The Wisconsin Badgers (15-11, 7-9 B1G) lose a heartbreaker to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (17-10, 9-7 B1G) at the Kohl Center, 58-57, in a game that was very important for both teams.
This is not winning math: the Badgers made just one shot inside the arc (1-10) in the second half and paid the price for 2-point inefficiency, a season long problem. Tough to survive with only seven makes after intermission, and they didn’t. Squandering 23 bench points from Kamari McGee and Jordan Davis.
UW had stretches of 5:12 and 3:36 without a basket.
McGee and Davis stepped up when the team desperately needed them to on a day when Chucky Hepburn battled foul trouble and made just 2-of-7 from the field, while Connor Essegian struggled for the first time this season as he failed to make a field goal (0-for-10), which Rutgers deserves all of the credit for that with their stifling defensive effort on Essegian.
For you stat freaks: both teams scored 1.018 PPP (Points Per Possession). Aundre Hyatt’s tip-in was with 1:08 left, which proved to be the difference.
My thoughts on that tip-in by Hyatt: on replay, it appears the ball was still in the cylinder, which should have been an offensive goaltending. However, Tyler Wahl didn’t box out Wyatt on the play. Little things win you games.
The Badgers ran a lot of great sets, but they couldn’t knock the shots down.
Tyler Wahl needs to get more touches on offense. He’s a better player when he operates downhill, rather than from the post, but has executed out of both looks.
Wahl only had five shots today, which he made three of them. That number needs to be around 10 attempts, if not more.
It appears that instead of feeding Wahl, UW has given Steven Crowl more touches, who, frankly, hasn’t been efficient or physical enough during the second half of the season.
The UW offense needs to run through Tyler Wahl. He’s shown the ability to score off the dribble, in the post and set teammates up for good looks when defenses send double teams.
If the Badgers don’t get Wahl going again, like during the 11-2 start to the season, then it’s going to be tough to win games.
Just a disappointing finish to a very winnable game for Wisconsin in a game they needed to get.
Up Next:
The Badgers take on the Iowa Hawkeyes (16-9, 8-6 B1G) at the Kohl Center on Wednesday, February 22nd. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. (Central Time) and will be televised on the Big Ten Network (BTN).
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