The #11 Wisconsin Badgers had a golden opportunity to bounce back in BIG10 Conference play on Wednesday night on the road against the worst team in conference play against the Michigan Wolverines. Wisconsin played down to their opponent all night long and lost the game 72-68.
Four players scored in double figures for the Badgers against the Wolverines. AJ Storr led the way for Wisconsin with 20 points for Greg Gard’s team. Chucky Hepburn scored 17 points, Max Klesmit scored 10 points, and Tyler Wahl also added 12 points.
For the second consecutive game, Wisconsin was outdominated on the glass against Michigan 34-28. This is an area that is an issue for the Badgers and they have a defensive energy issue.
As for the Wolverines, they also had four players score in double figures against the Badgers. Tarris Reed Jr. scored 12 points and grabbed six rebounds for the Michigan Wolverines. Dug McDaniel led the way for Michigan with 16 points, Terrance Williams II scored 10 points and grabbed six rebounds and Will Tschetter also added 11 points for them.
With the loss for the Badgers, they have lost three consecutive games and are now 8-4 in conference play and 16-7 overall. At the moment, the #10 Illinois Fighting Illini currently move into second place in the BIG10 Conference Standings.
As for the Michigan Wolverines, they improved to 8-15 overall on the season and they have a 3-9 record in the conference. Michigan has the same conference as their arch-rivals, the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Wisconsin Badgers Fans Call For the Firing Of Head Coach Greg Gard After the Loss Against the Michigan Wolverines
The Badgers fanbase was in love with Gard when they had an 8-1 record in conference play. Now that Wisconsin has lost three consecutive games in the standings, they now want him fired. Oh, how the turntables. This is what some of the fans had to say on Twitter:
Greg Gard was an average high school basketball player, had to coach junior high girls, latched on tight to Bo Ryan, and was gifted a Big Ten 10 gig and now we suffer.
— Jeff Wills Greed is Good (@jeffwills08) February 8, 2024
If the Badgers and Greg Gard continue to lose game after game they will go from a second seed in the NCAA Tournament to going back to the NIT tournament. Another NIT appearance might be the end of the Greg Gard era.
— Drgradinjan (@drgradinjan) February 8, 2024
Fire Greg Gard
— Everything’s SO Expensive AF (@RightWingEgr) February 8, 2024
It would be hard to believe that the Wisconsin Badgers would collapse down the stretch, but crazier things have happened in college basketball. Wisconsin fans need to take a deep breath. They’ll be in the NCAA Tournament and get back in the win column, Well, if it doesn’t happen and they are in the NIT instead, then the program will make a change.