A special 2021-22 season has sadly come to an end for the Wisconsin Badgers in the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament. The Badgers, who were projected to finish in 10th place in the grueling Big Ten Conference, finish the campaign with a 25-8 record and a share of the Big Ten Championship.
Wisconsin fell to the Iowa State Cyclones tonight by a final of 54-49 inside the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
I knew going into this game that it was going to be a dogfight because of the defensive style both teams play.
Wisconsin shot the ball uncharacteristically poor. All season, Wisconsin led the country in fewest turnovers per game, tonight they were not number one in that category.
Wisconsin made just 14-of-47 (29.8%) from the field, 2-of-22 (9.1%) from 3-point range and 19-of-25 (76.0%) at the free throw line. Wisconsin had just seven assists and committed 17 turnovers that led to 11 Iowa State points.
The 17 turnovers were a season-high and the 9.1-percent from 3-point range was a season low. This team already had a small margin of error without Hepburn, but that’s tough to overcome, even when you only give up 54 points.
To me, the game changed when Chucky Hepburn, who’s a stud point guard, got injured with 4:37 remaining in the first half with a bad ankle injury and didn’t return to the game. Not having Hepburn really hurt Wisconsin on both ends of the court.
With Hepburn available, UW shot 8-of-17 (47.1%) from the field. Once Hepburn got hurt, the Badgers made just 6-of-30 (20.0%) from the field in the final 24:37 of the game.
In his final game in a Wisconsin uniform, Brad Davison scored 12 points on 3-of-7 from the field, 1-of-3 from 3-point range and 5-of-7 at the free throw line with four rebounds, four steals, four assists and two turnovers in 37 minutes.
Brad Davison on how he hopes he’ll be remembered: “Just somebody who gave their heart and soul to try and be a great teammate, great leader, friend, and brother. Tried to do everything he could to help his team win.”
Thank you, Brad Davison. The pleasure has been all ours.
In what very well could have been Johnny Davis’ final game at Wisconsin, he finished with 17 points, but was just 4-of-16 from the field, including 0-for-7 from 3-point range, and 9-of-11 at the free throw line. Davis also finished with nine rebounds, four blocks, one assist, but four turnovers in 38 minutes.
Johnny Davis on his future: “I’m a little hurt from the loss. I didn’t want the season to end this way. For right now, I just want to cherish these past two years at Wisconsin.”
Greg Gard on the future of Johnny Davis: “He’s given a lot to this program. To see the hurt in the locker room — wearing that UW jersey means an awful lot to him. He obviously has a long future in this game. He has my full support regardless.”
This one really hurts. This season was so fun. Investing time and emotion in sports is stupid. I deserve to be shit on. I’m broken.
I’m going to eat ice cream and feel bad about myself the rest of the night. The sportsbooks have me having a major tummy ache later tonight set at -10,000.
This was a memorable season and a group of players I’ll never forget. As enjoyable a group as any I’ve been around. I hurt for them now, but damn that was a fun year. Thanks fellas. It’s been a pleasure. #OnWisconsin
Nick Obot 