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BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The empty statistical categories best tell the story.
Record in games decided by 3 points or less: 0-0.
Record in games decided by 4-5 points: 0-0.
Record in games decided by 6-10 points: 1-0.
Record in games decided by 11-19 points: 5-2.
Record in games decided by 20 or more points: 6-0.
Prior to Tuesday night's 75-68 win against Indiana — which was tied five times and had eight lead changes — Wisconsin had played just one game this season that was determined by single digits.
A 93-84 victory at Marquette.
"Coach (Greg Gard) was talking about that," acknowledged senior guard Zak Showalter. "We haven't been in many close games like this all year. "Both of our losses (Creighton and North Carolina) were double-digit losses and none of our wins were this close.
"It was kind of a good test for us — on the road in a hostile environment — to pull one out like this. It was good to see that we were able to do that."
Experience usually spells the difference in such close encounters and it was a three-point game (66-63) with 2:47 remaining when the Badgers went on a 7-0 run as part of their finishing kick.
"We've played in some pretty crazy places and we've had some pretty intense games," said senior guard Bronson Koenig, speaking to the equity from back-to-back Final Four journeys.
"With a group full of veterans like this, I knew that we wouldn't be rattled at all and we'd keep our composure and that's what we did."
The Badgers have always sported a road warrior mentality accounting for their impressive 50-18 record outside of the Kohl Center over the last four seasons.
They've also been incredibly successful closing out opponents, home or away, when they've had the lead or been tied with five minutes or less on the clock. What goes into that mindset?
"It usually comes down to a good shot and just getting a stop," said senior Nigel Hayes. "I know it's pretty obvious, but there are ways you can go about getting a good shot.
"Some teams will try to play one-on-one or settle for a tough shot. I thought we did a good job tonight (Tuesday) when we saw that they couldn't guard the double-ball screen.
"Especially with Ethan (Happ) and Bronson (Koenig), so we attacked the mismatch. At the end of the game, when you really have good players, the players make plays.
"Showy (Showalter) hit a big 3. Ethan hit a big shot. And Vitto (Brown) hit the clutch 3."
Each of those baskets came at different sequences during crunch time.
The Hoosiers led 57-56 lead with 7:06 remaining when the Badgers responded with a 10-2 run triggered by a 3-point play from Hayes, who had a post-up (on OG Anunoby) and one (free throw).
Showalter's "big 3" came on an assist from Happ and it followed a Showalter drive and finish with a double-pump lay-in over Indiana's 6-foot-10 Thomas Bryant.
"I thought about dunking it," confided the 6-3 Showalter, who's fearless in attacking the rim. "But it was a close game, so I figured I'd just put it in off the backboard."
Happ's "big shot" — one of many that he made while leading both teams in scoring with 19 points — came against freshman De'Ron Davis, a 6-10 tag-team partner for Bryant.
That extended the UW's lead to 68-63 with 1:51 left. Happ then got a defensive stop by picking up Bryant on the wing, crowding him on the dribble and forcing an off-balance jumper from the paint.
Moments later, Brown hit the dagger, the "clutch 3" from the right wing after making only one of his previous four attempts from beyond the arc against the Hoosiers.
"We can't be afraid to make plays," Koenig said.
That has been part of Wisconsin's success formula against Indiana.
"I just don't know if they like playing at our pace," Showalter said of the Hoosiers, who had won 26 straight at Assembly Hall before losing to Nebraska (Dec. 28) and the Badgers.
"They're a team that obviously wants to get up and down the court and get a lot of good shots in transition. They got a couple too many tonight (11-5 in fast break points).
"But I think we took them out of what they wanted to do. In almost every game, you have to find something new to take advantage of.
"Tonight, we knew with Ethan, we could kind of space him out and he could take guys off the dribble from the top (of the key and lane lines). Credit Coach Gard. He made some great adjustments."
The Badgers had several noteworthy runs, not the least of which was a 13-0 start during which Koenig hit three consecutive triples after making only 4-of-14 over the last three games.
"When we were able to make runs, we were able to get really good looks," Gard said. "We did not settle at times for quick jump shots or intermediate shots off the dribble.
"We did a better job of making plays at the rim and our post presence was able to create some freedom on the perimeter. And, obviously, they play off one another."
Assembly Hall carry-outs:
- With 14 points, Showalter has now scored in double-digits in four of his last five games. He also has made 10 of his last 21 attempts from beyond the 3-point arc. Overall, he's shooting 35 percent from that distance. With two steals, he has taken over the team lead with 25, one more than Happ.
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- Koenig played only eight minutes in the first half after picking up his second personal foul. He ended up going 5-of-5 on 3-pointers — his second most triples this season. In late November, he went 6-of-9 against Syracuse. He has been blanked from the arc just twice (North Carolina and Green Bay).
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- Happ picked up his third foul at 14:33 of a tie game (46-46). But it didn't take away from his aggressiveness. He continued to play smart and tough on the block while battling Bryant and Davis. He got his fourth foul at 2:55. Had four assists and 0 turnovers in 32 minutes of playing time.
