The Wisconsin Badgers fell short in their Big 10 tournament opener, dropping a 65-57 game to the Ohio State Buckeyes, placing significant questions on a potential appearance in the NCAA tournament, which seems unlikely at the moment.
This game wasn't your regular close bout for the Badgers, however, as the No. 12 seed was down by as much as 22 points before mounting an improbable comeback, ultimately falling short, despite a four-point deficit with a minute remaining.
What led the Badgers to such a deficit that they couldn’t overcome? Physicality and aggressiveness.
Wisconsin was significantly out-matched on those aspects early in the game, consistently missing close shots, while allowing Ohio State to reach their soft spots, leading to a 36-18 lead at halftime.