The Wisconsin Badgers got exactly what they needed on Monday night: a convincing 88-61 win over Central Michigan that not only snapped a two-game skid but also showcased the kind of depth and ball movement that head coach Greg Gard has been preaching about all season.
Let’s start with the offense - because it was humming. Wisconsin shot a blistering 53.7% from the field, knocked down 13 threes, and dished out 25 assists on 29 made buckets. That’s not just efficient basketball; that’s the kind of unselfish, team-oriented play that makes the Badgers tough to guard when they’re clicking.
But the real story? The bench came alive in a big way.
After a few underwhelming outings, Wisconsin’s second unit responded with 44 points - a massive boost that gave the starters room to breathe and allowed the team to play with tempo and confidence from start to finish. Austin Rapp led the charge with 18 points, matching the team-high and doing it with an aggressive mindset that Gard has been pushing him toward. He also pulled down seven rebounds, a stat that didn’t go unnoticed.
“When he has seven rebounds, that tells me… he’s playing with an aggressive mindset,” Gard said postgame, referencing a recent performance where Rapp had just two shot attempts and no boards. “We need him to continue to grow in that way.”
Another key contributor was Braeden Carrington, who returned from injury and looked sharp, especially from deep. He hit three of his six attempts from beyond the arc and finished with nine points. That kind of shooting from a returning piece can be a game-changer down the stretch, especially for a team still trying to find its rhythm.
Zach Kinziger also made his season debut and chipped in six points off the bench. His presence added another wrinkle to the backcourt rotation, and Gard noted that Kinziger’s steady improvement in practice earned him the opportunity. Since returning from the team’s trip to San Diego, the freshman has apparently been trending upward.
Then there was Jack Janicki, who didn’t light up the scoreboard but controlled the game in other ways. The sophomore handed out a career-high nine assists and brought the kind of energy and floor vision that Wisconsin needs from its reserve guards.
“All five of our main bench guys were at least +14 in the box score,” Gard said. That’s not just a stat - it’s a statement. When your bench is that productive, it changes the complexion of the game.
Gard also emphasized the team’s commitment to winning by committee - a message that’s becoming more relevant as the season unfolds. “This group needs to continue to do it by committee,” he said. “It was good to see a lot of guys step up.”
That’s been the challenge for this Wisconsin team. On paper, it looked like one of the deeper rosters Gard has had in recent years - with key additions from the transfer portal and a top five that seemed tailor-made for balanced, two-way basketball.
But the cohesion hasn’t always been there. The starters have struggled to consistently mesh, and the bench hadn’t been up to the standard set by last year’s group.
Monday night, though, felt like a turning point. The ball moved.
The bench produced. Players embraced their roles.
And for the first time in a few games, Wisconsin looked like a team capable of playing the kind of basketball that can win in March.
The Badgers still have work to do defensively - that much is clear. But if this bench can keep trending upward and the team continues to share the ball the way it did against Central Michigan, Wisconsin could be rounding into form at just the right time.