The Wisconsin Badgers have played with fire all season. They have decided to start multiple games without their best stuff. Play sluggish, bad defense, cold shooting, and it's almost like they truly enjoy going into the half with a double-digit deficit. Five times this season, they've come back from that, and many have called them the cardiac kids. Yet, that's not how they should play, and they had to learn this lesson.
Ohio State decided to teach them that lesson tonight; instead of letting the Badgers back into the game, the Buckeyes kept the pedal down the whole way. Even when Wisconsin was trying to make it interesting, Ohio State wouldn't let the Badgers keep the momentum.
Wisconsin has to learn to start fast and finish fast if they want to be a top team
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If Wisconsin is going to be a real contender in March, they have to start the way they end games. It's as simple as that. They can't go into half-times with 12-point deficits, like they did tonight against Ohio State.
However, they've been learning the opposite lesson. Like when a kid gets candy when they cry. That child learns to cry to get candy. The Badgers have learned they can beat any team and come back from any deficit. That's a terrible lesson to learn. UW trailed by 14 at Michigan, 11 at Minnesota, 20 versus Minnesota, 11 versus Ohio State, and 12 against Illinois.
Ohio State has seen this song and dance before and didn't let it happen again. The Badgers struggled so badly to start the game on both ends of the floor and could never quite get it right. While they played a much better second half, they never could make up for that 38-26 deficit going into the locker room.
The Badgers will have to find a way to right the ship against Iowa on Sunday and get things back on track for their goals this season.