It was a tough task for Wisconsin basketball to go on the road to #1 Arizona and get a win. It was a rough day all around for the Badgers. Arizona did whatever they wanted on offense and played great defense in the first half. The Badgers hung around a majority of the first half, but a late run from the Wildcats put the game out of reach in a hurry. At the end, it was a 98-73 win for Arizona. The Badgers fall to 7-3 on the year and finish their three game gauntlet 2-1. Here are three takeaways from yesterday’s loss.
A 25-8 Run Late in the First Half Hurt Wisconsin Basketball
The crowd was electric in this game yesterday. It was a sellout and you could see why. After scoring the first basket of the game, Arizona went on a quick 8-0 run to make it 8-2. The Badgers responded with a 7-0 run of their own to take a 9-8 lead. That would be the last time Wisconsin basketball had the lead.
After going back and forth for a while, the Badgers tied the game at 23 with just under nine minutes left after a Carter Gilmore short jumper. After that, the route was on. Arizona went on a 25-8 run and took a 48-31 lead at the half. The game was out of hands by then.
Credit Arizona for dictating the pace of the game. Wisconsin had to play this game their style if they wanted any chance at winning. I thought the Wildcats dictated it from the jump, but credit Wisconsin for playing with them for most of the first half. At the end, it was too much Arizona.
Arizona Was the More Physical Team
During the six game winning streak, the Badgers were the more physical team in each one of those games. yesterday, Oumar Ballo was a big problem for Steven Crowl, Carter Gilmore, and Nolan Winter. The bigs for Wisconsin never looked comfortable and it resulted in multiple missed shots at the rim, something that has been a problem for a few years now.
While I did think Arizona was getting too physical at times and there should have been more whistles, I didn’t mind the pace and physicality. There’s a reason Arizona was the #1 team in the country. They deserved it. That’s also life on the road in college basketball.
I also thought Arizona was really good on screens. Wisconsin basketball had issues all game with it. The Badgers would sink down and it resulted in a ton of open looks for the Wildcats. The Badgers did a poor job fighting through screens.
Wisconsin Basketball Survived the Gauntlet
I was in the camp that thought 1-2 in this three game stretch would be a success. I didnt think the Badgers would beat Arizona, but I’m happy they were able to beat Marquette and get a road win at Michigan State.
This was a good learning experience as well. In a span of eight days, Wisconsin basketball faced two of the top 10 teams in the country. That will only hep once Big Ten play resumes in January.
Yesterday just felt like a game where Wisconsin basketball was over-matched. Arizona was quicker and a lot stronger. They are a veteran team led by four seniors. The Badgers gave a lot of young players experience that will only help.
Up Next
The Badgers will have two more non-conference tuneups before conference play starts again. They will host Jacksonville State Thursday at the Kohl Center. Tip time is 7 PM on BTN.
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