Never, ever doubt a Wisconsin Basketball team. The Badgers, once a long shot to even get into the bubble conversation, are now a winner of seven straight games after beating #2 Maryland on the road 70-57. In the process, Wisconsin broke Maryland’s 27 game home winning streak. Vitto Brown led the Badgers with 21 points, while Bronson Koenig (16), Nigel Hayes (14), and Zak Showalter (11) followed closely behind.
Greg Gard Deserves the Job. Period
I do not care who else is interested in the job. I don’t care if Tony Bennett is interested in the job. Heck, I don’t even care if Phil Jackson is interested in the job. Greg Gard has done a fantastic job with this team. From expanding the rotation to implementing the swing offense, he has pushed all the right buttons. This doesn’t even look remotely like the same team we saw earlier in the season. If Gard doesn’t get the job, then it is clear that Barry Alvarez never even considered giving it to him in the first place.
Wisconsin is Tough
Wisconsin was 9-9 and 1-4 in the Big 10, coming off a loss to Northwestern. The NIT was a long shot, much less the NCAA Tournament. The Badgers were dealing with a new coach after Bo Ryan unexpectedly retired. Basically, Wisconsin was in shambles. They could have quit. They could have sulked. But instead, Nigel Hayes challenged his teammates. They fought. And 7 games later, they are 16-9.
Tonight, every single time Maryland made a run and looked like they were about to make a comeback, Wisconsin stayed composed and answered in a big way. The best example was when a Diamond Stone dunk got the Terrapins within 7 with 8 minutes to play. The crowd came alive. But Bronson Koenig answered with a huge, ice cold 3-pointer with a hand in his face. Toughness is the measure of how you deal with adversity. And tonight, and throughout the whole season, Wisconsin demonstrated their toughness.
Vitto Brown is Legit
Speaking of toughness, how about Vitto Brown?!? After Greg Gard first took over, he struggled with turnovers and shot selection. His minutes dwindled, and it looked like he might be replaced in the starting lineup. But now, he looks like a basketball player. Following a career high 18-points against Nebraska, he went off for 21 against Maryland. Over his last five games, he has hit 9/17 3-pointers. This is not the Vitto Brown from December. He is making good decisions, shooting superbly, and rebounding well. If only the Penn State student section could see him now! If he keeps this up, the Badgers will continue to be a force to be reckoned with.
Diamond Stone Should Have Been Ejected
Should Maryland's Diamond Stone have been ejected for this dirty play? https://t.co/YuFyyHuZZe https://t.co/ITayerubtK
— SB Nation CBB (@SBNationCBB) February 14, 2016
He literally slammed Vitto Brown’s head into the floor. And he only got a contact technical? Even worse, Charlie Thomas got a technical for being upset about the play and confronting Stone, even though he didn’t lay a finger on him. Football players are ejected for things a lot less dirty than that. A majority of Wisconsin fans hated Stone before this game, but that has now been taken to a whole new level. A
horrible, dirty play, and terrible officiating.
Wisconsin’s Tournament Resume is Looking Good
Prior to this game, Joe Lunardi had Wisconsin in his first four out. But now, Wisconsin should vault into the bracket for the first time in months. Wisconsin now has two great road wins, Syracuse and Maryland, along with Michigan State and Indiana at home. That is four RPI top 50 wins. VCU, which the Badgers beat on a neutral court, is also a good win, and Temple is trending upwards.
If Wisconsin avoids a collapse, and wins against Illinois, at Minnesota, and either Michigan or one game in the Big 10 tournament, they will be in. With their strength of schedule and quality wins, the selection committee is going to have a hard time keeping Wisconsin out.