Wisconsin basketball’s next opponent is no stranger to manufacturing wins.
On Wednesday evening, the Michigan State Spartans (23-5, 14-3 Big Ten) vanquished the Maryland Terrapins (21-7, 11-6 Big Ten) in dramatic fashion. With the game tied at 55 and the seconds ticking away, Maryland guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie misfired on a three-pointer from the left wing. Michigan State forward Jaxon Kohler grabbed the rebound and passed the ball to guard Tre Holloman, who took one dribble and launched a shot attempt from well beyond the half-court logo.
As the buzzer sounded, the Holloman’s shot hit nothing but nylon, lifting the Spartans to a 58-55 victory. The result pushed the team into sole possession of first place in the Big Ten. The Terrapins, meanwhile, moved into fourth place, falling behind the Wisconsin Badgers (22-6, 12-5 Big Ten).
The outcome is all the more relevant given Wisconsin’s next contest: Sunday, March 2, against Michigan State in East Lansing. While the Spartans have only won a handful of games by one score this season, the miracle shot serves as a reminder of college basketball unpredictability, both game-to-game and minute-to-minute.
Another danger for Badger fans — Tom Izzo’s crew spreads the wealth on offense. Cassius Winston might not be lacing up for the Spartans, but nine Michigan State playmakers account for at least five points per appearance entering Sunday’s game. Holloman, the hero on Wednesday, is good for just around nine points and four assists per contest. He’s scored in double figures against some of the Big Ten’s best, including Michigan (18 points), Oregon (13) and Illinois (14). His play could be the key to the result of Sunday’s contest.
Outside of providing the Spartans with a much-needed tally in the win column, the bucket also created instant momentum for Izzo’s team as it gears up to host the Badgers. When margins are as thin as they are in a tightly-contested Big Ten, a moment like that can go a long way.
UW’s most recent wire-to-wire finish came against Oregon at home on Feb. 22: a 77-73 loss in overtime. Wisconsin held a 17-point advantage in the first half before melting down late in the second frame, enabling Oregon to come back and force an extra period.
In other situations against Ohio State, Purdue and Northwestern, the Badgers have looked more than capable in the clutch. Sure, the team doesn’t boast a buzzer-beater victory on the 2024-25 game log, but it has pulled their weight in most of its tight contests.
Wisconsin’s to-the-wire matchups against Oregon, Michigan (Dec. 3) and UCLA (Jan. 21) are all good barometers for what to expect on Sunday. The Badgers will need to be at their best to escape East Lansing, Michigan, with a victory.
Tip for the game is set for 1:30 p.m. ET, 12:30 p.m. CT.
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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin Basketball Michigan State Buzzer Beater Maryland highlight
