The Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team will play again Sunday afternoon at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, after defeating the Colgate Raiders 67-60 Friday in Milwaukee, in their first-round game of the NCAA tournament, sometimes known as "March Madness."
The Badgers overcame a slow start in stopping Colgate, which had entered the contest having won 15 games in a row. Top Badgers player Johnny Davis scored 17 of his team-high 25 points in the second half. The guard also contributed to the Badgers' stellar defense in the final 10 minutes of the game, after Colgate had scored several three-point baskets.
Davis, who played in high school at LaCrosse Central, later told reporters, "I just stopped being lazy on defense, and non-fundamental. That's all it was."
Badgers Head Coach Greg Gard deadpanned, "At least he's honest."
Wisconsin also received significant contributions from forward Tyler Wahl (15 points, 9 rebounds) and guard Chucky Hepburn (8 pts., 5 assists.)
The game was played before more than 16,000 fans, the great majority wearing Badger red. Wisconsin has many alumni and other backers in the Milwaukee area, plus a large number of people came in from Madison and elsewhere in the state. Gard said, "Obviously, a phenomenal environment in here."
Next up for the Badgers is the Iowa State Cyclones, which defeated LSU Friday evening in Milwaukee, 59-54. Tyrese Hunter, who played at Racine St. Catherine High School, led the Cyclones with 23 points.
Gard said of Iowa State, "It's a good team, and obviously when you win and get into this tournament, and you win [Friday] you're doing something right."
