The Wisconsin Badgers misplaced to the James Madison Dukes 72-61 within the first spherical of the NCAA Match, ending their season on a disappointing observe after incomes a No. 5 seed within the South Area.
It was an unsightly recreation from the start for the Badgers, who handled turnover points as they couldn’t cope with James Madison’s physicality.
A.J. Storr and Chucky Hepburn, who have been the heroes for the staff through the Huge Ten Match, struggled, and the Badgers may by no means actually get a rhythm through the loss.
The defeat to James Madison sends Wisconsin dwelling through the first weekend as soon as once more, as they’ve now did not make the Candy Sixteen since 2017.
Though they ended the season with promise coming into the event, they’re now heading dwelling because the second Huge Ten staff to lose within the first spherical, becoming a member of the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Listed below are three fast takeaways from the Badgers’ 72-61 loss to James Madison.
Gradual begin
Wisconsin had one of many ugliest halves of their season, placing up simply 20 factors within the first half, whereas capturing 6/23 within the interval and 1/6 from three.
From the soar, Wisconsin appeared sluggish and was no match for James Madison’s physicality, resulting in quite a few early turnovers.
That, added to the depth of a crowd that favored James Madison, led to Wisconsin beginning extraordinarily sluggish and unprepared.
A.J. Storr actually struggled within the first half, capturing simply 2/9 and forcing quite a few photographs on the rim that did not go his approach.
Add in a scoreless half from Chucky Hepburn and the Badgers received minimal contributions from their prime two gamers to start the sport.
General, Wisconsin did not appear to match the toughness that James Madison introduced, coughing up the ball persistently as they tried to penetrate the lane and failing to transform contained in the paint.
Steven Crowl was the lone participant who noticed success early, however the Badgers didn’t present him with many touches.
After scoring eight factors on 3/4 from the sector over the primary 11 minutes of the primary half, Crowl didn’t get a shot for the subsequent 8:50. When that chance got here, it was on a three-pointer, which missed.
Regardless of having the dimensions benefit in that matchup, Wisconsin didn’t go to it early, whereas the Dukes did an excellent job of taking part in bodily to disclaim entry passes.
Now, James Madison didn’t have a stellar first half by any means, as they shot simply 37.5 p.c from the sector within the interval and solely 25 p.c from deep.
However, they discovered a technique to combat for six offensive rebounds and took benefit when alternatives have been there, particularly off turnovers (extra on that in a minute).
That led them to have a 33-20 lead going into halftime, with the Badgers being fortunate that it wasn’t extra, given their struggles.
Turnovers
Turnovers have been the distinction on this recreation.
After averaging simply 9.7 turnovers a recreation coming into March Insanity, the Badgers coughed up the ball seven instances within the first eight minutes of the sport.
They finally turned the ball over 13 instances within the first half, and James Madison scored 20 of their 33 first-half factors immediately off turnovers.
A.J. Storr had three turnovers himself within the first half as he tried to power the difficulty by attacking the paint, the place he was met with quite a few prying fingers.
The turnover considerations associated to the physicality points, as Wisconsin coughed up the ball as they have been met by James Madison’s stifling protection, which killed their power early on.
When the Dukes have been struggling offensively, the Badgers fueled their opponent’s offense with the variety of turnovers resulting in factors for James Madison.
Wisconsin turned the ball over six extra instances within the second half, marking considered one of their worst video games of the season in regard to takeaways.
James Madison themselves have been sound sufficient with the basketball, turning it over 12 instances general, with solely 5 coming within the first half.
If the Badgers don’t flip the ball over 13 instances within the first half, they’re most likely proper within the midst of the sport, even with their ugly capturing numbers. However, their giveaway woes have been an important think about them dropping the sport.
Prime gamers battle
Within the Huge Ten Match, Wisconsin relied on A.J. Storr and Chucky Hepburn, who delivered time and time once more, with the previous averaging 22.5 factors over the 4 video games, whereas the latter put collectively back-to-back 20-point performances within the remaining two video games.
Nevertheless, the duo enormously struggled towards James Madison.
Storr by no means received right into a rhythm early as he did within the earlier video games. He completed the primary half capturing simply 2/9 from the sector, whereas taking two questionable three-pointers and forcing the difficulty on the rim.
Then, he was primarily a non-factor within the second half, ending with 13 factors on 5/14 from the sector, though 4 of these got here through the remaining two minutes with Wisconsin down double-figures.
Hepburn, however, was scoreless within the first half, and scored a majority of his factors late within the recreation with Wisconsin down practically double digits.
The Badgers wanted each of these gamers to point out out, however they finally struggled in Wisconsin’s lone NCAA Match recreation.
Tyler Wahl’s struggles from the sector continued on Friday, because the ahead completed with 5 factors on 1/5 capturing.
Wahl missed quite a few layups within the paint, whereas hitting just one/5 of his free throws within the loss.
Steven Crowl had issues going early, however finally didn’t get many alternatives general. After scoring eight factors within the first half on 3/4 capturing, which all got here within the first 11 minutes, the Badgers middle did not get a contact over practically a nine-minute stretch to finish the half.
Then, within the second half, Crowl took only one shot, ending the sport with 10 factors on 4/6 capturing.
Down the stretch, the Badgers elected to put up up Tyler Wahl on quite a few events over Crowl, which I assumed was an intriguing alternative given the middle’s success early within the recreation.
Finally, he wanted to get extra touches and didn’t with the Badgers needing factors.
Max Klesmit was the one who stored Wisconsin within the recreation through the second half, scoring 18 factors over the ultimate 20 minutes, whereas pulling down 5 three-pointers within the interval.
However, his efforts weren’t sufficient to chop the lead, because the Badgers persistently contemplated between being down eight to 13 factors over the ultimate quarter-hour of the sport.
In the long run, Wisconsin wanted extra from their starters, however fell quick in a disappointing first-round end.