Happy Holidays everyone! Whether or not you got what you wanted for the holiday season, Badger basketball gave you a gift with a HUGE win on Christmas Day!
Last Week
Beat Nebraska 67-53
If you don’t believe in the senior leadership after this game, I can’t help you. A brutal start for the Badgers. The game started with six missed shots and two turnovers. Luckily, the Badger basketball defense is like a more locked down North Pole on Christmas Eve and were only down 10-5 with 8:45 left in the first half. In the last five and a half minutes of the first half, the defense continued as the Badgers went on a 16-5 run. The Badgers led at the break 25-24.
In the 2nd half, the Badgers went 6/12 from deep and extended their lead. Especially with the help of another stifling run of five scoreless minutes for Nebraska. Despite a close game in the first half, Badger basketball ended up shucking the corn.
Beat #12 Michigan State
Streaks are meant to be broken. It had been since March of 2004 that Badger Basketball had taken down Michigan State in the Breslin Center. The first half was back and forth with next to no defense. The second half was mostly the D’Mitrik Trice show. That being said, the Spartans opened up the second half with a 9-0 run. Trice then decided to go on a run all by himself. 13-5.
Good defense and going shot for shot gave the Badgers the upper hand as they came down the home stretch. It came down to free throws which at the forefront of, was Trice. The senior guard went 5/8 from the line. Had another dropped, that would’ve been 30 points. Trice’s leadership has to have Badger basketball fans excited. That, coupled with his ability to shoot from three could make or break the Badgers.
Upcoming Badger Basketball Slate
Monday morning’s AP ranking has the Badgers at #6. That leads the 9 Big 10 teams that are ranked. With games feeling like few and far between this season, we have a massive slate this week. Three conference games that are going to be important, even if the rankings don’t say so.
12/28 vs. Maryland
On Monday, Maryland will come to the Kohl Center. Maryland biggest strength is their interior defense. They average 4 blocks a game as a team, it’ll be a battle of defensive teams. The game will most likely be won at the free throw line. Maryland averages almost 21 free throws a night and shoot under 70%. The Badgers, almost 22 free throws a game, but 77% from the line.
12/31 vs. #21 Minnesota
Minnesota, coming off a huge overtime win against Iowa, will have their sights set on Madison. While the Badgers might not have a Luka Garza on their roster, they do play defense. I don’t see the Badgers giving up 102 points.
1/3 @Penn State
Penn State has started the conference in the basement. However, don’t look past them. They beat Virginia Tech (at the time ranked 15th, now ranked 24th) by 20 points in the beginning of December.
On Wisconsin.