Wisconsin basketball just put together its best week of the season. It ends with a 93-87 loss to Illinois in the Big Ten Tournament final, but it positioned the Badgers well entering the NCAA Tournament.
The week: a dynamic blowout win over Maryland, a comfortable win over Northwestern without point guard Chucky Hepburn, an electrifying upset win over Zach Edey and top-ranked Purdue and Sunday’s narrow loss to Illinois.
Greg Gard’s team entered the week having lost eight of its last 11 games. It exits having played its best week of basketball and riding terrific momentum entering March Madness.
Sunday’s loss to Illinois did not see that momentum leave. The Badgers played with, and even ahead of, a terrific Fighting Illini team from the opening tip. Despite Terrance Shannon and Marcus Domask going for 34 and 26 points respectively, Wisconsin was there at the end with a few minutes remaining.
A loss is a loss, and Illinois is your 2024 Big Ten Tournament champion. But there are positive things to note as Wisconsin moves on to the NCAA Tournament. Here are our takeaways from the narrow loss:
Mar 17, 2024; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Terrence Shannon Jr. (0) plays the ball in the second half against the Wisconsin Badgers at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
Shannon and Domask were unstoppable for Illinois, while A.J. Storr and Chucky Hepburn were practically unstoppable for Wisconsin.
No team ever led by more than 10 points as the contest was back and forth from the opening tip to the closing moments.
We saw the trading of haymaker shots that every great March college basketball game seems to have.
The Big Ten could not have asked for a more entertaining finale.
Mar 17, 2024; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn (2) plays the ball defended by Illinois Fighting Illini guard Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn (2) in the second half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
Illinois entered with the No. 4-ranked offense in the nation and with a team that likes to run.
This Wisconsin team is faster than many in the past, but it still isn’t one of the fastest-paced teams in the nation.
This game fell more into the ‘fast’ category, which played to Illinois’ advantage. Illinois’ athletes got to operate in free space for a majority of the contest, and the Fighting Illini ended up shooting a whopping 70% in the second half.
Mar 17, 2024; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward Coleman Hawkins (33) goes to the basket in the second half against the Wisconsin Badgers at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
This is the last note on the Illini before we get into forward-facing Wisconsin-related notes. But give credit to Illinois, the team is really, really good and peaking at the right time.
Any group that boasts the offensive depth the Fighting Illini do, also with the top-end scorers of Shannon Jr. and Domask, is going to be dangerous in March. The team has another gear it can reach when badly needed. After watching it play, I’d bet on an Elite Eight or Final Four run.
Mar 16, 2024; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard Chucky Hepburn (23) looks on during the second half against the Purdue Boilermakers at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
Hepburn finished the contest with 20 points on 7/13 shooting, plus five rebounds, five assists and three steals. He’s still managing the game tremendously, but now he’s also turned into a lethal offensive option.
The veteran point guard, playing at less than 100%, now gives the Badgers a lethal 1-2 backcourt duo with him and A.J. Storr.
Mar 17, 2024; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard looks on in the first half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
This sounds like a broken record: but Wisconsin again showed why it’s ready for the NCAA Tournament.
The team seems to have the perfect level of fight, regardless of the opponent. Plus Hepburn and Storr are playing dynamic basketball, complemented by Max Klesmit’s good shooting and solid inside play from Steven Crowl. Think of where the Badgers were one week ago before the Big Ten Tournament, and think of where the team stands right now. It’s ready for a run in March Madness.
Dec 9, 2023; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard AJ Storr (2) shoots a basket against Arizona Wildcats forward Keshad Johnson (16) during the first half at McKale Center. Mandatory Credit: Zachary BonDurant-USA TODAY Sports
Storr scored 24 points on 7/20 shooting plus five rebounds and three steals.
There remain some ill-advised shots that I’m sure Greg Gard would like to see eliminated. But Storr is the engine of this team on offense, and will be the reason this team goes deep in March — if it happens.
Storr tried a self-alley-oop off the backboard. That isn’t something I’m used to seeing a Wisconsin Badger do. The athletic dimension he brings completely changes the game for this team.
Mar 17, 2024; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Carter Gilmore (14) plays the ball defend by Illinois Fighting Illini guard Luke Goode (10) in the first half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
Carter Gilmore just put together the best two-game stretch of his Wisconsin career.
He was thrust into early action when Tyler Wahl picked up two early fouls. All the veteran forward did was score seven points on 2/3 shooting and add three rebounds. The Wahl-less minutes have been a big question all year, but Gilmore’s recent play has put those questions to the side.
Mar 16, 2024; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard looks on during the first half against the Purdue Boilermakers at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
Gard started the game with Klesmit covering Domask and Wahl on Coleman Hawkins, then had to navigate more early foul trouble. He had the Badgers right in it, and had a clear start-of-the-second-half plan that worked: get the ball to Steven Crowl.
Illinois was too good on offense for Gard to pull any more levers. He coached a heck of a four games in Minneapolis to get Wisconsin to this point.
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Publish date : 2024-03-17 03:00:00
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