Wisconsin improved to 11-3 (1-2 Big Ten) on the season with a 116-85 win over Iowa on Friday.
It was a statement win for Greg Gard’s team after it sat idle for most of December. The team’s three-game losing streak to Michigan, Marquette and Illinois still felt fresh due to that extended layoff. After an 0-2 start to conference play, a win over Iowa felt like a requirement. Wisconsin notched that win and then some, setting offensive records in the process.
Related: Biggest takeaways from Wisconsin basketball’s record-breaking win over Iowa
The result means entirely different things for the two teams involved. It could send Wisconsin back into the discussion atop the Big Ten, or at least in its top five. Iowa, meanwhile, may now struggle to clinch an NCAA Tournament berth. That reality will especially come true if the team continues its current defensive performance through the rest of conference play.
That defensive performance allowed Wisconsin to score a record 116 points thanks to 64.5% shooting and a record 21 three-point makes. Badgers guard Kamari McGee summed up the matchup postgame, saying, “We just knew that they didn’t want to play defense. All we had to do was play a little more defense than them and the game is ours.”
Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery also shared his perspective on his team’s defensive effort and the Badgers’ shooting performance. Here’s everything he said when meeting with the media postgame:
On Iowa’s defensive effort
MADISON, WISCONSIN – JANUARY 03: Kamari McGee #4 of the Wisconsin Badgers makes a three-point shot in front of the bench in the second half of the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kohl Center on January 03, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
“Our close-outs weren’t really what they needed to be, whether we were in man or zone. [Wisconsin does] a great job moving the ball, they move the ball from side to side. They’ve got some really talented drivers. So you have to close out penetration. But they’ve got multiple three-point shooters as we saw tonight. They’ve got a lot of different guys that can make them. And we were a little slow getting out.
We also, I think, lost a ton of momentum at the end of the first half — they scored 12 of their last 14 possessions. And we got a little sideways with our offense there. Which gave them transition opportunities and easier shots. We were trying to score too quickly. When you’re on the road and they’re on a run, you have to keep the ball moving a little bit more on offense, make them play defense. We quick-shot it and they took advantage.”
On his message to his team as Badgers kept scoring
Nov 12, 2024; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Fran McCaffery reacts during the first half against the South Dakota Coyotes at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
“I think there’s a lot of things that you have to talk about. As I just said, shot selection, ball movement, execution. Defensively, we were changing defenses, as you saw. To try to get them a little bit out of sync. But they did a good job of moving the ball whether we were in man or zone, whether we were pressing or not. They have a lot of guys that can handle the ball, so we’re just trying to get them moving side to side and have less time to guard the continuity stuff.”
On his defensive gameplan entering the game
MADISON, WISCONSIN – JANUARY 03: John Blackwell #25 of the Wisconsin Badgers goes to the basket for a score in the second half of the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kohl Center on January 03, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
“I think [entering the game trying to now allow Wisconsin to beat you from three] is a fair point. But I know Steven Crowl can make threes, his numbers aren’t showing it. [Nolan] Winter can make threes. [Kamari] McGee, he’s shot a good number so far. But at some point, it’s hard to guard everything. [John] Tonje is a handful driving the ball, [John] Blackwell driving the ball. McGee driving the ball, Klesmit, you have to know where he is. Their spacing is really good. So they’re a hard team to guard. If they’re making threes, then it’s really incumbent upon your offense to be really crisp and smart with your shot selection.”
On John Blackwell’s emergence, role leading the Badgers’ offense
MADISON, WISCONSIN – JANUARY 03: John Blackwell #25 of the Wisconsin Badgers reacts after making a three-point shot in the first half of the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kohl Center on January 03, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
“I just think he’s a really good player. They’ve had pretty good players there. Jordan Taylor, Chucky [Hepburn]. They’ve had good players at that position. He’s maybe a little bit different, or a combination of all of them, or whatever. But he can score, he’s playing with pace. He’s got really good feel, and he’s powerful. So he’s a tough cover.”
On the play of Iowa guard Drew Thelwell
Iowa Hawkeyes guard Drew Thelwell (3) brings the ball up court against the New Orleans Privateers Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
“I think at both ends, he was special. He was really fighting defensively. Attacking the glass, trying to attack their defense. I thought he made really good decisions as well.”
On Iowa’s small lineup, Wisconsin out-rebounding the Hawkeyes 37-21
MADISON, WISCONSIN – JANUARY 03: Steven Crowl #22 of the Wisconsin Badgers goes to the basket in the second half of the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kohl Center on January 03, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
“Well, it would help if they didn’t make every shot. There wasn’t a lot of rebounds to be had.”
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