There are times in life when something important happens, and everyone in the room knows something important happened, but the surprise and shock of the moment don’t allow people to state the blunt truth.
What is a good example of this? I am not trying to be a political partisan here (I have my own views, believe me, but I won’t insert those views into my work here at Badgers Wire…), but I can use the example of the 2016 presidential election.
Whether you loved or hated one of the two presidential candidates (or maybe both!), the outcome of the 2016 presidential election, made plain late on the night of November 8, 2016, and into the early hours on November 9, was one of those moments referred to above.
Something important happened. Everyone in the country knew something important happened. A lot of people were surprised and shocked. Yet, the reaction to the event — while certainly highly emotional and polarized for much of the country — was also met with an enduring disbelief. Maybe you liked what happened. Maybe you hated what happened. Again, this isn’t a commentary or verdict on the quality of the candidates, or a statement of approval (or disapproval) on what happened. I am only illustrating HOW people react to important events.
Very simply, I can tell you that friends and family of mine are STILL surprised by what happened in November of 2016, as though they still can’t believe it. They still think of that moment as hard to fathom, as though we’re still the country we were BEFORE November 8, 2016, and we just have to get it back.
Here is the point, and here is the transition to this basketball column about Wisconsin after its win over Purdue on Tuesday night: When a hugely important event occurs, people have to give themselves permission to speak the central truth of that event out loud, so that they can come to grips with it and fully accept that YES, this seismic event is REAL and now part of our lives. When something important happens, what we think internally needs to be said publicly, with our friends and neighbors, so that we can all make sure we outwardly know and communicate the big truths of our lives.
For the 2020 Wisconsin basketball team, we know something hugely important happened on Saturday, Feb. 1. We all knew it was pretty damn significant when it happened. Yet, a lot of us were shocked that it happened, as enjoyable as the moment was. This REALLY happened?
Wisconsin really did beat Michigan State without Kobe King AND Brad Davison? Wisconsin really did force Xavier Tillman of Michigan State to go 3 of 15 from the field? Wisconsin really did limit Michigan State to three points in six and a half minutes down the stretch, which enabled the Badgers to survive despite scoring only four points in the final 7:32 of regulation?
Yes, that really happened. We know it happened… but now we have to come out and say it plainly: That win over Michigan State saved Wisconsin’s season. We probably thought it at the time, but let’s now say it loud and proud: That was, and is, and always will be, the moment when this season became different.
Yeah, a few people will say, “Well DUH, of course! Wow, really? You mean to tell me that winning a game without two starters against Tom Izzo, snapping a two-game losing streak, saved the Wisconsin Badgers’ season? And they PAY you to say obvious things like that?”
Sure, some people said it out loud after that game, but not the whole community. Moreover, when Wisconsin no-showed at Minnesota on February 5, a lot of people wondered if that MSU win really did mean something. That’s part of why I am circling back NOW to reemphasize the point.
After Tuesday’s win over Purdue, we can say it. Why now? Because Wisconsin probably doesn’t win this game if it hadn’t beaten Michigan State on Feb. 1.
Purdue and Matt Painter rolled out a nine-man rotation — nine players playing 13 or more minutes, eight playing 17 or more. Wisconsin had essentially a seven-man rotation, plus Tyler Wahl playing six minutes. Wisconsin’s seven beat Purdue’s nine. The Badgers won a Big Ten game against a decent team despite Nate Reuvers going 3 of 10 from the field and D’Mitrik Trice going 3 of 11.
If UW had lost to Michigan State on Feb. 1, this team doesn’t beat Purdue. Am I wrong?
That win over the Spartans set the stage for this win and this February surge. It was and is and will remain the most important turning point of UW’s season. It’s time to say it out loud.