Minnesota looked like they had things under control at halftime, holding a 35-17 lead and playing some of their best defensive basketball of the season. But then came the second half-and with it, a 50-point explosion from Wisconsin that flipped the game on its head and handed the Gophers a gut-punch loss. Let’s break down five key takeaways from a game that started with promise but ended in frustration for Minnesota.
1. A Tale of Two Halves on Defense
In the first 20 minutes, Minnesota’s defense was locked in. They were rotating with purpose, contesting shots with discipline, and owning the glass.
The Gophers held Wisconsin to just three offensive rebounds before the break and forced tough looks all over the floor. Nick Boyd and John Blackwell-two of Wisconsin’s key perimeter threats-combined to shoot just 2-of-15 in the first half.
That’s not by accident. Minnesota’s defensive positioning, especially on ball screens and off-ball actions, was sharp and reactive.
They were physical without fouling, picking up only four team fouls and sending Wisconsin to the line just four times.
But the second half was a different story entirely.
Minnesota’s defensive focus seemed to unravel. Their ball screen coverage became disjointed-sometimes both defenders chased the ball, other times both stuck with the screener, and too often, they were just a step behind.
That kind of miscommunication is costly against a team like Wisconsin, who thrives on exploiting defensive lapses. The Gophers looked like a different team after halftime, and not in a good way.
Head coach Niko Medved pointed to a common challenge in road games: when your defense is on the far end of the court in the second half, the bench can’t provide the same level of vocal support and energy. That’s a fair point-and one many coaches talk about-but it doesn’t fully explain the breakdowns.
Minnesota has experienced players on the floor, along with young defenders who’ve shown promise. The expectation is that they can weather those challenges, even in a tough road environment.
What happened in the second half wasn’t just about energy-it was about execution. And that’s where the Gophers will need to be better moving forward.