Sunday, February 28
Madison, Wis.
5 PM
Wisconsin Badgers
19-10, 11-5
68
vs
57
Michigan
20-10, 10-7
1
2
F
Michigan
30
27
57
Wisconsin
29
39
68
Photo by: Icon Sportswire
All Smiles: Badgers close out home season with win over Michigan
February 28, 2016 | Men's Basketball
Four Badgers reach double-digit scoring, led by 19 from Koenig
MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Wisconsin interim coach Greg Gard reminded his players before the Badgers' final home game about just how far the team has come this season.
The Badgers are such a different team now, that it seems incomprehensible that they lost to Western Illinois way back in the season opener in November.
Bronson Koenig scored 19 points, and freshman forward Ethan Happ helped trigger a second-half surge with clutch plays on both ends of the floor in a 68-57 victory Sunday over Michigan.
Happ added 12 points and six rebounds for the Badgers (19-10, 11-5 Big Ten), who have won 10 of their last 11 games to surge back to the top half of the conference standings.
"We've righted the ship. Let's make sure we finish ... our last regular season home game on the right note," Gard said in recounting his pregame talk on Sunday.
They finished strong, building on an 8-0 run with Wisconsin trailing 40-39 that started with Happ on the bench. The 6-foot-9 freshman forward came back with 11:44 left and stole a Michigan entry pass before driving to the bucket for a layup at the other end.
The conference leader in steals added two more against Michigan and blocked two shots.
"It's like the same movie I've seen many, many times -- a post man that does a lot of things, keeps the ball alive," Michigan coach John Beilein said about Happ.
The Badgers certainly got the message from what Happ called one of Gard's best pregame speeches of the season. Bad home nonconference losses to Western Illinois and Milwaukee are distant memories.
"It was heartbreaking to lose those games," Happ said. "I'll never forget how that felt. We're such a different team."
Wisconsin seems to be a near-lock for the NCAA tournament now with a resume that includes wins over four ranked opponents and the victory against the short-handed but gritty Wolverines.
Zak Irvin scored 14 points for Michigan (20-10, 10-7).
The Badgers are such a different team now, that it seems incomprehensible that they lost to Western Illinois way back in the season opener in November.
Bronson Koenig scored 19 points, and freshman forward Ethan Happ helped trigger a second-half surge with clutch plays on both ends of the floor in a 68-57 victory Sunday over Michigan.
Happ added 12 points and six rebounds for the Badgers (19-10, 11-5 Big Ten), who have won 10 of their last 11 games to surge back to the top half of the conference standings.
"We've righted the ship. Let's make sure we finish ... our last regular season home game on the right note," Gard said in recounting his pregame talk on Sunday.
They finished strong, building on an 8-0 run with Wisconsin trailing 40-39 that started with Happ on the bench. The 6-foot-9 freshman forward came back with 11:44 left and stole a Michigan entry pass before driving to the bucket for a layup at the other end.
The conference leader in steals added two more against Michigan and blocked two shots.
"It's like the same movie I've seen many, many times -- a post man that does a lot of things, keeps the ball alive," Michigan coach John Beilein said about Happ.
The Badgers certainly got the message from what Happ called one of Gard's best pregame speeches of the season. Bad home nonconference losses to Western Illinois and Milwaukee are distant memories.
"It was heartbreaking to lose those games," Happ said. "I'll never forget how that felt. We're such a different team."
Wisconsin seems to be a near-lock for the NCAA tournament now with a resume that includes wins over four ranked opponents and the victory against the short-handed but gritty Wolverines.
Zak Irvin scored 14 points for Michigan (20-10, 10-7).
Team Stats
MICH
WIS
FG%
.480
.490
3FG%
.385
.381
FT%
.571
.800
RB
20
33
TO
11
12
STL
5
6
Game Leaders
Pts
19
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
4
Pts
16
FGM
7
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
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