Trailing by as many as 13 in second half, the Wisconsin men's basketball team once again fought its way back into a tough conference match-up, but couldn't get over the hump, falling to No. 11 Purdue 70-62.
As much as the 10-4 Badger start seemed to point toward a continuation of Saturday's offensive surge, the reality was that the Badgers couldn't get that big shot or big rebound like they had the entire second 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 points with just under four minutes left in the game.
""We could smell blood in the water when we cut it to two,"" 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 four 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 six-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 has relied heavily on its top duo throughout the season.
Though redshirt sophomore Ryan Evans contributed 11 points and six 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 seven points on 3 of 14 shooting, the spotlight shined brightly on Taylor's struggles on the offensive end.
Though the newly instated Cousy Award finalist still managed 15 points, five rebounds, and five assists, the rhythm Taylor had played with against Ohio State was nowhere in sight.
""I felt like I 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 might have finally caught up to him.
Purdue junior guard Lewis Jackson put up 18 points, one shy of his career high, while adding four rebounds and five assists. With Purdue's scoring duo of E'Twaun 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 four 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 four-game stretch is arguably among the most important of the season as Wisconsin tries to distance itself from the pack and earn a high seed heading into the NCAA Tournament.
