The Badgers’ (8-5 Big Ten, 21-5 overall) January loss to the Wolverines (10-3, 18-7) hurt arguably as much as the Indiana loss that ruined an undefeated season.
Star sophomore guard Nik Stauskas looked unguardable and the usually strong Bo Ryan defense looked extremely mortal. The fact it happened in the Kohl Center didn’t help.
Now, thanks primarily to an incredible performance from junior center Frank Kaminsky, the Badgers are looking as good as they did during their 16-0 run and have announced it with an impressive win at Ann Arbor, Mich.
The game began with the Badgers on a hot start, and one that didn’t really end during the entire first half. Two 3-pointers from redshirt junior Josh Gasser at the wing highlighted a 12-2 Wisconsin run to begin the game.
Michigan looked uncomfortable to start, beginning 4-for-12 from the field. Stauskas struggled the entire game, thanks to Gasser’s defense.
Wisconsin used a dribble-drive attack on offense, unusual for head coach Bo Ryan. The tactic was effective nonetheless given Michigan’s lack of size in the post, which would be progressively more exposed as the game went on.
Kaminsky and sophomore forward Sam Dekker were able to repeatedly attack and out-rebound their counterparts. The duo finished the half with a combined 18 points and 14 rebounds, putting the Badgers up 34-19.
Meanwhile, the Michigan boxscore for the first half looked like an obituary for their offense. The Wolverines finished the first half shooting 7-for-22, with seven turnovers, no assists and their lowest first half point total of the season.
To contrast, Michigan had 43 points at the half last time these teams met in the Kohl Center.
The Wolverines were clearly able to turn it out around in the second half, starting early with two quick 3-pointers from sophomore guard Caris LeVert.
The Wolverines spent much of the half chipping away at the Badgers’ lead, eventually cutting the difference to three with 6:16 to go. LeVert was responsible for most of this, scoring 17 second-half points and finishing the game with 25 total.
However, it was nothing but the Frank Kaminsky show from there. The versatile 7-footer was fed three straight times on the low block, and Michigan head coach John Beilein’s refusal to double-team him meant Kaminsky only had to beat the 6’8” senior forward Jordan Morgan under the basket to score.
Kaminsky registered 10 of his team’s next 13 points, ending the streak with a dagger three from the top of the arc. At that point, the lead had been expanded to 13 points and the game was effectively over.
It was a career night for Kaminsky, who registered his first career double-double with 25 points and 11 rebounds. Dekker was also effective, finishing with 15 and nine.
Junior guard Traevon Jackson was responsible for a lot of offensive flow to these two, driving and kicking out as well as he has all season. The guard registered six assists to zero turnovers. In total, the Badgers turned over the ball twice the whole game.
With this win, Wisconsin has the longest winning streak in the Big Ten and will fly home from Ann Arbor with a statement win in hand.
