Fans pick apart Wisconsin men's basketball flaws after loss to I-94 rival Marquette
The Badgers let a halftime lead slip away like the turnovers they gave up. Fans found it as a learning experience against a quality opponent.
Summary of this season?
Offense - love it.
— Chris Davis (@cdavis20000) December 7, 2024
Defense - I’ll let you know once I see it.
Open invitation to points
We've struggled defensively the past couple seasons. We're giving up too many easy buckets in the paint lately.
— Ryan Pohle (@RyanPohle) December 7, 2024
Crowl has also regressed significantly.
Certainly doesn't help
Too many turnovers.
— TamiraMadsen (@tamiramadsen) December 7, 2024
Certainly was entertaining
Two good programs battled. Fun when both teams have talent, despite the outcome. Marquette played a tough second half and strung together a nice run to close. Badgers needed to close the lane better. If defense improves and we get more from the bigs, this team is a tough out.
— Damon Heim (@DamonHeim) December 7, 2024
Suppose that's a positive?
Building strength in these good losses, getting Tonje toughened up for B10 play
— chris van wagner (@CVWhoops) December 7, 2024
A good thought moving forward
Not a bad loss come March . Just stings that it came after a game you should’ve won. 7 footers will determine how far this team can go. 9 points combined ain’t gonna cut it.
— Ben Patton (@BenjaminP32) December 7, 2024
An apparent non-factor?
Crowl showed more interest today than Michigan game but he is getting too many minutes. He doesn’t block shots and he can’t score. Other guys can get rebounds. Gard needs to send a message
— Joe Kuester (@JCKuest) December 7, 2024
A hard ceiling, but how low is it?
Marquette is good. No shame in losing to them.
— Craig Smith (@smithcp1) December 7, 2024
But it is odd to watch a Wisconsin team that shoots well, but can't defend a folding chair. Until the defense gets better, this team has a hard ceiling for how good it can be.
They miss Chucky, dare I say?
Out athleted. Poor job stopping dribble penetration, and the lack of a true PG really starting to show itself.
— Thömas A. Miller (@UWBone24) December 7, 2024
Ball pressure brings Badgers problems
More upset about the Michigan loss than this. Marquette has a better, more athletic team than us. Had to play A+ basketball in our system for a chance at winning and we couldn’t do it. Will keep losing games untill offense can handle high energy on ball pressure.
— matt anderson (@Anders0nMatt) December 7, 2024
Correct
Marquette’s speed and athleticism is at a different level than ours.
— Randall Kohl (@crandallkohl) December 7, 2024
That, in fact, was the ballgame
Gard has had two straight rough coaching efforts. Last two games we entered the 2nd half with a lead & and MI/MU started with a run.
— Nick P Bassill (@NickPBassill) December 7, 2024
This game was decided when Tonje got his 3rd & Gard refused to call a timeout, put him back in, or use a lineup that could score from ~16-11:00.
A little?
Maybe the start to the season was a little deceiving
— Ethan Lamont (@EthanLamont14) December 7, 2024
Outspending a factor we'll never know for certain
Lost too much from last year. Marquette spends more money to retain people. Better team at the moment.
— Badger (@uwbadgers0) December 7, 2024
What's Marquette's ceiling? Final Four? More?
That’s a very good Marquette team. Wisconsin just needs to bounce back and they will.
— PackAttack (@PackAttack247) December 7, 2024
Kam Jones could be national player of the year. He's fun to watch
Marquette is elite. Kam Jones was excellent and his supporting cast ain’t bad either — especially Joplin and Ross.
— Badger Sports Guy (@BadgerSportsGuy) December 7, 2024
Probably the most complete take
This week has been put UW “back in its place”. Talent wise we aren’t a top 10 caliber team. We ARE a tourney team so we have exceeded expectations already.
— DRich (@drich318318) December 7, 2024
But Marq is a FF caliber team. This UW team can’t overcome mistakes, errors, sloppy play, lazy play, poor help D, etc.
Challenge failed: Score, stop, score
Turnovers and inability to string together stops in the second half (1.59ppp for Marquette) sink the Badgers
— Nuclear Badger (@nuclearbdgr) December 7, 2024
No answer for either option
Marquette put a lot of high ball pressure that made it tough for the Badgers to get any offense going. Jones got to the rim and finished at will.
— Rick Nelson (@RickNel59770091) December 7, 2024
And Nolan Winter didn't attack against shorter players
You beat Maqeuette with a good front court (guard dominated team). Unfortunately for us, thats a weakness. No low post scoring. I mean 2 from Crowl?
— Ron (@RonFiki) December 7, 2024
Maybe, or maybe he needs to develop
Daniel Freitag….transfer portal….collision course
— Nick Kapitz (@NKapitz) December 7, 2024
Like Wisconsin's offense this season, all good points
Still best team ever…..BUT…
— aarondentz (@aarondentz) December 7, 2024
1. Crowl and Winter have to play better…need the bigs to do something…especially Crowl.
2. Need more out of Amos…hopefully that comes sooner than later.
3. Guards are good…not worried…klesmit found his stroke today..that’s huge.
4. Defense!!
Klesmit warming up a positive
Not the end of the world. Blackwell had a rough stretch when Tonje went out with his 3rd. But it was poor D that kept them from coming back. Nice to see Max heat up.
— Tranquil Chaos (@TuckerChicken18) December 7, 2024
Weird that he's had seemingly little impact
Just seems that Crowl hardly is serving any purpose right now.
— Joel Gratz (@JoelGratz) December 7, 2024
Good analysis, coach
Expected. Badgers play hard. Well coached. Get to the Freethrow line. Just NOT ENOUGH TALENT
— Coach Eddie (@EddieAndrist1) December 7, 2024
Ha
I see we are going with European offense AND European defense
— Brian S (@BrianSm71994635) December 7, 2024
Offense needs shots to score and turnovers really hurt that
Turnovers kill. No doubt that they can hang with anyone if that’s a top 5 team.
— Más Tequila (@JoRy_MaMa) December 7, 2024
It really does make life more enjoyable, doesn't it?
expectations were at 0 entering the season. its all good.
— Hassan (@TheLifeOfHassan) December 7, 2024
Class was in session. Next exam Tuesday
Marquette scored in the paint at will, despite the Badger height advantage. Positive is Klesmit’s shooting touch is coming back. A learning experience.
— Leonard Go (@LeonardGo) December 7, 2024
Very well could be
Will be 8-4 one week from now.
— Go Pack Go (@jeffgtown) December 7, 2024
Wisconsin's defense was atrocious, and that's probably too kind of a description. Here's what else stood out to columnist Jim Polzin.
It took four tries but the Oregon High School graduate has his first win over the Badgers. Here's what stood out.
The Badgers had been one of the best teams in ball security had mistakes "snowball" on them, which led to a second straight loss.
Winning shootouts might be the Badgers' best hope against good teams unless it figures out a way to stop dribble penetration and protect the paint.
