Wisconsin men's basketball fans question program's future after upset by James Madison
Badgers fans are fed up after another early exit from the NCAA Tournament. March has become maddening after a lackluster showing.
First five minutes were most shocking
They looked ill-prepared for this team. Confidence seemed lacking. The worst shooting I can remember all season from every player. Glimmers of hope throughout that were quickly dashed. It’s disappointing and unfortunate.
— BethAnn Meier (@BAMeier) March 23, 2024
Incredibly careless, or giving if you prefer
They really should have been practicing the bounce pass and the chest pass all week. Missed out on 19 shots w 19 turnovers.
— Sherman (@BestDamnBroker) March 23, 2024
That high ball pressure was tough
Bad first 4 minutes Missed a few layups and never got comfortable. Had plenty of chances to put game pressure in JMU and never did. Tough out.
— Bradley R Stangel (@Stangelbrad) March 23, 2024
A losing formula
19 turnovers
— Dennis Towle, Jr. (@DTowleJr) March 23, 2024
37% shooting
Crowl lukewarm
Storr ice cold
Chucky mild
Klesmit only 2nd half
Wahl just missing
Subs subpar#Badgers had 4 days to learn everything about JMU, but from the opening tip it seemed like they were stunned by their quickness, toughness, and play selection.
Blame rests on several shoulders
Obviously disappointing and embarrassing loss. Usually hard on Gard but this was on the players more. Still a good team and season. Maybe silver lining is that AJ stays another year.
— Michael Burger (@Burgscom) March 23, 2024
Similar losses, no?
I’m only here for the comments … especially the ones that want us to hire, lol, Tony Bennett.
— Más Tequila (@JoRy_MaMa) March 23, 2024
Need a bigger bulletin board
Frustrating that the entire country picked this upset during selection Sunday and they still came out and got bullied.
— KJC (@snaketrail_G) March 23, 2024
Physicality inside is a must
Soft defensively inside all season. Wahl gone, need at least two athletic bigs from portal. Gard lucky to have Big Ten Tourney run…not assured job security even now.
— Ross Leinweber (@BoldCoastCap) March 23, 2024
Punk'd in the paint
Literally no Wisconsin fan is surprised by this.
— Nick P Bassill (@NickPBassill) March 23, 2024
Our Ambien-American of a coach is a nice guy, but he clearly is incapable of instilling the intensity needed in big moments. Whatever our big-recruiting strategy is, please get a new one. Got out-physicaled for the umpteenth time.
Talked the talk, walked the walk
JMU did the wet work on the Badgers season starting from the beginning with their intensity tonight. Memories created this season with ups and downs, much like life.
— mike kerry (@BadgerMike) March 23, 2024
Five-point swing was a dagger
If any one play summarizes this season it’s this … pic.twitter.com/cPYbo8lrfU
— Randall Kohl (@crandallkohl) March 23, 2024
Needed credit given
Kudos to JMU for their crazy intense defense. Shocked them into submission early and couldn’t climb out.
— Michael Rose (@THEMichaelRose) March 23, 2024
Faded in exhausting fashion
most physical game I've seen probably since Huggins was at Cincinnati- was of the opinion the NCAA wanted to get away from all the hand checking/grabbing, but not tonight. Badgers never adjusted, bigs didn't play tough-kind of like February
— Slim Hickman (@SlimHickman) March 23, 2024
Hard to believe, yet not unbelievable
Never showed up. Klesmit had a spurt. Crowl had some decent stats. But nobody played well. Turnover nightmare. Some guys were absolutely terrible. Hard to believe.
— Chris Davis (@cdavis20000) March 23, 2024
Train wreck, good imagery
Been a Badgers fan 50 years. I do remember many seasons we only hoped to get to the big dance. But this was one of the most embarrassing, humiliating train wrecks of a game I ever remember. 1st half they looked like Jr. high players. Horrible. Intimidated. Bumbling.
— PackFanatic (@PackFanatic1) March 23, 2024
Easy to be frustrated
Storr no show. Wahl no show. Chucky no show. Max and Crowl only guys ready to play. Completely frustrating.
— Tranquil Chaos (@TuckerChicken18) March 23, 2024
Seemed worse than last season, even, with lack of effort
Embarrassing. That wasn’t even the Feb team. Tyler wahl went missing, team folded. Gard has gone 8 years with making a sweet 16…and that was Bo Ryan’s guys
— ChazB (@chazb33) March 23, 2024
Which Gard even referenced mid-game
Badgers have the calls go against them every game even at home because Gard doesn't get on officials
— Doug Henry (@DougHen58145228) March 23, 2024
Garbage time helped the stat sheet
Did not have a Storr no show on my card after what he did last week
— Brett Schaal (@StillVertical84) March 23, 2024
Simply put
JMU was really good. Max played up to the moment. Thanks to Tyler Wahl for a great career at UW.
— Rick Tange (@rktange) March 23, 2024
Not particularly
That was not a competitive loss.
— Wiscy Business (@KeeperOfTheIce) March 23, 2024
Biggest since the season opener?
This was the biggest game in the recent history of James Madison Basketball. Everybody with a pulse knew they would play with intensity. For UW to be lackadaisical and not ready to go right from the tip is inexcusable.
— Brian S (@BrianSm71994635) March 23, 2024
It was a fun team to watch for all but one month
Atrocious start and it didn’t get much better for a while. Lots of layups. Lots. I’m glad the team had the grit to hang in there and I totally let go of the rope. Overall, it’s still been a team. That’s given us a lot of fun over this season.
— Mark Massey (@mfmass) March 23, 2024
And probably not Purdue, either, but valid point
Unfortunately called this one two months ago. Wahl was irrelevant, Storr couldn’t get going, this kind of game didn’t exist in the Big Ten. JMU would’ve beaten everyone in the conference except maybe Illinois tonight
— Travis Lannoye (@tlannoye11) March 23, 2024
It's ... something
… the players were not ready to dance. That’s coaching. Period.
— Terence Amerson (@terryamerson) March 23, 2024
Certainly some work to be done
This team is a carbon copy of last year’s team. Same players, same results. What makes anyone think next season with the same players and coach will be any different?
— Tom Jakubik (@HRsearchOps) March 23, 2024
That's a pretty eye-popping stat
19 made baskets and 19 turnovers. No intensity, no desire, no bench, no second half adjustments.
— David Koller (@DavidBKoller) March 23, 2024
This maybe exposes to more casual fans that the program is in decline. We have 6 or 7 guys who can play and maybe 4 show up on any given night. One less with Wahl graduating
Too many bunnies missed
Not surprised we lost, but disgusted by the effort and easy missed opportunities.
— Adam Sweet (@ASweet5) March 23, 2024
Fair and accurate
Absolutely embarrassing effort. They wanted it more from the opening tip. This was about effort and hustle. Bucky looked old and slow. Honestly it's probably time to blow it up and start over. The way the team regressed earlier this year is disturbing.
— Scott L (@CCSO228) March 23, 2024
Fair to evaluate
I’m just not sure what the goal is - or should be - for UW hoops. To win the NCAA? That seems ludicrous. So what then? Final Fours? B1G titles? Sell tickets and fill seats no matter the record or quality of play? What does this AD want, and does he think GG can deliver it?
— Russ Evansen (@waunaruss) March 23, 2024
Should be winning time, but it hasn't been
As a Badger fan, this is commonplace. Georgia St, Ole Miss, Davidson, Cornell, 11 seed Iowa State, etc. And in many of these games, it was wire to wire beat downs. 2 tourney wins under Greg since 2018. And one of them was 14 seed Colgate in Milwaukee that we should have lost.
— DRich (@drich318318) March 23, 2024
Wait
Cousin Jim, I trust McIntosh will make the right decision
— Brett Polzin (@brettpolzin) March 23, 2024
Taking a stance
@UWBadgers we took the risk firing Chryst. Now it’s time to do the same with the @BadgerMBB program. I gave up my season tickets this year after 20 years because I couldn’t stand the mediocrity. This isn’t good enough.
— Chris Menting (@ChrisMenting) March 23, 2024
He may fare better if he came back
A fitting end to the season for a maddening team. Every weakness was magnified tonight.
— Craig Smith (@smithcp1) March 23, 2024
The last time the Badgers were this undisciplined, Stan Van Gundy was coaching them.
Curious to see roster construction
Athleticism was so much better for the Dukes. Very disappointing performance by Stoor. Great career for Wahl but the lack of offense really hurt the Badgers this year. Transfer portal will be very interesting for Wisconsin this year. Frietag could be special.
— Gary Brilowski (@gbrilo) March 23, 2024
A good goal to look forward to
As a fan, I want the Badgers to peak for the Milwaukee years. Next year, first weekend games are in Milwaukee. Badgers better be playing there as a top four seed next season. Big offseason ahead to make that happen.
— Drew Litrenta (@DrewskiK2s) March 23, 2024
Something needs to change
I'm not sure the trajectory of this program. Feels like an overhaul or significant change is needed of players and coaches. The roster is not deep
— Todd (@pilprin) March 23, 2024
Hey, I know him!
A night which will live in infamy. Tell the people what they need to hear. 👀🏀
— StreamingRadarDaily🖥 | 5 Star Marketing Advisors (@badgerhugh) March 23, 2024
Ogg Hall - 1
Greg Gard - 0 pic.twitter.com/Ub7ZUvrhjy
Don't remind me, Jeff. :)
The NCAA Tournament is all about matchups and CBS analyst Seth Davis immediately predicted James Madison advancing last Sunday. For hoop fans, that’s a wrap! Time for Badgers football. 🏈 pic.twitter.com/Q4VDBh8pDh
— Jeff Ostach☮️ (@jeff_ostach) March 23, 2024
Good idea!
Hope everyone is watching the hockey team on Sunday now
— Chris Cesar (@Cesar_Chris) March 23, 2024
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