Honestly, if you missed the first half of the game yesterday, you missed one of the most clinical displays of basketball Greg Gard has put together in a long time. The Wisconsin Badgers score today reflects a team that is finally starting to look like a legitimate Big Ten threat, moving to 13-5 overall and 5-2 in the conference.
They basically dismantled Rutgers at the Kohl Center, finishing with a 96-87 victory that felt even more dominant than the final score suggests.
The Nick Boyd Show in Madison
Let's talk about Nick Boyd. The grad student was absolutely everywhere. He finished with 32 points—a career-high—and it wasn't just empty volume scoring. He was the engine. When the Scarlet Knights tried to press or switch up their looks, Boyd just sliced right through them. He also dished out 9 assists. Think about that for a second. That is responsible for somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 points of the team's total production.
He was incredibly efficient from the line, too, going 14-for-15. That is how you close out a game in January.
Wisconsin jumped out to a massive lead early. By halftime, they were up 51-29. Usually, when the Badgers get a lead like that, you expect them to grind the game to a halt and win 65-48. Not this time. They were running. John Blackwell and Nolan Winter were hitting everything. Winter specifically was a perfect 6-for-6 from the field for 18 points. When your big man is hitting treys and not missing from the floor, you're going to have a good night.
Why the second half felt a bit "kinda" shaky
Now, look, Rutgers didn't just go home at halftime. They actually outscored the Badgers 58-45 in the second half. If you're a glass-half-empty fan, you might be worried that the defense let up 58 points in twenty minutes.
It was a little loose. Greg Gard mentioned post-game that he needs to check the tape because the aggression levels shifted. Rutgers got physical, and Wisconsin looked a bit comfortable for a stretch. But every time the lead got trimmed to single digits, Boyd or Blackwell would make a play to settle the water.
- Final Score: Wisconsin 96, Rutgers 87
- Key Stat: UW shot 26-of-29 from the free-throw line.
- The Run: An 11-0 burst in the first half essentially decided the game.
It is worth noting that the Badgers are now on a four-game winning streak. This stretch has completely changed the vibe around the program after that rough loss to Purdue earlier in the month. They’ve moved from "bubble watch" to "fighting for a double-bye in the Big Ten tournament" territory pretty quickly.
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It wasn't just basketball. The No. 1 ranked women's hockey team continued their absolute tear through the WCHA. They swept St. Thomas with a 5-1 win in St. Paul on Saturday. Lacey Eden is playing out of her mind right now—she has a 10-game point streak going with 10 goals and 13 assists in that span.
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On the flip side, the men's hockey team had a tougher weekend. They got swept by Michigan State, including a 4-1 loss on Friday night. It’s a bit of a reality check for a team that had been climbing the rankings.
What's coming up next?
The women's basketball team is actually in action today, Sunday, January 18th. They are hosting Oregon at the Kohl Center at 3 p.m. local time. They're sitting at 11-7 and really need a win to snap a three-game skid. If they can find some of the offensive rhythm the men's team showed yesterday, they'll be in good shape.
If you're looking to follow along with the Wisconsin Badgers score today, keep an eye on the Big Ten Network for the women's game. For the men, they get a few days to rest before their next challenge. The rotation looks solid, the bench scoring from guys like Blackwell is elite, and as long as Nick Boyd stays this aggressive, they're going to be a tough out for anyone in the country.
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Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the Big Ten standings; Wisconsin is currently neck-and-neck with the top of the pack.
- If you're heading to the Kohl Center for the women's game today, tip-off is at 3:00 PM CST on BTN.
- Keep an eye on the injury report for the men's team as they prepare for their next road trip; health has been their biggest asset during this 4-game streak.