Luka Garza

Badgers fall to Iowa, offense is a mess

February 19, 2021 By Bill Scott

The number-21 Wisconsin Badgers shooting woes continued on Thursday night, falling to 11th ranked Iowa 77-62 at the Kohl Center.

The shooting issues have plagued the Badgers for the better part of a month now and it reached new lows against the Hawkeyes when Wisconsin hit just 4 of 15 layups in the game. UW had 17 offensive rebounds, yet scored just four second chance points.

The Badgers did make 5-of-14 three-pointers in the first half, but just 19-of-22 from inside the arc.

For the game, UW made 13-of-34 three’s (38.2%), but just 21-of-70 (30%) overall. Micah Potter finished with 23 points on 8-of-15 shooting and Brad Davison hit 5-of-11 from the field, including 5-of-8 from three-point distance for 15 points.

But things were much worse for the rest of the Badgers. Aleem Ford made 2-of-10 shots and finished with 6 points. Tyler Wahl was 0-for-6, 0-for-2 from distance and 0-for-2 from the free throw line. Potter’s 23-point night meant Nate Reuvers [Read more…]

Marquette’s Howard falls short of Wooden Award

April 8, 2020 By Bill Scott

Markus Howard – Photo Courtesy of Marquette Athletics

Marquette Golden Eagles guard Markus Howard came up short in his bid for this year’s Wooden Award. Howard was one of five finalists as the top player in college basketball, but the honor went to Dayton forward Obi Toppin.

Howard led the nation in scoring this past season, averaging 27.8 points a game at Marquette.

Toppin also won the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year award.

Iowa’s Luka Garza finished second in the Wooden Award balloting. Garza was named the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year after averaging 23.9 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks a game. He also captured the Big Ten Player of the Year award.

Saddiq Bey of Villanova, Myles Powell of Seton Hall and Peyton Pritchard of Oregon, also won positional awards from the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Bey received the Julius Erving Small Forward of the year award. Powell earned the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year and Pritchard was honored with the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year.

Badgers blow second half lead, fall to #18 Iowa

January 28, 2020 By Bill Scott

Kobe King (Photo by David Stluka)

The Wisconsin Badgers blew a 12-point second half lead, falling to the 18th ranked Iowa Hawkeyes 68-62 at Carver Hawkeye Arena on Monday night.

The Hawkeyes (15-5, 6-3 Big Ten) trailed 57-45 with 7:13 left to play before going on a 19-2 run. Joe Toussaint’s layup and free throw with 1:20 to go gave Iowa a 60-59 lead, and the Hawkeyes never trailed again.

The Badgers hit just 2 of its last 9 shots and Iowa finished the game on a 23-5 run.

Iowa struggled offensively most of the night, hitting just 20 of 60 (33%) from the field and 3 of 20 (15%) from three-point range.

The game was tied 30-30 at halftime, but the Badgers opened the second half on a 18-8 run and stayed in control until Iowa’s late rally. [Read more…]