The No. 13 Wisconsin Badgers (23-5, 14-4 B1G) get a massive win over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (16-12, 10-8 B1G), 66-61, inside Jersey Mike’s Arena this evening. The Wisconsin Badgers are in sole possession of first place in the Big Ten Conference.
Massive, MASSIVE win for the Badgers. Wisconsin does what no ranked team has done this season, win a game in the RAC.
I absolutely love this team. Another gritty effort by this group. They continue to find ways to win. Tough as nails and it is pure joy watching this team.
Wisconsin is now 14-1 in games decided by six points or fewer. And they’ve won the last 14 games in such games.
Greg Gard is the Big Ten Coach of the Year. Period.
Johnny Davis was sensational again. He finished with 19 points, eight rebounds, a steal and an assist.
Although, I’ve never seen a star player get less calls than Johnny Davis. There is so much contact, borderline getting mauled, that he gets every time he drives that goes uncalled.
I will say, Rutgers did a marvelous job with their game plan against him in both meetings this season.
Brad Davison was huge for UW and finished with a much needed 14 points. He hit on 4-of-8 from 3-point range after struggling the last couple games from beyond the arc. Davison also finished with four rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Chucky Hepburn finished with 13 points and five assists and Tyler Wahl finished with 11 points and nine rebounds, but it was their defense that was amazing today.
Side note: The Big Ten officiating continues to be a joke and Bo Boroski needs to retire or be fired. Boroski is a biased official.
It was a remarkable and raucous atmosphere at the RAC that felt like a championship crowd. Or potentially a Big Ten champion. The Badgers still have work to do, but once again Wisconsin show their mettle on the road in a tight, down to the wire, no holds barred game that has defined this team throughout an improbable season.
You can see a 42 second clip on the UW Basketball Twitter account of Greg Gard talking with the team after the game here.
With two regular season games remaining, Wisconsin needs one win to guarantee at minimum a share of the Big Ten regular season championship. With two wins in the final two games, UW will be the outright Big Ten champion.
There is no way this team is losing the last two games at the Kohl Center. I’m going to say it: A banner will be raised and nets will be cut down on Tuesday or next Sunday at the Kohl Center. It’s just a matter of if Wisconsin shares the Big Ten Championship or if it is an outright Big Ten Championship. What a year in one of the most competitive years.
At 23-5 overall and 14-4 in Big Ten play, forget the over-achiever talk. We’re entering into greatest seasons in school history territory. Love this team.
Enjoy the ride, Badger Nation! This is a fun one.
Up Next:
The Wisconsin Badgers will welcome the No. 4 Purdue Boilermakers (24-5, 13-5 B1G) to the Kohl Center on Tuesday, March 1st. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:00 PM (Central Time) and will be nationally televised on ESPN.
Nick Obot 