The 10th-ranked Wisconsin Badgers secured the regular season Big Ten championship with a 70-67 victory over the eighth-ranked Purdue Boilermakers on Tuesday.
Few games in recent memory have lit up the Kohl Center like Tuesday’s. A crowd of 17,287, most of whom followed the whiteout dress code, began encircling the arena over two hours early and poured inside well before tipoff. They proceeded onto the court as well, not seconds after the final buzzer.
Anticipation for the critical late-season matchup didn’t appear to suffer much despite Purdue’s Saturday loss to Michigan State, which dropped them from their fourth-ranked position and put Wisconsin in the driver’s seat in the conference standings. Thus, the Kohl Center was unwaveringly loud.
In a rematch of the January 3 game, a 74-69 Wisconsin win, the two teams battled it to the last second of clock.
The Badgers took a 33-28 lead into halftime despite minimal contributions from leading scorers Johnny Davis and Brad Davison, who combined for a mere six points — and one made field goal — in the opening 20.
Jahcobi Neath, in his second game back from a one-game suspension, hit a go-ahead three-pointer with 4:28 remaining and the Badgers maintained that lead going into the break.
Things remained close until a few minutes into the second half, when baskets on three consecutive Wisconsin possessions, including three-pointers by Chucky Hepburn and Brad Davison, gave the Badgers a 45-36 advantage with 14:16 on the clock.
Purdue climbed back into it with three consecutive scores by guard Jaden Ivie before 7’4” center Zach Edey tied the game 52-52. Neither team built much of a lead for the last seven-plus minutes.
Then, with 11 seconds to go, Ivie hit a game-tying three-pointer. The sophomore led the Boilermakers with 22 points and five assists while adding five rebounds. Along with Edey (17 points, nine rebounds), Ivie was the catalyst for Purdue’s offense.
Wisconsin had one shot to avoid overtime and secure the victory. Hepburn dribbled upcourt to the left, stepped back then banked in a game-winning three-pointer with a second remaining. The shot wasn’t exactly a beauty, but Hepburn didn’t seem to have much doubt about it.
“I knew we were about to be Big Ten champs after I released it,” Hepburn said.
Tyler Wahl stole a desperation pass and, having ended the 70-67 victory, prompted the Kohl Center faithful to surge past any feeble security efforts. Camp Randall Stadium’s crowd stormed the field after a win over Iowa this past fall, but Tuesday’s victory felt far more deserving of such a mob.
Wahl led Wisconsin scorers with 19 points and also tallied five steals. Though the junior forward has averaged only 11.5 points per game this season, he excelled on the biggest stage yet.
Johnny Davis, despite a frustrating first half against an impressive Purdue defense, finished with 16 points, eight rebounds and an assist. Regardless of individual production, Davis’ skill and demand for attention make him immensely valuable when he’s on the court.
Hepburn, the man of the hour, added 17 points and a pair of assists. Not long into his college career, the freshman may have etched himself into Wisconsin basketball lore. Of course, to what extent Tuesday’s game-winner is remembered partially depends on how the Badgers fare in postseason play.
Wisconsin plays Nebraska in what’s little more than an exhibition game Sunday before entering the Big Ten Tournament, which begins March 9, as the top seed. Then, assuming at least a decent performance in the tournament, the Badgers will earn a high seed in the NCAA Tournament.
There, contrary to any and all preseason expectations, Wisconsin will have a legitimate shot at a national championship. March Madness is appropriately named, and every round can present unforeseen challenges no matter the seed, but these Badgers are undoubtedly well-equipped for a deep run.
Wisconsin fans, whose emphatic support for this team was apparent as ever in the Kohl Center on Tuesday, figure to travel well this spring.
Athletic Director Chris McIntosh spoke on-court during the postgame celebration and echoed the general love surrounding coach Greg Gard’s current squad.
“Tonight, I know three things,” McIntosh said. “The first, we’ve got the best damn fans in the league. Our student section tonight was out of this world. Two, we’ve got the best damn coaches in the league. Coach of the Year. C’mon! And I know one thing. We’ve got the best damn team in the league.”
