NFL
By: Melo Williams
Wisconsin has won 7 of the last 8 games, improving to 16-6 overall and 8-3 in the Big Ten with a 92-82 win over Ohio State.
The Badgers has won 4 straight and 6 of the last 7 matchups, moving to 81-95 all-time against the Buckeyes. Wisconsin’s 4 straight wins over Ohio State is the longest win streak by either team in the series since Wisconsin won 5 in a row in 2004-05.
The Badgers has also won 4 straight home games against the Buckeyes improving to 17-7 all-time at the Kohl Center.
Saturday marked the 4th time in the last 7 games in which Wisconsin has overcome a double-digit deficit to win the game.
Wisconsin trailed by 14 points at Michigan, 11 at Minnesota, 20 vs Minnesota, and 11 vs Ohio State.
A total of 5 Badgers scored in double figures for the 4th time this season.
John Blackwell finished with a game-high 22 points, adding 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals, including going 5-5 FT, (54-60 FT, 90% in Big Ten play). Blackwell has now scored in double figures in 8 straight games, the longest such streak of his career.
Blackwell reached double digit points for the 17th time this season, the 61st time in his career.
Nick Boyd tallied 21 points, registering his 13th 20-point game of the season, which ranks 2nd in the BigTen.
Boyd is 1 of 4 players to score in double figures in every game the season, ranking 2nd in the Big Ten averaging 20.0 PPG on the season.
This marks the 6th time this season the Blackwell and Boyd duo scored 20+ points in the same game. Wisconsin is now 8-0 this season when multiple players tally 20+ points.
The former Badgers duo of Jordan Taylor and Jon Leuer (2010-11) are the only tandem with more such games dating back to 2000.
Austin Rapp scored 19 points, all in the first half, marking his 2nd-highest output as a Badger (20 vs Providence). Rapp also finished with 6 rebounds.
Rapp went 5-7 from 3-point range, matching his most 3FGs as a Badger (5 vs Providence).
Rapp’s 19 points marks his 32nd career game and 7th this season scoring in double figures.
The big fella, Nolan Winter registered his 10th double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Winter also added 3 assists and 2 blocks.
Winter’s 10 double-doubles is ted for 2nd in the B1G and matches Wisconsin’s 4th-highest single-season total since the 2004-05 season.
Winter scored in double figures for the 18th time this season, it was also his 11th game with double-digit rebounds.
I asked Badgers head coach Greg Gard for his thoughts on Winter’s play.
Listen here
https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxQsZGyGsXNRER2fF_tD8es8MOU_zpNamM?si=AUcqdRbDxPyqgCm8
Alexis Bieliauskas tallied 10 points and 7 boards, his 2nd-highest scoring mark in a Big Ten game, trailing only his 17 points at Michigan. Bieliauskas has 3 career games with 10+ points.
Wisconsin scored 92 points, reaching 90 points for the 9th time this season. That is the most 90-point games in as single season in school history, surpassing the previous high of 8 (1961-62 and 1993-94).
The Badgers is 14-0 when scoring at least 80 points this season.
Wisconsin shot 51.6% (32-62) from the field, the team’s 2nd-highest mark of the season (53.7% vs Central Michigan). The Badgers has shot 50% or better 6 times this season. 13-0 when shooting 45% or better.
Wisconsin turned the ball over just 5 times, the 2nd-lowest mark of the season 4 vs SIUE). The Badgers post a 13-1 record on the season with 10 or fewer turnovers.
UW converted 19-21 (90.5%) at the line in the win over Ohio State. The Badgers continue to be one of the best free-throw shooting teams in the Big Ten ranking 2nd shooting 188-233 (80.7%) from the line during Big Ten play.
Wisconsin’s dished out 16 assists improving to 11-2 with 15+ assists in a game this season.
This is the fifth time, Wisconsin has started the season 8-3 or better in 11 season’s under head coach Greg Gard, with the conference mark of 8-3 matching the 2nd-best 11 game start under Greg Gard. The 2016-17 season, Gard’s second season as head coach, the Badgers started 10-1.
Wisconsin has a well deserved much needed break before they hit the court again at Indiana, February 7, 11 AM.
Following the Indiana game, the Badgers play at Illinois, home vs Michigan State, at Ohio State, home vs Iowa, at Oregon and Washington closing out the month of February.
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