NFLBy: Melo Williams
Wisconsin completes the comeback with a 67-63 win over Minnesota after being down 35-17 at halftime, winning its 11th straight against Minnesota, marking the schools longest all-time win streak and equaling the 3rd-longest streak ever vs the Gophers.
Wisconsin has won 6 of their last 7 games improving to 15-6 overall and 7-3 in the Big Ten.
The Badgers have now opened Big Ten play with a mark of 7-3 or better for the 6th time in 11 seasons under head coach Greg Gard.
Minnesota opened the game playing physical aggressive defense, closing off driving lanes, got back on defense preventing Wisconsin from scoring fast break points, and their defense turned into offense early on.
Wisconsin erased the 20-point first half deficit coming back from an 18-point second half hole, 35-17 with 18:55 left in the 2nd half, matching the largest second-half comeback in school history.
The Badgers shot 70% (14-20) in the second half, outscoring Minnesota 50-28, while shooting 41.9% (13-31 3FG) in the game, the 15th time this season making double-digit triples. UW is 14-1 in those games with double-digit made threes.
Defense tempo also changed in the 2nd half with Wisconsin being the aggressor dictating pace and forcing Minnesota to commit 8 of its 11 turnovers in the 2nd half, scoring 14 points from the turnovers.
John Blackwell finished with a game-high 23 points (4-9 3FG) (11-14 FT) 7 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block, closing out the game scoring 8 of Wisconsin’s last 11 points.
Blackwell has scored in double figures in 7 straight games, marking the second time in his career and reached double digit points for the 16th time this season, and 60th time in his career.
Nick Boyd was prolific in the second half, scoring 19 of his 21 points to help start the Badger comeback. Boyd went 4-9 3FG and dished out 5 assists.
Boyd registered his 12th 20-point game of the season, which ranks 2nd in the Big Ten. Boyd is 1 of 4 Big Ten players to score in double figures in every games the season and ranks 3rd in the Big Ten averaging 20.0 PPG on the season.
When Blackwell and Boyd both score 20+ points, Wisconsin is now 7-0 this season when multiple players tally 20+ points. Boyd and Blackwell did so for the 6th time this season as a duo.
Nolan Winter added 9 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists. Winter is on a 13 game streak of not scoring fewer than 9 points in a game since Nov. 28.
Braeden Carrington recorded 7 points and 5 rebounds.
Carrington has been playing great all-around basketball for Wisconsin having a huge positive impact on the game offensively and defensively.
I asked Coach Gard about his thoughts on Braeden Carrington play as of late.
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Wisconsin improved to 22-2 all-time against Minnesota at the Kohl Center and own a 112-104 edge in the all-time season, including wins in 20 of the last 22 meetings.
The Badgers are now 11-2 at home this season and have won 26 of their last 30 home games over the last 2 seasons.
Wisconsin is 134-38 (77%) at home under head coach Greg Gard and owns an all-time record of 385-75 (83%) in the building – the 10th – best all-time home record in the country among active venues.
Greg Gard improved his overall record to 228-123 (65%) with a mark of 124-80 (60%) in Big Ten play, ranking 20th on the conference’s all-time wins list and just 1 win from 19th place.
Wisconsin’s (60%) conference win percentage in the Gard era (since 2015-16) trails only Purdue (71%) and Michigan State (67%) for best in the Big Ten during that span.
Next up for Wisconsin is Ohio State, Saturday January 31.
?Kohl Center
⏰1 PM
? FOX
?Badger Radio Network
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