The Wisconsin Badgers fell on the road to the No. 8 team in the nation and Big Ten rival the Michigan State Spartans. Things were just not going the Badgers' way throughout the game, but they continued to fight and claw to stay within striking distance throughout the game. However, if you open up social media and look to the analysts of the game, you'll see a common theme among why this team lost. It really can be described as a sound: Clang!
#Badgers just weren't good enough today.
— Evan Flood (@Evan_Flood) March 2, 2025
5-of-32 from 3-point range.
Gave up 13 offensive rebounds and 20 second chance points -- the two areas they needed to control. pic.twitter.com/LnaMGdsHtl
Wisconsin isn’t going to shoot 5-31 from three again. They probably beat Michigan State in Madison and a neutral site with Max Klesmit too.
— Dylan Buboltz (@DylanBuboltz) March 2, 2025
A really disappointing and poor showing from a veteran team this late in the season
The 5-for-32 (15.6%) was the #Badgers worst shooting game from 3 in Big Ten play since going 3-for-24 at Illinois three years ago.
— Zach Heilprin (@ZachHeilprin) March 2, 2025
Not going to win road games going 5-for-32 from three. https://t.co/uqIqEKgXDu
— Andy Heckroth (@AHeckroth16) March 2, 2025
Wisconsin's shooting woes from the 3-point arc cost them the game
Wisconsin could not buy a shot from behind the arch and even the ones that went in seemed to be relatively lucky or coincidental. They ended up going 5-32 from three and it was ultimately what cost them the game. While Michigan State didn't have a ton more success, they went 9-27 from three and that 12 point difference seems monumental in a nine point game.
While the Badgers aren't lights out from three on the season, they are shooting 38% from beyond the arc, so the 15% they shot against Michigan State is more than half of their normal make percentage. It was a woeful day, and in many ways, it's a flush it out of your system and get back to the court and try again.
The Badgers won't be able to climb into the Big Ten regular season title, but they will have a great shot of being part of the double-bye in the Big Ten tournament at the end of the season. The top four teams from the conference will get to sit and watch the first two rounds of the tournament. Wisconsin is still in control of its destiny there but will need to win out against Minnesota and Penn State to assure that reality. Let's hope the shooting woes do not continue next week.