Badgers' Big Second Half Makes the Difference

The fall from grace for Wisconsin started when they fell to Indiana on a Tuesday night in Bloomington.
Hoosiers played great and the Badgers' defensive effort was mediocre at best. They got off to a slow start on Tuesday at Kohl Center. Indiana had the lead heading into halftime as Wisconsin turned in a poor shooting performance as well as a poor defensive effort. Everything changed in the second half leading Wisconsin to a 69-58 victory. This is the exact reason why Wisconsin could beat almost any team and lose to any team in the nation due to their reliance on the jump shot.

What a bizarre game this was for Wisconsin with under 20 points in the first period and then getting 50 in the next period. Obviously, this leads to poor shooting with Wisconsin shooting 25 percent from the field before half and nearly 62 percent after it. Badgers did not play a complete game, and we can debate all day whether that is important in the grand scheme of things. I would say the importance of it would be a concern that Wisconsin becomes comfortable believing they can sort of 'turn it on' whenever the Badgers want versus attacking early and often.

This was the first game in recent memory where Wisconsin did not get anything from their bench, but that was fine as Badgers had all five starters in double-figures led by Sam Dekker. Amid the poor team shooting, Dekker had another strong performance from the field making five of seven shots, only shooting two threes making one and getting to the line five times. This is what you want from Dekker. The ability to attack the basket and get fouls instead of launching threes in an attempt to get him going. It seems like the Badgers power forward is coming into stride with how to create opportunities for him. This is a positive thing to see from Dekker.

Ben Brust seemed to have fallen into a slump in the past couple of games. Badgers fans started to get restless when it came to Brust continuing to shoot the ball in the first half and finding iron. He only made three of his 10 shots on Tuesday and nine of them came from behind the arc. All of his damage came in the second half with a fury of threes. In the last two games, the Badgers shooting guard had nine points total going 4/18 from the field and while this game does not look perfect on paper, it seems like Brust started to get himself going again. I also think people looked way too far into it. He had 20 points two weeks ago against Minnesota yet we had people worried about Brust's shooting. Hopefully, the second half quiets the weird Brust ground swell.

Usually this space is spent on Wisconsin, but it is hard to believe with this team, Indiana has nine losses in Big Ten play. I realize this is one of the best conferences in college basketball, but with the talent Indiana has, they should be at least a bubble team. Crazy thing is with how prestigious Indiana is as a program, they do not even need to be a good bubble team. Just be on there and the tournament will find a spot for them yet right now, Indiana looks like a subpar middle of the road program. Instead they are four games under .500 and it is probable Noah Vonleh heads to the NBA, possibly Yogi Ferrell too plus they lose Will Sheehey. Tom Crean's seat is starting to get warm. He will not get fired, but the pressure is building on the Indiana coach. One positive is they have three of their last four games at home and against ranked teams (Michigan is on the road), they could still make a push for the bubble if they win out.

Wisconsin continues its dominance against Indiana especially at the Kohl Center. I believe Crean has not won there since coaching for Indiana. This is not how it used to be as Wisconsin holds only a 23-41 against the Hoosiers since 1979. How times have changed in the Big Ten.

Charlie.

Ferrell Pushes Indiana Past Wisconsin

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.