The Wisconsin Badgers reminded college basketball what they’re capable of on Friday.
The Associated Press No. 23 Badgers (24-9, 14-6 in Big Ten) advanced to the Big Ten tournament semifinals with a massive 91-88 overtime win over the No. 9 Illinois Fighting Illini (24-8, 15-5 in Big Ten), another in an expanding list of impressive conference victories.
Wisconsin was led by arguably the best guard duo in the country, John Blackwell and Nick Boyd, who each scored over 30 points. Boyd led all players with 38 points while shooting 12-of-20. Blackwell chipped in with 31 points on 9-of-17 shooting.
According to OptaStats, they’re the only pair of major-conference teammates to score 30 points and shoot better than 50 percent in a conference tournament game over the last 30 years.
Wisconsin surging at right time following win over Illinois
After a rough start to the season, the Badgers are rounding into form with the NCAA Tournament less than a week away. Wisconsin lost its first five Quad 1 games, including two in Big Ten play by a combined 46 points, but is 7-2 over its last nine following Friday’s win.
The team has won its last five games, the three most recent coming without 7-footer Nolan Winter (ankle), who is averaging 13.3 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game.
With Blackwell and Boyd going supernova, Wisconsin will be a team no one else wants on its side of the bracket when the 68-team field is set. If Winter returns, it will be even more dangerous.
Following the quarterfinal win, Wisconsin coach Greg Gard spoke with the Big Ten Network about his lead guards and offered high praise, calling them the “two of the best guards in the country.”
“They play off one another really well,” Gard added. “And they’re two competitors in their own right. They hate losing more than they like winning. It’s good to have.”
The duo will need to come up big again in the semis against the No. 3 Michigan Wolverines (30-2, 19-1 in Big Ten). Blackwell and Boyd have once before, combining for 48 points in a 91-88 win over Michigan on Jan. 10, which was the Wolverines’ only conference loss this season.
Per ESPN’s Joe Lunardi, Wisconsin is a projected six-seed in the upcoming March Madness. With a strong finish to the Big Ten tournament, the Badgers will likely improve their standing. But even if there is no movement, Wisconsin is showing it can do damage wherever it’s placed.
Gard said it best.
“March is for guard play,” he told BTN. “And I’m glad I got two really good ones.”
