Wisconsin Shows Grit in Comeback Win Over Minnesota: A Second-Half Surge Built on Defense, Toughness, and Energy
MADISON, Wis. - Just over two weeks after their last meeting, Wisconsin found itself staring down Minnesota again - and this time, the Badgers needed more than just a win. They needed a response. After a sluggish first half left them trailing by 18, Greg Gard’s squad flipped the script in the second, delivering one of the program’s more memorable comebacks in recent memory.
And it wasn’t just about making shots. It was about fight.
It was about physicality. It was about a team rediscovering its edge.
“We had a pulse,” Gard said postgame, summing it up in the kind of blunt, honest tone that tends to follow a gritty win. “We were tougher.
We initiated things better. We were attacking better.”
That second-half turnaround wasn’t just a spark - it was a full-on surge. Wisconsin got downhill, got to the free-throw line, and most importantly, got stops.
The kind of stops that turn momentum. The kind of stops that win games.
Defense Sets the Tone
Minnesota had its way in the first half, knocking down tough shots and capitalizing on defensive lapses. But in the second half, Wisconsin made life a lot more difficult for the Gophers.
“We were able to keep the ball in front of us much better,” Gard said. “Made some big defensive plays.
Janicki took a charge. Winter had a block at the rim.
We just had more bite.”
That bite came from a renewed physicality - a noticeable edge that was missing in the opening 20 minutes. The Badgers didn’t just react; they initiated.
And that shift in mindset changed everything. Suddenly, loose balls were Wisconsin’s.
The rim was protected. The paint was contested.
And on the other end, the Badgers were living at the free-throw line.
Janicki, Rapp Step Up with Key Contributions
It wasn’t just the usual names making noise in this one.
Jack Janicki, a player who’s been quietly carving out a defensive identity, made his presence felt in a big way. Gard highlighted Janicki’s ability to switch, communicate, and clean up mistakes - comparing his emerging versatility to former Badger Carter Gilmore.
“He’s kind of our defensive catalyst,” Gard said. “He’s very astute.
He covers up mistakes. He’s usually in the right position.”
Austin Rapp also gave the Badgers a lift, not just from beyond the arc but with the kind of hustle plays that don’t always show up in the box score. Deflections, rebounds, finishes around the rim - it was a more complete performance from a player who’s been working to expand his game.
“He just needs to keep adding to those parts of the game we’ve been demanding from him,” Gard said. “It’s good to see him contribute that way.”
Nick Boyd Brings the Fire
Nick Boyd’s stat line might not jump off the page, but his energy was undeniable. Gard shuffled through lineup combinations trying to spark something, and Boyd’s toughness - both mental and physical - helped ignite the turnaround.
“He’s a fierce competitor,” Gard said. “I can get after him, and he responds.”
Boyd, like the rest of the team, struggled early. But when the game called for resilience, he answered - and so did his teammates.
A More Resilient Team
This wasn’t the same Wisconsin team that took the floor in November. That version might not have clawed back from an 18-point hole.
But this group? They’ve found some grit.
“We’ve got toughness to us that we didn’t have in November,” Gard said. “They’ve gotten more resilient. They’re not there all the time yet, but we’ve got more toughness than we had.”
That toughness showed up in the form of second-chance efforts, defensive rotations, and a refusal to let the game slip away. Even when the shots weren’t falling - and they weren’t for stretches - the Badgers stayed in the fight.
Carrington’s All-Around Impact
Braeden Carrington continues to prove why Wisconsin brought him in from the portal. While his shooting gives the offense a needed spark, it’s his defense and rebounding that have become staples of his game.
“He’s a very good rebounder for his size,” Gard said. “Defensively, he sniffs things out.
Picks things up when actions happen. Covers up mistakes.
Covers up dribble penetration.”
Carrington’s veteran instincts are evident. He’s not just reacting - he’s anticipating. And on a night when the Badgers needed stops more than anything, his presence on the floor was crucial.
Playing Hard Makes the Difference
Gard didn’t mince words when asked about shot selection. For him, it was never about the looks - it was about the effort behind them.
“When you don’t play hard and you don’t play physical, you end up getting crappy looks,” he said. “It’s amazing how that works.
Play hard, play physical - makes the ball go in. It’s magic.”
That magic showed up in the second half. The Badgers didn’t just shoot better - they played better.
They played together. They played with urgency.
And in doing so, they reminded everyone what this team is capable of when it leans into its identity.
Final Takeaway
This was more than a win. It was a statement - not to the rest of the Big Ten, but to themselves.
Wisconsin showed it can take a punch, regroup, and punch back harder. The physicality, the defensive intensity, the contributions from up and down the roster - it all came together in a second-half effort that might just be a turning point.
If the Badgers can bottle that toughness and bring it consistently, they won’t just be tough to beat - they’ll be a team nobody wants to see in March.