MADISON, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin has fought tooth and nail through countless close games to harden its resolve in adversity-filled situations. The restart of Big Ten play for the Badgers Tuesday delivered a different kind of difficulty, one that showed they were equipped to handle.
Playing without leading-scorer Tyler Wahl for all but nine minutes due to a turned ankle, No.14 Wisconsin got balanced scoring, a lift from its reserves, and some opportunistic defense to outlast Minnesota, 63-60, at the Kohl Center.
The first Big Ten team to hit 3-0, Wisconsin (11-2, 3-0 Big Ten) has won its first three conference games since the 2014-15 national runner-up squad. That UW team won its three Big Ten games by an average of 15.7 points. This year’s squad is making things a touch more difficult.
With Wahl injured, junior forward Steven Crowl delivered 17 points and got lifts from Chucky Hepburn (16), Connor Essegian (11), and Jordan Davis (7 points, 8 rebounds).
A series where both games last season were decided by a combined seven points, the border rivalries appeared headed for another grind in a first half that has six ties and six lead changes. Wisconsin losing its firepower didn’t help matters.
Wahl – UW’s top scorer (14.1 ppg) and rebounder (6.8) – came down awkwardly on his right ankle at 13:28. He was subbed out at the next media timeout and didn’t return after receiving treatment in the locker room. UW’s bench shortened when Crowl picked up two fouls in 13 seconds and say for the final 5:53.
Trailing by one when Crowl was forced to sit, the Badgers managed to close the half on an 8-0 run thanks to a pair of three-pointers by Hepburn, who had a game-high 11 in the first half.
When Crowl returned, he knocked down his 12th three-pointer of the season and fought through contact for a post bucket to give his team their biggest lead at 39-26.
Getting 16 points from Ta’lon Cooper, Minnesota (6-7, 0-3) didn’t go quietly and closed to 54-53 with an 11-0 run but were unable to get over the hump due to committing three of their 20 turnovers on consecutive possessions and missing its next six shots.
Minnesota had an opportunity to force overtime after Crowl missed the front end of the bonus, but Hepburn poked the ball loose from Cooper for the Gophers guard's sixth turnover of the night.
What it means: Wisconsin has won six straight for the first time since last January and did it without the presence of their best scorer and senior leader for the final 31 minutes.
Star of the game: Hepburn’s 11 points in the first half helped the Badgers get to halftime intact but his four assists, five steals, two rebounds, and one turnover were the reason he led all players with a plus-12 point differential.
Stat of the game: The Gophers took advantage of Wisconsin playing smaller with Wahl’s injury and Crowl’s foul trouble to crush the Badgers on the boards, 40-24, but the 20 Minnesota turnovers led UW to have a 21-5 edge in points off turnovers
Reason to be Concerned: Wisconsin has started slow in three consecutive games against subpar opponents. The Badgers struggled defensively in the first half against Lehigh and trailed by one at the break, were out of rhythm offensively against Western Michigan to only lead by two. Against Minnesota, UW had three turnovers on its first six possessions and started 1-for-8. UW is also averaging 32.6 rebounds per game, worst in the Big Ten,
Don’t overlook: The lift sophomore Markus Ilver gave the Badgers off the bench. With his team in pinch, Ilver played six minutes in the first half because of foul trouble and finished with a plus-6. He had played a total of 14:25 in games dating back to November 24 but finished with a season-high 11 minutes
What’s next: Wisconsin heads to Champaign to take on Illinois in a Saturday afternoon tilt at the State Farm Center. The Illini (9-4, 0-2) are 2-2 since upsetting No.6 Texas but are 7-1 at home this season, and guard Terrence Shannon leads the Big Ten with 11 games of at least 13 points. UW has fared well on the road this season, going 5-1 away from the Kohl Center and 18-7 in such games the last two seasons.
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