The Wisconsin Badgers were able to build a good reputation about their suffocating defense in their five-game winning streak, something that coach Greg Gard said was the key to their effective offense.
Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
They got a taste of their own medicine on Saturday when they were upset by the visiting Oregon Ducks, 73-77.
The Badgers were up 66-57 with 3 minutes remaining in the game but the Ducks chipped on that lead slowly until they made it a one-possession game with 37 seconds left.
Steven Crowl had a turnover with 32 remaining. The Ducks were not able to capitalize and forced another turnover, this time on John Blackwell who failed to catch the pass to him.
There 17 seconds remaining but the Ducks needed only five seconds to set up Jackson Shelstad for a three-pointer to tie the game. Overtime.
Come the overtime period, the Badgers never found their rhythm back for a long stretch. Team’s top scorer John Tonje hit a lay up and Blackwell got some, too.
However, it was the Ducks who were more aggressive.
Nate Bittle, who recorded game high 23 points, had a lay-up but the team as whole collected eight free throws and made seven of them.
In total, the Ducks had 17 points off turnovers.
Dana Altman on their aggressiveness vs Wisconsin Badgers
Badgers head coach Greg Gard rues their turnovers, especially in the second half where they surrendered 11 of their 17.
He gave credit to the Ducks for making them play that way.
“When you turn the ball over, it’s a lack of aggression, a tentativeness. We didn’t play on our toes and keep the throttle down like we had in the first half. That’s a credit to Oregon. We didn’t attack the pressure.”
Oregon’s coach Dana Altman is a man feeling triumphant with the way his boys played, celebrating how they prevented the Badgers from playing their type of game.
“That took a little bit of their rhythm away,” Altman told reporters after the game when asked about his team’s defense.
“They weren’t able to just walk into their offense.”
Badgers will look to bounce back on Tuesday against bottom team Washington Huskies. They then go visit conference’s no. 1 team Michigan State on March 2.
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