Fans see difference between elite, very good in Wisconsin men's basketball loss at No. 1 Arizona
The Badgers have plenty to learn from after a loss against the Wildcats. Fans were measured in their reactions filled with hope for this season and improvements for beyond.
Impressive stretch
Arizona shot 58% from 3, were quicker & much more physical showing why they’re #1. The Badgers ended a 3 game stretch defeating a ranked Marquette and won at Michigan State. The players know they have to improve. Disappointed but proud of where they are on Dec. 9th.
— Jeff Ostach☮️ (@jeff_ostach) December 9, 2023
First of the season
Gilmore made a 3.
— EricTheRed (@RealEricTheRed) December 9, 2023
Freshman was impressive
Tough loss, Blackwell is sooo good an only going to get better. Onto the next gotta learn from this
— Badger fan (@Juansmi39741088) December 9, 2023
Clone the freshman
Defense was out of sync…couldn’t defend the puck and roll..flashbacks to Duke in ncaa championship game. Get AZ on neutral court…play tougher defense and we’ll be fine. If we can find more John blackwells…we’ll be ok.
— aarondentz (@aarondentz) December 9, 2023
Setback or Arizona far better?
👀Embarrassing. Maybe humiliating in 2nd half. Arizona clearly better but Badgers didn’t have any fight in 2nd half. Missing urgency. Looked lethargic. Needed some ‘Bad Boys Pistons’ mojo out there to push back. Would have been 40 pt loss w/o Blackwell. Sets program back. 😫
— StreamingTVRadar 🖥 | 5 Star Marketing Advisors (@badgerhugh) December 9, 2023
I sense sarcasm
I was gonna ask you that Jim. Some very key adjustments at half by Gard. Very adaptive play calling on offense to spark our offense when they were getting stonewalled down low and not getting open looks on the perimeter. Defense looked engaged and locked in after allowing about…
— Patrick Nies (@PatrickNies6) December 9, 2023
Bo knows
That the great Bo Ryan had to watch that pathetic "defensive" performance in person a disgrace. Where is the effort on defense?
— Salvador Allende (@1973salvador) December 9, 2023
Sing second!
Glad I'm watching the Army Navy game.
— Abnjm (@Abnjm) December 9, 2023
Plenty to learn from
Burn the tape, move on and get better. Just hope you aren’t in the Arizona bracket for March Msdness.
— Michael B (@MichaelB_NY2PHL) December 9, 2023
How does that Kanye song go? "Harder, better, faster, stronger"
Was it my TV or were the Arizona players just that much bigger and stronger than the UW?
— John Kane (@Tortured_Verse) December 9, 2023
This feels spot-on
Arizona is a special team. Wisconsin lacks any capability of winning this game. That’s not a cut, just a fact. Arizona will do big things this year and the Badgers will be a pain in many coaches necks in the big ten.
— Dave Wolff (@DWolff1961) December 9, 2023
Maybe the best team anyone plays
Totally fine. They’re the best team we will play by far. Rough game but this is still a very good team
— Ryan Matson (@RyanMats23) December 9, 2023
Early-season injury didn't help
Why did Essegian go from a starter to less than 10 minutes a game? Down 20+ most of the second half and he barely plays.
— Chad Holz (@cdholz34) December 9, 2023
He finished strong
Very disappointing. Wasn’t expecting a win, but thought they would at least compete. Blackwell is the only guy who seemed to care and played his heart out all game. Should be starting.
— Phil Leith (@phil_leith) December 9, 2023
Fared well enough to build a resume
I'm mad at whomever thought scheduling so many top ranked teams in the non-conference season was a good idea. Didn't need this beat down.
— Tweeter Reader 💙💙 Blue America 🇺🇲🗽🇺🇦💉 (@mnelson64) December 9, 2023
There are levels to college sports
The Badgers are a good team but the difference between a team with three top-30 recruits and a team with zero top-100 guys was pretty evident today. The ceiling continues to be capped until that changes (zero top-50 recruits in nine years with Gard as HC).
— Ryan Pohle (@RyanPohle) December 9, 2023
'Cats win most days
Ran into a buzz saw. Lots of good experience for the team in a tough environment. Zona would beat anybody the way they played today.
— Chris Davis (@cdavis20000) December 9, 2023
One rotation was killer
If only we had 5 Blackwells
— Nick P Bassill (@NickPBassill) December 9, 2023
Really disappointed with the effort level from players and coaches alike. Basically an even game through 12 minutes, then Gard's under-8 timeout effectively conceded the game. Athleticism and slowness of Crowl/Gilmore/Essegian/etc exposed hard today.
Pleasing week
we won 2/3 games against some pretty good teams…today was not pretty at all but if you told me before this stretch that we would win 1/3 games, I would take it. but the fact we won 2, I’m happy with it
— Buffy Badger (@BuffyBadger4) December 9, 2023
Seems likely
Good instruction by a great team. Badgers won't regret playing this game. Watch.
— chris van wagner (@CVWhoops) December 9, 2023
March matters
Come tournament time is when we love knocking out Arizona.
— Yusan Trading (@YusanTrading) December 9, 2023
Not yet March
Top to bottom, Arizona is more talented than Badgers’ previous opponents. Wildcats are bigger and faster, able to harry Wisconsin into low-percentage contested shots. It looked as though Badgers started to get a bit demoralized on defense. Tough day, but it’s December.
— Joseph Britt (@Zathras3) December 9, 2023
Will forward to coach
Badgers will be fine but a few thoughts: Chucky needs to look for his off more in games like this. Need athletic guards. Our off doesn’t need beefy bigs but man muscle would be nice. Always need shooters..Connor?? Why did crowl pass on so many open 3’s? Def..pressure ball more.
— aarondentz (@aarondentz) December 9, 2023
A lyricist among us
We beat number 3 and lost to number 1 so I’d say that makes us a solid number 2. Which is exactly what we played like. 💩
— Russ Evansen (@waunaruss) December 9, 2023
And already have
Reality check. Love Storr and Blackwell. Crowl struggled and someone put an APB out on Essegian's game. What happened to this guy? Badgers are a solid team, but obviously still work to do. Wildcats will embarrass a lot of teams this year.
— Scott L (@CCSO228) December 9, 2023
Elite > very good most days
Arizona is elite. We’re still a very good team and we’ll be fine. I do wonder how many points we would actually score if Wahl and Crowl actually hit most of their shots in the paint. Absolutely no reason for Wahl and Gilmore to be taking three pointers in the first half.
— Michael H. Hyman (@MCPSsportypsych) December 9, 2023
Agreed
I’ve watched all the so-called top teams in college hoops this year. If Arizona plays to their potential they shouldn’t lose.
— Sam Malone (@Thee_SamMalone) December 9, 2023
Bingo!
Arizona shoots 3’s like that they are Natty Champs! Best team I’ve seen all year easily. Butt whipping for Bucky but this will help tournament time.
— Gary Brilowski (@gbrilo) December 9, 2023
Yes, but closing time most important
Not worried about losing to the best team in the country. This game showed me how good Blackwell is though, START THE MAN!
— Biggest Andruw Monasterio fan (@PaulCzarnecki18) December 9, 2023
Crowd helped the 'Cats some
First ten minutes was fantastic. Seemed like our adrenaline wore off and theirs didn’t.
— David Witkiewicz (@thedurvid) December 9, 2023
End scene
— Brett Schaal (@StillVertical84) December 9, 2023
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