Every Wisconsinite knows this is the matchup to look forward to. All year, friends, neighbors and even family members argue about the best Wisconsin team: Marquette or Wisconsin. Marquette is currently ranked fifth in the country and is coming off their first season loss at Iowa State (70-81). They are eager to avenge last year’s defeat to the Badgers, where they lost 64-75, and secure Coach Smart’s first victory against this rival(0-3 against WI). The Wisconsin Badgers are also coming off their first loss, having been defeated by Michigan at home (67-64). However, this rivalry transcends records; both teams prioritize beating each other for the sake of their fans, regardless of recent performances.
In this sold-out arena, anticipation was at an all-time high. The seats began to fill with blue and gold, sprinkled with red, as early as an hour before tip-off. The crowd drowned out all other sounds around you. As tip-off approached and the student section filled, chants against Wisconsin started even before the game began.
Marquette struggled to control the game’s pace against Greg Gard’s physical Badgers team. However, the Golden Eagles found success with their ball movement, showcasing lightning-quick passes to open their cutters. Kam Jones capitalized early on Wisconsin’s inability to recover. Meanwhile, the Badgers quickly found their game plan, effectively utilizing an inside-out strategy to score points in the paint and set up wide-open three-pointers. The intensity of the battle increased as time went on, leading to a perimeter contest. By the end of the first half, the Badgers were 6-16 from beyond the arc, while the Golden Eagles shot 3-11. Both teams pushed the pace on both sides of the court, and the lead changed hands nine times during the first half, with Wisconsin leading 39-37.
Shaka Smart likely had a clear focus for his locker room speech. Marquette emerged from halftime on a mission. They took control of points in the paint, forced turnovers, and matched Wisconsin in rebounding, leading to a 19-2 run early in the second half. The Badgers managed to stay competitive thanks to Max Klesmit and John Blackwell’s impressive performance. Klesmit’s shooting was 60% from both inside and beyond the arc. Blackwell’s was even more impressive, finishing 7-11 from the field with three rebounds and assists, respectively. However, it wasn’t enough, as the Golden Eagles maintained their dominant play throughout the second half.
Coach Smart achieved a milestone as his Golden Eagles defeated the Wisconsin Badgers at the Fiserv Forum, scoring 88-74. After the game, he complimented Kam Jones’ game by saying, “he plays like an old man,” Shaka explained that Jones’ maturity and growth have led him to a spot where he can slow the game down and play at their pace no matter what. Wisconsin played a great game, but from the players to the coaches, they knew that turnovers were a major contributor to the result. In the second half, there was an 8-minute stretch where nearly half of the Badger’s drives resulted in turnovers, totaling 16 on the night. Coach Gard also stated that rebounding was a huge factor in their loss, usually where Marquette struggles. According to Greg Gard, Wisconsin doesn’t have time due to their upcoming matchup on Tuesday against #19 Illinois. He says they will watch the film and prepare. The Golden Eagles hold their head high as they walk through the halls these next few days before their next matchup.
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Next Up: Marquette looks forward to a long break as they recover and prepare for Dayton on the 14th
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