The Wisconsin Badgers have lost to the Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus which drops the team down to 18-8 just days after earning a ranking.
Entering the season, Wisconsin had been considered to be a fringe ranked team that floated around the bottom portion of most preseason rankings. The Badgers held the 24th overall ranking in the country before earning a 4-0 record and the 23rd spot in the rankings. A notable 28-point loss to #9 BYU knocked Wisconsin out of the rankings and the team had to battle back in a major way before earning another spot in the top 25.
Following wins over ranked Michigan, Illinois, and Michigan State the Badgers reentered the rankings in the 24th spot once again. However, Wisconsin certainly did not make a good impression upon reentry after losing 86-69 against the Buckeyes away from home. Wisconsin has enjoyed playing in the Kohl Center this season with a record of 12-2 at home but a record of 3-3 when playing in true away games (non alternate venues).
Wisconsin Badgers Lose 86-69 Against Ohio State Buckeyes Following Trip to Columbus
From start to finish Wisconsin never quite found a rhythm against Ohio State and a big first-half lead ultimately proved to be too much to overcome despite a stronger second-half.
The start for the game was all Devin Royal as the Buckeyes’ guard recorded 12 of the first 22 points the team scored. A 22-10 lead halfway through the first-half of play gave Ohio State an edge and the team never looked back as a six-point margin was the closest Wisconsin came to tying the contest. Royal finished the game with 25 points, five rebounds, three assists, and one block.
Royal provided a strong performance for the Buckeyes but veteran guard Bruce Thornton led the offense with 27 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists. The guard was the heart of the team and his powerful game helped maintain a distance between the Buckeyes and Wisconsin on the scoreboard.
The Badgers struggled to find a rhythm on either side of play with the team shooting just 27% from three-point range and 50% from the foul line. Braeden Carrington led Wisconsin in scoring off of the bench with 20 points, a rebound, two assists, and two steals. Carrington dropped in five three-point buckets as the team was held to just seven made triples in Columbus.
The typical powerful duo of Nick Boyd and John Blackwell were held to 28 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and six turnovers. The duo additionally went 2-for-9 from three-point range and 4-for-8 at the foul line as Wisconsin was held under 70 points for the fifth time this season. Four Badgers’ players, including two starters, scored single-digits against Ohio State as offense was hard to find.
Wisconsin will have to fight through five more regular season games before reaching the Big Ten Tournament. Iowa, Oregon, Washington, Maryland, and Purdue remain for the Badgers as the team is currently projected to go 4-1 through the final stretch. The Boilermakers previously crushed Wisconsin, 89-73, in Madison and will host the team for the regular season finale on March 7th.
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