Takeaways from Wisconsin basketball’s blowout win over Washington

The common sports cliche of the ‘get-right game’ was on full display at the Kohl Center on Tuesday night. Wisconsin, after a deflating loss to Oregon, responded decisively with a 88-62 win over the Washington Huskies.

The Badgers controlled the matchup throughout. They built an early 10-point lead just 12 minutes into the game and held a 15-point advantage at the halftime break. Instead of similar second-half struggles that led to the collapse against Oregon, Wisconsin dominated the second frame, pushing its lead north of 30 points with just under 10 minutes to play in regulation.

John Blackwell led that statement effort with 19 first-half points and 24 total tallies. His performance, like that of many on the team, appeared to be a clear message after he played a prominent role in the Oregon result. Wisconsin received balanced contributions from the rest of the lineup — 12 points from Steven Crowl and 13 from John Tonje, plus 12 from bench forward Xavier Amos, eight from Kamari McGee and eight from Jack Janicki.

Wisconsin moves to 22-6 (12-5 Big Ten) with the triumph. It rises into third place in the conference standings as a result, just 1 1/2 game back of first-place Michigan and Michigan State. The Badgers play the Spartans on Sunday afternoon in what is likely to be a season-defining game for both teams.

Before we turn the page on the Washington win, here are our biggest takeaways from Wisconsin’s dominant performance

Wisconsin gets a much-needed get-right game

Wisconsin needed to coast to a win after its momentum was stalled by its late-game collapse against Oregon. It got that opportunity on Tuesday, hosting a Washington team that was just 4-12 in Big Ten play entering the contest.

The game saw the Badgers excel offensively, clean up on the glass and leave little doubt on the scoreboard. Part of the large final margin is due to Washington’s lack of offensive options and shotmakers. A big part is also due to Wisconsin’s effort and execution — not only did the Badgers play well on both sides of the court, but they were also first to the floor on loose balls, some of which while leading by 20-plus points.

How teams respond to a negative result often defines how that result is viewed. In this case, it’s easy to return to our previous sentiment surrounding Wisconsin’s caliber — it’s one of the best in the country.

John Blackwell plays his best game in weeks

John Blackwell’s final line of 24 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and two steals on 9-of-16 shooting is among his best of the season, rivaling his 28-point outing vs. USC and 32 against Iowa.

The sophomore standout set the tone from the opening minutes. His late-first-half scoring burst somewhat decided the game — he tallied 17 points from the 8:54 mark to the half’s final whistle. That expanded Wisconsin’s lead from five to 15 points, creating a margin that Washington could not overcome.

Blackwell’s play is terrific news for the Badgers’ chances. With John Tonje likely receiving maximum attention from opposing teams, Wisconsin will need its complimentary options to succeed. Blackwell is a 1B to Tonje’s 1A when he plays to the caliber he did on Tuesday. That is Wisconsin’s recipe for a deep run in March.

Wisconsin displays versatility and depth of offensive attack

Wisconsin got major contributions from bench contributors Xavier Amos (12 points on 4-of-5 shooting and 3-of-4 from three), Kamari McGee (eight points, three rebounds and two assists on 4-of-8 shooting) and Jack Janicki (eight points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals on 3-of-4 shooting). That made for yet another display of the team’s depth. That trio of role players arguably outplayed Washington’s best — Amos’ 12 points would have led the Huskies.

The efficiency of those three players, who combined to make 11 of 17 shots, displays Washington’s lack of answers defensively. Whether it was Amos finding space beyond the arc or McGee cutting to the rim, no player on Wisconsin’s roster met much resistance offensively.

It does so…without Max Klesmit for the second half?

Bookmark this note. Max Klesmit played sparingly in the first half, didn’t attempt a shot, and then sat for the entire second half. He was officially listed as ‘questionable’ with a lower-body injury. His lack of court time in the second half may have been aided by the lopsided score. Klesmit’s health will be a story to monitor as Sunday nears.

Bring on Michigan State

Wisconsin would like to be one game better in the conference standings entering its big-time road trip to Michigan State. Looking back, a win over Oregon may have put the Badgers in position to potentially move into first place with a win over the Spartans.

Regardless, Sunday’s game will define the Badgers’ regular season. After Tuesday, it’s reasonable to build confidence that the team can pull off an upset victory.