WI Sports HeroicsWI Sports Heroics

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    What's Hot
    Green Bay Packers, Eddie Lacy, Eddie Lacy Birthday

    Eddie Lacy Had an Underrated Stint as the Green Bay Packers’ Starting Running Back

    June 2, 2023
    Green Bay Packers

    Green Bay Packers Encouraged to Trade for $10 Million Defensive Tackle

    June 2, 2023
    Steve Wojciechowski Salt Lake City Stars

    G-League’s Salt Lake City Stars Hire Former Marquette Basketball Coach

    June 2, 2023
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Trending
    • Eddie Lacy Had an Underrated Stint as the Green Bay Packers’ Starting Running Back
    • Green Bay Packers Encouraged to Trade for $10 Million Defensive Tackle
    • G-League’s Salt Lake City Stars Hire Former Marquette Basketball Coach
    • Report: Green Bay Packers Rival Has A Rookie Brewing That Might Be A Mismatch Nightmare
    • Milwaukee Brewers vs. Toronto Blue Jays | Series Recap
    • 1 Milwaukee Brewers Trade Candidate Not Going Anywhere (Report)
    • Jeff Passan Proposes Blockbuster Trade Involving 2 Milwaukee Brewers Stars
    • Green Bay Packers Free Agent Target Just Asked For LESS Money (Contract)
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Mark Mayfield
    • Our Writers
    • Store
    Facebook Twitter RSS
    WI Sports HeroicsWI Sports Heroics
    SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE
    • Packers
      • Aaron Rodgers News
      • Jordan Love News
      • Packers News
      • Packers Rumors
      • Packers History
    • Bucks
      • Giannis Antetokounmpo News
      • Bucks News
      • Bucks Rumors
    • Brewers
      • Brewers News
      • Brewers Rumors
    • Badgers
      • Wisconsin Badgers Football
      • Wisconsin Badgers Basketball
      • Wisconsin Badgers Women’s Basketball
      • Wisconsin Badgers Volleyball
      • Wisconsin Badgers Hockey
      • Wisconsin Badgers Wrestling
    • Marquette
      • Marquette Basketball
    • Draft
      • 2023 NFL Draft Big Board & Scouting Reports
      • 2023 NFL Mock Drafts
    • Milkmen
      • Milwaukee Milkmen News
      • Milwaukee Milkmen Rumors
    • Podcasts
      • CheeseDads Sports
      • Packers Podcast
      • Wickett On Wisconsin
    • Fantasy
    • NFL
    WI Sports HeroicsWI Sports Heroics
    Home»Sports»Wisconsin Badgers»3 Takeaways: Second Half Collapse Ends Wisconsin’s Season In NIT Semis
    Wisconsin Badgers

    3 Takeaways: Second Half Collapse Ends Wisconsin’s Season In NIT Semis

    Dylan BuboltzBy Dylan BuboltzMarch 28, 2023Updated:March 30, 2023No Comments4 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Wisconsin's Season Ends
    Feb 11, 2023; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard Connor Essegian (3) attempts a three point shot against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the second half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    After scoring 41 points in the first half, Wisconsin’s season ends as they fell apart in the second half. They scored 13 points in the second half and went scoreless in the last 9:08 of the game. In the end, the Badgers fell to North Texas 56-54 in the semi-finals in the NIT. Wisconsin ends its roller-coaster season at 20-15. Chucky Hepburn led Wisconsin with 15 points but didn’t score in the final 20 minutes. Here are three takeaways from the Badgers’ gut-wrenching loss.

    Mayfield Sports Marketing

    The First Half Was Great

    Wisconsin's Season Ends
    Wisconsin’s season ends with Chucky Hepburn and the offense going cold in the second half.

    North Texas only allows 57 points a game all season. Wisconsin scored 41 in the first half. Hepburn was a huge reason, as he scored 15 points on five threes. We haven’t seen a spurt like that from Hepburn since the Marquette game in December.

    As a team, UW shot 50% from the field and 41% from three. It looked like it would be a blowout and Wisconsin would be on its way to the championship game. Tyler Wahl was also good in the first half with 10 points.

    The Second Half Was What This Team Struggled With All Season

    The Badgers were haunted by free throw shooting, shooting slumps, and being careless with the ball at times all season. Everything happened in the second half. Credit the Mean Green for making shots to apply pressure, but Wisconsin’s season ends as this team ultimately fell apart.

    The Mean Green went on runs of 9-2 to make it 47-42 and then went on a 10-0 run to end the game. Tyler Wahl had a chance to tie the game down two but missed both free throws. UW also missed 14 of their final 15 shots, the only one a Connor Essegian three with 9:08 left.

    After Wisconsin got the ball, Greg Gard called a timeout with 5.8 seconds left. They never got a shot off out of the timeout. It was a bad final minute for Wahl and something that should not happen for a senior. I do think the ball was supposed to go to Essegian, but Max Klesmit went to Chucky Hepburn instead. After Hepburn passes on the three, it was a broken play.

    Wisconsin’s Season Ends Means It’s Time To Buckle Up

    Greg Gard
    Greg Gard has work to do as Wisconsin’s season ends on a sour note.

    My message to Badgers fans after Wisconsin’s season ends is this: buckle up because it could be a crazy transfer portal summer for the Badgers. Wisconsin needs at least two if not three, players out of the transfer portal to help get this team back to where it should be. Going scoreless in the final 9:08 is inexcusable for a D1 program.

    Wisconsin needs a sharpshooter and a backup center in the transfer portal. You could also argue they need a hot creator who can also handle the ball. Greg Gard will have to have some tough conversations with players, and I fully expect multiple players to test the transfer portal, as well.

    At the end of the day, this coaching staff missed out on some players in the transfer portal last season. It was also a team that wasn’t good at shooting the ball but was an above-average defensive team. It’s become clear as Wisconsin’s season ends that this team needs offense, and they need it fast.

    For More Wisconsin Sports Content

    Follow me on Twitter @DylanBuboltz and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here! Also, check out our merch store for some amazing WSH merchandise!

     

    Badgers Mean Green NIT North Texas wisconsin
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Avatar photo
    Dylan Buboltz

    Dylan is the President of Wisconsin Sports Heroics and the lead Wisconsin Badgers Football and Men's Basketball writer. He’s also held the roles of Vice President and staff writer. Dylan has been with WSH since May 2020. His work has been featured on Bleacher Report

    Related Posts

    Wisconsin Football helmet

    Wisconsin Football: September Game Times Announced

    June 1, 2023
    Wisconsin football head coach Luke Fickell

    Wisconsin Football Among Top ‘Dangerous’ Programs For 2023 Season

    May 31, 2023
    Wisconsin Badgers Football Weekly Offer Recap (Late May)

    Wisconsin Badgers Football Recruiting Recap (Late May)

    May 31, 2023
    Penn State Football Recruiting Lands Top Wisconsin Tackle

    Penn State Football Recruiting Lands Another Top Wisconsin Tackle

    May 31, 2023
    Add A Comment

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    TRENDING
    Green Bay Packers, Eddie Lacy, Eddie Lacy Birthday

    Eddie Lacy Had an Underrated Stint as the Green Bay Packers’ Starting Running Back

    June 2, 2023
    Green Bay Packers

    Green Bay Packers Encouraged to Trade for $10 Million Defensive Tackle

    June 2, 2023
    Steve Wojciechowski Salt Lake City Stars

    G-League’s Salt Lake City Stars Hire Former Marquette Basketball Coach

    June 2, 2023
    Green Bay Packers Jahmyr Gibbs

    Report: Green Bay Packers Rival Has A Rookie Brewing That Might Be A Mismatch Nightmare

    June 2, 2023
    USATSI 20802333 1

    Milwaukee Brewers vs. Toronto Blue Jays | Series Recap

    June 2, 2023
    Milwaukee Brewers, trade rumors, Corbin Burnes

    1 Milwaukee Brewers Trade Candidate Not Going Anywhere (Report)

    June 2, 2023
    WI Sports Heroics
    Facebook Twitter RSS
    • Contact Us
    • Advertisement
    • Privacy Policy
    • Store
    © 2023 WISportsHeroics All Rights Reserved.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.