The Badgers have got it going and they are having fun. Nate Reuvers walked into the postgame presser with a shirt that said “Greg Gard– Silent Assassin” and the players- D’Mitrik Trice, Micah Potter, and Brevin Prtizl- joked alongside Reuvers throughout the postgame presser.
UW should be excited about the roll they are on. The win over Rutgers gives them their fourth win in a row and their fifth win in six games. The win over Rutgers also makes it consecutive games where they have redeemed a loss from earlier in the season. The win improves Wisconsin’s record in the Kohl Center to 13-1 and now puts them in a tie for second with Michigan State, Iowa, and Penn State. UW’s win along with Ohio State’s win over Maryland puts them just two games behind the Terrapins for first place in the Big Ten. What did we learn from Wisconsin’s big win over Rutgers ?
1. Micah Potter is a difference maker
If it wasn’t already clear, Micah Potter made it abundantly clear today.
The Badgers have begun to play teams a second time around, but the matchup with Rutgers marked the first game the Badgers met an opponent where Potter wasn’t available the first time around. The first meeting with Rutgers on December 11th in New Jersey was the final game Wisconsin would have to play without Potter and he was especially antsy sitting out that one.
“It’s so tough for a team as physical and big as strong as Rutgers, for any big to go in there and play by themselves,” Potter said to reporters two days before the game. “Putting myself in a position to remove maybe three or four of the offensive rebounds, just by getting a body or getting the rebound myself or whatever because it was such a close game.
“Getting Nate a break so he can stay fresh because efficiency goes way down when you’re tired. It was frustrating to be a part of because I know how much I could have helped with that game.”
Potter certainly made sure he made his presence felt the second time around. The junior forward finished the game with 18 points, nine rebounds and a block.
Potter showcased what kind of a difference he could have made in the first game, but beyond that, the difference he could have made over the first ten games of the season. Who knows what the Badgers record could have looked like if he had played the first ten games of the season, but in any case, UW has found their stride and are clicking at the right time with just four regular season games to go.
2. An aggressive Brevin Pritzl is a sight to see
We have seen senior Brevin Pritzl find his stroke and get hot multiple times over the years but rarely has he found his rhythm and gotten his points quite like today. Brevin Pritzl poured in a 17 point effort which is only the fourth time this season he has hit the 15 point mark. The difference lies in the manner that he attacked Rutgers.
This season, Pritzl has scored 15, 17 and 19 points respectively, against the likes of Marquette, Tennessee, and Ohio State, respectively. In each of those contests, the senior guard had the hot hand from three on the way to knocking down to three, four and five threes in those contests, respectively.
Against Rutgers Sunday afternoon, the senior contributed 17 points but did so with the help of only two threes. Throughout the day, he used the threat of his shot to step in for mid range jumpers and occasionally drove in for soft floaters.
We all know what kind of a shooter Pritzl is but it is nice to see the guard find his offense in other ways and stay aggressive. The Badgers would certainly love to see more of this version of the Wisconsin native. Wisconsin improved to 10-0 when he scores in double figures.
3. Depth has become an incredible asset for UW
The Badgers have gone on a nice run here to end the season. With the win over Rutgers, they have now four in a row and five of their last six with just four regular season games left. The roll they are on has also put them in a tie for second with Iowa, Michigan State and Penn State.
One of the biggest keys for UW over the last few games has been the balance they have maintained. After the game, Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell made sure to praise the Badgers for balance and the inability to just focus on one player.
“They’re a tough team to play against,” Pikiell said. “Because you kind of have to pick your poison.”
“Balance,” Potter said earlier in the week when asked what has worked over the stretch. “Different guys show up for different games. Against Nebraska, Brad had 30, the other night, Aleem had 19. Different guys step up. When other guys aren’t on, other guys are on. It’s just the balance of this team. We don’t always have to rely on one guy.”
Against the Scarlet Knights, Potter happened to be one of the players in a groove. Potter went 6-8 from the field, 4-5 from three, and 2-2 from the line. Both Pritzl and Reuvers added 17 while Brad Davison and D’Mitrik Trice contributed nicely with 15 and eight points, respectively.
Earlier in the week, Aleem Ford led the way with 19 points but a diverse scoring attack propelled Wisconsin to the win earlier today. The balance is a stark contrast to a year ago when much of the offense went through Ethan Happ.
Wisconsin is back in action Thursday when they travel to Ann Arbor for a meeting with the Michigan Wolverines.