Michigan basketball loses another close one, falling 64-59 at Wisconsin

Michigan came out hot on offense in a 64-59 loss at Wisconsin. Defense, though, was a different story.

The script flipped near the end, but the result was the same — another close loss for the Wolverines. 

The Badgers have had a hard time scoring this year. Michigan, though, made them look like the Golden State Warriors in the early going. Wisconsin made 5 of its first 9 shots, including both of its triples on wide open looks, in scoring 12 points before the first TV timeout. But the Wolverines responded with a 6-0 run and made 6 of their first 9, including a triple from sophomore Kobe Bufkin, to take an early 13-12 lead. 

Both teams made it a point to get the ball to their big men early, and it paid off. Steven Crowl scored 6 inside against junior Hunter Dickinson, who countered with 4 of his own. 

The pace slowed, but the two teams played extremely hard. Will Tschetter, starting in place of injured Terrance Williams II, gave good minutes on both ends in his first start. The redshirt frosh had 2 early points, 2rebounds and assist. 

Frosh Jett Howard hit a triple to give the Wolverines a 20-19 lead, but he forced a few on his way to a 2-for-5 start. Freshman Tarris Reed started strong with a quick post move and bucket and 3 rebounds. 

The defense, though, failed the Wolverines in the first half. The Badgers cut religiously, as they do, and got way too many easy ones at the bucket. 

Then the Wolverines got lax on the perimeter. Wisconsin made a pair of triples as part of an 8-0 run to take a 27-20 lead. 

A Dug McDaniel jumper at 4:16 gave the Wolverines a much needed bucket to stop the run. 

But the Badgers continued to win the little battles. A poor offensive rebounding team had grabbed 31.3 percent of its own misses and had five offensive caroms at the last TV timeout.

However … Tschetter’s spin and finish, followed by 5 straight from Dickinson (including a triple), cut it to a one-point game. The Wolverines gave up another uncontested corner triple, but Bufkin’s three-pointer to end the half gave Michigan a 32-31 lead at the half.

Dickinson scored 9 and Bufkin 8 for the Wolverines, who shot 50 percent in the first half. The Badgers made only 1 of their last 9 shots of the half and shot 35.3 percent in the stanza. 

SECOND HALF — Michigan comes back from 12 down, but loses late again

Michigan opened the scoring to start the second half, but Wisconsin went on a 6-0 run to take the lead and get the crowd into it. The Wolverines continued to struggle on the offensive glass, giving up second chance opportunity after second chance opportunity. The Badgers, 349^th in the country in offensive rebound percentage coming into the game, had 9 before the first TV timeout and would finish with 15.

Crowl’s bucket inside made it 41-38, and the Badgers got it back after Bufkin offensive foul, his second straight turnover. 

Then came controversy. Tschetter was called for a foul away from the ball, but somehow the Badgers were awarded a bucket for a shot that came after the play. The Wolverines continued to turn it over, including a Dickinson offensive goaltend, and they were in trouble down 8 when Wisconsin scored at the rim again to make it 48-40. 

The Wolverines had 5 turnovers on 6 possessions to lead to the Badgers’ run. The lead ballooned to 12 after Juwan Howard picked up a technical foul contesting a call. 

But U-M continued to battle. It was 55-47 at 8:07 on a Bufkin triple, and 55-48 when the sophomore hit a jumper, his 7^thstraight point for Michigan. A pair of Reed free throws cut the deficit to 4 … coincidentally, Michigan’s first free throws of the game. 

Dickinson’s pair on Crowl’s fourth foul cut it to 55-53 with 4:52 remaining. It was a one-point game at the last TV timeout and 3:25 remaining, and 2 at 1:59 when Dickinson made 1 of 2 free throws. The Badgers hadn’t made a field goal in over 9 minutes but still led by 2. 

Their woes continued. They’d miss 14 in a row, but still led when Tschetter missed a pair of free throws with a minute remaining, up two. U-M got a stop, but the Wolverines gave up yet another offensive rebound. It was 59-57 after Jett Howard scored inside with 23 seconds remaining, but the Badgers closed it out at the line. 

Wisconsin won despite not making a field goal for the last 10:45, missing 15 straight shots and finishing 33 percent. Michigan made only 2 of its last 11, however, and lost despite 21 from Bufkin and a double double (12 and 12) from Dickinson.