Men’s basketball: Badgers rally past visiting Gophers

Under Pressure: Gophers' Lead Slips Away in Thrilling Wisconsin Victory

Minnesota's losing streak extended to six games as the Golden Gophers fell short against a resilient Wisconsin Badgers team, who staged an epic comeback from a 35-17 deficit at halftime. The Badgers' determination and spirit ultimately proved too much for Minnesota, as they edged out their arch-rivals 67-63 in a tightly contested Big Ten matchup.

Despite being shorthanded with only seven scholarship players available due to injuries, the Gophers showed great heart and fight, led by Bobby Durkin's 20 points. However, Minnesota coach Nikeo Medved acknowledged that his team struggled to find its way in the second half, particularly from beyond the arc.

The Badgers' John Blackwell was a thorn in the side of the Gophers, scoring 23 points, including eight of Wisconsin's final 11. Nick Boyd chipped in with 19 of his 21 points in the second half, as the Badgers outshot Minnesota 70.0 percent to 17.9 percent in the second half.

The game was a classic example of the ebb and flow that often characterizes Big Ten basketball. The Gophers held a commanding lead at halftime, only to see Wisconsin mount an incredible comeback. Despite their valiant efforts, Minnesota just couldn't find the range from three-point land, which proved crucial in the Badgers' victory.

For Medved's team, it was yet another setback in a season marred by injuries. However, he praised his players for their never-say-die attitude and refusal to give up, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable odds.

Meanwhile, Wisconsin coach Greg Gard could be seen as one of the cleverer tacticians on the sidelines, expertly managing his team's bench and exploiting Minnesota's defensive weaknesses. His squad has now won 11 straight against their in-state rivals, cementing their status as a top-tier program in the Big Ten.

The Gophers' struggles continue to mount, but with the support of loyal fans like those at Kohl Center on Wednesday night, Medved's team will undoubtedly bounce back from this latest defeat. As for Wisconsin, they've taken another major scalp in their rivalry against Minnesota and proved themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the conference.

The Badgers' victory marked a turning point in the season, where momentum now shifts firmly in their favor. With this thrilling win, Wisconsin has positioned itself well to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament, while Minnesota will need to regroup and refocus if they're to salvage what's left of their season.

awww man minny's havin a tough time rn they just can't seem to catch a break with all these injuries & stuff but i gotta give it to coach medved, those gophers showed some serious heart & determination out there especially with bobby durkin leadin the charge with 20 points and that comeback from wisco was wild 70.0% in the 2nd half is no joke! gotta respect the badgers' bench too, gard did a great job gettin those players in & makin it happen so yeah, minny's gonna need to pick themselves up & try again

man this game was insane ! Wisconsin's comeback is like a movie plot twist... I mean, who wouldn't want to see 35-17 deficit turned into a 6pt win? the Badgers' spirit and determination are really inspiring . And I gotta give props to Greg Gard, his team's strategy and bench management skills are top-notch . On the other hand, Minnesota's struggles with injuries are no joke... I hope Nikeo Medved can get them back on track soon . But you know what? even with a tough loss, Gophers fans should still be proud of their team's never-say-die attitude .

Mnnesota gotta step up their 3-point game , can't let teams like Wisconcin exploit that weakness for another seciong loss. Coach Medved's team showed heart but sometimes you gotta be clinical and make the shots count . Still, those fans at Kohl Center got to see a great comeback and I'm hyped for Wisconsin's chances in the NCAA tournament

lol @ Minny's losing streak getting longer by the minute . seriously tho, gotta respect Wisconsin's team for mounting that epic comeback . I mean, 35-17 deficit at halftime? that's a hole to climb outta. but the Badgers dug deep and came up big . Minnesota's gotta work on their three-point game (obvi) or they're gonna get left in the dust . also, props to Greg Gard for outcoaching Nikeo Medved - those tactics did not go unnoticed . Wisconsin's on a roll now, gonna be interesting to see how this plays out in the NCAA tournament

so like what just happened with minnesota gophers? they were winning at halftime 35-17 but then lost badly in the second half how do you explain that comeback by wisconsin badgers? was it because they had more bench players available or something?

i feel bad for minnesota coach nikeo medved though, his team has been losing streaks and injuries are taking a toll. but still, 20 points from bobby durkin is no joke! what's the plan for medved to turn things around now?

I'm low-key salty for the Gophers right now lol Their shooting woes are killin' me! I get it, injuries and all that but 17.9% from three in the second half is just rough. Wisconsin exploited them so easily . I gotta give props to Greg Gard tho, he's a genius on the sidelines . That comeback was insane! 11 straight wins against Minnesota is a big deal for his team . Gophers need to get their act together, but I still got faith in them .

man this game was crazy ! i mean i was on the edge of my seat thinking minnesota was gonna come back from that 35 point deficit lol but then you see wisconsin mount that comeback and it's like wow those badgers are relentless . but for real though medved's gotta do somethin about them outside shots they just can't get 'em goin meanwhile greg gard was the mastermind behind all that come from behind magic

I gotta say tho , the Gophers are getting a bad rep for being all injured and can't close out games . But honestly, it's not just that – they're also struggling with 3-point shooting . Like, 17.9% in the second half? That's a major issue right there . And don't get me wrong, I love Bobby Durkin's effort, but he's gotta start hitting from beyond the arc if they wanna compete with these top-tier teams .

And Wisconsin coach Greg Gard is straight fire . His team's depth and bench management is on point . They're exploiting Minnesota's weaknesses and playing smart basketball . It's not just about one or two players, it's the entire system that's working together seamlessly .

I'm all for Minnesota bouncing back tho . Those fans are the real MVPs . But Wisconsin is looking legit . They're gonna make some noise in the NCAA tournament if they keep playing like this

Gosh ... I was watching that game with my grandkids last night, they were on the edge of their seats! The Badgers' comeback is just insane, 35-17 down at halftime and still manages to pull it off? That's what I call determination . Wisconsin's got some great young talent and their coaches must be doing something right .

The Gophers are just having a tough year, lots of injuries and can't seem to catch a break . But you've gotta respect Nikeo Medved's coaching skills, he's not giving up on his team even when things aren't going well . Those fans at Kohl Center were really into it too, love the energy in a packed arena .

For Wisconsin, this win is huge, cements their status as a top program in the Big Ten and puts them in good shape for the NCAA tournament . Minnesota's still got to regroup, but I'm sure Medved will get 'em ready to bounce back .

omg I'm loving the comeback story of those wisconsin badgers!!! They totally showed us that even when you're down 35-17, you can still mount an epic comeback! Minnesota's determination was for real, but Wisconsin's bench management and exploiting minnesota's weaknesses was pure genius . I'm also loving how coach gard is getting all the recognition for his clever tactics . And btw, those gophers are gonna bounce back from this one... they've got heart and spirit!

man.. 67-63 is crazy close on both sides think about it like this: life's not always gonna be easy, but how you respond matters. those gophers were down by 18 points at halftime and still managed to keep fighting... that's the spirit we need more of! on the other hand, those badgers made some crucial adjustments in the second half and capitalized on their opponents' mistakes - that's what winning's all about: being adaptable & seizing opportunities. gotta give it up for coach medved too, he kept his team together despite all the injuries... leadership matters, folks!

I don't get it why the Gophers can't find their range from 3-point land? They had that big lead at halftime, but then just disappear in the second half. Bobby Durkin is getting those points, but his team's not moving as one unit...like they're still trying to find each other on the court And Wisconsin, man...they're like a well-oiled machine out there! Coach Gard knows how to get the most out of his players and he totally exploited Minnesota's weaknesses. The Badgers' bench is on fire and Nick Boyd is just on another level in the second half

So Wisconsin finally got the job done after blowing out big at halftime . Their 2nd half performance was insane - I mean, come on, 70% from the field? That's just ridiculous! Minnesota needed to step up their three-point game if they wanted to compete, but they just couldn't get anything going. Coach Medved can't be too happy about that though

Wisconsin's bench play is insane - they must've had like 5 or 6 subs in and out during the 2nd half and still managed to hold it down. I'm guessing Greg Gard's been doing some magic behind the scenes to get his team clicking . Minnesota's gotta regroup and figure out what went wrong, but for now, Wisconsin's just on a roll

man that was one crazy game the way wisconsin came back from 35-17 down is just wild i feel bad for minnesota tho, losing streaks can be tough to deal with especially when you have like only a few scholarship players coach medved gotta give his guys some props though for never giving up gophers will bounce back

omg what happened to minny bobby durkin put up some crazy points but i think those badgers were just too determined john blackwell was a beast on the court tho, 23 points is insane! i feel bad for the gophers though, injuries are always tough coach medved's team will bounce back, they gotta

omg did u see that epic comeback by wisconsin?! they went from 35-17 down to edging out minn 67-63! the gophers showed so much heart & fight, but ultimately fell short due to not being able to find their range from 3-point land #GophersNation is gonna need to bounce back from this one meanwhile, wisconsin's momentum has shifted in a BIG way and they're now lookin like a top-tier team in the big ten let's see how minn regroups & refocuses for their next game! #WisconsinBadgersForTheWin

The Gophers' loss to the Badgers was a textbook example of how momentum can shift quickly in basketball . It's almost as if the game played out like a pendulum swing, with Minnesota leading at halftime before Wisconsin mounted an incredible comeback. Minnesota's inability to find its shooting range from three-point land proved crucial in the end, but it's also worth noting that Wisconsin expertly managed their bench and exploited Minnesota's defensive weaknesses .

As for Medved's team, their never-say-die attitude is admirable, but they'll need to address their struggles with injuries and inconsistency if they're to make a push for the playoffs . On the other hand, Greg Gard's tactical prowess is undeniable, and Wisconsin's 11-game winning streak against Minnesota is a testament to his team's strength .

One thing's for sure - this loss will serve as a wake-up call for the Gophers, while Wisconsin has taken a major step towards positioning themselves as a top-tier program in the Big Ten . With momentum firmly on their side, the Badgers are now well-positioned to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament .