BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer

MADISON, Wis. — In the aftermath of the loss to Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament, one of the conclusions was that Tyler Wahl didn't take enough shots. Wahl was 3-for-4 from the floor against the Spartans, his fewest FG attempts since the first Purdue game (Jan. 3) when he also went 3-of-4.

What a difference a week makes. Friday night, Wahl set a career high with "18" shots in the UW's spirited win over Colgate. His previous high was 14 attempts (twice).

In the first half, Wahl was 2-for-6. In the second, he was constantly on the attack (5-of-12 FG) and subsequently ended up with 15 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. Logged 37:18, most on team.

He probably could have had 25 points with some better finishes at the rim, something, he no doubt would admit. On one possession, Wahl outbattled bodies in the paint for positioning on the offensive glass and while he couldn't pull down the rebound cleanly, he smartly tapped (double tap) it to Johnny Davis who scored on a short jumper and was fouled, a pivotal stage in the rally.

Pure hustle and grit by Wahl. He also flexed and posed on the baseline much to the delight of an energized Fiserv crowd.

"Tyler Wahl is an extraordinary college basketball player in my mind," Colgate head coach Matt Langel gushed. "I think that a lot of guys on the team get a lot of credit for due reason, but he – we call them winning plays. Tyler Wahl makes a lot of winning plays."

By the way, don't sleep on Wahl as a 3-point option just yet. He didn't take one Friday, but since starting the season by missing his first 17 attempts through 15 games, he has made 6 of last 20 (.300). If Iowa State opts not to guard him at the arc, like some other defenses have, don't be surprised if he makes them pay. Sooner or later.

1 & 22
For his two seasons at Penn State, Izaiah Brockington wore jersey No. 12 before transferring to Iowa State and donning No. "1" which is only appropriate since he's the team's No. 1 scorer. Brockington, who started his career at St. Bonaventure, has had his moments against the Badgers. Last season, he had 18 points (8-for-15), 7 rebounds and 3 assists in win at State College. He was Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and first-team all-conference. The 6-4 Brockington, a Philly baller, had 19 points in the Cyclones' victory over LSU.

Slasher. Initiates contact. Draws fouls. Brockington has shot 136 free throws in 33 games. In November, he had 30 points (4 triples) against Xavier. In February, he had 35 (5 triples) against West Virginia along with the game-winning basket.

He has brought a distinct Big Ten flavor to the roster along with No. "22" – Gabe Kalscheur who started 88 straight games at Minnesota before breaking his hand and transferring to Ames.

He made 77 and 76 triples his first two years with the Gophers with a single-game high of 8. Last season, Kalscheuer, an Edina native (who prepped at De La Salle), had 15 points and 7 rebounds in loss to the Badgers at Kohl Center. Team captain, can also be a defensive stopper. Brockington and Kalscheuer have both scored more than 1,000 career points.

14
Call it a hostile takeover. Johnny Davis style.

After the aforementioned old fashioned 3-point play, triggered by Wahl's hustle, Davis was basically unstoppable. He produced a 14-point run/explosion.

Back-to-back downhill drives through the lane resulted in layup and free throws. Even though he was tagged for charging on yet another dribble penetration (and kick), it didn't slow him down. He drained a cold-blooded 3-point dagger in the face of Tucker Richardson, who had gotten the better of Davis earlier in the half with a flurry of 3's (4-for-4).

Davis responded to that Richardson breakout with some of his most tenacious, close-out defense of the season. Limited Richardson's touches/looks and he had only two more shots the rest of the game. Both misses.

Davis led both teams in scoring with 25. Most he's had since pouring in 25 against Michigan. Over last five games he was averaging 13.6 ppg and has dealt with injuries.

He started off slowly against Colgate, but carried the offense during crunch time with his patented competitor's rage, a controlled rage. Davis, who was 5-for-5 from FT Line, has shot 185 free throws, the most by a Badger guard since Jordan Taylor during 2010-11 season (154-185, .832). For the record, Devin Harris shot 216 FT's in 2003-04.

This week, Davis was recognized on another All-American team, becoming the most decorated UW guard in the modern era.

Before Davis's takeover in the Colgate comeback, the last Badger not named Davis to score was Steven Crowl whose 3-point bank shot gave the UW a lead (53-52) that it would not relinquish. Crowl has made some timely 3's throughout the season. It's one area of his game that will only get better with more seasoning. Chucky Hepburn, Davis and Crowl have been money in the "bank" with kisses off glass.

4
Iowa State's T.J. Otzelberger knows his way around Milwaukee. Born and raised there and a graduate of St. Thomas More High School (Class of '96), he played collegiately at UW-Whitewater. Two-time captain, he paid his dues in the coaching profession. First gig at Catholic Central High School in Burlington. Worked as a Cyclones assistant for eight years under Greg McDermott, Fred Hoiberg, and Steve Prohm.

The 44-year-old Otzelberger is just one of four first-year head coaches to inherit a losing program (ISU was 2-22 last season) and guide his team into the 2022 NCAA Tournament. The others are Indiana's Mike Woodson, Marquette's Shaka Smart, and TAMU-CC's Steve Lutz.

Otzelberger is not the only Cyclone with a Wisconsin connection. Freshman guard Tyrese Hunter, a product of Racine St. Catherine's High School, was the player of the game in the win against LSU. Taking charge in front of family and friends, Hunter had 23 points, including 7 triples (7-of-11).

The Big 12 Freshman of the Year, he scored in double-figures 19 times. Had 13 assists against Baylor. Should be an intriguing matchup between Hunter and Hepburn, who did a solid job in the second half of containing Colgate's Nelly Cummings, one of the keys to defensive revival. Cummings had 14 points in first half. Only six after intermission.

Hepburn had 8 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 0 turnovers in 33 minutes and 33 seconds. Over the last eight games, Hepburn has 28 assists. He has just two turnovers over the last four games. Hunter likes to play with "serious face" in his own words. Hepburn rarely shows emotion, too. Battle of Backcourt should be entertaining.

300
Brad Davison's next 3-point basket will be No. "300" in his UW career.

Topping the Big Ten list is Iowa's Jordan Bohannon with 455 and only 12 players in league history are in 300 Club. Davison is currently tied with Dee Brown and the only other active player is Illinois' Trent Frazier with 309.

Davison missed his only 3-point attempt against Colgate and was held to just four points (1-of-5). But he was principle defender on Jack Ferguson who was the MVP of the Patriot League Tournament. Ferguson averaged 21 points over three games (highlighted by career high 28 against Bucknell) and made 13-of-16 shots from the arc.

In concert with a switching defense, Davison erased Ferguson, who had one triple (1-of-4) and three points (1-of-6 FG). Davison gets another chance Sunday to exorcise demons from the Fiserv Forum where he's 1-for-12 from the field in three career appearances.

Getting to the Sweet 16 is only thing on his mind.