In this series, I want to look back on the memorable moments that defined the 2019-20 Badgers. This will not be a top-10 ranking of the best moments of the season from 10-1. Instead, I will go chronologically through the year and find ten moments that made 2019-20 unforgettable for Wisconsin basketball. Each moment will be accompanied by a word that describes this 2019-20 Badger basketball team, and in this fourth installment, that word is balance.
Wisconsin’s offense was as balanced as you could find throughout the entire country. The stat that always impresses me most about the Badger February win streak is that through the first five wins, five different Badgers led the team in scoring; and none of those five players were UW’s leading scorer Nate Reuvers.
On February 18th against Purdue, that leading scorer was none other than Aleem Ford. There were no doubt some dark times, especially early in the year, for the junior swingman. The first time Wisconsin met Michigan State in mid-January, Ford played a total of six minutes and only attempted one shot. Fast forward about a month? The Georgia native is playing the most confident basketball of his career. The Badgers used that confidence to get redemption on a Purdue team that beat the doors off of UW at Mackey Arena.
Ford had a career-high 19 points against the Boilermakers, and shot 5-8 from distance. UW was able to hold off a late Purdue run and win it 69-65 to mark their third-straight victory at the time. Thanks to Ford’s shooting, balanced offense, and excellent free-throw shooting down the stretch Wisconsin closed it out at the Kohl Center. Throughout February and into March, Aleem Ford was a brand new player offensively. The 6-8 sharpshooter had found his range. Badger fans will certainly look forward to seeing what he brings in his senior campaign.