Offense: D
Wisconsin started the game 6-for-11 from the field over the first six minutes and 50 seconds helping them keep pace with the hot shooting Minnesota offense. While Minnesota was able to maintain their hot shooting over the first half the Badgers saw their shooting take a massive dip.
Considering over the remaining time in the first half the Badgers shot 5-for-20 from the field as they never could regain an offensive rhythm in the second half either as the Badgers shot 8-for-36 (22.2 percent) from the field.
One of the reasons for Wisconsin’s inconsistencies on offense was the play of Daniel Oturu for Minnesota. Oturu was able to play physical in the post and was able to find ways of consistently altering shots as he finished with four of Minnesota’s five blocks.
With Wisconsin struggling to knock down their 3-point attempts as the Badgers shot 24.1 percent on 7-for-29 shooting from three and not being able to consistently generate post touches due to Oturu’s defense made it difficult for Wisconsin’s offense to get anything established.
Nate Reuvers led Wisconsin in scoring for a second straight game as he finished with 14 points but shot 6-for-18 from the field and 12 of his 14 points came in the first half.
Wisconsin put three other players in double figures as Aleem Ford and Micah Potter each had 11 points, and D’Mitrik Trice finished with 10 points. Minnesota natives Brad Davison and Tyler Wahl struggled offensively as they scored four and two points respectively. But Davison missed all three of his field goal attempts but made all four of his free throw attempts while Wahl went 1-for-3 from the field.
Despite Wisconsin’s shot attempts not falling the Badgers did do a good job of generating second chances as they collected 15 offensive rebounds turning their second chances into 12 points.