By halftime, it seemed like Wisconsin had tempted fate by giving the student section ‘three’ signs. The Badgers (10-5 Big Ten, 23-5 overall) were down 29-19 to a reeling Indiana team (5-9, 15-12) and had shot an anemic 1-for-10 from deep.
Things played out just a little differently in the second half, with the Badgers outscoring the Hoosiers by 21 during the half en route to a 69-58 victory. Clearly, adjustments had been made.
“I do think we did a better job when we went to the zone in the second half of getting more movement, we got a little stagnant,” senior guard Ben Brust said. “Other than that, nothing really different, just have confidence and knock down open looks.”
Brust had a point. For the first half, the Badgers were only out-rebounded 21-17 and only committed two turnovers. Shots were just not falling.
Brust in particular served as a microcosm of this tale of two halves, shooting 0-4 from three point range in the first half, then going 3-for-6, with all the made shots serving as momentum swings.
“Ben always thinks the next one’s going in. As long as he keeps playing defense and doing what he does, taking care of the ball, the shot will fall,” head coach Bo Ryan said. “You can trust me on that one.”
As a team, Wisconsin shot 7-of-27 from the field in the first half, then 13-of-21 in the second. It took the Badgers six minutes to equal their first half score.
“[We] got some good looks, much better looks in the second half. Good ball movement,” Ryan said. “We made some good decisions. I mean, one turnover in that whole second half.”
Wisconsin finished with three turnovers.
The Badgers’ revenge tour is now as complete, barring certain Big Ten tournament matchups. Of course, the tour came full circle Tuesday, ending where the woes began, against Indiana.
January’s matchup saw the Hoosiers score 52 points in the paint. This matchup featured an even 22-22. The Hoosiers also only visited the free throw line three times.
Indiana sophomore guard Yogi Ferrell and freshman forward Noah Vonleh led their team with 24 and 18 points, respectively. Senior forward Will Sheehey began the game by scoring the team’s first seven points, but went scoreless from then forward.
The win makes 12 in a row at home against Indiana for the Badgers, who leaned heavily on their starters to turn the tide. Every starter finished with double-digit points and at least 30 minutes played.
“Not only can their starters shoot the ball, but they can pass the ball,” Indiana head coach Tom Crean said. “A lot of times you’re getting ready for one or two guys to be very good passers. Their whole team is.”
Wisconsin now sits one-and-a-half games back from Big Ten-leading Michigan. A Big Ten regular season title would require the Badgers to win out and for Michigan to lose two more games. In this year’s Big Ten, you just can’t count anything out.
