The Wisconsin Badgers dropped to 16-7 after a tough overtime loss to Indiana on Saturday - a game that felt all too familiar for this team. Once again, Wisconsin stumbled out of the gate, found its rhythm in the second half, clawed back into contention, and then came up just short in extra time. This time, it was a one-point heartbreaker in Bloomington.
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t just a case of cold shooting or one bad possession. The Badgers’ sluggish first-half play has become a trend, and against a physical Indiana squad, it proved costly.
Despite having a clear size advantage, Wisconsin leaned heavily on the perimeter early, launching 19 of their first 30 shots from beyond the arc - and connecting on just five. That’s not the kind of shot selection you want when you’ve got the tools to dominate inside.
Defensively, Wisconsin had trouble containing Indiana’s guards off the dribble. The Hoosiers consistently got into the paint, forcing the Badgers to collapse and scramble, which led to clean looks from the perimeter. And while Wisconsin had the bigger lineup, Indiana brought the physicality - and for much of the game, that edge belonged to the home team.
“We were more physical for stretches in the second half,” head coach Greg Gard said postgame. “Specifically the back half of that second half.
I thought we had figured out some things - where we could help from, where we couldn’t. We just played more physical.
I think that was the biggest thing.”
Gard pointed to a few missed opportunities early that could’ve changed the tone. Wisconsin had some clean looks from deep in the first half but couldn’t capitalize. Combine that with a lack of physicality in the paint, and it’s easy to see how the Badgers dug themselves a hole.
Still, credit where it’s due: this team doesn’t roll over. Wisconsin battled back, took a lead late, and forced overtime. But once again, the inability to finish - to close out a game they had within reach - came back to bite them.
There were some key adjustments along the way. Nolan Winter gave Wisconsin some quality minutes, but freshman Aleksas Bieliauskas struggled to keep up with Indiana’s physical frontcourt.
After logging 11 minutes in the first half, he played just three the rest of the way. That was one of several tactical tweaks as Gard tried to find the right combination to match Indiana’s energy and execution.
One of the challenges Wisconsin faces - and it showed again Saturday - is their commitment to switching defensively. It’s a system that can work well, but it also opens the door to mismatches, especially when you're facing a team like Indiana that can spread the floor with shooters and still punish you inside.
“Sometimes we got caught where we switched to stop the ball, and we ended up with the small on them,” Gard explained. “They were putting us in positions.
And they obviously have the floor littered with shooters, right? So you’re cognizant of not giving too much help and being caught in too long of closeouts.”
That’s the tightrope Wisconsin is walking defensively. Help too much, and you’re giving up threes.
Stay home, and you risk getting beat one-on-one in the post. Gard mentioned players like Lamar Wilkerson, Tucker DeVries, and Nick Dorn - guys you can’t afford to leave open.
For the most part, Wisconsin did a solid job limiting those shooters. But inside, they didn’t bring enough resistance.
“We needed to be better in the paint, be better one-on-one,” Gard said. “And then we needed to be able to squeeze better and send some help.”
The physicality question looms large. It’s been a recurring theme this season.
At times, the Badgers look like they’re turning a corner - showing more toughness, more grit. But then a game like this comes along and raises the same concerns all over again.
Now, the road doesn’t get any easier. Next up: the Illinois Fighting Illini, one of the Big Ten’s most physical and talented teams.
If Wisconsin wants to stay in the mix near the top of the conference, they’ll need to bring a full 40-minute effort - not just a strong second half. The potential is there.
But the margin for error is shrinking.