2022 March Madness is here! Hope all my Badger fans stayed up for this very late tip-off from Fiserv Forum. Badger faithful showed up and was loud all game. A great start to the NCAA tournament, Wisconsin takes down a formidable opponent in Colgate 67-60. They move on to the round of 32 to face Iowa State Sunday at 5:10 central.
DEFENSE
No doubt about it, defense is the main reason Wisconsin was able to win this one. Colgate came out in the second half guns blazing and hit six of their first seven three point attempts. Let’s not forget that a lot of these were very tough shots. Colgate is one of the best three point shooting teams in the country and they were throwing haymakers at Wisconsin.
At about the 10:40 mark, Wisconsin made it a point of emphasis to run Colgate off the three point line. They began to switch all dribble handoffs and close out hard on shooters. If you allow them to live behind the line they will beat you. When forcing them into the paint, it made Colgate’s guards uncomfortable. Colgate did not make a field goal in over seven minutes of game time. They had just two made shots in the final 10:40 of the game.
Johnny’s Back
Johnny Davis looked like his old self tonight, especially in the second half. Much like the game against Michigan State, Johnny was becoming frustrated with the lack of calls on his drives. In the first half, that got to Johnny’s head yet again and you could see the frustration in some of his decision making.
However, in the second half Davis erupted. Like us badger fans have seen time and time again this year. He completely took over this game down the stretch. This time, it was for the whole world to see. Johnny Davis has proven to be one of the better closers in all of college basketball. Down the stretch tonight, Johnny scored fourteen straight points including some absolute daggers to the hearts of Colgate. If Wisconsin can get this form of Johnny Davis back, look out rest of the bracket. Especially from three, where Johnny was 40% tonight on ten attempts.
JOHNNY DAVIS. DAGGER. 🥶#MarchMadness | @BadgerMBB pic.twitter.com/YEpdJ5xK07
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 19, 2022
Sweet Sixteen?
I will never overlook an opponent. Iowa State had a great win today over number six LSU and they have some legit guards who can score the ball. But, after tonight you have to be excited if you are a Badgers fan. Wisconsin matches up pretty well with Iowa State compared to LSU. The Cyclones however, are a very good defensive team.
Colgate coach Matt Langel said they’ve played at Duke, Kansas and a bunch of other tough places. But he said he doesn’t think they’ve ever been in a better environment for college basketball than tonight.
— Zach Heilprin (@ZachHeilprin) March 19, 2022
Don’t forget, this game will be in Milwaukee again. Man, that was some crowd there tonight at Fiserv Forum and I expect the same thing on Saturday.
Final Thoughts
Have to give a quick shout out to a few other guys who stepped up tonight. Quite frankly, everyone did their part in getting this win. A few to mention are Ben Carlson, Chris Vogt, and Chucky Hepburn. Also, of course Tyler Wahl who has made an insane jump offensively this season. Ben Carlson had arguably his best game of the entire season and I expect to see him a lot more in this tournament if he’s playing like that. Chris brought the energy like always, and Chucky Hepburn once again is our X-factor. This time not with his shot making, but his classic defense. Nelly Cummings had it rolling in the first half, and Chucky Hepburn silenced him in the second. Giving up twenty points on twenty shot attempts, Chucky also should’ve drawn about four offensive foul calls that were not called.
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