Wisconsin Badgers are having a dream season thus far. Many analysts around college basketball were taking about this Wisconsin team in ways they had not before. Badgers fan like to play the no respect angle, but this year, many people were fawning over this team especially the last couple of weeks. Sometimes when people continue to talk about a good thing, they almost put a 'jinx' on it continuing on. Wisconsin fell to Indiana for the first time since 2007 as they lost 75-72. Wisconsin's inability to protect the rim, lack of free throws hurt this team on Tuesday night although Traevon Jackson provides a glimmer of hope for the future of this season and beyond.Wisconsin had a 52-42 lead early in the second half. Indiana's head coach Tom Crean threw a temper-tantrum on the sideline and led him to bench his entire starting squad including putting Yogi, don't call me Kevin, Ferrell. It really appeared like the usual Crean and Bo Ryan matchup where Ryan puts him into a Chinese finger trap, and he never gets out. Indiana creeps slowly back by attacking the basket, and they begin to go on a run leading to Indiana tying the game and then taking the game away from Wisconsin.
Sophomore point guard Ferrell did not really have an efficient game shooting 25 times, but after his benching and that run, Indiana's floor general went 5/8 leading the charge back for the Hoosiers. Additionally, freshman Noah Vonleh played better than just 10 points and five rebounds. He made loud plays getting into the lane against Wisconsin's interior defense. I do not think Indiana provided a blueprint for beating Wisconsin, but it is clear slashing the paint is a way to win. Frank Kaminsky is a shot-blocker, but a shot blocker is not always a good defender. Wisconsin showed no ability to take a charge or challenge many plays.
Another thing that has become a problem for Wisconsin in the last couple of years is their inability to get to the free-throw line. Badgers only shot four free throws, and missed three of them. Sure, missing free throws is not good, but marginally getting to the lane is more concerning. Even if Wisconsin has become a 3-point shooting squad, they need to at least attempt to earn some points from the charity stripe. Not one of the three guards had a free throw attempt. Kaminksy had three of them with Nigel Hayes having the other one. That is unacceptable, and will not win you basketball games.
Even though he rushed a final shot, Traevon Jackson provided a bright spot for the future possibly. The junior point guard had a career-high 21 points on nine of eleven shooting. In the last two games, Jackson is averaging 18 points which is head and shoulders above what he has done for this team on offense. If he can provide that sort of offense for Wisconsin, they become that much better of a team. He does not need to do it truthfully with the scorers they have, but when everyone has an off night, it is important to have a guy like Jackson.
Wisconsin heads back home to face a Michigan team that is a shell of themselves from their National Runner-Up campaign last season. But that does not mean Wisconsin should take this squad lightly as it is being proven every night, the B1G is going to be a complete bloodbath.
Charlie.
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