Overall: B
It wasn’t pretty for Wisconsin but the Badgers found a way to win against Minnesota to make it six in a row.
Wisconsin started off the second half shooting 5-for-9 from the field to build their lead to as much as 12 points but when Minnesota was able to make their run the Badgers missed their next four field goal attempts. The only points Wisconsin could generate during Minnesota’s 14-2 run came from the free throw line as Reuvers knocked down a pair of free throws.
In fact, Wisconsin went close to six minutes without a field goal as Reuvers ended Wisconsin’s drought with a dunk with 8:37 to go in the game.
Wisconsin went down by as many as four points with two minutes to go in the game but managed to score the next five points to help stop any momentum the Gophers had gained.
Davison was able to knock down a pair of free throws before Pritzl’s made three. The Badgers would score on their next two offensive possessions the made dunk by Ford and Pritzl knocking down a pair of free throws too.
Defensively for Wisconsin over the final two minutes, the only made field goal by the Gophers was by Oturu, which gave them a 68-67 lead.
Following Pritzl two made free throws Davison was called for a foul against Carr but he missed both of his free throws. The Badgers couldn’t come up with the defensive rebound as Potter was called for the foul against Oturu as he attempted the putback with about six seconds left.
But Oturu could only split his free throws as he missed his second attempt as Potter was able to come up with the defensive rebound.
One area where Wisconsin was able to have success against Minnesota was taking care of the basketball as the Badgers finished the game with 11 assists to five turnovers. Minnesota was able to turn Wisconsin’s mistakes into seven points.
Game MVP: Brad Davison
Davison was aggressive in hunting for his shot in the first half as 13 of his 20 points came in the first half as he was also responsible for scoring Wisconsin’s last seven points to allow the Badgers to go into the half up three. Outside of being one of Wisconsin’s more consistent scorers against Minnesota he also led the Badgers in rebounds with seven all of them coming on the defensive glass. He also was second on the team in assists with five to one turnover and registered a steal too.