This past Saturday afternoon, the Wisconsin Badgers did to Michigan State what other teams have done to them this Big Ten season.
Remember when we discussed the Badgers’ first game against Michigan State on January 17, and then the Badgers’ Jan. 24 game at Purdue one week later? We noted in both instances that Wisconsin’s opponent was going to be very mad, following a blowout loss in its previous game. Michigan State, entering that Jan. 17 contest against Wisconsin, had lost to Purdue by 29 in its previous outing. Purdue, entering Jan. 24 versus the Badgers, had gotten spanked by Illinois (more than 15 points) at home in its most recent game.
Both Michigan State and Purdue played mad against Wisconsin. The Spartans and Boilermakers took out their anger on the Badgers, who were not ready to take an opponent’s best punch.
Saturday, though, Wisconsin was the team with a lot to prove. The Badgers had the chip on their shoulder after a pair of road losses to Purdue and Iowa. The Badgers were supremely motivated after Kobe King left the team and Brad Davison got suspended. Every Badger player spilled the tank and left everything on the floor in the Kohl Center against the Spartans. It was just enough to produce the most thrilling, most important, and most satisfying win of a very rough and bumpy ride this season. Wisconsin benefited from being mad.
Now, as the Badgers turn the page, they are once again entering a situation in which their opponent will have steam coming out of its ears.
Minnesota has lost three of its last four games. In fairness to the Golden Gophers, this has been a tough stretch, with three road trips and no games against the soft spots in the Big Ten, Nebraska and Northwestern. Minnesota lost at Rutgers and Illinois while losing to Michigan State at home. The Gophers’ one win in the last four games was a road game at Ohio State. Minnesota and Purdue — of the 12 Big Ten teams pursuing NCAA Tournament berths — are the teams in major bubble trouble. The Big Ten seems to have a fairly decent hold on 10 NCAA bids, but the Gophers and Boilermakers need to start stacking wins to make the cut as well.
Here we go, then. Wisconsin plays an opponent which is likely to go all-out and play — if not its best game — its most energetic game. Michigan State (on Jan. 17) and Purdue (Jan. 24) were pissed off when they played Wisconsin. Minnesota is likely to exhibit the same demeanor on Wednesday in The Barn.
Let’s see if Wisconsin can finally take an opponent’s best punch on the road.