Wisconsin basketball went ice-cold at the worst possible time on Sunday. It dropped its marquee matchup against Michigan State 71-62, thanks in large part to a no-show performance on the offensive end of the court.
That performance: a season-low 62 points on just 33.8% shooting and 15.6% from three. Michigan State’s nation’s-best defense dictated the game, earning the team a key conference victory.
The Badgers had countless opportunities to take control of the game. They started on a 13-4 run — an advantage that could’ve been 16-4 had the referees not questionably reversed a foul call during a John Tonje drive. The team then went ice-cold after that hot start, making just two of 16 three-point looks during the first half and 5-of-32 overall.
Still, it was neck-and-neck with the Spartans for most of the second half. One minor offensive spurt could have altered the game’s momentum, especially as Michigan State struggled to generate consistent offense and create separation.
The final four minutes decided the result. Wisconsin trailed just 62-60 after Kamari McGee took an impressive steal into Michigan State’s painted area and converted a floating jump shot. The Spartans then countered with a game-sealing 8-0 run over the next 3:20 of regulation. Wisconsin missed all three of its field goal attempts during that span, including one three-pointer, plus turned the ball over twice. The Spartans capitalized on the Badgers’ mistakes — star freshman Jase Richardson assisted on three consecutive baskets, deciding the game.
There is a lot to unpack from the matchup and what it means for both teams moving forward. First, the result pushes Michigan State into first place in the Big Ten standings (pending the result of Michigan’s game at Illinois). Spartans fans hope that the team notching yet another down-to-the-wire win over a top-ranked opponent is a sign of things to come in March.
Wisconsin, meanwhile, will need to ensure that Sunday’s performance becomes an outlier. For more on the specific numbers that decided the loss, as well as what the result means moving forward, here are our key takeaways:
Wisconsin shot itself out of the game
Wisconsin made just five of its 32 three-point attempts, a season-worst total on an above-average number of attempts. It’s easy to point to that statistic as the biggest reason for the loss.
When every regular contributor struggles to shoot the ball from deep, it’s unlikely that the group will all break through at once. Guard John Blackwell went 1-of-7 from three, John Tonje 1-of-8, Kamari McGee 0-of-5, Steven Crowl 1-of-3 and Nolan Winter 1-of-5. Hindsight being what it is, the Badgers would have done well to find an alternative point of attack as the game continued.
The Badgers missed Max Klesmit
Max Klesmit has struggled with his shot through a majority of the season. However, the Badgers badly missed his veteran presence on Sunday. Kamari McGee struggled in his starting spot, a move that also negatively affected the Badgers’ bench depth and production. The team got only 10 bench points — four from Carter Gilmore and three each from Jack Janicki and Markus Ilver.
Wisconsin needed a point guard-like presence to run the offense and provide a shooting threat, especially during those decisive final minutes. A healthy Klesmit could’ve changed the game’s result.
Jase Richardson decided the game — he’s a star in the making
Michigan State freshman Jase Richardson led the team in the second half. He finished with 11 points (eight after halftime), five rebounds and six assists. Three of those assists, as mentioned, in essence gave the Spartans the victory.
Michigan State is a top-10 team in the country despite average production on the offensive end of the court. Richardson continuing to emerge could change that equation. He will be one of the team’s more important players in postseason play.
Wisconsin lacked poise in the final minutes
Wisconsin’s offensive possessions in the final four minutes were the difference between a win and a loss. Those results: John Blackwell turned the ball over on a sloppy pass out of bounds, Steven Crowl missed a three, Kamari McGee handed the basketball away and Blackwell missed a layup. The Badgers lacked offensive cohesion during those four possessions — the two turnovers were completely unforced errors.
The Badgers’ performance in late-game situations was a point of conversation after their loss to Oregon last week. Sunday’s performance, albeit against a top defensive team, should only continue whatever fears previously existed. If Wisconsin loses in March, late-game execution could play a major role.
Nolan Winter was terrific on the glass
One positive from what was a tough loss in many respects: Wisconsin sophomore forward Nolan Winter was up to the task on the glass. Michigan State entered Sunday as one of the top rebounding teams in the country. The area was a major point of focus entering the matchup.
Although the Spartans out-rebounded the Badgers 51 to 40, Winter grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds. His efforts rebounding the basketball were a big reason Wisconsin even had a chance to win in the final minutes. As we project forward, the Winter’s rebounding will be key to Wisconsin’s postseason chances.
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