After a slender win over Dayton on Wednesday as a part of the Battle 4 Atlantis, the Wisconsin Badgers males’s basketball workforce drew the No. 3 Kansas Jayhawks within the semifinals of the match. 

The Jayhawks got here into the competition winners of 16-straight video games courting again to final season, whereas the Badgers have been hoping to tug off the upset to keep up their undefeated file this yr. 

In a back-and-forth recreation that includes a number of large runs by each groups, the Jayhawks gained a nailbiter in additional time, 69-68. 

Here’s a look again at Wisconsin’s last-second loss on Thanksgiving. 

Sport Recap

Following an early three-point make by Kansas, the Badgers would get to work inside, with Tyler Wahl and Steven Crowl combining to present UW a 4-3 lead on the first media timeout. 

Following the timeout, Connor Essegian would give Wisconsin a fast layup off the bench on a good looking feed from Tyler Wahl because the Jayhawks continued to battle on offense. With the Badgers unable to generate a lot of something on offense both, the 2 groups would take a 6-6 tie into the second media timeout.  

Over the following jiffy, the 2 groups would discover a solution on offense. Kansas ahead Gradey Dick acquired the scoring began with a pair of three-point makes for the Jayhawks, after which Chucky Hepburn and Connor Essegian would mix so as to add 5 factors for the Badgers to make it a 14-11 lead for Kansas. 

After a free throw by Max Klemsit, back-to-back threes by Jalen Wilson and Kevin McCullar of Kansas inside 30 seconds would pressure Greg Gard to take a timeout, because the Jayhawks had an 8-point benefit with just below eight minutes left to play within the first half.

Klemsit would assist the Badgers reply with a nook three, however Kansas would proceed so as to add to their lead over the following jiffy, because the Badgers missed 7-of-8 shot makes an attempt. By the following media timeout, the Jayhawks had a 26-15 edge.

Makes by Isaac Lindsey, Max Klesmit, and Tyler Wahl would assist trim the deficit, however a late three by Gradey Dick would give Kansas a 33-20 lead at halftime. 

The Badgers would discover some success on offense within the early moments of the second half. Wisconsin went inside with Chucky Hepburn, Steven Crowl, and Tyler Wahl offering a spark and a 6-3 scoring margin to start the half. 

A 3-pointer by Jalen Wilson of Kansas and a two-minute scoring drought by the Badgers shortly thereafter although would keep a 13-point benefit in favor of the Jayhawks with 15:52 remaining. 

Popping out of the transient break, Connor Essegian responded with back-to-back threes to achieve some momentum, after which a breakaway layup by Max Klemsit on a steal would make it an 8-point recreation with just below 13 minutes left. 

After free throw makes by Tyler Wahl and Chucky Hepburn, in addition to a putback by Carter Gilmore, Wisconsin was inside three factors 10:30 on the clock. 

5 factors by Connor Essegian would additional gas the Badgers’ comeback bid earlier than Max Klesmit tied the sport up with an enormous three-pointer to make it 48-48 on the eight-minute mark. 

Free throws by each groups would hold the rating famous up, however the Badgers seize a lead on a layup by Carter Gilmore off a fairly feed from Connor Essegian. 

Jalen Wilson would join on two straight baskets to re-establish a lead for Kansas with 5 minutes remaining, after which Kevin McCullar drilled a nook three to present the Jayhawks a 10-0 run and a 60-52 lead with 3:38 left to play. 

Popping out of the ultimate media timeout, Tyler Wahl completely took over for Wisconsin. The senior ahead made 4 straight baskets to present the Badgers a 61-60 lead with 49 seconds on the clock. 

After a pair of Connor Essegian free throws to increase the Wisconsin result in 63-60, Kevin McCullar would join on a three-pointer with 11 seconds remaining to tie the sport up and ship it to additional time. 

In OT, Tyler Wahl would give you an enormous three-point play on the 1:35 mark to present Wisconsin a slender lead. The Jayhawks would regain a one-point lead with Jalen Wilson sinking a pair of free throws, however the Badgers had the ball with 26 seconds left.  

From there, Tyler Wahl would snatch the lead again with a layup, however the Jayhawks would get a exceptional putback by Bobby Pettiford on the buzzer to win it 69-68. 

Gamers of notice

• Connor Essegian (Wisconsin)

Stats: 17 factors (6-of-12 taking pictures), 5 rebounds, and an help in 31 minutes

With factors as soon as once more arduous to come back by, the true freshman got here up large for the Badgers. Coming off the bench, Essegian performed key minutes for Wisconsin and spearheaded a 12-2 run within the second half whereas ending second on the workforce with 17 factors. 

The younger guard performed nicely on each ends of the courtroom and got here down with a number of rebounds and a powerful steal within the second half that got here because the workforce was producing some momentum. Essegian continues to be the highest scoring menace for Greg Gard and the Badgers this season. 

Stats: 13 factors (4-of-6 taking pictures), one rebound, and two assists in 43 minutes

A day after developing with a game-sealing block to beat Dayton, Klesmit put collectively one other sturdy displaying towards Kansas. The Wofford switch was gritty on each ends of the courtroom and was extraordinarily environment friendly on offense making 2-of-3 makes an attempt from deep. 

Stats: 23 factors (8-of-19 taking pictures), 10 rebounds, and two assists in 35 minutes

Tyler Wahl had himself a day on Thursday. The senior ahead put the workforce on his again late in regulation with a private scoring run to ship it to additional time after being down by eight. In the long run, Wahl completed with 23 factors and was 7-of-8 from the free throw line with three steals and one other double-double. 

Stats: 29 factors (9-of-20 taking pictures), and 14 rebounds in 40 minutes

Jalen Wilson was one of the best participant on the courtroom. Wilson led all scorers with 29 factors and in addition grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds. In a recreation the place Kansas wanted factors, Wilson persistently supplied the scoring. 

Prompt Evaluation

The primary half was eerily much like how the Badgers had performed all yr lengthy. Defensively, Wisconsin was nice, holding the Jayhawks to 1-of-13 taking pictures to start the sport, and solely permitting 69 complete factors with additional time to a Kansas workforce that got here in averaging 80 factors per recreation.

Nonetheless, the Badgers struggled to attain within the first half, particularly lacking a number of alternatives close to the ring. Regardless of their taking pictures woes early on, Wisconsin made an important 12-2 run within the second half that swung the momentum of the sport. Connor Essegian and Max Klesmit made large photographs to assist tie the sport up after being in a 13-point gap at halftime. The run was powered by their protection, forcing 5 turnovers in 4 minutes of motion, and holding the Jayhawks scoreless for over two minutes. 

In the long run, Tyler Wahl got here up large down the stretch when the Badgers wanted him as nicely. Whereas Kansas got here up with a miraculous end to keep away from the upset, Wisconsin performed nicely towards the reigning nationwide champions and that’s notable. The Badgers have been down by as many as 13 at one level and confirmed some spectacular struggle to not solely take it to additional time however maintain a lead with seconds remaining. 

Wisconsin proved that they will play with anybody on Thursday.

Photographs of the sport

Up subsequent

With the loss, Wisconsin will play at midday on Friday within the third-place recreation. The Badgers will tackle the loser of USC and Tennessee, with the sport aired on ESPN2. 

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