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Late rally pushes Badgers into “Sweet 16” (AUDIO)

By

Greg Gard

The 8th-seeded Wisconsin Badgers are headed back to the “Sweet 16”, coming from behind to knock off Villanova 65-62 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Buffalo.

The Badgers trailed 57-50 with just over five minutes left.  Villanova would score just one field goal and five total points the rest of the way as the Badgers tightened up their defense down the stretch.

AUDIO: Greg Gard on his team’s defense down the stretch :13

AUDIO: Villanova’s Jay Wright on scoring just five points in final 5+ minutes :19

The Badgers pulled out the win despite guard Bronson Koenig’s second half foul trouble.  He returned with more than five minutes left and helped lead the comeback.  Koenig finished hitting 3 of 6 three-pointers and scored 17 points.  Two of his three-pointers tied the game at 57-all and gave the Badgers a 62-59 lead with 1:58 to play.

Nigel Hayes hit the game winner on a baseline drive and left-handed reverse layup.  He led the Badgers in scoring with 19 points and pulled down eight rebounds. [Read more…]

Badgers rally to beat UNC, advance to Elite 8 for second straight year

By

Sam Dekker

Sam Dekker

It required a second half rally, contributions from a two unexpected bench players, and a career night for a rising star to push the Wisconsin Badgers past North Carolina, 79-72, and into the NCAA Tournament’s Elite 8 for a second consecutive year.

Junior Sam Dekker scored a career-best 23 points (10-for-15) to go along with ten rebounds, while Zak Showalter and Traevon Jackson combined for ten points off the bench in the Badgers third Sweet 16 win under coach Bo Ryan. Jackson was playing in his first game after missing 19 games with a broken foot. The senior hit his first shot of the game, a three-pointer from the corner in the first half.

The top seed in the West Region fell behind early and trailed by as much as seven in the second half against the fourth-seeded Tar Heels, but a 19-7 run put the Badgers in front for good. The run included a three-pointer by Frank Kaminsky and four consecutive points from Showalter. [Read more…]

Badgers withstand Oregon run to advance to Sweet 16

By

Sam Dekker

Sam Dekker

The top-seeded Wisconsin Badgers are moving on to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 for the seventh time under Bo Ryan after beating eighth-seeded Oregon 72-65 in a West Region 3rd Round game in Omaha, Neb.

Wisconsin’s frontline of Sam Dekker (17), Frank Kaminsky (16), and Nigel Hayes (14) combined for 47 points; however, the real surprise was redshirt sophomore Zak Showalter scoring five points and grabbing a career-high five rebounds off the bench.

The Badgers built an 11-point first half lead, which dwindled down to three by halftime. Oregon’s pursuit continued in the second half as the Ducks eventually tied the game at 52 with just under six minutes remaining. Wisconsin answered with a quick 6-0, and finished the game by outscoring the Ducks 20-13. [Read more…]

Buzz Williams has reason to dance

By

It’s been a long week for Buzz Williams and in the end, he had reason to dance.

While the Golden Eagles were in Lexington, Kentucky, battling the likes of Davidson and Butler, Buzz Williams’ wife was hospitalized with a ruptured appendix.  Williams was at his wife’s (Corey) side, kept close eye on his two sons, 9-year-old Calvin and 6-year-old Mason and at the same time, coaching his basketball team to wins over Davidson and Butler.

Marquette had to come from behind to win both games and advance to the Sweet 16 for the 3rd straight year, something that hasn’t been done before at Marquette.

So when it was done, Williams felt like dancing.  He said he shouldn’t have done so, but given everything he’s had to deal with, that dance was a well deserved one.