Wisconsin Badgers Men’s Basketball: Michigan Recap, Part II

Shortly after securing a road victory over Nebraska, Wisconsin Badgers No. 21 men’s basketball team (15-7 overall, 9-6 B1G) welcomed third-placed Michigan Wolverines (14-1 overall, 9 -1 Big Ten) to the Kohl Center for a final Valentine’s Day showdown.

The last time the two teams met, Michigan was unmistakably superior, dominating the Badgers 77-54 in mid-January. Since then, the Wisconsin game has been quite irregular, but they have entered the game as winners of two of the last three games. Michigan, on the other hand, made the trip to Madison after the end of the 23-day program for COVID-19.

After the long wait, it took Michigan some time to readjust, but in the end they took care of the Badgers on Sunday afternoon, 67-59, after a big recovery in the second half.

After a few round-trips in the first minutes, the two teams entered the first media timeout tied in five. Leaving the timeout, Aleem Ford started work and gave the Badgers a three point lead with 11:12 remaining to play in the first half. The senior striker scored 11 of the first 15 points for Wisconsin and hit 4 of 4 on the ground in that period.

The Badgers were able to stay a little ahead at the eight and a half minute mark behind some hot kicks, but over the next five minutes Wisconsin was able to increase their lead to 10 points with 3:37 remaining in the first half.

In the final minutes of the break, Wisconsin was able to increase its lead and went into the break with a 39-27 lead over Michigan.

In the first five minutes of the break, Michigan would make an 8-1 run to reach six points, with Wisconsin starting with 1 out of 5 from the ground.

However, freshman Jonathan Davis would make things happen for the Badgers, with four quick points to increase Wisconsin’s lead to seven points with 12 minutes remaining in the game, and slow Michigan’s race.

Michigan was able to reduce the deficit to three points with 8:30 to play, while Wisconsin went into a three-minute scoring drought.

In the final eight minutes, Michigan would open its doors and eventually move away from the Badgers for an eight-point victory and heart-breaking defeat for Wisconsin.

• D’Mitrik Trice -> 16 points (4 of 11 from the floor), five rebounds, three assists
• Aleem Ford -> 15 points (5 of 8 from the ground), two rebounds
• Isaiah Livers (Michigan) -> 20 points (8 of 16 from the floor), seven rebounds
• Hunter Dickinson (Michigan) -> 11 points (3 of 9 from the floor), 15 rebounds, five blocks

No. 1: Energy

One of the Badgers’ main weaknesses this season has been a lack of energy at times. Opponents have been able to swallow loose balls and dictate the game very often. The first time these two teams met was a perfect example, as Michigan’s defensive intensity and aggression in the attack made them pass the Badgers with relative ease.

In this rematch, however, it was Wisconsin who saw the pauses go their way due to the improvement in intensity. While Michigan still managed to gain some offensive rebounds, the Badgers won about 50-50 balls that in previous games would probably have happened otherwise.

Wisconsin played much better in defense and the team played aggressive. The energy and the best play on the defensive end proved to help them on the other end of the court as well, as Wisconsin was able to keep Michigan with the lowest score in one half of this season, while shooting more than 50% at the same time time Time. This is a strong recipe for success.

Michigan came out in the second half with a lot of energy and confidence to turn the tide in their favor and, in the end, proved to be too good for the Badgers. Wisconsin failed to charge its defensive energy in the second half, with Michigan hitting 48% in the second half and more than 42% in three.

No. 2: hot photos

After battling for the better half of last month by shooting the ball, the Badgers broke their kick in an important way in the first half against Michigan. Everything was falling for Wisconsin by three (71%) and as a team they ended up half kicking 54% of the ground in general. Both Micah Potter and Aleem Ford played very well in the first half, and combined to score 20 points in a perfect 8 out of 8 shot. This explosion of scores was huge for the Badgers, as it gave them a 12 point advantage at halftime.

The second half, however, was far from spectacular for Greg Gard’s group. Wisconsin froze in the second half, shooting just 25% off the ground and hitting a bad 1 out of 12 out of three.

Michigan got hot in the second half and beat Wisconsin by 20, while kicking much better, including 11 of 14 on the free-throw line.

The fluctuation in the production of pitches played an important role in the game, since outside of Jonathan Davis nobody could do much to attack in the second half for the Badgers.

No. 3: big disappointment

The Wisconsin greats were completely outnumbered by Hunter Dickinson and the Michigan front line.

Micah Potter had a good stretch in the first half, but the pair of Potter and Reuvers were unable to protect the ledge and struggled to keep Michigan out of the offensive glass.

While the Wolverines overtook the Badgers by just four in total, Wisconsin allowed 11 offensive rebounds which in turn resulted in 15 second chance points. Hunter Dickinson personally took 15 boards and also added five blocks, and he was a big reason why Michigan was also +10 in points in the painting.

Both 1.80m tall, Potter and Reuvers combined for ZERO rebounds and failed to hold up against Michigan.

In a game in which Wisconsin was in desperate need, its two great opponents disappointed them and were once again defeated by opposing attackers. Issues around rebounds and self-defense have routinely surfaced for the Badgers this year, but neither rebound by Wisconsin’s big two is not good enough. Especially when they agreed to play 40 minutes.

Next: Wisconsin will have another difficult confrontation coming up, hosting Iowa at the Kohl Center on Thursday. The tip time is set at 6pm CST and will be broadcast on ESPN.