Five takeaways from Wisconsin’s 74-64 opening win over Eastern Illinois

The Badgers open the season 1-0

The Badgers began the 2020-2021 campaign the same way they started last season: a win at home over Eastern Illinois. Both games were a tale of two halves, but the narrative was flipped.

Wednesday night was all Wisconsin through the first 20 minutes where the Badgers locked down defensively and built a 43-20 lead at the break. The Panthers stormed back with 47 second half points and ended up falling 77-67.

With freshman making their Wisconsin debuts, a Badger team that looked completely different from one half to the next, and ultimately a 1-0 start to the year, here are five takeaways from the opening win: