In a thoroughly weird college basketball season — a season so odd that Ohio State is 1-4 in the Big Ten without having played Michigan or Michigan State — Wisconsin has been part of the weirdness. Yet, the Badgers have contributed to this bizarre season in ways which aren’t entirely bad.
The 5-5 start was bad, but in January, the Badgers have been a mostly pleasant surprise in the Big Ten. How surprising? Get this: Imagine being told on Christmas Day that Wisconsin — the same team which couldn’t tie its shoelaces away from the Kohl Center in November and early December — would enter its January 14 (Tuesday) game against Maryland as the Big Ten team with the most total road wins (3). Imagine being told that this Wisconsin team which was a total mess away from Madison in the first month of the season would enter January 14 as the Big Ten leader in conference road wins (2).
Wisconsin can’t let home games against other Big Ten bubble teams such as Illinois slip away. UW badly needs that win on Tuesday against Maryland. However, we can focus more on that game when it arrives in a few days. For now, simply appreciate the enormity of the turnaround Wisconsin has made on the road. Ohio State is struggling, and to be brutally honest about it, Penn State is struggling as well. Yet, Wisconsin was hardly a clear favorite heading into Columbus on Jan. 3. It was hardly a clear favorite heading into State College on Saturday, Jan. 11. Yet, it won both games, and it did so despite scoring an average of just under 60 points per game — 61 against Ohio State, 58 on Saturday versus Penn State.
There are still two months left in the season — two months for the Badgers to develop on offense and find a more blended, consistent attack. Two months isn’t an eternity, but two months do give UW some time and space in which to grow. Maybe by early March, this offense will purr with efficiency and precision. However, in the short run — certainly in the next few weeks — Wisconsin will need to remain the team it became against Ohio State and Penn State: a defensive terror which causes opponents to hesitate and punishes skilled players if they don’t work hard without the ball.
That was the defining aspect of this win over Penn State: The Nittany Lions were asking for the ball on passes from teammates instead of actually working to get open. Penn State expected it could create shots with one-on-one play instead of using harmonious, five-as-one offense to create good scoring chances with ball movement and player movement. The ball stuck for Penn State, and Wisconsin showed no mercy, holding PSU under 50 points.
We have said it for the past several weeks: Wisconsin has to play and win street fights, because its offense is not a very developed one. That developmental process might require the whole season. The Badgers certainly aren’t close to where they need to be on offense. The defense has to carry them.
What’s good: Wisconsin can play like this on the road. Now, let’s see if the Badgers can defend like that at home.
Did we say this was a weird season?