Badgers fans on Twitter express gratitude after Wisconsin's season-ending loss to Baylor Bears
Wisconsin State Journal reporter Jim Polzin received mostly positive responses after asking Badgers fans on Twitter what they thought of ninth-seeded Wisconsin's 76-63 loss to the top-seeded Baylor Bears in the second round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament Sunday at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Here's what fans were saying after the senior-laden Badgers wrapped up their 2020-21 season:
Giving it their all
Seniors gave this university everything they had for 4-5 years and represented Wisconsin with class. Didn’t quit today against a superior team when they had a zillion opportunities to. Hat is off to them for everything they’ve done here.
— AJ Donaldson (@AJdonaldson_1) March 21, 2021
Should've known better
A good coach knows who to play and who not to play. After 30 games of trial and error and a 13 pt deficit Greg Gard put his best players/lineup in. Also, notice how their 5 best players never left the floor...this was expected
— Rocky (@Rocky_Gardehl) March 21, 2021
Enough already
Agree 100%. Fans are being childish and spoiled
— jimmy joe meeker (@r_judge23) March 21, 2021
Nothing to apologize for
I'm not that disappointed. It’s never fun to end the season with a loss, but Baylor is a juggernaut and the future is very bright for Wisconsin. I just want to say Thank You Seniors! Keep your head up! You gave it all you got this season, in a very difficult year. On, Wisconsin!
— Michael Herfel⚓️💙🤍 (@MichaelHerfel7) March 21, 2021
You are not alone
— Coach Riley (@OLCoachRiley) March 21, 2021
What a ride
Thank you Seniors!!!!
— Ilija Radjenovic (@IlijaQZ) March 21, 2021
You represented Wisconsin with extraordinary class
Keep it movin'
The seniors gave it all they had, but I’m ready for the next era of Wisconsin basketball. Davis, Hepburn, Bowman, Mors... bring it on baby
— Drew Kellogg (@dkellogg17) March 21, 2021
A step too slow
Love the grit and the effort, but the same thing came back to bite them just like during the season. Scoring droughts, turnovers, and no sense of urgency. This program has to get more athletic, it really showed on both ends of the floor this season.
— Joel Schneider (@joelschneider25) March 21, 2021
Looking to a brighter future
Certainly not near the top teams of the last decade. Did show a lot of resiliency. In the end, lack of offense, lack of athleticism was the downfall. Ready for a roster turnover. Hopefully Gard learns from the flaws and can construct a better collective roster
— Ron N. (@RonFiki) March 21, 2021
Hit the ground running
Looking forward to a fast, athletic young team next year led by @JonathanCDavis1 and @ChuckyHepburn
— Tom Shepherd Sr. (@TomShepherd_Sr) March 21, 2021
Who's ready for some more?
Expected result! Beating #UNC was very satisfying! Now it’ll be interesting to see who, if anyone takes advantage of the “mulligan “ season NCAA is granting! Either way this longtime #Badger fan, loves his team!
— Bob Lewis (@AppletonTech) March 21, 2021
All things considered ...
I agree. However, where do the Badgers go from here? They had a senior laden team and no bench. Davis can't do it all himself. #gardrecruits
— Tim Gunderson (@TimGundersonDC) March 21, 2021
In need of a talent infusion
Gard needs to start getting more athletic guys in the program. This incoming freshman class should be the start, but he needs scorers and better ball handlers. Also, stress the elimination of 5+ minute scoring droughts. Time to rebuild.
— Nate Samplawski (@bigdog54768) March 21, 2021
It is what it is
Yep
— Steve Stroud (@stephanstroud) March 21, 2021
Remember the happy times
I’ll remember the North Carolina win to get to the second round, and top seeded Illinois, who many of you won’t admit it, but had them in your Final Four brackets, being taken to the woodshed by Loyola of Chicago, who the Badgers defeated last December 15th in Madison.
— Jeff Ostach (@jeff_ostach) March 21, 2021
Same old song
Glad they won against NC, but I think we all knew they would never win against Baylor - a better team in every category. Hard to come back when you are down by 18, but it’s been a broken record all year
— Melbs (@DMBFan2) March 21, 2021
Senior struggles frustrating
Only disappointed because of how many seniors were on the team. When they played well...we rolled. Just too inconsistent...feel bad for the players.
— Todd (@pilprin) March 21, 2021
Head-scratcher of a season
The game: we lost to a better team, but proud of the fight they showed in 2nd half.
— Craig Smith (@smithcp1) March 21, 2021
Season: team never quite gelled and never became more than the sum of its parts. They never found an offensive identity. Genuinely baffling season.
A second fiddle?
Glad this disappointing season is over. Expectations were too high for a limited team which couldn’t beat more talented/athletic teams. I still think Gard is best served as an amazing #2 instead of the head coach but I’m interested to see what he does with a new group next year.
— Mark Wolfgram (@markwwolfgram) March 21, 2021
Playing the right way
Uneven season, but the staff and kids represented UW and the state with class. That’s the most important thing they can do. B1G was tough as nails. Future appears to be bright with highly skilled incoming players.
— Kevin Price (@kevinp613) March 21, 2021
Primed for a big break
Better team won. Thank you Seniors. Ready for the Johnny Davis show next season
— Andy Iggens (@iggens) March 21, 2021
Rough end to a rough year
Baylor was a fast, athletic team that had multiple players that could score. Badgers would of had to play their best and Baylor have an off game for WI to win. As far as the season, disappointing based on the experience of the team and where they started in the rankings.
— Erik Grinde (@egrinde) March 21, 2021
Not all it's cracked up to be
The two tournament games were among their better efforts all year, so that puts a gloss on what was really an uninspiring season. The supposed advantage of “experience” proved to be highly overrated when it ran into superior talent.
— Russ Evansen (@waunaruss) March 21, 2021
Season in a nutshell
Well said Scott.
— Tony (@TStrobe78) March 21, 2021
Hold your heads high
Not enough D in 1st half. Second half much improved when Baylor ran out of their high octane gas. Badgers battled all.the.way. They can lift their heads. They are a round of 32 team.
— Paul Yochum'63 (@PaulYochum63) March 21, 2021
Thanks for the memories!
Seniors deserve nothing but gratitude from the fans. Four years of great memories. Wish them nothing but the best.
— jimmy joe meeker (@r_judge23) March 21, 2021
No hard feelings
A bit of a let down this year but I’m not mad it was a strange year for all ! I still love all the guys and can’t wait to hear about which senior will repeat their senior year next year ? #trice #potter maybe a few more ?
— ryanferre (@monkeybartender) March 21, 2021
Will they stay or will they go?
Kind of how the season went this year. Wish Gard would have stuck with the “big” lineup longer...it was working. Darn. Love the badgers...!!!! Now...who stays and who goes...???
— aarondentz (@aarondentz) March 21, 2021
Refusing to throw in the towel
they played hard the last two games. proud of the effort and energy, will remember these seniors for the 2020 B1G championship run
— Adam (@LunaticBadger) March 21, 2021
What a ride!
— Steven Stewart (@stew_stev) March 21, 2021
A season etched in tweets: Badgers fans have seen a lot — and we captured their reactions on Twitter
With the University of Wisconsin men's basketball team returning four starters and two other key seniors for the 2020-21 campaign, the expecta…
State Journal beat reporters Colten Bartholomew, Jim Polzin and Todd Milewski get together over Zoom to discuss the news around the Badgers men’s basketball and men’s and women’s hockey programs.
