(11) Wisconsin 66, Minnesota 60: Last word
MADISON — No. 11 Wisconsin moved back into a tie for first place in the Big Ten with a 66-60 win over Minnesota on Sunday at the Kohl Center.
Player of the Game: Johnny Davis
The National Player of the Year contender came alive offensively just when the Badgers needed it most. After Minnesota tied things up at 60 with 2:23 left, Davis outscored the Gophers 6-0 to close the game out. His stretch included a driving layup to take the lead, an offensive rebound that eventually led to a made free throw, a make just outside the lane and coming up with a loose ball on defense and getting fouled.
“He’s the best player in the country,” guard Brad Davison said. “I don’t know if it’s a safety net or just being really good basketball, but we’ll take it.”
Davis ended up with 16 points and a career-high 15 rebounds, but it was the finishing kick that everyone will remember.
We are all witnesses. @JohnnyDavis // @BadgerMBB pic.twitter.com/NXrr2JGCue
— Wisconsin On BTN (@WisconsinOnBTN) January 30, 2022
The good: Winning when it matters
Wisconsin continues to find ways to win close game. The Badgers are now 10-1 in games decided by six points or fewer and 10-0 when Davis plays in the game.
“I think they understand the importance of every possession, they don’t panic. They listen and execute coming out of timeouts really well,” coach Greg Gard said when asked why his team has been so good in tight games. “And obviously you have to have good players. Today we put the ball in Johnny’s hands and he made plays for us.”
The not so good: Not putting it away
The Badgers are in so many close games because they refuse to put teams away. More than half of their 17 wins have come by six points or fewer and Sunday’s certainly shouldn’t have been that close. Wisconsin took a 9-point lead with 6:18 left and then proceeded to turn it over and then miss the next four shots it took. That allowed Minnesota to climb right back in and turn what could have been a comfortable win into another one that forced Badgers fans to hold their breaths.
Stat of the Game: 4
That’s how many Wisconsin players were in double figures, as Tyler Wahl (15), Davison (14) and Steven Crowl (11) joined Davis. With the Badgers not getting much from the bench scoring-wise (5 points), the continued production from the starting lineup was much needed.
Best Video
Stats don’t always explain the game – heck of a play by a NPOY candidate for sure – but doesn’t happen without the effort by Tyler – as an analytics guy always important to remember game can be won & loss w/no way to measure it – winning plays don’t always show on the box score. pic.twitter.com/wlhbKBfTFH
— AJ Van Handel (@BadgerMBBVC) January 30, 2022
Best Tweets
#Badgers and Gophers tied at 60 with 2 minutes to play. After that: Johnny Davis 6, Gophers 0.
— Tom Oates (@TomOatesWSJ) January 30, 2022
Hello, again, first place. pic.twitter.com/7uEdV7UYnO
— Wisconsin On BTN (@WisconsinOnBTN) January 30, 2022
Lot of "Give the ball to Johnny and get the F out of his way" down the stretch and I'm all for it.
— Jim Polzin (@JimPolzinWSJ) January 30, 2022
As of today, Johnny Davis is my National Player of the Year leader.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) January 30, 2022
Best player in college basketball. https://t.co/7ZuvDHnJU1
— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) January 30, 2022
REMEMBER: Wisconsin has lost just ONE game this season at full strength — at Ohio State. https://t.co/gqF4juT936
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 30, 2022
Johnny Davis… how is he not Player of the Year. Dude is just clutch
— Brian Butch (@Brian_Butch) January 30, 2022
In Case You Missed It
— Wisconsin honored Davison prior to the game for breaking the school’s all-time record for 3-pointers made.
Wisconsin’s 3-Point King 👑
Prior to today’s game, @braddavi34 was presented with a commemorative game ball to recognize him breaking the school record for career 3-point field goals pic.twitter.com/yask0M7yGU
— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) January 30, 2022
— The national champion women’s volleyball team attended the game and was recognized during a timeout in the first half.
The national champions honored during a break here at the Kohl Center. pic.twitter.com/bpWu1V8KwU
— Zach Heilprin (@ZachHeilprin) January 30, 2022
— Wisconsin is reportedly in the mix to land Oklahoma transfer quarterback Caleb Williams. The UW student section made sure to make their feelings known with signs and chants during the game.
Bunch of signs about Caleb Williams in the UW student section today.
“I’ll give my tuition $ to C. Williams” pic.twitter.com/lxNS5hGtki
— Zach Heilprin (@ZachHeilprin) January 30, 2022
Chants of "We want Caleb" from the student section.
— Zach Heilprin (@ZachHeilprin) January 30, 2022
— The win moved Wisconsin into a tie with Illinois for first place in the Big Ten at the midway point of the conference season. It also tied the all-time series with Minnesota at 104-104. The Badgers are 28-8 against the Gophers since the Bo Ryan/Greg Gard era began in 2001.
What’s next?
Wisconsin (17-3, 8-2) travels to face the Illini (15-5, 8-2) on Wednesday night.