Purdue 53, Wisconsin 57: Badgers Storm Boilers

#6 Purdue gets shocked by Wisconsin, 57-53 on Frank Kaminsky night in the Kohl Center.

Purdue came into Madison, Wisconsin looking to get back to their winning ways and going against a Wisconsin Badgers team that was five games under .500 and a 28 point loss against this Boiler team earlier in the season. They were coming off two losses against #9 Ohio St. and at #1 Michigan St by a combined 4 points following 19 straight victories. If that wasn’t enough ammunition for Purdue to come out firing, they were sporting some new kicks as well.

But instead of reminding the college basketball world that Purdue was one of the best teams in the country, they came out lethargic and sloppy. The first half saw Purdue turn the ball over 7 times and make just 9 field goals from the floor. Neither team shot free throws in the first half, and neither got into an offensive rhythm. Both teams managed just 21 points in the first half.

The game wouldn’t get much prettier from there. It took nearly ten minutes into the second half before Purdue started to impose their will on the Badgers. With a lineup of Eastern-Mathias-Cline-Vincent-Haas, Purdue finally took the lead from Wisconsin after two And-1 finishes by the freshman Eastern pushed Purdue to a 39-32 lead. The young point guard bothered Wisconsin’s less athletic guards and grabbed a steal and forced an air ball on the two possessions that led to his two quick 6 points.

But the Badgers disappointing season would not be an indication of their fight tonight. After Purdue finally seemed to be getting on a roll, they went back to their bread and butter and the match-up advantage they knew they had. Happ on Haas.

Despite a game where Happ struggled for efficient numbers, he got rebounds and baskets when the Badgers needed it. He kept them in it. And after a missed drive by Carsen Edwards that left him behind the lay, Brad Davison had a wide open look at the top of the arc. Instead, he dumped it off to Khalil Iverson who was standing under the hoop, four Boilermakers standing and watching as he dunked it in and tied the game at 43-43.

Two free throws by Davison two possessions later would give the lead back to the Badgers, 45-43, and after Happ pulled the chair on Haas in the post, the Boilers were reeling and Kohl Center was rocking on the night Frank Kaminsky had his jersey retired.

Purdue decided enough was enough. The put Vincent Edwards on Happ. Happ drove at him, back to the basket, spun, and finished with his left hand over Vincent. Badger lead, 47-43.

The Boilers would retaliate by getting to the line. Vincent would knock down two. Haas would knock down 1 of 2. Then Brad Davison responded with a huge step back jumper to push the lead back to 3 points before Haas would make 1 of 2 again from the line.

Happ’s lay-up around Haas with 2:04 pushed the Badgers lead back to four at 51-47 and Purdue went to the one thing they had left to do to try and stop Happ, send him to the line. He would miss two in a row, and Vincent Edwards would score a lay-up on the other end. Another foul on Happ, and he would hit just 1.

With a chance to tie the ball game, Dakota Mathias had an open look at the top of the key but the ball clanked hard off the side of the rim and the Badgers worked the clock. With 26 seconds left Purdue would foul Happ again. He would make both of them and give the Badgers a 54-49 edge.

But the excitement wasn’t over or the free throws. Carsen Edwards was fouled by Ethan Happ, his fifth foul, on the ensuing possession and breathing life back into a Purdue team in danger of losing their third straight game after winning 19 in a row. Carsen made 2 of 3 and the Badgers rebounded with a 3 point lead.

When Brevin Pritzl knocked both free throws down and Carsen missed another 3 badly, the game, and the upset was set.

The Wisconsin Badgers pulled off the upset of #6 Purdue and stormed the court, winning 57-53.

The Boilers continue to struggle to find balance as they fall for the third straight time after winning 19 straight going into the home game against Ohio State last week. Carsen Edwards led all players with 22 points but he needed 19 shots to get there and he had almost no help from the rest of his team. Isaac Haas had 12 points, but missed half of his 8 free throw attempts and was outplayed by Ethan Happ for most of the game. Happ had 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds before fouling out.

P. J. Thompson had another scoreless game. Dakota Mathias had just 2 points on 7 shots. Nojel Eastern might have been the lone bright spot with 7 points off the bench.