Offense doesn’t heat up in time
Late rally fueled by Trice falls short
MADISON – Micah Potter was initially at a loss for words to describe Wisconsin’s horrific shooting for most of the game Saturday afternoon at the Kohl Center.
He had no issue finding the words needed to vent after a late rally sparked by fellow senior D’Mitrik Trice fell short and the Badgers dropped a 74-69 decision to No. 5 Illinois, which was vulnerable without injured guard Ayo Dosunmu.
“It sucks that we lost that game,” Potter said. “It sucks.”
The Badgers suffered their third loss in four games for several reasons:
They were ice cold in the first half as they hit 3 of 14 three-pointers (21.4%) and 10 of 37 shots overall (27.0%) and fell behind, 37-26.
The cold shooting continued for much of the game and as a result UW managed just 19 points off 20 Illinois turnovers.
That led to UW facing a 62-50 deficit until Trice hit a three-pointer with 2 minutes 12 seconds left to cut the Illini lead to nine.
“Obviously, we didn’t start the way
we wanted to do,” Trice said. “Offensively it is about staying calm and not being sped up a little bit.
“We weren't shooting it very well in beginning and I think that's because we were sped up, taking a little out-of-character shots and we didn't finish well in the paint.”
Trice went on to score 19 consecutive points for UW in the final 2:12 to pull the Badgers within 70-69 with 6.7 seconds left.
But after Trent Frazier hit two free throws with 5.7 seconds left to push the lead to 72-69, the Illini fouled Trevor Anderson near the UW bench.
Illinois was trying to foul before UW could launch a tying three-pointer but it appeared Anderson was trying to penetrate and kick the ball out to an open shooter when he was fouled with 1.9 seconds left.
Anderson, a 71.4% free-throw shooter, missed both free throws. UW's comeback was finished when Jacob Grandison hit two free throws with 1.2 seconds left.
The Illini (18-6, 4-4) withstood the 20 turnovers and Trice's late outburst to win their second consecutive game without Dosunmu (facial injuries) and for the ninth time in the last 10 games.
They have a three-game winning streak against UW after losing 15 consecutive games in the series.
“Anytime you come to Madison you're ecstatic to come out with a win,” said Illinois coach Brad Underwood, whose team lost Tuesday at Michigan State and won Thursday against visiting Nebraska before coming to Madison. “This was a game I was ecstatic about our defense.
“I was very happy with it until last 2:20, to be honest.”
The Badgers (16-9, 10-8 Big Ten) lost for the third time in four games and fell 11⁄2 games behind Purdue (16-8, 11-6) and Iowa (17-7, 11-6), which are tied for fourth place in the conference standings.
UW plays Tuesday at Purdue and closes the regular season March 7 at Iowa.
The Badgers shot a season-low 16.7% from three-point range (4 of 24) in a 15point loss to Illinois earlier this month.
They nearly matched that level of futility Saturday.
UW hit just 3 of 14 three-pointers (21.4%) and 10 of 37 shots overall (27.0%) in a brutal opening half and finished 10 of 31 from three-point range (32.3%) and 24 of 69 (34.8%) overall.
Trice scored 22 of his game-high 26 points after halftime. He finished 6 of 9 from three-point range and 9 of 16 overall.
His teammates were a combined 4 of 22 from three-point range (18.2%) and 15 of 53 overall (28.3%).
UW finished 32.3% from three-point range and just 34.8% overall.
“I was not good today,” said Potter, who hit 2 of 8 three-pointers and 5 of 12 shots overall but still finished with 15 points and six rebounds. “I've got to be better.
“Give Meech all the credit in the world for carrying us … to keep us in the game. He was unbelievable.”
Dosunmu recorded a triple-double with 21 points, 12 assists and 12 rebounds in Illinois' 15-point victory at Illinois.
The Illini didn't need him in the rematch as Kofi Cockburn scored 19 points, Andre Curbello added 17 and Da'Monte Williams added 12 points.
The Badgers got off to slow start Saturday, as they did in the teams' first meeting.
UW hit 1 of 15 shots and had one turnover on its first 16 possessions and fell into a 13-2 hole 7:04 into the game.
“I thought we got really rushed, specifically in the paint, and didn't convert, which allowed them to get a lead on us,” UW coach Greg Gard said. “It's hard to dig out of that hole.”
Trice grabbed a shovel late and tried to dig his team out of that hole. The effort was commendable.
But the result was another Big Ten loss.
“It shows you the kind of a team when we shoot the ball well … or at least when one person shoots the ball well,” Potter said. “That is the kind of team we can be.
“That is the kind of effort we need from the jump.”