In his final game for the Wisconsin Badgers, John Tonje delivered 37 points in a desperate comeback attempt that came up just short versus the BYU Cougars, ending in a 91-89 defeat.
His fadeaway baseline jumper on Wisconsin’s last possession did not reach iron as Tonje fell to the floor, incredulous at the lack of a whistle. As painful as it is for the Badgers, it looked like good defense from BYU’s Mawot Mag. If anything, officials favored the Badgers in the game–a sentiment Cougars star Richie Saunders touched on his postgame punchline.
Call in Final Minutes Stokes Controversy
From a questionable technical to a bizarre, but perhaps unavoidable flagrant 2 foul, BYU fans found plenty to complain about with how the game was called. Wisconsin did receive the benefit of more whistles, claiming a 29 to 16 advantage in free throw attempts, but plenty of those calls came on aggressive drives by Tonje. He reached the line 16 times, making 14.
Overall, the Cougars were whistled 22 times compared to 16 for the Badgers, an impactful but unextraordinary discrepancy. But frustration over any perceived unfairness reached a boiling point when BYU guard Dawson Baker was called for a flagrant 2 foul with 3:11 to go and Wisconsin down 86-76.
Attempting to fight through a trap, Baker, for all appearances inadvertently, delivered an elbow to the groin of Wisconsin’s Max Klesmit. Klesmit immediately buckled and fell backwards; upon reviewing the play, officials deemed the play worthy of a flagrant 2 penalty, an automatic ejection.
On the TV broadcast, analyst Gene Steratore explained that the referees essentially “had no choice” but to call a flagrant 2 if they could not determine that the act was unintentional. While that reverses typical “innocent until proven guilty rules,” it is how officials have been officiating below the groin contact this season. More than one fan appeared in Twitter comments noting another instance in which a player received a seemingly unfair flagrant 2 ejection. If there’s something to be changed, it might simply be rulebook guidelines.
After Baker departed for the locker room, high fiving Cougar fans on his way in, Wisconsin went on a 13-5 run, but it wasn’t enough. Fair officiating or not, “toughness” metrics certainly played a role in the loss.
Wisconsin Badgers Lose Battles on the Glass, in the Paint; BYU Cougars Outshoot Them from Three
“We showed we’re the tougher team,” said Saunders in his postgame interview. He made clear, given the context and his tone, that he meant to include the fouls called against BYU among obstacles overcome. His 25 points led the Cougars and his 6 offensive rebounds were the most of any player.
BYU won the rebounding battle, 41 to 32, and beat the Badgers in paint scoring, 38 to 28. They made up for the free throw disparity with efficient three-point shooting, going 12-26 from deep (46.2%). The Badgers also made 12 triples, but on 35 attempts (34.3%).
For Wisconsin, sophomore John Blackwell complemented Tonje’s performance with 21 points of his own. Klesmit and Steve Crowl added 12 and 10, respectively.
But the Badger bench was sorely outperformed. BYU reserves outscored them 24-3 and accounted for 11 rebounds and 8 assists versus 7 and 0. Wisconsin’s heavy reliance on Tonje and Blackwell came to the forefront even as both had outstanding games. Next season, Blackwell will most assume Tonje’s role as the number one option on offense as the All-American sixth-year senior moves on.
The Badgers’ loss marked the first for the Big Ten this tournament. Previously 10-0, the conference incurred its second defeat with Tennessee’s victory over UCLA in the late game.
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