Looking for revenge after a tough overtime loss in East Lansing last month, the Badgers certainly did their best to make amends as they pulled away to an 82-56 win Sunday at the Kohl Center.
Michigan State (5-6 Big Ten, 13-10 overall) never led in this one, trailing the entire way after the first of three three-point shots from senior forward Keaton Nankivil, giving the Badgers a 5-2 lead less than two minutes in.
Although Nankivil finished with 11 points for Wisconsin (7-3, 17-5), this one was all about junior guard Jordan Taylor. Finally getting consideration as one of the nation's top players, Taylor took advantage of having the national spotlight on him as he posted a career-high 30 points to go along with six assists to just one turnover.
""I know he's improved his game, but today was another level,"" Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo said. ""I think he played like one of the best guards in the country, not in the Big Ten, today.""
After missing three of his first four field goal attempts, the Cousy Award finalist knocked down eight of his final nine shots, finishing nine 9-for-13 from the field including three of four from downtown.
""I've got confidence in my teammates and they've got confidence in me,"" Taylor said. ""If you're confident in it, it should be a good shot.""
With Michigan State trailing just 10-9 seven minutes in, a Tim Jarmusz three-pointer seemed to be the early dagger in the heart for the Spartans, marking the start of a 14-2 Badger run that put this one to bed.
While Taylor and senior forward Jon Leuer (20 points, six rebounds) accounted for 50 of UW's 82 points, the offensive production was spread around. All five Badger starters finished with at least five points, with three posting double digits as the team shot a collective 59 percent from the field.
""We made some tough shots today,"" UW head coach Bo Ryan said. ""Michigan State was guarding the heck out of us.""
""If [the Badgers] shoot like that, they'll win the national championship,"" Izzo added. ""They've got some depth and a guard who's playing as well as anyone in the country.""
Now losers of four of five, the Spartans are on the brink of seeing a promising season head down a slippery slope that could spell the end of their 13-year NCAA tournament streak, the longest in the Big Ten and third longest in the nation.
Meanwhile, the Badgers officially re-entered the national conversation and even reclaimed an outside chance at the Big Ten title.
""Since that Michigan State loss we've taken it upon ourselves to create an identity,"" Nankivil said. ""I think in the games we've had since then, for the most part, we've done a better job of playing the way we want to play and the way we play best.""
With undefeated No.1 Ohio State set to visit the Kohl Center on Saturday, the Badgers have to focus on getting a road win against an improved Iowa team on Wednesday in a game that screams trap game. But if today's performance is any indication, this is a team focused squarely at the task on hand.
