Wisconsin dominated Ohio State 92-82 on Saturday. Wisconsin used a powerful performance in the paint. The Badgers also hit several timely three-pointers and overcame a 15-4 start by the Buckeyes.
Wisconsin was led by John Blackwell, who scored 22 points to go along with 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Nick Boyd added 21 points, while Austin Rapp chipped in 19 points, and was completely unconscious in the first half. The loss hurt Ohio State’s NCAA Tournament chances. Do you think Ohio State will make the NCAA Tournament?
Wisconsin and Ohio State Scoring Summary
The game for Ohio State at Wisconsin was a bad one for the Buckeyes, as they lost 92-82. It was all downhill for Ohio State following a 15-4 scoring run in the first half. The one good thing about this game for Ohio State was that Bruce Thornton scored 17 points to pass Michael Redd for sole possession of sixth place on the Ohio State all-time scoring list.
The first half of the game was dominated by Rapp. He finished with 19 points. All of his points were scored in the first half as he hit five three-pointers. Wisconsin led 49-43 at halftime, and Ohio State could not draw any closer.
In the second half, Wisconsin continued to make timely shots and seemed to get almost every rebound. The Badgers outscored the Buckeyes only 43-39 in the second half, but it did not seem that way. In the second half, Blackwell and Boyd made their presence known for Wisconsin. The loss damaged Ohio State’s NCAA Tournament chances and helped the chances of the Badgers.
For Ohio State, John Mobley Jr. got in early foul trouble and was on the bench for much of the game. He was replaced by Taison Chatman, a sophomore bench player for the Buckeyes. Chatman scored 14 points, so he did well.
Turning Point
The turning point of the game was when Wisconsin tied the game at 21 in the first half. The Buckeyes started the game with a 15-4 run. However, once Wisconsin tied the game, it was clear that Ohio State was not going to come back.
Most Valuable Player
Rapp for Wisconsin was the player of the game. He did not score the most points in the game, but his first-half performance buried Ohio State. It seemed every time he touched the ball in the first half, he hit a three-pointer.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most valuable player of the game was Rapp. He only had 19 points, but killed Ohio State with his clutch five three-pointers. He had this look in his eyes of a killer. The turning point of the game was the Badgers tying the game at 21, despite Ohio State going on a 15-4 run to start the game. Ohio State next plays Maryland at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday. Wisconsin goes to play at Indiana on Saturday.
Parting Shots
The NCAA Tournament chances for Ohio State took a major hit in this game, though they have some so-called “quad-one” wins. Fans will start calling for the job of Ohio State Head Coach Jake Diebler.
It is right to wonder how in the world a school with such an elite football program struggles so much in basketball. At any rate, it will be interesting to see if the Buckeyes can get some resume-building signature wins.
