The Badgers must now hope for a solid run in the NCAA tournament, if they want to salvage anything from this year's up and down season. On Saturday, the Michigan State Spartans became just the second team to sweep Wisconsin, the last being Illinois in 2005-06.
The Badgers looked to avenge a pair of losses to the Spartans over the regular season this weekend in the Big Ten Tournament. They had high hopes after defeating Indiana the night before, but those hopes were crushed under an unrelenting eighth ranked Spartan offense that outscored the team 22-6 in field goals. Big Ten Player of the Year Draymond Green led the Michigan attack, managing to score his nineteenth double-double on Saturday, and a league-high. Wisconsin's defense couldn't keep pace, despite holding their opponents to a 2-11 start.
Badgers Early Lead Wiped Away
The Badgers looked to avenge a pair of losses to the Spartans over the regular season this weekend in the Big Ten Tournament. They had high hopes after defeating Indiana the night before, but those hopes were crushed under an unrelenting eighth ranked Spartan offense that outscored the team 22-6 in field goals. Big Ten Player of the Year Draymond Green led the Michigan attack, managing to score his nineteenth double-double on Saturday, and a league-high. Wisconsin's defense couldn't keep pace, despite holding their opponents to a 2-11 start.
Badgers Early Lead Wiped Away
The Badgers amassed an eleven point lead midway through the first, but a sudden break down in offense wiped away that lead. Eight turnovers by Wisconsin and ten consecutive successful possessions by the Spartans resulted in a 26-5 run, allowing the team to end the half with near sixty percent accuracy, and a ten point lead.
Wisconsin's sole highlight of the game came in the second half with their rally of thirteen unanswered points. Still, they faced a six point deficit with twelve minutes left in the game. One of two eight minute droughts would destroy any hopes of a victory. This is now a scenario that seems to be a regular feature. Wisconsin would score just twelve points in the last twelve minutes, while Michigan put up 20, taking them to a 65-52 win.
On Sunday, Michigan State would go onto take the championship after a 68-64 win over Ohio State. It was the team's first conference title in over a decade. Wisconsin will have four days of practice before it faces Montana in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Wisconsin's sole highlight of the game came in the second half with their rally of thirteen unanswered points. Still, they faced a six point deficit with twelve minutes left in the game. One of two eight minute droughts would destroy any hopes of a victory. This is now a scenario that seems to be a regular feature. Wisconsin would score just twelve points in the last twelve minutes, while Michigan put up 20, taking them to a 65-52 win.
On Sunday, Michigan State would go onto take the championship after a 68-64 win over Ohio State. It was the team's first conference title in over a decade. Wisconsin will have four days of practice before it faces Montana in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
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