Steven Crowl Finding His Rhythm Again
At Carver Hawkeye Arena, Wisconsin basketball lost to the Iowa Hawkeyes 88-86 in overtime after a back-and-forth contest for the most of the second half. The Badgers had a 13-point advantage at one point in the first half, but they were unable to sustain a double-digit lead on the road. The game-winning layup came from Tony Perkins with just over a second remaining. In their last six games, Wisconsin basketball has suffered five losses. These three lessons may be learned from today’s defeat.
Following Wisconsin’s victory over Ohio State, Greg Gard made it apparent that Steven Crowl touches in the paint were essential for the team to succeed. The Badgers’ offensive has been at its best this season.
Following up on a pleasant performance against the Buckeyes, Crowl was again very good tonight. With half of his points coming from the line, where he finished 11–13, he finished with 22 points in the game.
This season, I have been particularly harsh on Crowl because I dislike his propensity to disappear for extended periods of time during games. It’s possible that he was recovering from an ailment of some kind, but I dislike it more when seniors, who are aware of their significant contribution to the offense, perform poorly in games like this.
Owen Freeman, a freshman center from Iowa, is a talented player in the Big Ten, and Crowl completely dominated him offensively. In the last stretch, Wisconsin basketball needs Steven Crowl.
Wisconsin Basketball Had Their Opportunities
Apart from the early 17-6 lead that persisted until the first media timeout, the Badgers again lost this game with a double-digit lead that dissipated quickly. They did down by as many as nine points in the closing minutes at one point, but Wisconsin deserves credit for rallying.
Chucky Hepburn had a famous fade-away from three that circled out of the rim at the conclusion of regulation. The play call out of the timeout and the shot were both excellent.
Max Klesmit and AJ Storr both missed opportunities to grab leads late in overtime. Klesmit in particular appeared quite honest. He’s been having a rough go of it recently. He is someone this squad will need to succeed going forward, much like Crowl.
I was somewhat more optimistic about the Badgers’ performance against Ohio State on Tuesday, especially considering the hostile crowd they would face tonight. Defense always travels, as they say.
That was certainly not the case today. Wisconsin’s defense of jump shots was terrible. Given that Iowa is a proficient shooter, the Badgers allowed them to attempt nearly any uncontested jumper ranging from ten to fifteen feet. The majority of collegiate basketball players in Division I will make such shots. The Badgers suffered a great deal in that area, especially from Josh Dix and Tony Perkins.
I’m not sure what the disconnect is that seems to exist with this squad. They seemed to be sluggish around screens today as well, and they were unable to halt when necessary.We seen needless fouls after being outmuscled off the dribble.
Greg Gard once more showed his emotions on the defensive today. The fact that this club does not appear to be reacting to their head coach on that front is also troubling. Once more, I have no idea what it is, but this squad is refusing to accept any defensive strategy. They are definitely playing like a team right now, but the longer this goes on, the more probable it is that this is an NCAA Tournament tease.
For more amazing material, follow us at @WiSportsHeroics and me at @DylanBuboltz on Twitter. Click here to read more of our stories and stay up to speed on Wisconsin sports news! Additionally, be sure to browse our retail store for some incredible WSH gear!