The Wisconsin Badgers fell in the Big Ten Tournament semi-finals to the No. 1-seeded Michigan Wolverines. It was a battle to the final shot, made by Big Ten Player of the Year, Yaxel Lendeborg, to break the tie and give the Wolverines the win. However, for the Wisconsin Badgers, the Big Ten Tournament was a huge success.
The Badgers were playing with house money as soon as they beat the Washington Huskies. Every other win was just for kicks, giggles, and to put fear into the future opponent's hearts. There was almost no chance the Badgers were going to move up a seed line from their projected No. 5 seed, so it was for pride more than anything.
The Badgers need the extra day of rest more than another grueling battle in the Big Ten Tournament title game
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The Badgers also didn't need to try to force Nolan Winter back too early; let him heal all the way and be ready for the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Here's how the Badgers won the Big Ten Tournament:
-Won two games and knocked off the Illinois Fighting Illini.
-Kept Nolan Winter out of it, to fully heal.
-Scared the crap out of the Michigan Wolverines.
-Showed how dangerous they can be and how they can win with or without the three-ball.
-No new injuries were added to the Badgers.
-Added valuable minutes to some of the young core.
The Badgers may have lost to Michigan, but now they can do what matters more for the NCAA Tournament. Get an extra day of rest and an extra day of healing for Nolan Winter. Running to the Big Ten Tournament title game hasn't worked for the Badgers in the NCAA Tournament. Last year, they only got through one NCAA Tournament game. The year before, the Badgers lost to No. 12 seed James Madison.
This year, maybe the one extra day of rest and the two games of the Big Ten Tournament will be the better play. We will see come NCAA Tournament time, but it's a Michigan loss, but an overall Wisconsin win in this tournament.