Everything Maryland coach Kevin Willard said about Wisconsin after Terrapins’ big win

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Maryland basketball improved to 17-5 on the season and 7-4 in Big Ten play with a big 76-68 home win over No. 17 Wisconsin on Wednesday.

The win is Maryland’s fourth in a row and sixth in its last seven games. It is also the team’s fourth triumph in the all-important Quad 1 category, a result that raised it to No. 18 in the NCAA NET Rankings. The Terrapins jumped Wisconsin with the victory, dropping the Badgers one spot to No. 19.

Related: Everything Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said after Badgers loss to Maryland

Maryland had shown significant potential through the first months of the season. It also played one of the easiest nonconference schedules in the sport, and badly needed statement wins in Big Ten play. Its recent streak of victories over Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin has accomplished exactly that. The Terrapins move into Big Ten contention with the statement stretch.

Wisconsin, meanwhile, takes a step backward with the loss. The team was far from its top form, shooting just 37% from the floor and 33% from three. That low shooting rate led to just a 68-point output, the team’s lowest since an early-season loss to Michigan (64).

The result shouldn’t cap the Badgers’ season-long expectations — a road loss to a potential top-20 team won’t damage what is still a strong resume. It does, however, raise the stakes for the team’s next three games: at Northwestern, vs. Indiana and at Iowa. Wisconsin needs to redirect its trajectory now with two road losses in its last three contests.

Maryland head coach Kevin Willard still sees positive results ahead for Wisconsin. He was complimentary of the Badgers when speaking with the media postgame, specifically in the challenge of defending the team’s versatile offense and star wing John Tonje.

Here is a full recap of Willard’s postgame media availability:

On limiting Wisconsin in the second half

Jan 29, 2025; College Park, Maryland, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard John Blackwell (25) handles the ball against Maryland Terrapins guard DeShawn…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/everything-maryland-coach-kevin-willard-182542879.html

Author : Badgers Wire

Publish date : 2025-01-30 18:25:00

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