Another showdown with Illinois, another nail-biting overtime victory for the Wisconsin Badgers.
Ranked 23rd, the Badgers pulled off a thrilling comeback to topple the ninth-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini, 91-88, in overtime. This marks their second come-from-behind overtime triumph over Illinois this season. Back in February, Wisconsin rallied from a 12-point deficit to secure a 92-90 win in Champaign.
Rebounding played a pivotal role in Wisconsin's upset. After struggling on the boards against Washington, where they were out-rebounded 45-29, the Badgers turned the tables on Illinois. They edged out the Illini 37-36 in rebounds, snagging 11 offensive boards to Illinois' nine.
Next up, the Badgers face the Big Ten powerhouse Michigan on Saturday. Wisconsin remains the only Big Ten team to have beaten the Wolverines in conference play. You can bet Dusty May’s squad will be eager to settle the score.
Here are three standouts from Wisconsin’s overtime thriller:
Nick Boyd
Kylan Boswell might regret firing up Nick Boyd.
Following John Blackwell’s school-record 34 points in a Big Ten tournament game, Boyd shattered that record with a career-high 38 points. He also dished out a team-high six assists.
When the Badgers found themselves in a deep hole during the second half, Boyd exploded for 22 points, showcasing why he’s more than just a second-team All-Big Ten player.
John Blackwell
Junior guard John Blackwell was right behind Boyd, scoring 31 points on 9-of-17 shooting. When Blackwell and Boyd are firing on all cylinders, the Badgers can hang with any team in the nation, as Illinois discovered. Together, they combined for a staggering 69 points in the victory.
Aleksas Bieliauskas and Austin Rapp
Both forwards were crucial on the glass, each grabbing nine rebounds against the Big Ten's top rebounding team. Bieliauskas added six points, while Rapp chipped in eight and nailed a crucial three-pointer in overtime to push Wisconsin ahead 85-80.
This win sets the stage for an exciting clash against Michigan, where the Badgers will look to prove their mettle once again.