The Badgers needed a lot to go their way in the second half of a big comeback against Minnesota.
The Wisconsin Badgers headed into the Kohl Center and pulled off one of the most improbable escapes in the history of the Border Battle, erasing an 18-point halftime deficit to stun Minnesota 67-63.
After looking completely lost in the first half, shooting a dismal percentage, and letting the Gophers dictate everything, Wisconsin flipped the script in the final 20 minutes. It was the program’s 11th straight win over Minnesota, a new school record, and it proved that even when the “swing” offense is out of sync, this team has a gear very few in the Big Ten can match.
Here are three reasons why the Badgers pulled off the historic comeback.
The John Blackwell Takeover
If there was any doubt about who the “Gopher Grim Reaper” is, John Blackwell cleared it up.
After a nightmare first half where he went 1-for-8 with three turnovers, Blackwell put the team on his back when it mattered most. He finished with a game-high 23 points, including the final seven points for Wisconsin in the closing minute.
His dagger three-pointer with 19 seconds left was the ultimate cold-blooded move, silencing any hope of a Minnesota upset. When Blackwell plays with that “alpha” mentality, he’s arguably the toughest cover in the conference.
The Nick Boyd Spark
While Blackwell closed the door, Nick Boyd was the one who kicked it open. Boyd scored 19 of his 21 points in the second half, providing the aggressive downhill attacking that the Badgers desperately lacked early on.
He played with a sense of urgency that seemed to infect the rest of the roster, forcing the Gophers’ defense to collapse and creating space for everyone else.
Between Boyd and Blackwell, the Badgers have a backcourt duo that can combine for 40+ on any given night, which is a terrifying prospect for the rest of the Big Ten.
Finding the “Grit” to Get to the Line
In the first half, Wisconsin settled for way too many contested jumpers. In the second half, they finally realized they were bigger and stronger. By attacking the paint and forcing the issue, the Badgers turned the game into a parade to the free-throw line, where they outscored Minnesota 16-6.
They stopped settling for the “hopeful” three and started hunting contact. That shift in philosophy didn’t just put points on the board; it put the Gophers’ thin frontcourt in foul trouble and allowed Wisconsin to set its defense, which held Minnesota to just 28 points in the second half.
Category: General Sports
