The Wisconsin Badgers lost their second game of the season after a close game against the Marquette Golden Eagles.
The Badgers unfortunately, they turned out to be the underdog, committing 15 turnovers and allowing Marquette to score basic baskets early on. Wisconsin kept the game close at halftime, but struggled throughout the second half. Guard Kam Jones in particular was someone Wisconsin struggled to defend, with the guard managing to give up 32 points.
It was one of those games where the Wisconsin Badgers felt helpless against a Marquette team that had seemingly done everything right. When the Golden Eagles needed a steal, Jones was there, and when they needed a bucket, he was there too. Forward David Joplin was another key component of the victory as his defense was outstanding throughout the match.
Wisconsin, on the other hand, gained momentum at times but never found a way to turn the game around. The Badgers worked tough, but they turned the ball over 16 times, and no matter how well they played defense or how well they shot the basket, they had a tough time recovering. Wisconsin is starting to look like a fresh team as the regular schedule begins, but that doesn’t mean the team didn’t finish without positives.
The Wisconsin Badgers lose 88-74 to the Red-Hot Marquette Golden Eagles
For the Wisconsin Badgers, the game was about making an impact on the outside, and when that happened, the Badgers struggled in other areas as well.
Starting with what went well for Wisconsin fans, you have to look at the first half of the game when Wisconsin went into the second half with a two-point lead. The Badgers passed the ball to John Tonje, who made baskets, and allowed Max Klesmit to run freely beyond the three-point line. Another essential player to keep an eye on is John Blackwell, who is quietly improving his offense and attacking the rim like Tonje has been doing lately.
When Wisconsin attacked the basket using screens and off-the-ball movement, the team had a lot of success against Marquette’s tough defense. However, as the defense tightened up, the Badgers seemed to have no other plan on offense, and that’s when the turnovers began to pile up. If the Wisconsin Badgers are able to keep the ball going down the court, the team will likely finish with a win over the Golden Eagles.
What really went wrong for Wisconsin started and ended on the offensive side of the basketball, despite the defensive issues. Wisconsin allowed Kam Jones to toasty up, and once Jones got in the zone, he truly became a player that defenses couldn’t stop. When the Badgers started calling fouls on defense and in the box, those fouls seemed to be filled with frustration.
Moving forward, the Wisconsin Badgers will need to find a way to limit mistakes and overcome those that do occur. The Badgers were great in this regard early in the season against weaker teams like App State and UCF, who led by significant margins.
If Wisconsin can return to the level of team buzz and excitement seen during the Greenbrier game, the Badgers should have a fantastic team moving forward.
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