In a game that went back and forth most of the second half, it was Wisconsin basketball that fell to the Iowa Hawkeyes 88-86 in overtime at Carver Hawkeye Arena. The Badgers led by as many as 13 points in the first half, but was unable to close out another double digit road lead. A Tony Perkins layup with just over a second left was the difference. Wisconsin basketball has lost five of their last six games. Here are three takeaways from the loss today.
Steven Crowl Finding His Rhythm Again
Greg Gard made it clear after the Ohio State win that Wisconsin basketball needed to get Steven Crowl touches in the paint. It’s been the best offense for the Badgers all year.
After a nice game against the Buckeyes, Crowl had another solid outing today. He ended the game with 22 points, half of them coming at the line where he finished 11-13.
I have been pretty hard on Crowl this season because I don’t like his tendency to hide for multiple game stretches. It could be he was fighting an injury of some sort, but I don’t like especially when upperclassmen, who know they are a huge role in the offense, fade away in games like these.
Iowa freshman center Owen Freeman is good player in the Big Ten and Crowl did really against him on the offensive side. Steven Crowl is someone Wisconsin basketball needs here in the stretch run.
Wisconsin Basketball Had Their Chances
Besides the early 17-6 run into the first media timeout, this was another game the Badgers let a double digit lead go away and pretty fast. At one point, they were behind as much as nine points in the final minutes, Credit does go to Wisconsin for fighting back.
At then end of regulation, Chucky Hepburn had a signature fade-away from three that circled out of the rim. It was a good shot and good play call out of the timeout.
In overtime, AJ Storr and Max Klesmit both had chances to take leads late and did not capitalize. Klesmit especially had an open look. He;s been in quite a slump lately. Like Crowl, he is someone this team needs the rest of the way.
The Defensive Performance Against Ohio State Was a Fluke
After the way the Badger defended against Ohio State Tuesday, I felt a little better about how they would come out today in a hostile crowd. As they say: defense always travels.
Today was anything but that. Wisconsin was horrible defending jump shots. Iowa is a good shooting team and the Badgers let them shoot just about any uncontested 10-15 foot jumpers they wanted. Most division one college basketball players will make those shots. In particular, Josh Dix and Tony Perkins really hurt the Badgers in that department.
There seems to be some sort of disconnect with this team and I am not sure what it is. Today, I thought they were slow again around screens and could not get stops when they needed too. I also saw unnecessary fouls after getting beat off the dribble.
Greg Gard: I don't know if we've ever been where I've wanted us to be defensively this year … It's not a focus thing. All through the lineup, we got to be better. That's the challenge. We know what we can do offensively, but for the most part, it's been our defense. #Badgers
— Benjamin Worgull (@TheBadgerNation) February 17, 2024
Greg Gard did not hide his feelings on the defense again today. What is also concerning is this team does not seem to be responding to their head coach on that side. Again, I am not sure what it is, but this team is not buying into anything defensively. The more this goes on, the more likely this is a one and done NCAA Tournament tea, They are sure playing like one now.
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