Nolan Winter's injury status before Purdue has an extra note of alarm to it

When Nolan Winter went down to injury in the last game against Maryland, it looked bad. It definitely didn't look like a "back the next game" sort of injury. There was an expectation that Winter would be missing the Purdue game and maybe even some of the Big Ten Tournament as he recovers. However, good news was reported when Wisconsin listed him as "day-to-day." Now, there's bad news to follow. Or at least alarming news.

Wisconsin released an update ahead of the Purdue game for Nolan Winter that says he will "not be available for today's game." But it's the next line that adds an extra note of alarm to it, "and did not travel with the team to Purdue."

Nolan Winter did not even travel to Purdue as he recovers from his ankle injury

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This could be great news as Winter is fully in a treatment plan and head coach Greg Gard and his staff are getting him all the help he needs so he can be back shortly. Or it could be bad news, as not even traveling shows there's more severity than Wisconsin is letting on about it. You can choose which way you want to take it, but it's alarming news nonetheless.

Wisconsin is most likely going to be a No. 5 or 6 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, which gives Winter more time to recover. Those games won't be played until March 12th. There is an off-chance Wisconsin becomes a No. 4 seed (it would take Maryland beating Illinois and Wisconsin beating Purdue). If that happens, the Badgers will get even one more day of rest as the No. 4 seed gets a triple-bye.

Seeds 1-4 play on March 13th and will only need three wins to win the Big Ten Tournament. Wisconsin may have no fully just surrendered this next week or two, so Winter can be fully healthy for the NCAA Tournament.