Offense: C
Wisconsin to begin the second half started 3-for-10 from the field, which allowed for Penn State to cut Wisconsin’s nine-point halftime lead over the first 10 minutes in the second half.
In addition, with Penn State trailing only by four heading into the 12 minute media timeout and with Izaiah Brockington set to go to the free throw line after the timeout to attempt to complete the 3-point play the Badgers were going to need to find an answer offensively to make sure the Nittany Lions didn’t take their first lead of the game.
After Brockington missed his free throw attempt the Badgers on their ensuing offensive possession responded as after two missed three’s by Brad Davison as Wisconsin was able to register an offensive rebound off of both of his misses the Badgers finished the offensive possession off with a Nate Reuvers dunk as he was fouled on the play. Reuvers was able to complete the and-one play to put Wisconsin up 44-37 with 9:46 to go in the game.
The four points were the closest Penn State could get in the second half as the Badgers after starting the half 3-for-10 from the field finished the game 7-for-12 (58.3 percent) from the field.
The two biggest offensive possessions by the Badgers over the final 10 minutes of the game, which allowed Wisconsin to take control of the game again came on back-to-back offensive possessions. Kobe King was able to knock down a jumper and Davison followed it up by knocking down a three to give Wisconsin a 50-39 lead.
The Badgers were able to end the second half on a strong note scoring thanks to Micah Potter (four points), Reuvers (four points), King (four points), Davison (three points), and Trevor Anderson (two points) as the four were responsible for scoring the Badgers final 17 points of the game.
Potter was one of three Badgers to reach double figures as Potter scored a career high 24 points, Davison scored 11 points his first game in double figures since scoring 11 against Rider, and King registered 10 points. In addition, both Potter and Davison registered double-doubles against Penn State as both players finished with 13 rebounds. The 13 rebounds by Davison set a new career high.
Overall Wisconsin shot 22-for-55 (40 percent) from the field and only turned the basketball over nine times, which Penn State turned into eight points.
Defense: B
Entering the game against Penn State the Badgers were going to have to limit Penn State’s frontcourt in order to limit the high quality shots around the rim.
Mission accomplished. The 12 points scored by Penn State around the rim were the fewest allowed by the Badgers since the game against Marquette when the Golden Eagles scored 10 points.
Wisconsin’s defense was able to hold forward Mike Watkins to zero points as he missed all three of his field goal attempts. The only two players to reach double figures for Penn State were Lamar Stevens and Brockington as the two scored 19 and 15 points respectively. Although Stevens reached double figures he shot 7-for-17 from the field.
With Wisconsin needing to take post touch opportunities away from Penn State it also made it important to make sure the Nittany Lions didn’t generate many second chance opportunities. Penn State finished with six offensive rebounds, which they turned into nine points.
Due to Wisconsin limiting Penn State’s post touch opportunities at times forced Penn State to settle for three as 21 of their 52 field goal attempts came from 3-point range. But the Nittany Lions struggled to knock down their three’s with consistency as they went 5-for-21 (23.8 percent) and the Badgers held them to shoot 17-for-52 (32.7 percent) from the field.
Wisconsin was able to force Penn State into 10 turnovers as Stevens and Watkins each had three turnovers in the game. In addition, the Badgers were able to register three steals as Davison, King, Anderson all had one steal. The Badgers were able to turn Penn State’s miscues into 10 points.
Overall: B
Wisconsin needed that victory against Penn State after losing to Illinois on Wednesday. The Badgers now have won three consecutive road games.
Wisconsin was able to lead throughout the game against Penn State despite D’Mitrik Trice not scoring for the first time since his freshman season against Florida in the Sweet 16 and Reuvers scoring four points his fewest this season.
With Wisconsin’s two of their top three scorers in Reuvers and Trice combining for four points on a combined 1-for-5 shooting from the field and both playing their fewest minutes of the season, the Badgers were going to need contributions from others.
Wisconsin certainly got that out of Potter against Penn State. Simply put the Nittany Lions didn’t have an answer for him as without his play in the first half the game would have looked a lot different as he was responsible for scoring 18 of Wisconsin’s 31 first half points.
Potter was also critical on the boards as his 13 rebounds tied for the team lead with Davison. Between the two they combined for 26 of Wisconsin’s 40 rebounds as the Badgers outrebounded Penn State 40-to-33.
The Badgers ability to neutralize the play of Penn State’s frontcourt allowed for them to be able to overcome their slow start offensively to begin the second half and register another critical Big Ten road victory.
Game MVP: Micah Potter
Potter put together his best performance to date as a Badger. With Wisconsin struggling to score to begin the game against Penn State it was Potter who scored the Badgers first 12 points of the game. Potter finished the first half with 18 points and he went 4-for-6 from 3-point range. Potter was active throughout the game as 10 of his 13 rebounds came on the defensive glass he also finished the game with one block.