Wisconsin Badgers are showing they’re not afraid to play anyone. We talked about it yesterday that they carry that swagger about them. They welcomed in Loyola Chicago. Now, Loyola is expected to contend for the Missouri Valley Conference title. They’re a good team. But Wisconsin had full control of this game. They beat Loyola, 77-63, and the three-point shooting of Wisconsin played a large part in it. They made 10 threes. Wisconsin is now 5-1 on the season and has one more non-conference game to go before Big Ten play.

Player of the Game: Brad Davison – For the second straight game, Buzzcut Brad shows up here. Trust me, this guy is being pushed by Johnny Davis. That’s a great thing for a team. Competition among teammates is very healthy and something that should happen more often. Davison scored 17 points with two threes and seven made free throws. In the last two games, Davison has shot 21 free throws. That’s a great way to get extra points for your team.

Honorable Mention: Johnny Davis – I know what Davison has been doing, but this kid is making his case for the starting rotation. Maybe he replaces Aleem Ford, and they go smaller? We’ll see if Greg Gard makes any adjustments. Davis had a great game with 12 points, five rebounds, and two assists. Davis hit two big buckets when Loyola started to creep back into this one, and the La Crosse native shut the door.

What went right for Wisconsin – The second half run buried Loyola: Things were a bit tight then Wisconsin got hot from long-range. They made four straight threes including one where Davison got fouled on. All of the sudden, Wisconsin pushed their lead out to 12 points and never looked back. That is the type of run that makes you believe this team is destined for big things.

Van Wilder Team Check-in – Cameron Krutwig: A long time ago on this blog and others, I used to have the Van Wilder team. This team was players who have been at a school for what feels like seven years. I have no idea how many people that follow me now remember that. Regardless, Cameron Krutwig belongs on that list. I was stunned he is still at school. Big fella played well in this one too. By the way, Badgers struggle again with a physical big man… Um, not good.

Next up: Wisconsin will tangle with Louisville on Saturday afternoon. Louisville has not played since December 1st due to COVID-19 issues. They also have one of the youngest teams in basketball. Not sure what the line will be in this one, but Badgers will likely make my best bets for Saturday.

Charlie.