Badgers Roll To Victory in Evanston

Though you wouldn’t have known looking at the sea of red in the stands Wednesday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena, the Badgers did indeed pick up a road win in Evanston, defeating the Wildcats (4-10 Big Ten, 13-14 overall) by a final of 69-41. Running out to a 9-0 lead before the first media break, Wisconsin (10-4, 19-8) never looked back, increasing its lead to 28-12 at the half and cruising home to a comfortable victory.

“I said it in the huddle, ‘we’ve got to make sure we step on their throats early and not let them hang around’…” senior forward Mike Bruesewitz said. “If you let teams hang around, that’s when upsets happen.”

While fouls and the score left him with limited playing time in the second half, senior center Jared Berggren made his presence known from the opening tip. The Princeton, Minn native picked up 8 points and 6 rebounds in the first half, finishing with 12 points and 8 rebounds on 5-of-0 shooting for the evening.

Meanwhile, the injury-riddled Wildcats were never able to find a rhythm on either end of the floor. After finally getting on the scoreboard a full 5:29 into the game, Northwestern managed just three more field goals in a first half that left it with just 12 points, 7 below Wisconsin’s previous season-low for points allowed (19 at Nebraska). Though the Cats eventually upped their field goal percentage to 29% in a 29 point second half, they never made a run big enough to put a scare in the visiting Badgers.

“They’ve got some guys missing. But when you prepare, you prepare for a system…” UW head coach Bo Ryan said. “We just made them work hard to get good looks and that’s what you have to do against Northwestern to have a chance.”

Given Northwestern’s lack of size and depth, it was no surprise that Wisconsin dominated the interior game. The Badgers outrebounded Northwestern 47-22 for the night and finished with 28 points in the paint, a full 22 more than their opponent.

“We didn’t knock down shots right away,” Bruesewitz said. “But we were persistent on the glass and they had trouble rebounding out of their zone.”

Junior guard Ben Brust, a native of suburban Chicago, was able to erase a slow start in front of the hometown crowd en route to another strong 12 point, 8-rebound game. Sophomore guard Traevon Jackson also had a solid effort, taking the Badgers into the locker room with a 15-footer at the halftime buzzer for two of his 8 points. Jackson also finished with 7 rebounds as the Badger guards took advantage of Northwestern’s lacking size.

Freshman Sam Dekker finished in double digits for a 4^th straight game, picking up 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting in 18 minutes off the bench. In all, 6 different Badgers finished with multiple made field goals, allowing UW to command a 27-9 advantage in points off the bench.

Wisconsin now has six days off before their next game, a home date with Nebraska on February 26^th. After a stretch of hard-fought battles and road tests, the Badgers will no doubt benefit from a bit of time away from the grind. With the final two home dates coming in the week ahead, UW will have plenty of time to be prepared to take care of business as they welcome two relatively weak opponents in Nebraska and Purdue. Still, if the Badgers are to contend for a Big Ten title they will have to take care of business.

“We approach every game the same,” Berggren said. “Regardless of who we are playing, its another chance to play.”

Badgers Title Hopes Take a Hit in Minnesota

In over 100 years of basketball at Wisconsin, the Badgers had never played in three consecutive overtime games. Thursday night that streak came to a close, with UW losing a 58-53 overtime decision to rival Minnesota to snap a run of two consecutive overtime victories. Wisconsin (8-4 Big Ten, 17-8 overall) led 49-43 with free throws coming but failed to score over the final 5:08 of regulation, ultimately running their scoreless drought to 8:48 before Sam Dekker made two free throws in overtime with the game already slipping out of reach.

Once again, UW struggled to put the ball in the basket. In addition to an uncharacteristic 11 turnovers, the Badgers shot just 18-for-59 from the field (30.5%) including a 7-for-28 (25%) effort from three-point range. While Wisconsin was able to hold the Gophers to just 36.7% from the field, it was unable to overcome 7 misses at the free throw line, six coming after the six minute mark of the second half.

The inconsistent play of sophomore guard Traevon Jackson hit a low point in Minneapolis. Jackson finished with just 7 points on 3-of-14 from the field while being credited for three turnovers. The turnover figure was fairly generous, with Jackson losing possession on two other occasions before a jump ball kept the ball in UW hands.

Adding to the Badgers’ misery was the continued offensive struggles of senior forward Ryan Evans. Although he did finish with a game-high 11 rebounds, Evans once again struggled to put the ball in the basket, finishing just 2-for-8 from the field and 2-for-8 at the free throw line. During Wisconsin’s second half drought, Evans missed three consecutive free throws, any one of which would have been enough to seal a Badger victory.

Though they led for most of the game, Wisconsin did not deserve to leave Minneapolis with a victory. The Badgers allowed Minnesota (6-6, 18-7) to finish the first half on an 8-0 run over the final 2:50 and a 6-0 run over the final 5:08 of regulation. Senior forward Mike Bruesewitz opened the door by committing a baseline violation with 22.6 seconds left, erasing what appeared to be a game-winning charge taken by the Minnesota native on the previous play. Minnesota senior guard Joe Coleman was fouled by freshman Sam Dekker on the ensuing play and made both of his free throws to even the score at 49.

Wisconsin had the final look but once again came up with a terrible offensive possession, managing to get nothing more than an off-balance and contested jumper from Jackson that didn’t even catch a piece of the rim. After two more misses at the charity stripe by Evans, Minnesota sophomore guard Andre Hollins (21 points, 5 rebounds) capitalized with a three-pointer on the ensuing possession, giving the Gophers a 52-49 lead they would never relinquish.

If there was a bright spot for the Badgers, it was once again the play of freshman wing Sam Dekker. The Sheboygan native got off to a slow start but gave the Badgers a needed spark in the second half, finishing with a game-high 14 points on 3-of-7 shooting. Dekker’s back-to-back three-point shots midway through the second half turned a 39-37 deficit into a 43-41 lead that for a while looked to be enough for a 5^th-straight UW victory over the rival Gophers.

Now halfway through arguably the most important weekend of the Big Ten season, the Badgers need desperately to bounce back as they host No. 13 Ohio State on Sunday afternoon. The Buckeyes have been in the top 10 most of the season but have struggled of late, dropping two straight last week to Michigan and Indiana before nearly losing a third straight when they hosted Northwestern Thursday night.

Except for a shocking 63-60 win last February in Columbus, the Badgers have struggled since knocking off a then-undefeated Ohio State team back in 2011. After its 58-49 win in Columbus last month, OSU has now won three of four over Wisconsin. With both teams entering play at 8-4 in the Big Ten, it would be hard to overstate the importance of Sunday’s contest.

Wisconsin will have to start by keeping junior forward DeShaun Thomas at bay on the offensive end. The Fort Wayne, Ind. native torched the Badgers for 25 points on 10-of-17 shooting in the last meeting between these two teams and is leading the conference with 20.1 points per game. Outside of Thomas and junior guard Aaron Craft, Ohio State lacks much in the way of experience, giving Wisconsin a golden opportunity to get back to its winning ways in the friendly confines of the Kohl Center.

If there is one thing we know at this point in the year, Wisconsin will be playing a tight game. In addition to three consecutive overtime games, the Badgers have played four consecutive games at the Kohl Center within a single possession. Although behind the eight ball after Thursday’s loss, a fourth straight win in Madison on Sunday would keep the Badgers alive for that elusive conference title in a very competitive Big Ten race.

Magical Finish Caps Off Big Week For Badgers

Wisconsin was two last second shots away from a winless week at the Kohl Center. But what was oh so close to the last nail in the Badgers’ coffin ended up becoming a home stand that just may mark the defining moment in a Big Ten title run. Two game-tying three-point shots in the final seconds and two overtime wins later, Wisconsin is very much alive in a crazy Big Ten championship race.

Before I go any further, let me comment on the rushing of the court Saturday. Yes, I did say in my column on Friday that a storming was unjustified in the case of UW, but circumstances do indeed play a part. A game-tying half court shot at the buzzer is one of those circumstances. So this time, the Grateful Red gets a free pass (but please don’t blow it next week when Ohio State visits).

As crazy as the final seconds were, Saturday’s game was a classic from start to finish. After the Badgers jumped out to a 23-14 lead midway through the first half, neither team led by more than 6 the rest of the way. Wisconsin couldn’t find a way to slow down Michigan’s backcourt duo of Burke and Hardaway yet somehow found itself within a possession in the game’s final seconds. After 40 minutes, 8 ties, 11 lead changes, and a half court shot, the Badgers were even with the No. 3 team in the country.

Michigan 60, Wisconsin 60. Overtime.

This is what the 2012-2013 edition of Wisconsin basketball is all about. UW committed 14 turnovers, allowed Michigan’s star guards to combine for 37 points, and gave up 32 points in the paint. Looking at the statistics alone, the Badgers had no business taking down a team as talented and efficient as Michigan, even in the friendly confines of the Kohl Center. Somehow they found a way to do what looked to be all but impossible on paper.

“We are just going to find a way to get it done,” senior forward Jared Berggren said. “It doesn’t matter what people perceive our talent level to be.”

While this year has certainly taken it to a new level, scrappiness has been a hallmark of the Badger program since Dick Bennett turned UW into a legitimate Big Ten contender back in the late 1990s. As they have for the past fifteen years, Wisconsin keeps itself within striking distance by playing tough defense no matter how poorly they are shooting the ball. Some may say that UW’s defensive statistics are simply a result of their slow-paced offense. Those people haven’t watched this team play.

Michigan entered play on Saturday leading the Big Ten in practically every offensive statistic. Only Wisconsin turned the ball over fewer times than the Wolverines (that is no longer the case after a +7 margin for Michigan in Madison) and Michigan’s 50.3% field goal percentage was tops in the conference as well. Even though Hardaway and Burke caught fire in the 2^nd half, UW held the Wolverines to just 39% shooting for the game.

At times, Wisconsin is tough to watch. I am always going to be a fan of “Wisconsin basketball” but I totally understand those who would rather watch paint dry than be stuck with two hours of slow-paced, low scoring basketball. But whether you like it or not, the Badgers have a system that works and when things click like they did on Saturday, it is fun to watch.

More importantly, at least from a fan’s perspective, this Wisconsin team simply does not quit. Time and time again they have found themselves with their backs against the wall in the final moments, finding a way to get the job done seemingly every time. Even in a season that began with the loss of its starting point guard and continued with the fairly prolonged absence of an emotional leader, UW heads into the home stretch very much alive for a conference title and well within reach of a top-4 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

“It feels good. I’m just so proud of these guys,” UW head coach Bo Ryan said. “This is a group that just finds different ways {to get the job done}.”

All of those who thought this would be the year Ryan failed to keep the Badgers inside the Big Ten’s top 4 are starting to retract their statements at a rapid clip.

“We’ve got a bunch of dudes who are gritty, tough, and play the game the right way…” senior forward Mike Bruesewitz said. “I’ll play with these guys anywhere.”

There is still plenty of basketball to be played before we even reach the postseason. As they have shown time and time again, this Badgers team could easily go out and lay an egg against Northwestern, Purdue, Nebraska, or even Penn State. At the same time, they could just as easily take down the likes of Minnesota, Ohio State, or Michigan State, the combination of all three likely being enough to bring a Big Ten title to Madison for the first time since 2008.

Are more ups and downs inevitable? Yes. But if going through 7:00 scoreless droughts is what it takes to experience highs like Saturday afternoon, I know I for one am fine with that deal.

Badgers Escape in OT Thriller

It had been nearly two full years since Wisconsin had beaten Iowa and with six minutes left still facing a nine-point deficit, it looked as if the Badgers were going to add yet another year to the drought. But this time UW responded to the adversity, tying the game on the strength of an 11-2 run and eventually heading to overtime after a Traevon Jackson three knotted the score at 58 with 20 seconds left. Although the Badgers managed just a single field goal in two overtime periods, they eventually outlasted the Hawkeyes by making 13 of 14 free throws in the 74-70 double overtime victory.

To say the Badgers (7-3 Big Ten, 16-7 Overall) escaped on Wednesday night would be a massive understatement. The Hawkeyes (3-7 Big Ten, 14-9 Overall) forced 12 turnovers and grabbed 18 offensive rebounds, converting them into 17 second-chance points and15 points off turnovers. After Wisconsin built an 11-point first half lead, Iowa took control for most of the duration, following a technical foul by head coach Fran McCaffery with a 34-14 run that appeared to be enough for yet another upset in Madison.

Once again, the shots simply weren’t falling for Wisconsin. UW started the 2^nd half 5-for-20 from the field and managed to shoot just 12-for-45 in the 2^nd half and overtime. But after being outrebounded at one=point by 12, the Badgers started to control the glass and makes shots, doing just enough to get into overtime. Once there, Wisconsin made just one field goal in 10 minutes, winning the game at the foul line to the surprise of many in the Kohl Center crowd.

“To close that gap after we were down 9 and send it to overtime, “ UW head coach Bo Ryan said. “That was really gutsy by our guys.”

Although at times shaky, the senior core ultimately came through in the clutch for the Badgers. Senior forward Jared Berggren broke out of a mini-slump with 16 points , 7 blocks, and 14 rebounds for his 2^nd career double double. After struggling at the free throw line again during regulation, Berggren made all four of his free throws in the two overtime periods.

“You get things rolling a bit…” Berggren said of the free throw success. “It’s a free throw, its an easy shot and it should be automatic.”

Wisconsin’s comeback was fueled by a quick stretch that in essence woke up a sleeping giant. Down 9 in the closing minutes, junior guard Ben Brust hit an open jumper for 3 of his game-high 18 points. Junior forward Ryan Evans then found Berggren inside for a traditional three-point play just seconds later, immediately putting the Badgers within a bucket.

“We had two breakdowns immediately…” McCaffery said. “That changed everything because it makes it a one possession game really quickly.”

“It was good that we got something positive, “ Brust said. “Offensively we were in a bit of a slump there.”

While it seemed UW might have dodged a bullet by getting the game into overtime, things did not get any easier heading into the extra frame. Wisconsin failed to notch a single field goal in the first overtime, sending the game to a second extra frame on the backs of a 4-for-4 effort at the free throw line. Once in the second OT, Wisconsin continued to assert itself at the charity stripe, making 9-of-10 while hitting just a single shot from the field. Fortunately, that shot was a three-point bucket by freshman Sam Dekker with just 1:37 left, giving the Badgers a three-point lead they would never relinquish.

“We just kept working…” Berggren said. “We just kept working, showed a lot of fight, and did just enough to get the win.

One of the reasons Wisconsin was able to overcome another poor shooting effort was the defensive effort on Iowa’s leading scorer, Aaron White. Having dominated UW in the past, White did not have as much of an impact on Wednesday night, finishing with 13 points but just a 3-for-13 effort from the floor.

“Overall we did a good job…” Dekker said of the defense on White. “He almost brought them back at the end.”

The Badgers now continued a brutal stretch of play with three straight games against ranked opponents starting with Saturday’s game against No. 3 Michigan. Still squarely in the midst of a tight Big Ten title race, the Badgers know this was an important victory.

“Its a win that hopefully gives us confidence against Michigan coming up…” Dekker said. “Hopefully we can ride this wave and get a streak going.”

Home State Duo Leads Badgers Over Illini

CHAMPAIGN, Ill-  Despite notching a 24-point victory in their last meeting with Illinois, the Badgers were anything but comfortable heading to Champaign to face a desperate Illini team. But on the strength of breakout performances from Illinois natives Ben Brust and Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin was able to get back into the win column with a 74-68 victory.

Having failed to reach the 50-point mark in each of their last three games, the Badgers (6-3 Big Ten, 15-7 Overall) had to be seeing flashbacks when they rushed out to a torrid 5-for-22 start from the field. Fortunately, the Illini (2-7 Big Ten, 15-8 Overall) were dealing with struggles of their own in the early going. Notoriously reliant on jump shots, Illinois couldn’t find the bottom of the basket for most of the first half, heading into the locker room down 33-24 thanks in large part to a 29.6% shooting effort.

With forward Jared Berggren and guards Traevon Jackson and George Marshall all in foul trouble, it was up to the duo of Brust and Kaminsky to pick up the slack. The Illinois natives certainly achieved that goal, with Brust scoring a game-high 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting and Kaminsky adding a career-high 19 of his own coming off the bench, highlighted by an 11-for-13 effort at the free throw line.

“I think it was the flow…” UW head coach Bo Ryan said of Brust. “He got himself some scoring opportunities but the ball has to go through the net.”

The Badgers had been without Kaminsky for the better part of the past 5 contests and benefitted tremendously from his presence, especially with the foul trouble Berggren had to deal with most of the afternoon.

“He was playing really well {before the injury},” Brust said of Kaminsky. “It was good to see him get some confidence back, knock down free throws and knock down a couple of shots. He is really active and that helps.”

Just a few days after failing to shoot a single free throw against Ohio State, the Badgers went to the line 42 times against Illinois, converting those opportunities into 28 points. After a 9-point disadvantage at the line in Columbus, the 18-point UW advantage at the free throw line was enough to put the Badgers over the top on Sunday.

“Last game, we didn’t shoot any free throws…” Kaminsky noted. “Definitely cutting hard, getting fouled, and getting into the bonus was a big emphasis in practice.”

While Wisconsin never lost the lead after regaining it on a Brust three-pointer with 5:54 left in the first half, Illinois had plenty of opportunity to climb back even. After UW came up empty on its first two possessions of the second half, Illinois found itself within 5 and carrying all the momentum.

Still trailing 35-30, the Illini got out on a rare fast break courtesy of a Joseph Bertrand steal, ultimately failing to convert when Myke Henry missed a wide-open attempt at a thunderous dunk. Wisconsin responded on the next possession as Brust hit a three out of the media timeout, effectively shutting the door on the hopes of an Illinois victory.

“It was definitely a fortunate break because we converted,” Brust said. “There are a lot of plays that happen like that during a game but that was a critical one.”

Wisconsin was more aggressive on both ends of the floor, resulting in numerous chances both in the post and for inside-out looks from the perimeter. The penetration UW was able to have on a fairly weak Illini defensive unit was crucial in allowing for the breakout efforts of Brust and Kaminsky as well as the 15 points from senior forward Ryan Evans.

“Getting to the foul line and getting to the post you also have easier shots for your shooters,” Evans said. “I definitely think Ben benefitted from that.”

While Badger fans may be tempted to now shift their attention to Saturday’s matchup with Michigan, Wisconsin still has work to do before the Wolverines head into Madison. Having already lost to Iowa, the Badgers need to find a way to split the season series with a victory on Wednesday in order to maintain their spot in the Big Ten title race and keep the momentum earned in Champaign heading into the upcoming weekend.