Nolan Winter comments on Wisconsin Badgers’ progress in overtime games
Wisconsin forward Nolan Winter commented on how the Badgers have shown progress in overtime games after UW’s 78-77 loss to Indiana.
The Hoosiers dominated inside, scoring 44 points in the paint against the Badgers.
Despite offensive inconsistencies from the rest of the team, Wisconsin’s Nolan Winter scored 26 points on 9-of-13 shooting.
The Badgers held a four-point lead in the final minute of regulation, but they were unable to secure the win.
BLOOMINGTON, IN – Wisconsin’s John Blackwell was visibly in disbelief, with his hands on the back of his head before appearing to plead with an official following a game-changing foul call in the final seconds.
The stinging moment – one that sent Blackwell to the bench with five fouls and one of Indiana’s better free-throw shooters to the line for the game-tying and go-ahead points – and another controversial call before that may stick in the craw of many UW fans long after the Feb. 7 trip to Assembly Hall.
Advertisement
But for as much as those final 15 seconds may prompt Wisconsin fans to say “what if,” the Badgers also had other shortcomings that led to a 78-77 overtime loss.
“We put ourselves in that position by not coming out strong,” Wisconsin forward Nolan Winter said. “We didn’t execute our offense. We were lost on defense early on. And then to put in the refs’ hands if you’re going to win or lose a game – that’s not what we should be doing.”
Box score | UW schedule | Standings
Here are three takeaways from the Badgers’ loss:
Advertisement
Indiana’s physicality put Wisconsin in challenging position
In a game where the officiating crew let each team play – without a free throw attempted until the second half – Indiana had a clear advantage in interior physicality.
The Hoosiers finished with 44 points in the paint – tied for the most by any UW opponent this season. (The Badgers’ other game with 44 points allowed in the paint was their 30-point loss to then-No. 22 Nebraska on Dec. 10.)
Indiana’s ability to score down low with ease masked the Hoosiers’ unwieldy 23% 3-point shooting. IU finished the game with 73.1% of its scoring coming either from the paint or the free-throw line.
Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said the Badgers needed to be better both in one-on-one situations and in their ability to “squeeze better and send some help.”
Advertisement
“We could have done a better job of keeping the dribble out of the paint,” Gard said. “We got beat off the dribble. We got spread out at times. … We needed to be better and more physical.”
Wisconsin showed some improvement in its physicality in the second half although Indiana still scored 29 of its 36 second-half points either in the paint or at the free-throw line. The Hoosiers’ only made field goal in overtime was in the paint as well.
“We were more physical for stretches in the second half, specifically the back half of that second half,” Gard said. “We had figured out some things – where we could help from, where we couldn’t. We just played more physical. I think that was the biggest thing.”
More: What Greg Gard said about officiating in Wisconsin’s loss to Indiana
Nolan Winter offered consistency for Badgers’ otherwise-inconsistent offense
Wisconsin’s offense, which has experienced plenty of highs and lows in 2025-26, had another roller-coaster afternoon in the Badgers’ loss to Indiana.
Advertisement
UW opened the game with 3-of-16 (18.8%) shooting, as the Badgers struggled to score from seemingly any area on the court. UW bookended the loss with missing three of its four shot attempts in overtime.
But the Badgers also had a nine-minute stretch in the second half with 7-of-10 shooting.
Nick Boyd, the team’s leading scorer this season, made his first two shots before missing his next six attempts. Boyd ended up shooting 2 of 13 from 2-point range and 5 of 6 from 3-point range. John Blackwell, UW’s second-leading scorer this season, had two first-half points on 1-of-8 shooting before finishing with 18 points.
Andrew Rohde suffered from unusually cold shooting throughout the day, going 2 of 10. Braeden Carrington similarly was 2 of 8.
Seemingly the one constant on the offensive end was Nolan Winter, who finished with a team-high 26 points on 9-of-13 shooting. (The rest of the Badgers shot 31% from the field and 29% from 3-point range.)
Advertisement
He scored 10 of those points in the final eight-plus minutes of the first half, helping the Badgers shrink their deficit from 14 to six at halftime.
His three 3-pointers made were second on UW behind Boyd’s five. Some of Winter’s scoring also was the result of UW taking advantage of how Indiana switched on ball screens.
“We found him,” Gard said. “I thought we could have found him more. I thought we missed him a lot in the first half. But he found himself in a good position, and obviously he made plays.”
Wisconsin was in prime position to ‘shut the door’ in regulation
Wisconsin’s resilience was again on display in the second half as it came back from a 11-point deficit with fewer than 10 minutes remaining in regulation to take its first lead with fewer than two minutes remaining.
Advertisement
“Obviously we put ourselves in some situations early on where it was going to be tough to come back, and we came together and we did it,” Winter said.
That followed a month of January that featured a 14-point comeback against then-No. 1 Michigan, 20 and 11-point comebacks against Minnesota and an 11-point comeback against Ohio State.
Blackwell’s fadeaway jumper gave UW a 69-68 lead, and then Winter hit a 3-pointer on the subsequent possession to expand the lead to 72-68. The college basketball analytics site KenPom gave Wisconsin an 85.5% chance of winning after Winter’s timely shot.
But then Lamar Wilkerson quickly got to the line and made a pair of free throws to make it a 72-70 game. Rohde missed an open 3-point look, and Wilkerson drew another foul and made the game-tying free throws.
There was enough time for UW to draw up a play that gave Blackwell a chance at another game-winner. His fadeaway attempt was off the mark, though, leading to an overtime period that ended with two controversial foul calls and two more consequential Wilkerson free throws.
Advertisement
“We had ourselves in a position where we needed to shut the door on this thing, and it didn’t happen,” Gard said.
Ty Simpson was a guest on the “Downs 2 Business” podcast with Caleb Downs and Josh Downs, and he discussed why he believed Indiana beat Alabama in the Rose Bowl.
The Crimson Tide’s offense was unable to score a touchdown against the Hoosiers in the 38-3 loss. Simpson shone a light on why he felt Indiana had so much success against Alabama on X.
“From my point of view, I was like they don’t much,” Simpson said. “I was like they do the same thing every down and so when I get the ball, I knew exactly what was going to happen. They just didn’t mess up, bro. They were in the exact same spot they were supposed to be, and they were so well coached. It was so much different than the SEC. In the SEC, they’ll play man, they’ll do these unorthodox coverages because kind of how it is. That game was crazy to me. Of course, I got hurt; that was a bummer. But I just knew what they were going to do, but we couldn’t really run the ball. We didn’t really throw it. It was so crazy to me how it happened.”
Advertisement
Indiana went on to beat Oregon in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff, and the Hoosiers defeated Miami in the National Championship after defeating the Crimson Tide.
Simpson and Caleb Downs are now both gearing up to be drafted this month.
Justin Smith is the Managing Editor and Lead Writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine with over 10 years of writing experience & expertise. Smith has consistently delivered high quality, extensively researched information on the University of Alabama’s Crimson Tide football team that fans can trust. Smith is official credentialed media with the University of Alabama under Touchdown Alabama Magazine. He is also the Director of Recruiting for Touchdown Enterprises, specializing in scouting and analyzing high school recruits around the nation, specifically focusing on recruits within the state of Alabama.
Indiana may be one of the most decorated programs in college basketball history, but a brand name no longer has the recruiting pull it used to. In the past, the Hoosiers had a foolproof sell: it’s Indiana. Nowadays, in the NIL era, the playing field has been leveled.
To win in the transfer portal and recruiting as a whole, a program like Indiana needs a premier recruiter – and it has one in Darian DeVries.
Heading into his second season as the Hoosiers head man, DeVries is on an absolute heater, as he just landed his sixth transfer (Villanova guard Bryce Lindsay) on Wednesday night.
With the addition of Lindsay, the Hoosiers have arguably the No. 1 transfer class in the nation and certainly one of the top three. Here are three takeaways from Indiana’s offseason thus far:
Advertisement
Indiana Hoosiers head coach Darian Devries reacts in the first half of the NCAA game at Value City Arena on Saturday, March 7, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. | Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Advertisement
Indiana won’t have a talent problem in 2026-27
On one hand, the expectations are high in Bloomington – especially after the turnaround Curt Cignetti engineered in just two quick years on the gridiron. And an NCAA Tournament appearance isn’t exactly the Herculean task a College Football Playoff berth, let alone a national title, is.
Then again, DeVries didn’t have much time to craft his 2025-26 roster, and the end result wound up being less-than ideal from a talent perspective. All things considered, DeVries didn’t do a poor job given the roster he had. But it was also his roster.
Advertisement
Coaching is a balance of roster-building, X’s and O’s and culture. It’s up to DeVries to tailor a roster fit to his coaching strengths. Here in the 2026 offseason, he’s sent a message: recruiting will not be a problem. As a result, talent won’t be a weakness – it’ll be a strength.
The question now: can DeVries take advantage of an uber-skilled crew? Can he mesh the pieces and, ideally, create a product better than the sum of its parts? If the 2025-26 season was any sign, the answer is yes – which means a Big Dance appearance should be the bare minimum next year.
Advertisement
How will the backcourt depth chart shake out?
Notre Dame guard Markus Burton celebrates during a NCAA men’s basketball game against Missouri at Purcell Pavilion on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, in South Bend. | MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Advertisement
The Hoosiers are going to have a loaded guard rotation, and DeVries has a variety of options in terms of a starting backcourt.
Advertisement
Markus Burton is a surefire starter at lead guard, but then DeVries can choose between Bryce Lindsay and Jaeden Mustaf at the two, or, potentially, he could run both together at shooting guard and small forward.
What about Duke transfer Darren Harris, though? He’s more of a wing, but it’s not exactly clear how he’ll fit in the fold. And incoming combo guard Prince-Alexander Moody can also compete for minutes.
Fortunately, DeVries can’t exactly go wrong. A Burton-Lindsay starting backcourt would be undersized but loaded, chock-full of shooting and playmaking, while a Burton-Mustaf combo would be a slashing nightmare for opponents, strong defensively and tough on the boards.
And if Moody shocks the college hoops world and manages to sneak in over both Lindsay and Mustaf, that means the Hoosiers have a bona fide star on their hands.
With the addition of Lindsay, the Hoosiers have arguably the No. 1 transfer class in the nation and certainly one of the top three. Here are three takeaways from Indiana’s offseason thus far.
Advertisement
The Hoosiers should be much better on the glass
Indiana could have been a lot better on the boards a year ago. The Hoosiers were No. 296 in offensive rebounding rate and No. 122 in defensive rebounding rate, per Bart Torvik. As a squad, Indiana was often undersized – and sometimes by a huge margin. Naturally, the glass suffered, affecting both sides of the floor.
Advertisement
Mar 20, 2026; Tampa, FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide forward Aiden Sherrell (22) shoots against Hofstra Pride forward Victory Onuetu (6) in the second half during a first round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images | Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
In 2026-27, the Hoosiers should flip the script in that department. With incoming big men Aiden Sherrell (Alabama) and Samet Yigitoglu (SMU) combining for 14.1 total rebounds per outing despite neither playing more than 30 minutes per game in this past campaign, Indiana should have a dominant glass-cleaning unit in the frontcourt in 2026-27.
The Indiana Fever were in a much better position than many other teams going into this offseason since two of their three best players were still under contract.
Advertisement
Nevertheless, the Fever made some significant moves in free agency to build a potential contender around Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston. None of them were necessarily bad moves, but some are more impactful than others.
Re-signing Kelsey Mitchell: A+
Advertisement
Sep 28, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell (0) in the second half during game four against the Las Vegas Aces of the second round for the 2025 WNBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images | Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Advertisement
The Fever signed Kelsey Mitchell to a one-year supermax deal, and it’s worth every cent. Mitchell endured years of losing and still stayed loyal to the franchise. Last season, she was the driving force behind the Fever’s surprise run to the semifinals and a legitimate MVP candidate.
Re-signing Lexie Hull: A
Advertisement
Indiana Fever guard Lexie Hull (10) celebrates a 3-pointer Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, during Game 2 of a WNBA playoff matchup between the Indiana Fever and the Atlanta Dream at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Indiana Fever defeated the Atlanta Dream, 77-60. | Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
When you have a star trio of Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston, and Caitlin Clark, you need strong defense and 3-point shooting around them. So, re-signing Lexie Hull was a no-brainer. She is the perfect role player next to the big three.
Advertisement
Re-signing Sophie Cunningham: A
Aug 17, 2025; Uncasville, Connecticut, USA; Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) warms up before the start of the game against the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images | David Butler II-Imagn Images
Cunningham’s first season with the Fever was cut short by an injury, but her versatility was on full display. She played the four and three, but also stepped into the point guard role when Clark, Sydney Colson, and Aari McDonald all suffered injuries. Keeping her around adds defense, 3-point shooting, and positional versatility that will come in handy for a team hoping to go on a deep playoff run.
Signing Monique Billings: B+
Advertisement
Sep 4, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Valkyries forward Monique Billings (25) warms up before the game against the Dallas Wings at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-Imagn Images | John Hefti-Imagn Images
Monique Billings may not be the free agency get that Azurá Stevens would have been, but she should still fit in well with the Fever’s core. She can provide inside scoring and rebounding alongside and behind Aliyah Boston, she runs the floor well in transition, and she should be a great pick-and-roll partner for Clark.
Advertisement
Signing Tyasha Harris: B
May 25, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Connecticut Sun guard Tyasha Harris (52) drives to the basket against the Chicago Sky during the first half of a WNBA game at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images | Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Advertisement
Signing Ty Harris as the backup guard behind Clark is an upgrade over Sydney Colson. She was also the starting point guard for Stephanie White’s Connecticut Sun team that finished the 2024 season with the league’s best defensive rating and the third-best record. Signing her is just a super solid get.
Signing Myisha Hines-Allen: B
Advertisement
Jun 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Wings forward Myisha Hines-Allen (2) in action during the game between the Dallas Wings and the Washington Mystics at College Park Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Advertisement
Hines-Allen is another solid addition to the frontcourt. She rebounds well and finishes rather efficiently around the rim. When the Lynx added her ahead of the 2024 trade deadline, she emerged as an immediate contributor for a finals team. Hopefully, she can be the same for the Fever.
Re-signing Damiris Dantas: C
Advertisement
Jun 19, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Indiana Fever forward Damiris Dantas (12) warms up before the game against the Golden State Valkyries at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images | Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Holding on to Dantas is a fine move, but not one that will make or break the season. She can provide center depth off the bench and has experience playing with the core, but since the Fever signed Billings, she likely won’t get a chance to make much of an impact.
Advertisement
Signing Shatori Walker-Kimbrough to a training camp deal: C-
Aug 17, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Atlanta Dream guard Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (32) dribbles upcourt against the Golden State Valkyries in the fourth quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images | David Gonzales-Imagn Images
Walker-Kimbrough adds a veteran presence and some guard depth, but doesn’t promise much production. She was in a similar position with the Atlanta Dream last season and averaged 1.7 points in about 8 minutes per game. If injuries pushed her into a bigger role, she could still contribute more, though. There just won’t be a lot of opportunities on a healthy Fever team, and she definitely wouldn’t be the kind of difference-maker Odyssey Sims was last season.
Signing Megan McConnell to a training camp contract: B
Advertisement
May 11, 2025; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Mercury guard Megan McConnell (16) against the Golden State Valkyries during a preseason game at PHX Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Megan McConnell only got to play one game in her rookie season before she suffered an injury. After that, she had a productive offseason in the WNBL, and her brother TJ McConnell plays for the Indiana Pacers, which makes her getting a shot with the Fever a great story. Giving her a chance to claim a roster spot in training camp, even if it’s one of the two developmental spots, is not a game-changing move, but a promising one.
Advertisement
Signing Kayana Traylor to a training camp contract: B-
Mar 27, 2023; Seattle, WA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies guard Kayana Traylor (23) cuts down the net after defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Advertisement
As a second-round pick in 2023, Traylor fell victim to the limited number of roster spots in the W, and she has played overseas and in AU since. She won’t move the needle, but seeing if they can develop her into a future contributor certainly can’t hurt.
