The Washington Huskies are a much better team than the Oregon Ducks, even with only eight guys available, and yet Wisconsin bowled right through the Huskies and struggled in a loss to Oregon. The Badgers are a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde team this year, and it all depends on their effort and hustle. If Wisconsin comes into a game flat, they can lose to anyone. If they come out with energy and fight, they can beat anyone.
Here's how they won against Washington:
1. Battle for 50/50 balls and energy through the roof
There was one play in particular where Wisconsin pulled down multiple offensive rebounds, tipped out one, and on a 50/50 ball Nick Boyd hustled to it and was able to throw it into Nolan Winter for the slam. That series alone showed the difference between the Washington game and the Oregon game. Wisconsin willed those two points into the hoop by sheer hustle.
From the jump, the Wisconsin Badgers were fighting for every ball, rebound, and steal. Their energy was light-years better than last game, and that was the biggest difference.
2. Braeden Carrington was phenomenal
The FS1 announcer was blown away at the end of the game when Braeden Carrington was raining down three-pointers. "Carrington can't miss! He's unconscious!" Carrington was phenomenal on both ends of the floor, but his 32 points will have your eyes popping out of your head. He made nine three-pointers and five free throws. He also had four rebounds, three assists, and one steal.
He and Nick Boyd were the best players on the court and it wasn't even close.
3. Wisconsin took care of the basketball
The final key, and it's a big one, was that Wisconsin took care of the basketball. They didn't throw the ball away as they did against Washington. The Badgers only had six turnovers. Those turnovers were counter-balanced by 16 assists and six steals. That's a good statline and a winning recipe.
The Badgers should have swept this road series but walking away with a statement win at Washington will still help the Wisconsin Badgers long-term. Now the team is back home against Maryland before finishing the regular season on the road, at Purdue.