 8 for 32 from the field and 2 for 14 from three-point range.
Without much production from the likes of sophomore forward Mike Bruesewitz and senior forward Keaton Nankivil, who combined for just 7 points on 3 of 14 shooting, the spotlight shone brightly on Taylor’s struggles on the offensive end.
Though the reinstated Cousy Award finalist still managed 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, the rhythm Taylor had played with against Ohio State was nowhere in sight.
"I felt like could have done more and maybe started penetrating earlier than I did,” Taylor said.
Although Taylor would never admit it, it appeared that the 83 minutes he logged last week in games against Iowa and Ohio State had clearly taken a toll on him physically.
Purdue junior guard Lewis Jackson took advantage on the other end, putting up 18 points, one shy of his career high, adding 4 rebounds and 5 assists as well. With Purdue’s scoring duo of E’Twuan Moore and JaJuan Johnson combining for a ho-hum 39 points, that third source of production was crucial in the Boilermakers’ victory.
Though they missed an opportunity to get a tough road win, the Badgers now hit a stretch of 4 straight conference games in which they will be favored leading up to the season-ending showdown in Columbus.
Beginning with Penn State’s visit to Madison Sunday afternoon, this 4-game stretch is arguably among the most important of the season as Wisconsin tries to distance itself from the pack and earn a top seed heading into the NCAA Tournament.
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