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The Wisconsin Badgers (7-4) dropped a disappointing game to the Villanova Wildcats (9-2) in overtime, 76-66, from Fiserv Forum in Downtown Milwaukee. This is a tough one to swallow.
It was a frustrating 20 minutes in the first half and frustrating five minutes in the overtime. But I’m proud of the way the way the team battled and fought in the second half to force overtime.
It’s unusual to see Wisconsin as disjointed on both ends of the court as they were in the first half and in the overtime Friday night.
Ultimately, the first half was the big killer and I think the team ran out of gas when overtime had begun. UW finished the game with 16 turnovers, which is way too many. I believe eight of them came in the first half, which Villanova scored 10 points on. This Wisconsin team entered the game averaging 10.4 turnovers per game.
That first half UW offensively was 2-for-8 on layups and defensively allowed Villanova to shoot 8-for-19 (42.1%) from 3-point range.
Greg Gard shorted the rotation in the second half, and deservedly so.
That second half, particularly on the defensive end, was some of the best basketball I’ve seen Wisconsin play this season. They looked super connected and looked more together, on a string almost.
That middle 20 minutes of the game is what Wisconsin needs to build upon. That’s the team they need to be and need more guys playing at that championship level that they played at in those 20 minutes. I’m not really into moral victories, but those 20 showed a glimpse of what this team can be.
This team needs to string together a complete performance for all 40 minutes now.
I attended both games at Fiserv Forum. UW-Milwaukee beat South Dakota State 88-87 in the first game.
It was enjoyable to attend and had a March Madness vibe to it. But I am disappointed that there weren’t more Wisconsin Badgers and Milwaukee Panthers fans in attendance.
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