The Wisconsin Badgers bounced back on Tuesday with a decisive 88-62 victory over the Washington Huskies.
Wisconsin found an early rhythm offensively, allowing it to build a lead and never look back. The Huskies didn’t have an answer for John Blackwell or Steven Crowl, who both had huge games. Blackwell, who struggled against Oregon, including an 0-6 mark from beyond the arc, had one of his best games of the year, scoring 24 points on 4-of-7 shooting from three. Crowl, meanwhile, had a nice first half against Oregon, though turned the ball over four times in the second half of the deflating loss. He then scored 12 points against Washington, only turned the ball over once and notched four assists.
In the aftermath of the big victory, here are a few stats that defined the result. These numbers will be important for Wisconsin moving forward, especially when it travels to East Lansing for a huge game against the Michigan State Spartans on Sunday.
Wisconsin’s 10 made threes
Wisconsin lost to Oregon partially due to struggles from beyond the three-point arc. The team only made seven of its twenty-eight attempts (25%), which was its lowest mark of the season. The Badgers aren’t crazy dependent on threes, though it helps to make open looks. The team just couldn’t make anything on Saturday.
That rate improved against Washington on Tuesday night, as Wisconsin went 10-of-30 from beyond the arc. While it still sits lower than the team’s season average, it usually wins when it reaches double-digit made threes. It will be crucial for the Badgers to make these good looks on Sunday against a very talented Spartans team.
Wisconsin’s 13 offensive rebounds
Wisconsin has struggled against teams that are strong at rebounding. It became an issue against Oregon and center Nate Bittle in the second half, where he capitalized by grabbing key offensive boards, leading to several second-chance buckets.
The Badgers improved by grabbing a fair amount of offensive boards early in this game, which helped them steal possessions even when their threes weren’t falling. Michigan State is one of the best rebounding teams in the country, so Wisconsin needs to keep this aggression on the boards for the next game.
Wisconsin’s 15 assists
Wisconsin only assisted nine times in its loss to Oregon, which fell far lower than the team’s season average. It clearly understood what needed to be improved, as the team assisted 15 times in the win over Washington, returning to its per-game average. The Badgers’ ball movement clearly improved from their game against Oregon — a game that saw far too many possessions turn into isolations down the stretch. As seen, that isn’t a winning formula for a team that thrives on ball screens and movement. This is a good sign for the Badgers, who proved to fans that the loss to Oregon was merely an off-night instead of a larger reason for concern.
Washington forward Great Osobor’s five turnovers
We mentioned while previewing the game that Washington forward Great Osobor has struggled with turnovers this season. The Badgers did the right things while preparing to defend him, as they forced him into five turnovers, leading to numerous key points in transition.
The Badgers have improved defensively as the season has progressed. One of the best improvements has come in the team’s on-ball defense. Guards including John Blackwell and John Tonje have made necessary strides defensively, including improving their vision when it comes to closing passing lanes, stealing the basketball and turning it into easy baskets. Both star guards will both need to bring their A-game on Sunday, as Michigan State’s offense is run through talented guards Jase Richardson and Tre Holloman.
As mentioned earlier, Wisconsin will play one of its biggest games of the season on Sunday in East Lansing. The contest will have major implications with NCAA Tournament seeding and location, Big Ten Tournament seeding, and Wisconsin’s slim chances at winning a share of the Big Ten regular season title.
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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin basketball Washington game recap key stats
