In a clash at Value City Arena, Ohio State came out swinging from the tip-off, while Wisconsin seemed to be stuck in neutral. The Badgers, fresh off impressive victories against Illinois and Michigan State, were unrecognizable as they fell to Ohio State, 86-69.
Greg Gard, reflecting on the game, summed up the Badgers' lackluster performance: “When we threw the ball up, I thought right from the beginning we did not have the same mentality, aggressiveness, physicality. Ohio State was much more aggressive, much more physical than we were. Set the tone early, and they were able to get that lead.”
Wisconsin’s starters had a rough outing. Andrew Rohde, John Blackwell, and Nick Boyd were responsible for nine of the team’s 12 turnovers.
Aleksas Bieliauskas barely made a mark, scoring just two points on a single attempt. Nolan Winter showed promise with 10 points and seven rebounds but went quiet in the second half.
The Buckeyes taught Wisconsin a tough lesson: Big Ten games demand full intensity. Shooting struggles, going 7-of-26 from beyond the arc and 8-of-16 from the charity stripe, only added to the Badgers' woes. With a week off before facing Iowa, who recently upset Nebraska, Wisconsin needs to regroup and start strong.
Let’s spotlight three standout performances from the game:
Bruce Thornton
Thornton was the linchpin for Ohio State. The senior guard was unstoppable, leading with 27 points on 9-of-18 shooting, and also topping the team with nine rebounds and eight assists. The Badgers had no answer for his dominance.
Devin Royal
With John Mobley Jr. sidelined, Royal stepped up in a big way. He hit his first six shots and ended with a season-high 25 points, shooting 10-of-17 from the field and 4-of-7 from three. His performance provided the spark Ohio State needed.
Braeden Carrington
Carrington was a bright spot for Wisconsin off the bench. He brought energy and efficiency, scoring 20 points and hitting 5-of-12 from deep. His effort stood out in an otherwise tough night for the Badgers.
As Wisconsin prepares for their next challenge, they’ll need to channel Carrington’s energy and address the issues that plagued them in Columbus.