Offense: F
D’Mitrik Trice just made a three with 7:13 to go in the game to put Wisconsin up 57-45. It appeared the Badgers were taking control of the game especially with how well the Badgers came out shooting the basketball in the second half.
The problem was even with a 12-point lead it wasn’t safe especially when Wisconsin has struggled to shoot the basketball on the road this season.
Wisconsin’s road shooting woes weren’t more evident than the Badgers closing out the game by shooting 2-for-9 from the field, which includes missing four straight shots. To make matters worst the Badgers in that same stretch committed four of Wisconsin’s nine turnovers in the game.
The four turnovers that were created by Iowa was due to the pressure the Hawkeyes were supplying in their attempt of making their successful comeback as five of the nine points Iowa scored off of Wisconsin’s turnovers came off of those four turnovers too.
Prior to Wisconsin’s epic second-half collapse on offense, the Badgers were shooting 50 percent (11-for-22) from the field, which allowed for the Badgers to start building their lead up to double digits. As the Badgers over the first 13 minutes of the second half were able to strike a balance between getting the basketball on the inside and creating open looks from three.
Wisconsin finished the game shooting 24-for-64 (37.5 percent) from the field and 8-for-28 (28.6 percent) from three.
The Badgers had two players in double figures. Trice finished the game with 16 points on 5-for-10 shooting from the field and Nate Reuvers had 13 points on 6-for-15 shooting from the field.
Defense: F
While Wisconsin was trying to buy a bucket to end the game the Hawkeyes efficient offense was starting to heat up.
As the Badgers closed the game shooting 2-for-9 from the field the Hawkeyes finished the game 4-for-8 from the field but most importantly with Wisconsin in foul trouble went 14-for-18 from the free throw line.
With Reuvers and Micah Potter both dealing with foul trouble the Hawkeyes smartly attacked the Badgers frontcourt defense as Iowa finished the game with 28 points in the paint. Not wanting to foul out of the game the Badgers at times couldn’t attempt to try and block a shot as they finished the game with four blocks as three came in the first half.
Wisconsin’s frontcourt defense was able to affect Luka Garza’s shot attempts at times but the talented big man still led Iowa in scoring as he was one of four players to reach double figures.
Garza finished the game with 21 points but shot 6-for-17 from the field. Freshman CJ Fredrick finished with 17 points on 5-for-10 shooting from the field, Joe Wieskamp had 12 points, and Joe Toussaint finished with 11 points.
Iowa entering the game against Wisconsin was one of the more dangerous 3-point shooting teams over conference play but the Badgers were able to hold them to shoot 3-for-20 from distance and overall shot 20-for-60 (33.3 percent) from the field.
Overall: F
Brad Davison’s flagrant foul with 32 seconds to go in the game and with the Badgers down 62-59 completely changed the complexion of the game. Instead of getting the basketball back out of the timeout following Wieskamp’s made layup resulted in Iowa shooting a pair of free throws, which they split and getting the basketball back.
Luka Garza was fouled following the technical foul free throws and like Connor McCaffery he made one of two but instead of being down 62-59 with possession of the basketball the Badgers were down 64-59 with 28 seconds remaining.
Considering how Wisconsin was shooting the basketball down the stretch made the deficit seem insurmountable.
Wisconsin was able to make some improvements since the Badgers last game against Purdue. But the Badgers were still outrebounded 46-to-40. Garza finished with a team high 18 rebounds as six of them came on the offensive glass as the Hawkeyes finished the game with 13 offensive rebounds, which they turned into 16-second chance points.
With Tyler Wahl filling in for Kobe King as a starter as King missed the game due to a personal matter Wahl played 26 minutes and finished the game 2-for-6 from the field for four points. After Trice’s team-leading nine rebounds Wahl’s seven ranked second on the team.
Game MVP: D’Mitrik Trice
Trice did well in setting up his teammates and was one of the key reasons as to why the Badgers were able to build a second half lead. As Trice was a rebound shy of registering his second career double-double as he finished the game with 16 points, nine rebounds, six assists to one turnover, and a steal.