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Wisconsin Aims to Stay Aggressive in Big Ten Showdown with Michigan State
Wisconsin finished February on a high note, dominating Washington in an 88-62 win to complete a 6-1 month. Now, the Badgers face one of their toughest tests of the season as they head to East Lansing for a top-15 showdown against No. 8 Michigan State on Sunday.
Both teams are in the thick of the Big Ten title race, with Michigan State tied for first alongside Michigan at 14-3 in conference play. Wisconsin, at 12-5, still has an outside chance to share the regular-season crown, but a win on Sunday is a must to keep that hope alive.
Wisconsin Stays in Attack Mode After Bouncing Back
The Badgers responded to their only February loss, a 77-73 overtime defeat to Oregon, with one of their most dominant performances of the season against Washington.
“We were in attack mode from start to finish,” Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said. “I’ll go through the film and look at the possessions, but I don’t think we ever really relented or backed off, even when we had a large lead. It was a mindset in all of the timeouts to continue to attack and play aggressively.”
That aggression was evident in the numbers. The Badgers scored 42 points in the paint, knocked down 10 three-pointers, and led by as many as 32 points.
John Blackwell, one of Wisconsin’s most consistent scorers, finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds.
“It shows how dynamic we are and the confidence we have in each other,” Blackwell said. “It shows that we can score without threes, play great defense, and get transition buckets. We just have to keep doing it.”
Blackwell is Wisconsin’s second-leading scorer at 15.2 points per game, but Michigan State’s biggest defensive concern will be John Tonje, who has been one of the best scorers in the Big Ten.
Tonje is averaging 19.5 points per game and has already recorded four games of 30 or more points this season. Slowing him down will be a major key for the Spartans.
Michigan State Coming Off Wild Buzzer-Beater Win
The Spartans enter Sunday’s game on a four-game winning streak, with their most recent victory coming in dramatic fashion.
Michigan State defeated Maryland 58-55 on the road Wednesday thanks to Tre Holloman’s game-winning three-pointer from beyond halfcourt.
“I felt we deserved to win the game,” Spartans coach Tom Izzo said. “I don’t think it was a lucky shot at the end. I thought we played inspired basketball. … All in all, an ugly game. But for us, a pretty win is better than an ugly loss. And it was an ugly game because both teams played so hard.”
Michigan State has complete control over its Big Ten title hopes, with upcoming games against Iowa and Michigan before the conference tournament. The Spartans already handled the Wolverines with a 13-point win in Ann Arbor on February 21.
“I feel like myself and the team are in a really good spot right now,” Spartans forward Xavier Booker said. “We’ve just got to keep stacking up games. We’ve gone on a little stretch here where we’ve won our past few games, so we’ve just got to keep it going. The Big Ten title is what we want; it’s what all of us want.”
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Key Matchups to Watch
John Tonje vs. Michigan State’s Defense
Tonje has been Wisconsin’s go-to scorer and is capable of taking over a game. The Spartans must find a way to slow him down, particularly from beyond the arc.
Jase Richardson vs. Wisconsin’s Backcourt
Richardson has become Michigan State’s most dangerous scoring option, leading the team in points in four of the last six games. Over that stretch, he is averaging 16.8 points per game.
Michigan State’s Balanced Attack vs. Wisconsin’s Aggressive Defense
Michigan State does not rely on one player to carry the offense, with multiple contributors stepping up each game. Wisconsin must disrupt their rhythm and force them into uncomfortable shots.
What’s at Stake?
For Wisconsin, a win would keep their Big Ten title hopes alive and boost their NCAA Tournament seeding with a key road victory over a top-10 opponent.
For Michigan State, a win would keep them atop the Big Ten standings and one step closer to securing the regular-season championship.
Both teams have been playing at a high level, setting up what should be one of the most intense games of the Big Ten season. Will Wisconsin’s attacking mindset carry them to a road upset, or will Michigan State continue its push toward a conference title? The answer will come Sunday in East Lansing.
