The Wisconsin Badgers basketball team had a large win on opening night despite trailing Holy Cross 23-9 at one point.
The Crusaders entered the match as a 23-point underdog, but maintained their good form We lead 23-9 Badgers early in the first half of the game. The Badgers were unable to respond to the Crusaders on offense and were losing the internal battle early in the game. However, the Badgers quickly got balmy and made sure the game stayed in their favor.
Transfer defenseman John Tonje led the Wisconsin Badgers in scoring and was a major reason the Badgers were able to come back from a deficit. The guard dropped 23 points and three large three-pointers on an offensive drive that helped change the lively of the game. Tonje also recorded a team-high five rebounds and eight free throws in his first game for the Badgers.
Guard John Blackwell was another standout performer for Wisconsin against Holy Cross thanks to his play at quarterback. The Wisconsin Badgers don’t have a true point guard on the team this season, but Blackwell has stepped into his place in the starting lineup. Blackwell performed well in his first start in the position, scoring 16 points and making two team-high three-pointers.
Perhaps the best offensive performance came from forward Nolan Winter, who was excellent on the field. Winter scored 15 points, making two three-pointers, making six total field goals and four rebounds for the Badgers. Winter also showed some impressive play for Wisconsin, something the team can really build on next season.
What went right and what went wrong for the Wisconsin Badgers against the Holy Cross Crusaders
While the Wisconsin Badgers looked great in the second half of the game and came away with the victory, the team looked completely different in the first half.
Starting with what went well for the Wisconsin Badgers, the long game seems like a real possibility for the team. With a starting lineup of Winter, Blackwell, Klesmit, and Tonje, you could easily make a dozen three-pointers per game. Crowl, Amos, and McGee are also solid long-range shooters, and if the Wisconsin Badgers can get better shots, this team could be risky.
In terms of what went wrong for the team, you have to check the team’s IQ moving forward. Wisconsin has a ton of scorers on the team, but there are also a few players that are known to play more than anything else. Both Klesmit and Amos combined to go 1-for-10 from three-point range against Holy Cross and will likely be vital scorers for the team in the future.
When Wisconsin couldn’t get shots on target from long range, the team looked a bit lost, which could have been a problem due to the high volume of shots from Amos and Klesmit. If Wisconsin starts missing shots, the team will need to figure out who the offense can rely on.
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