The Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball team came just short of a Big Ten title for the second consecutive season, falling to Michigan in a 53-59 defensive showdown. It was a heartbreaker for the Badgers, as Michigan swept them on the season.
Despite the loss, there were a lot of positives from the game. But there are also plenty of concerns looming over head coach Greg Gard’s squad. Here are the biggest takeaways from the Big Ten championship game as the Badgers gear up for the first round of the NCAA March Madness Tournament.
Shooting drought
Wisconsin had trouble getting their shots to fall against Michigan, shooting only 22.1% from the field and 17.9% from 3. It just wasn’t their afternoon, and the shooting drought ultimately cost them a Big Ten title. John Blackwell led the scoring for the Badgers, coming away with 18 points on 35.3% shooting.
It was by far Wisconsin’s worst offensive showing of the season, and it comes arguably at the worst time possible — right before the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Badgers’ offense came back to life during the Big Ten tournament following the return of Max Klesmit, but the wheels came off against the Wolverines.
While Michigan had a great defensive game plan, it’s also worth noting that Wisconsin does not match up well with the Wolverines. Centers Danny Wolf and Vlad Goldin have terrorized the Badgers this year, and their physicality has dramatically hindered their offensive efficiency. In their two matchups, Wisconsin only averaged 58.5 points on 28.0% shooting and 19.7% from beyond the arc. The Wolverines simply have had the Badgers’ number, and it showed on the court twice this season.
Wisconsin has struggled against elite big men like Wolf and Goldin all year long. They’re sure to face other premier post players in the tournament, so it’s imperative to adapt and game plan accordingly.
Defensive slugfest
In their first meeting, the Wolverines held the Badgers to 64 points, their lowest point total of the regular season. Both defenses came to play once again in the Big Ten championship game in the low-scoring affair, and Michigan held Wisconsin to under 60 points for the first time all season.
The Badgers did an excellent job of rebounding against the Wolverines, racking up a whopping 46 total rebounds including 31 defensive rebounds. For context, Michigan had 18 offensive rebounds in the semifinals vs. Maryland, but they only totaled six on the day against Wisconsin.
This was a good showing from the Badgers, as rebounding hasn’t necessarily been one of their strong points this season. Opponents average 34.0 rebounds per game against Wisconsin, 12th best in the Big Ten. If they can continue to step up on defense and pick up crucial rebounds, the Badgers’ odds of making it further into the dance drastically improve.
Michigan’s Tonje treatment
John Tonje had an electric performance throughout the Big Ten Tournament, averaging 25 points per game in the three previous tournament contests. He clearly put Michigan on notice, as the Wolverines’ defensive game plan primarily focused on the star guard. Defenders rushed to guard Tonje if he ever got into open space, and as a result, he had a goose egg in the first period.
Tonje, being the player he is, started to pick up the heat in the second half. He started to drive and take more shots in the paint, drawing four fouls. Tonje ended the day with nine points, seven of them coming off free throws. But he went 0-for-5 on 3-point attempts.
The Tonje treatment is especially worrisome for the NCAA Tournament. He is Wisconsin’s best player by far, and the rest of the team couldn’t carry their weight against Michigan when Tonje got locked up. Other teams will likely implement the same defensive strategy during March Madness, and the Badgers need to find a way to adjust if they want to make a deep run in the tournament.
Wisconsin had an uncharacteristic afternoon offensively. Michigan held Tonje under 10 points for the first time since January, and the Badgers scored less than 60 points for the first time in over a year. They’ll need to put their loss in the rearview mirror fast, as they have a quick turnaround and square off against the No. 14 seed Montana Grizzlies in the round of 64 in the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
The Badgers earned a No. 3 seed in the East region and will attempt to make some more noise in March this year after they were bounced in the first round last season.
Back-to-back losses in the Big Ten Tournament Championship are tough to stomach. But it serves as a timely reminder of the challenges ahead. The painful feeling of defeat is fresh in the minds of the Badgers, and Gard’s squad will, without a doubt, be heading into March Madness with a vengeance.
The Big Ten title slipped through their fingers, but the real prize is still within reach. Let the dance begin.
