On February 6th, the day after Wisconsin suffered an 18-point defeat at Minnesota, the Badgers sat at 6-6 in the middle of the Big Ten Conference. Today, March 8th, UW has clinched a share of the Big Ten title and ended the year on an eight-game winning streak. Let’s look back at how they reached the top of the Big Ten.
The streak saw a variety of Badgers step into the leading role offensively, beginning with Brevin Pritzl at home against the Buckeyes on February 9th. The best pure shooter on this Badger team put on a show from beyond the arc. The senior went 5-6 from deep en route to 19 points and led UW to a 70-57 win. That game was also the debut of the retro jerseys inspired by the 2000 underdog final four team. There has been something special in those throwback whites that is reminiscent of magic from 2000, and the Badgers have kept wearing them at home since the OSU win.
At Nebraska, it was Brad Davison’s turn. The emotional leader of the squad led the Badgers to a double digit win over the Huskers by pouring in eight threes and dropping a season-high 30 points. As the win streak continued, so did the offensive balance. Through the first five wins, five different Badgers lead Wisconsin in scoring. Even more impressive from a depth perspective is the fact that UW only plays eight players in the normal rotation. Also shocking about the five different scoring leaders is the fact that the teams leading scorer, Nate Reuvers, was not one of them.
D’Mitrik Trice certainly became the point guard that Wisconsin needed him to be throughout these eight games. Not only did the junior eclipse the 1,000 career points mark at Indiana yesterday, but he also averaged nearly six assists throughout Wisconsin’s win streak. The clutch gene was not only present in Trice, but the entire Badger team over the last month. Whether it was going 8-8 from the line to close out Purdue at home in the final minute, Pritzl’s clutch three against the Gophers, or yesterday’s heroics at Assembly Hall, the Badgers found a way. Can we get another look at the Pritzl heroics?
Knew it the moment he flicked it
🗣 Best shooter in the country#OnWisconsin » #Badgers pic.twitter.com/0pAfMr7RVu
— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) March 2, 2020
This team has learned how to win when shots aren’t falling, odds are stacked against them, and they have to grind it out. The lesson of winning has been learned at the perfect time as the Badgers get ready for the madness.