The No. 18 Wisconsin men’s basketball team is 5-3 in the Big Ten Conference after a win and a loss against USC and UCLA this past weekend. After their 70-68 win over Ohio State on Jan.14, head coach Greg Guard earned his 200th victory, and Wisconsin still shows no signs of slowing down.
But can they keep their success through March?
Wisconsin’s tendency in past seasons is that come the new year, there seems to be a downward slip. Last season, the Badgers struggled in the last quarter of the season, where they lost 10 of their last 16 games starting in February.
The Big Ten is not a conference to become comfortable in because truly anything can happen, especially after it expanded to 18 teams. Minnesota upset No. 21 Michigan in overtime, and Northwestern upset Maryland. Maryland and Michigan are right up there with Wisconsin as conference contenders, sitting sixth and second with 6-2 and 5-3 records in the conference, respectively. These upset wins show that no win is guaranteed, and even the lower teams in the conference can catch any team on an off night.
With the Badgers sitting at fifth in Big Ten standings, they have started to find their groove. Their offense has always been prolific, but their defense is now starting to pick up the pace. During their six-game win streak before their Los Angeles road trip, Wisconsin allowed an average of just 67 points per game. This is quite the turnaround from their 88-74 loss against Marquette and 86-80 loss against Illinois earlier this season.
Wisconsin’s loss to UCLA on Tuesday showed the Badgers’ weak spots
Despite averaging 10 turnovers per game this season, Tuesday night told a different story for Wisconsin. The Badgers had 10 turnovers in the first three minutes and 13 for the night. Though they shot 51% and scored 83 points, those possessions in the first half really shifted the game.
Wisconsin cannot keep playing catch-up in games, especially on the road. Their lead at half, 41-36, was not enough to secure the victory. The Bruins outscored the Badgers down low in the second half 18-10. The Badgers have consistently shot well from behind the arc, covering 10 3-pointers in the first half, including five by star guard John Tonje against UCLA. When it comes down to the wire, however, the Badgers struggle using a big man and dominating in the paint.
Despite the loss against UCLA, Tonje and John Blackwell put up 24 and 23 points, respectively, the first Badgers duo to each have 20-plus points since March 2024. The Badgers have done a great job of not relying heavily on one player. The team has worked to improve their ball movement so their entire offense is not just behind one man.
The Badgers head into a home-game stretch this Sunday, Jan. 26 against Nebraska, and aside from their close loss to UCLA, Wisconsin is climbing the rankings. Wisconsin has to focus on expanding their offense to the paint and winning all of their home games left. This will allow for their momentum to roll into the Big Ten Tournament, and ultimately, into the NCAA Tournament in March.
The Badgers have not had success in the past few years in the NCAA Tournament. With conference play heating up, the Badgers must work to seal the wins in pivotal games and continue on the route for success.
