Since Wisconsin’s January 12 lost to Northwestern, the Badgers have gone 9-1 against the Big Ten Conference cementing themselves among the conference leaders and the teams that the Big Ten will get into the NCAA Tournament.
Oh and did we mention that they just knocked off Iowa in Iowa City, the first loss for Iowa at home all season? Yes indeed, the Hawkeyes couldn’t solve Wisconsin’s second half defense, struggling to just 25 points after the break, as the Badgers raced out to pick up their biggest win to date, one that surely has them all but locked into the NCAA Tournament at this point.
What is most impressive about the streak from Wisconsin, is that while they have gotten their stars back on track, it’s a collective team effort, a sense of buy-in into their new coach’s system and his personality, that has this team rolling. Sitting at 9-9 on January 12, who pictured this team being 18-10 right now?
No one, that’s who.
Nigel Hayes and Bronson Koenig are obviously the most important pieces to this group, of that there is no question. But bench performances from the likes of Khalil Iverson, who had this sick dunk last night, and others have made this a more well-rounded group than we saw the first half of the year. People are playing with confidence, with purpose.
It’s fun to watch, and has Wisconsin firmly in the NCAA Tournament as of now, with three games remaining in the regular season.
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