The University of Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team lost their first game of the season on Tuesday, November 15th, to the Marquette Golden Eagles by a score of 85-78. The loss was a disappointing one for the Badgers, who were ranked 13th in the preseason AP Poll. The most glaring issue for the Badgers was turnovers. They finished the game with 17. Marquette's defense was able to force turnovers and convert them into easy baskets.
There were a number of factors that contributed to the Badgers' loss. One was the poor shooting performance at the start of the game. The Badgers made just 3 of their first 14 shots from the field. They also struggled to hit free throws, finishing the game 10-of-18 from the line.
Another factor was the team's defense was ineffective. The Golden Eagles shot 50% from the field and made 10 of their 26 three-point attempts. They also outrebounded the Badgers 35-28.
The loss was a disappointing one for the Badgers. They were hoping to start the season with a win, but they will now have to regroup and prepare for their next game in the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament.
The Badgers will play their next game in the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament on Thursday, November 17th, against the Florida Gators. The Gators are ranked 12th in the preseason AP Poll. The Badgers will need to play much better than they did against Marquette if they want to win the game.
Three players scored in double figures for the Badgers. Tyler Wahl led the way with 17 points, while Chucky Hepburn added 16 points and Steven Crowl chipped in with 14 points.
For the Golden Eagles, Oso Ighodaro and Tyler Kolek each scored 19 points. Kam Jones added 16 points and David Joplin chipped in with 13 points.
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler Wahl (UW) | 17 | 4 | 3 |
| Chucky Hepburn (UW) | 16 | 3 | 6 |
| Steven Crowl (UW) | 14 | 6 | 2 |
| Oso Ighodaro (MU) | 19 | 6 | 1 |
| Tyler Kolek (MU) | 19 | 4 | 6 |
| Kam Jones (MU) | 16 | 5 | 4 |
| David Joplin (MU) | 13 | 3 | 2 |
"The Badgers were simply outplayed by a better team tonight," said ESPN analyst Dick Vitale. "They need to regroup and play much better if they want to win the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament." "The Badgers' defense was especially disappointing," said CBS analyst Seth Davis. "They gave up too many easy baskets and allowed Marquette to shoot too well from three-point range. They have to do a much better job on defense if they want to be a successful team this season."
The Badgers' loss to Marquette was a disappointing one, but it is important to remember that it is just one game. The Badgers are a talented team and they have the potential to be a successful team this season. They will need to learn from their mistakes and play much better in their next game.
The loss also serves as a reminder that the Badgers are not invincible. They will need to play hard every night and they will need to be ready for every opponent. If they can do that, they have the potential to be a special team.