Wisconsin basketball forward Steven Crowl mobbed by two defenders — © Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

Wisconsin Basketball Turns Over Ball, and Lead, to Marquette Golden Eagles

Wisconsin basketball surrendered a first-half lead due to turnovers and a lack of defensive prowess against Marquette

Author:
Kedrick Stumbris
Dec 7, 2024 4:26 PM EST

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Milwaukee, WI - Saturday's matchup between the #5 Marquette Golden Eagles and #11 Wisconsin Badgers basketball programs was the first the two met as top-15 opponents. In an in-state rivalry with over 100 years of history, one of two programs along the I-94 corridor would leave Fiserv Forum with a gold star on its NCAA Tournament resume.

A gold star goes to the Marquette Golden Eagles. MU defeated UW 88-74 for its first win over the Badgers in four seasons and for the first time under head coach Shaka Smart. Marquette's 88 points were the highest it scored against Wisconsin since 1982.

In a matchup between two National Player of the Year contenders in Wisconsin's John Tonje and Marquette's Kam Jones, it was the Golden Eagle with a standout performance. Jones led all scorers with 32 points, six rebounds, and four steals (tying a career-high). Wisconsin's John Blackwell credited Jones performance after the game, saying "It's hard to shut a dude down when he has it going like that."

While the scoring output, just shy of his career-high 34, was impressive, his defensive effort stood out to help Marquette quickly erase Wisconsin's 39-37 halftime lead.

Wisconsin Basketball Doomed by Turnovers Against Marquette

Marquette basketball guard Kam Jones attempts to position himself to defend Wisconsin Badgers guard John Blackwell's drive to the hoop — Dec 7, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard John Blackwell (25) drives towards the basket against Marquette Golden Eagles guard Kam Jones (1) during the first half at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
© Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

John Blackwell did not have his finest afternoon at the point. Whether dribbling the ball off his knee in transition or throwing it into crowded passing lanes, the sophomore failed to take proper care of the ball. Of those two turnovers early in the second-half particular, Gard said his young guard "needs to make better decisions."

Twice in the first half, Wisconsin turned the ball over on shot clock violations on possessions that Blackwell initiated the offense. While the Michigan native was credited with four turnovers, he was responsible for at least those two others.

Giving Marquette credit for their defense, but not absolving his own team of responsibility, Blackwell said "their ball pressure, and us just doing silly mistakes that we don't tend to do" were the biggest causes of the turnovers.

However, Blackwell was not the sole culprit in the Badgers' loss. Wisconsin turned the ball over a season-high 16 times. While Jones recorded six assists, Tonje tied his own career-high in turnovers with five while shooting only three of 11 from the field.

The Badgers forced only five turnovers - the fewest committed by the Golden Eagles in any game under Smart.

Marquette Basketball Draws Fouls for Paint Advantage

Marquette's dominance in the paint compounded the adverse effects of Wisconsin's proper care of the basketball. A behind-the-back pass for an assist in the second-half by Ben Gold personified the Golden Eagles' advantage down low. At times, it felt like MU could get whatever it wanted.

Wisconsin basketball forwards Steven Crowl and Carter Gilmore celebrate on the bench during the Badgers' win over Holy Cross

Foul trouble for the Badgers made things even worse defensively. Kamari McGee and Max Klesmit, Wisconsin's two-best on-ball defenders, finished the first half with two fouls, along with Tonje. McGee and Tonje each picked up a third personal foul before the first media timeout of the second half.

Klesmit managed to avoid fouling in the second half as part of an impressive performance. After connecting on five of ten three point attempts last year against Marquette, the Neenah native followed up with a 6-11 shooting performance from deep Saturday. Klesmit led Wisconsin in scoring with 22 points - recording 18 from beyond the arc, and the other four on a perfect performance at the free throw line.

Although Klesmit impressed beyond the perimiter, Marquette outscored Wisconsin 44-28 in the paint as Badgers center Steven Crowl was nearly blanked on the scoresheet finishing with only two points on four shots. The seven-footer tallied 11 rebounds, but did not attempt a shot in the first half. The Minnesota native managed three assists, just below his season-average of 3.1, but it was not enough to overcome the scoring deficit.