MADISON – Teams don’t get many second chances in the Big Ten, but by qualifying for the conference tournament, that’s what awaits Wisconsin.
The Badgers women’s basketball team, the No. 15 seed and final seed in the tournament, will face No. 10 seed Illinois in a first-round game on Wednesday, March 4, at approximately 4:45 p.m. at Gambridge Arena in Indianapolis.
advertise
The game will be a rematch of the Badgers’ 92-60 road loss to the Illini on Feb. 11. It was Wisconsin’s second-biggest loss of the season, coming on the heels of an overtime loss to Washington that lingered into the following days.
The Badgers weren’t ready to bounce back.
“We had a flat two days of practice, and instead of feeling bad about not winning, we felt exhausted,” Wisconsin coach Robin Pingleton said after the game on the Badgers’ postgame radio show. “So how do you pick yourself up and get ready to fight again?
“I do think the game is lost until we cross the line.”
advertise
That said, Wisconsin (13-16, 5-13 Big Ten) has a lot of ground to make up.
Illinois (19-10, 9-9) led by as many as 41 points. The Illini had six players score in double figures, and their 58.1 field goal percentage was the second-highest shooting percentage among UW opponents this season. Illinois’ 64.7 percent 3-point shooting (11-for-17) was tied for the best among Badgers opponents.
Can the Badgers change their fortunes and get their first Big Ten win since 2020? Here are three keys to UW’s success in Indy.
Experience the Illini’s three-point shooting
Illinois ranks last in the Big Ten in 3-point shooting percentage, but it is one of the league’s most efficient teams from behind the arc. They ranked third in the league with a .375 field goal percentage.
advertise
Wisconsin may have awakened Illinois’ 3-point shooter in the first meeting between these two teams. In the seven games leading up to that game, Illinois was averaging five 3-pointers per game. Over the past five games, the Illini are averaging 10.4 points per game and shooting 54.7% from three-point range.
Illinois has five players averaging at least 9.4 points per game who can force teams to use poison on defense. In the last game, Illini sophomore Aaliyah Guyton became the beneficiary. She made 6 of 6 three-pointers and scored a career-high 22 points.
Keep Destiny Howell and Kayla Daniels moving forward
Wisconsin won games without one of its two leading scorers, but it will be difficult for the Badgers to find the firepower to compete if Howell and Daniels don’t perform well. Such was the case against the State of Illinois.
advertise
The two scored a combined 9 points on 3-for-20 shooting, including 1-for-9 from three-point range. The Badgers are going to need more production from them, and that may mean taking tough, contested shots.
Zaja, Uchenna continue success
Freshman center Dorja Zaja and senior forward Gift Uchenna teamed up to have their most efficient offensive game of the season, scoring 16 and 13 points respectively on 13-for-24 shooting. While both are able to finish in the paint, both also benefit from good passes hitting their defenders as they cut to the rim for easy finishes.
Wisconsin could win for a number of reasons. In addition to a drought in the conference tournament, the Badgers have lost nine straight games, although they remain on track to earn a playoff invite.
advertise
“There’s always a Cinderella team,” Pingleton said. “I think we’ve proven that we can play with the top teams in this league. We’ve proven that when our assignments aren’t right and we’re not locked in, anybody can beat us on any given night, just like everybody else in the league.”
More: Former Wisconsin basketball walk-on Ronnie Porter ready for Senior Day
This article originally appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: How Wisconsin won in the Big Ten women’s tournament
